25.000 English
First day of law school, my professor says two things.
First, "From now on, when your mother says she loves you,"
- "get a second opinion." - And?
"You want justice, go to a whorehouse. Wanna get fucked, go to court."
Naomi!
Let's say you have a client you know is guilty.
No. Neither our justice system nor I care about that.
Every defendant, regardless of what he's done,
has the right to the best defence his attorney can provide.
- Where were you with the truth? - Truth? How do you mean?
Naomi!
I'm not sure how many ways there are to mean it.
- You think there's only one? - You're late.
- There's only one that matters. - Marty, hold still.
My version of it. The one I create in the minds of the twelve jurors.
If you want, you can call it something else. The illusion of truth.
- If you want. It's up to you. - OK.
Jack, you need more? Tomorrow afternoon?
- Yeah. - I'll have my secretary set it up.
OK.
- This is a cover story, right? - Yeah.
Yeah. OK, bye.
St. Michael's Boys Choir, thank you. A very talented group.
Right now, we're gonna have a brief photo session
while we have the boys here with His Excellency.
I'll be back in a few minutes. Bear with us, enjoy your dessert and thank you.
Mangia, mangia.
Thanks. Marty! What an unexpected surprise.
I'm here to help our friendly prosecutor off the hook.
- Excuse me. - What's it gonna cost?
A lot less than the alternative.
Tomorrow. My office. 9:30.
- Is this on? Yes, it is. - Nice to see you again.
We have come to the heart of the matter. Why we're here tonight.
It's the fifth straight year it's been my privilege
to serve as master of ceremony for the Chicago Bar Association...
- I'm afraid you'll have to put that out. - It's a bar for Christ's sake.
I thought you quit.
I cut down.
You look beautiful. Cut your hair?
Yeah, a few months ago.
Wanna dance?
- There isn't any music. - I'm sure there is.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen...
All you have to do is turn around.
I thought you liked it better like this.
That way you don't have to look at the person.
Mean.
Look at me.
Come on. Let's go find a bar you can still smoke in.
Thanks for the invite, but I don't like one-night stands all that much.
We saw each other for months.
It was a one-night stand, Marty. It just lasted six months.
Well, I must say I haven't seen this many lawyers and politicians
gathered together in one place since confession this morning.
There is no way the People will tolerate a monetary award
to a cockroach who deserves twenty-to-life.
He may be your client, but Joey Pinero was a hard-case felon.
- Dealing, racketeering, money... - Did you say "alleged", Yancy?
Did you hear him say "alleged"?
Mr Pinero has never been convicted of anything.
The cops left him bleeding in the snow. A miracle he survived.
Having said that, I'm not opposed to a settlement.
1 ,500,000 and Pinero leaves the state.
You can't limit a citizen's right to live where he wants to.
Legally, that's unenforceable.
Enforceable or just a gentleman's agreement,
Mr Pinero will know what we want.
Get the answer you're looking for, don't sit around and chat. A pleasure.
You're worse than the thugs you represent.
- That's enough, Bud. It's over. - I have to run this by him.
You're on a 40% commission. I'm sure your recommendation will prevail.
Thank you, John.
Oh, Jesus.
- Hey, Mr Vail. - How are you doing?
Buena.
Nice tune.
- Traeme dos tequilas por aqui. - Bien, m'hijito.
So, what did they say?
A take-it-or-leave-it offer of 1 ,500,000. From Shaughnessy himself.
What do you think?
We should take it. Unless you wanna spend two years in appellate court.
- No, fuck that. Close it. - Done.
- OK. - Gracias.
- Salud. - Salud.
- Mia? - Your shot.
There's one more little thing.
They want you to leave the state.
- They want you to disappear. - Disappear?
That's good. Same bullshit, right?
What? What are you talking about?
I keep getting these offers from these guys, Marty.
What offers?
A couple of months ago a cop walks in here. He says,
"You testify against Alderman Martinez, and we'll owe you, Joey."
Say he did you favours, say he's on your payroll.
So I tell him to go fuck himself. Martinez is a good man.
He's the one holding out
while the others try to turn South River into high-rent condos.
- Why didn't you tell me this before? - Why?
'Cause this shit happens every day.
I didn't think it had anything to do with this.
- You don't. - I've spent a lot of money here.
- They spent more. - I built a clinic here.
These people depend on me.
I don't give a shit. Send them cheques from California.
Chucho, hazme el favor, scame el CD.
I respect your advice, Marty, but I can't take it.
- I'll take the money, but I ain't going. - I don't like it, Joey.
Chucho, dame. So, what are they gonna do? Kill me?
They've tried once.
How are they gonna kill a man who never sleeps?
- Get the money. - You're too much.
That song you liked, fourth cut.
Very nice, thank you.
Police'll have their hands full...
- Captain, can you tell us anything? - I don't know anything.
Captain Stenner, what's going on?
I haven't seen anything yet. As soon as I've been inside, I'll tell you.
You should be home in bed, Abel. It's going around.
I'll consider that, Harvey.
Christ. What a mess, huh?.
- Sam, you got all you need? - Roll him over.
Hey, stop!
Four fingers severed.
A symbol, B 32.1 56, is carved into the chest.
Body temperature is still warm...
Captain, we've got a live one on the run.
A passing train has separated the suspect...
You want to know what I hate?
When they go on and on about what big whores defence attorneys are.
We're the bad guys? You know why?
We sit next to some creep, we start to look creepy.
They assume they're guilty, like we know it or something.
You don't know, you don't ask, you don't care. You do the damn job.
It's not like they're your friends for Christ's sake.
Well, some are your friends, but...
Why did you leave the State Attorney's office?
Dead-end job.
You can either run for office or end up a judge.
Why become an umpire when you can play ball?
...around St. Michael's and the Archbishop's mansion...
Over here! He's over here!
We will of course stay with this story as it continues to unfold.
What we do know is that approx. 1 1:08 this morning...
So when did you know you had them?
What? Sorry?
When during the Pinero trial did you say to yourself, "I've got them"?
The day I took the case. Excuse me.
The shocking murder of one of Chicago's most beloved figures,
Archbishop Richard Rushman, has left the cityjust numb.
I understand we have Andy live.
We havejust learned the police have arrested a 19-year-old man
identified as Aaron Stampler. According to Captain Stenner...
We have to reschedule. Call my office, OK? I'm sorry.
- Law offices of Martin Vail. - You got the news on by any chance?
Call Sullivan in Judge Trutter's office.
Find out where he is, and call me at the Alibi.
- A lot ofguys'll want this one. - OK.
The police have taken the first steps, acting with speed, with the arrest.
- Are you taking the Stampler case? - I'm sorry, I can't talk right now.
- State Attorney left yet? - Yeah, Yancy no less.
- PD? - Come and gone.
Lock up!
- Give my best to your brother. - Yeah, sure.
I'd like to see him alone if I could.
- All right, but I'll have to lock you in. - Understood.
You know who I am?
No, no, sir. No, I don't.
My name is Martin Vail. I'm what you call a big-shot attorney.
-I don't... I don't have no money. - I didn't think you did.
I'm willing to take your case pro bono,
which means you get all of my expertise and hard work for free.
Or you can get the 40,000-a-year court-appointed public defender,
who will almost certainly escort you to death row. Your choice.
No, sir. I'd surely be grateful for anything you can do.
You're welcome.
Now, your full name is...?
My... Aaron Luke Sta...
Stampler.
- You from Kentucky, Aaron? - Yes, sir. I'm from Creekside.
- Does it say that there? - No.
How long have you been here in Chicago?
Two years next month, I think.
- Have you been arrested? - No, sir.
How do you know the Archbishop?
I was begging on the street, up on the Wacker Drive.
Bishop Rushman came by in his Cadillac.
He saw me and he stopped.
He took me into Savior House.
I work as an altar boy.
And I sing in his choir.
How long were you there, Aaron, Savior House?
A year. Year and a half.
You're supposed to leave when you're 1 8, but...
But Bishop Rushman let me stay on way past my 1 9th birthday.
That was nice of him.
Yes. Yes, it was.
Aaron, did you have any reason to dislike the Archbishop?
Dislike? No, no, sir.
He was like a father to me.
Yeah, but you...
How am I gonna say this?
Were you in the room when he was murdered?
How can you explain that?
There was someone else in that room, Mr Vail.
- There was a third person? - Yes, sir.
- Did you tell the police this? - Yes, I did.
- But they didn't believe me. - All right. You tell me now.
I was returning a book
to Bishop Rushman's library.
I heard a noise, so I went back into his bedroom.
Bishop Rushman was lying on the floor.
There was blood all over everýthing.
Then I saw the shadow. I saw a person
Ieaning over Bishop Rushman.
He looked up, and he came at me. And that's when I lost time.
What does that mean? Lost time?
I bla... I blacked out.
It happens to me sometimes.
I have...
..spells. I have spells.
I lose time.
I can't remember nothing.
Why did you run from the police, Aaron, if you didn't do anything wrong?
Well, when I woke up, I was covered in blood.
I didn't know what to do.
I got scared, I heard sirens, so I ran.
Look, I know how it looks, Mr Vail, but I swear...
I don't need you to convince me. Just answer my questions.
- I didn't do this. You got to believe me. - No, I don't. I don't care.
I am your attorney, which means I'm your mother, your father,
your best friend and your priest.
I don't want you talking to anyone but me.
Not the cops, the press, the guys in the cells, nobody,
without my permission. You understand?
- Yeah? - Yes. Yes, I do.
All right. Now the important stuff. What's your suit size?
- My what? - Suit size. What are you? A 38"?
- I don't know. - Well, a 38" Iong.
The police flushed Stampler from his hiding place behind the Cathedral.
They chased him through the train yard, almost losing him
as he scrambled over tracks before an oncoming train separated them.
Prominent local criminal defence attorney Martin Vail
is believed to have visited Stampler at the Maxwell Street ...
After a brief chase across the rail yard behind St. Michael's Cathedral,
Stampler was apprehended in a hole beneath train tracks...
- Are you defending this man? - I'm sorry...
Thank you very much. Thank you.
We've taken the first step in the process.
I can now take your questions.
Shaughnessy, what about the altar boy group Stampler was part of?
Not much at this time.
Could other altar boys be involved?
We have no reason to suspect anyone other than Stampler.
He had access to the Archbishop's quarters. He was caught as he fled.
The blood-soaked Aaron Stampler was chased under McCormick Place,
but not before he was almost killed by a passing train.
He's gonna call you as soon as he gets here. Thank you.
- Naomi! - Yeah.
Sorry, I'm late. We have a new client.
- I was afraid you were gonna say that. - Who?
You know what they're calling him? The Butcher Boy of St. Mike's.
- I like that. - You'll be hearing it a lot.
Is the kid who chopped up the Archbishop our client?
You have to get "allegedly" into your vocabulary if you want to be a lawyer.
- Coffee, Tommy? - No, thanks.
He admits he was in the room when the killing occurred, but he didn't see it.
- Can I stop you right there? - No. He was returning a book.
He heard loud noises in the bedroom.
He went in. He sees a figure in the shadows, kneeling over the body.
He blacks out. Next thing he knows,
sirens are screaming, he's covered in blood.
The cops find him in a train tunnel. He's got the Archbishop's ring on him.
- He stole the Archbishop's ring? - No, it was in his pocket.
Is that it?
Yep.
That's...
That's the worst bullshit story I've heard in my entire life.
Now it's our bullshit story.
OK. Let's get to work.
The name of the game is "motive". The Prosecution doesn't have one.
We have to prove that someone else could have committed the crime,
then we can establish reasonable doubt.
I want to know everýthing I can about this guy.
Go to Database, go to Hall of Records, IRS files.
- Even so-called charities. - So-called? He was a priest.
Naomi, write this down. B 32.1 56. It was carved into the Archbishop's chest.
- Allegedly. - No, that was a fact.
- But I appreciate the effort. - Thanks.
I also need case histories on murder by stabbing, mutilation and religion.
- Also I'm gonna need a psychiatrist. - You're telling me.
Not the kind who lives in a witness box. I need a real one.
- And an expert on amnesia. - What does he look like in person?
The Butcher Boy?
- Like a boy scout. - A boy scout...
..with a merit badge in carving.
The Archbishop was a close friend of Mr Shaughnessy.
He asked me who my best man was.
- I said you. - Thank you.
I trust if I'm to prosecute this case,
I'll get the authority which comes with it.
You're the one trying the case.
But let's establish one thing at the outset. I want the death penalty.
I'd like to go over the case before we determine whether or not to seek that.
I'm open to anything you have to say, but in my mind there's no debate.
Did the boy they picked up say anything?
Yeah, he didn't do it.
- It's a slam dunk, Janet. - Excuse me.
I appreciate your faith in me. I don't mean to be argumentative.
- It's what we pay you for. - Open and shut, you don't need me.
The PD'll plead no contest and throw the kid on the mercy of the court.
There's not a public defender.
He's got a lawyer? Already? Who?
Hey, I'm Martin Vail.
I'm defending Aaron Stampler. I need to inspect the murder site.
Oh, the Butcher Boy, huh?
Thank you, yes. I forgot his real name.
What's the matter, Marty? Lost your faith?
Looking for a little religion?
Tell me, counsellor. Which one of us is the true headline chaser here?
- Unlike you, I was assigned. - Yeah? And you're up to it?
Sold the book rights, or will you wait? Wanna see some pictures?
They're kind of cute.
I think you'll agree they clearly show the heinous nature of the crime.
Small piece of advice. Don't use the word "heinous" in the courtroom.
Half the jury won't know what you mean.
Small piece of advice. I'm not sitting second chair to you any more.
In case you hadn't noticed, I graduated.
- I had no reason to leave. - You had every reason to leave.
- How can you still work for them? - You expect me to trot out after you?
Quit just because you did?
I don't need a Mercedes. I don't need to see my face on the evening news.
You knew I was coming here, didn't you?
You knew I would defend him. That's why you took the case.
Oh, please. What's the matter, Marty? Are you nervous?
Been a while since you rubbed up against a woman with a brain?
What's the matter? You tired, you haven't been sleeping well?
You're the one with the score to settle. I sleep great at night.
Cook County Dept. of Corrections Div. IX Maximum Security Dormitory
Thanks.
- Hey. Where is he? - Over here.
We'll be sitting at a table with two of my associates.
Once the charges are read, the judge'll ask how you plead.
- Not guilty. - No.
But I'm not guilty, Mr Vail.
It doesn't matter. Keep your mouth shut.
- Are you gonna say I'm not guilty? - I'll say whatever I say. Don't worry.
- But... - This is what I mean.
This can't go on in the courtroom. Get used to it. I speak, you do not speak.
- Your job is to sit and look innocent. - I am innocent.
That's it! That's how I want you to look.
Can you remember that? Look in the mirror if you have to.
I don't have to. This is how I always look.
Then you're way ahead of the game already, aren't you?
Don't smile.
Don't.
- Mr Vail, can we have a statement? - We're gonna find out what happened.
The only pressure is to find the truth.
You've talked to the police. I told you not to. They get everýthing wrong.
How will you explain his blood-soaked clothes?
I won't explain anything now. I've just been retained in this case.
Significant facts are in dispute here and continue to be so.
You're a master at putting the victim on trial to help your client.
That'll be very difficult in this case.
The victim in this case is my client.
We have two victims here, no suspects. Thank you.
- You worried about his safety? - No. Thank you.
I don't think there's any question about the verdict.
All rise.
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
Bailiff.
The State versus Aaron Stampler.
- Is every... Sit down. Everyone here? - Yes, Your Honour.
Madame Prosecutor.
The State charges Aaron Stampler with murder in the first degree.
How does your client plead?
If it pleases the Court, I need time to make
a psychiatric evaluation before charges are brought against us.
The State has enough evidence to warrant the allegations.
I agree. Motion denied. Mr Stampler.
- Do you understand the charges? - Yes.
I direct my client not to answer that. His response might incriminate him.
He is taking the Fifth on whether or not he understands the charges?
Yes. Until we have a complete psychological evaluation,
he will be taking the Fifth on any and all questions posed to him.
The State versus Appleby.
For your review on precedent. Thank you.
No, I can't do that. No.
What do you want?
I'm looking for the room a kid named Aaron Stampler stayed in.
- Are you the police? - I'm his uncle.
Well, hey.
- This is Alex's. - Who's Alex?
He's one of the other altar boys.
An altar boy. An altar boy was wearing this?
Well, not at mass.
This altar boy attacked a colleague of mine and hurt him pretty bad.
What do you think he was doing in your room?
I can't... I don't know. I don't have nothing.
- You know where to find him? - Who? Alex?
- No, I don't know where he is. - You don't?
- Who's Linda? - L-Linda?
Is she your girlfriend?
Where is she? I'd like to talk to her.
I don't know where she is.
I get this feeling you're not telling me something.
- I'm telling you the truth. - I don't think so.
Are you surprised that Alex attacked my friend?
No. No, he has a temper.
Yeah, I'd say so.
Do you think it could be Alex
who was that figure you saw at the Archbishop's room?
I... Alex? I couldn't be sure.
- But it could be him. - I don't know.
You don't understand. The State wants you dead.
You don't help me, that's what they'll get.
I'm trying. I can't remember.
I don't understand. Why would Alex wanna do such a thing?
For his own reasons. Maybe someone hired him.
- Hired by who? - Forget it.
Do you think he's capable of doing it?
I don't know.
I don't know who's capable of such a thing.
- Oh, thanks. - Sure.
He claims there was someone else in the room, and he can't remember.
You want me to look into this amnesia question and see what he knows?
What if he knows he did it?
Major causes of amnesia are:
substance abuse, seizures, head injuries and malingering.
I think the kid is telling the truth.
OK. Then let's get something straight.
I'm happy to go in and analyse him, in fact I'm looking forward to it,
but I won't go in there to validate a story. Understood?
You do your job, I do mine, yatta, yatta.
If I think it's necessary,
I'd wanna get an MRl, EEG and Neuropsych testing.
- Yes, doctor. Good night. - Good night.
I'll be recording our meetings for Mr Vail.
So it isn't as confidential as it would be if you were consulting with the doctor.
He may even call me as a witness. If you have any questions...
- ...you should raise them to him now. - No, ma'am. I understand.
Good. So, OK. I think we'll be fine.
- I'll see you later. - OK.
Bye.
Vail told me there's time surrounding the death you don't remember.
- Is that right? - Yes.
I lost the time.
I mean I blacked out.
- Have you had blackouts before? - Yes, I have.
When's the first time you remember them happening?
They started when I was about twelve.
Were your parents aware of what was happening to you?
N-no. My m-m-mother was dead.
And your father?
No, no. He was not a nice man.
- Did you seek treatment? - Did I what?
- Did you see a doctor for them? - Oh.
No.
You don't go to a doctor in Creekside unless your leg's broken.
- Hey. Can I talk to you? - Talk.
Excuse us. I'll bring her right back.
How dare you?
Am I a chess piece you can move around? I was having lunch.
When are we getting all the discovery?
- What do you want? - I want to know when.
- I've got motions to file. - No, you don't.
You're looking to make a deal.
I have no authority to deal from my client. What's your excuse?
If we needed to make a deal, I have all the authority I want.
Bullshit! Shaughnessy wants the whole shot. He's using you to get it.
Deal this down to murder with no death penalty.
Deal down? We have a fucking great case.
Great case? Lack of prior record, no eye witness, no confession, no motive.
Hard evidence. I assume you're not going with insanity, which is a shame.
My shrinks would have torn him apart.
Your pleading the Fifth on the charges was brilliant.
It was good, wasn't it? I liked it.
You lose this case, you take the fall, not Shaughnessy.
- Talk to me. - We're going to trial, Marty.
All right. All it takes is one. One juror who doesn't believe he did it.
One juror with a kid who looks into that face...
That face is great. You prepping him to take the stand?
That stutter is p-p-priceless.
Oh, Marty.
Don't tell me you think he didn't do it.
Has little Aaron Stampler gotten to you?
We're not just talking about jail here, but ending someone's life.
If you're wrong and Shaughnessy's made you do this, can you live with it?
I'll live.
See you in court.
We stipulate that murder was done here.
So these photos have no probative value.
This is not just murder, it's mutilation and torture.
The Prosecution wants to show them to the jury for shock appeal.
Not true. They clearly identify the heinous nature of the crime,
and they connect the defendant, found covered in blood, to the crime scene.
- Prejudicial. - I beg to differ.
Counsel, please! The photos are in, Mr Vail.
Would you like a recess to carry on with this in private?
I'm sorry, Your Honour, but this is too much.
Next thing, he'll be objecting if we bring in the murder weapon.
Now that she brings it up...
This is a public building.
Excuse me, Mr Vail.
Would you sign this for me?
Tell me about Linda. Mr Vail said she was your girlfriend.
Yes, she was.
How did you meet?
Well, we were both at the Savior House.
I was an altar boy. She was doing work for Bishop Rushman.
- What was the relationship like? - Me and Linda?
She is real cultural, real cultural and very smart.
We had a nice time together.
We might get married.
Were you sleeping together?
- Well, that's private. - I know. I have to ask the question.
Were you having a sexual relationship, Aaron?
Yes, we were.
Were you sleeping with anyone else at the time?
No.
Was she?
Has she been to see you, Aaron?
- Well, no, but... - And that upsets you.
No. No, the thing is she went away.
She went away for a while.
She left before this happened. I don't even think...
I don't even think she knows about it.
- Yo, boss. - Hey. Got something for me?
Yeah.
There's nothing catalogued downtown under the numbers B 321 56.
But I don't think the B is a B. It's an 8. I think the knife slipped. 8321 56.
Thomas Jefferson. I don't think he did it.
This won't help. Rushman's charities and his foundation's investments.
Nothing startling, except how many there are.
Wait a minute here.
What was he doing with the South River deal? Pull that up.
LOADING FILE
Yeah. The investors.
Shaughnessy?
That's Joey Pinero's neighbourhood.
See this lot here? This all used to be houses.
In fact, there was a house in the corner where I kissed my first girlfriend.
Got her pregnant, too.
- Hell of a kiss, Joey. - Oh, yeah.
The neighbourhood will end up high-rent condos if they get their way.
That's why I'll buy back the lot with the settlement you got me.
You heard about the money, right?
- Who hasn't? - Marty's the best, man.
Just doing my job.
1 ,500,000. He's just doing his job.
Alderman, Joey tells me a cop came around, wanting him to set you up.
It's typical.
Can't buy me, so they try to buy a brother.
Most people assume this land we're walking on belongs to the railroad.
But it doesn't. It belongs to the Church.
The Church?
- So that's the Rushman Foundation. - That's right.
- With a bunch of rich developers. - Including John Shaughnessy.
They bought up land and buildings around the Church property
and tore them down. Our neighbourhood would disappear.
I went to the Archbishop and said, "What are you doing to these people?"
"They're poor. They're getting kicked out of their homes."
- "And they're Catholic." - Fucking A.
He listened. I couldn't believe it.
He told them to stop developing around the Church property.
The partners hold buildings they can't demolish and land they can't build on.
Shaughnessy loses millions.
- If I need you to, will you testify? - Who? Me?
Oh, yeah. Easy.
Just change out of this suit, put on a Brooks Brothers with loafers and...
No, Joey. Not you.
Sure.
I'll testify.
You know what people think? That this great city runs itself.
They think it gets up, goes to work and climbs into bed at night, like we do.
Unaware of what it takes to make sure it doesn't break down.
Crime, fires, riots.
The water pipes bursting under the city. What a mess that was.
And the Water Commissioner calls the contractor who built it?
No, he calls me. They all call me.
Goddamn, this is terrific.
They call me because I keep the peace. That's my job.
This city doesn't burn because I won't permit it.
I'm the great negotiator.
You think people get that? The truth is I don't care.
The dumb bastards don't even vote.
They just eat, sleep, watch TV and occasionally fuck their wives.
Guess we should all thank you.
You're welcome.
John, you need some new material.
I've heard this great-city speech ten times already.
Your boy Pinero is not honouring his side of the deal.
- Is that what this dinner is about? - In part.
I told him what the deal is. He's a grown up. What else?
Your assistant's been digging around in the Archbishop's finances.
Yeah, well.
How much did you lose when he pulled the plug from South River?
Let me tell you something.
It's a mistake to stick your thumb in the eyes of the city's most powerful.
It's not their eyes I'm aiming for.
Do not fuck with me, Marty.
The pipes are bursting again, John.
In the most anticipated murder trial in recent Chicago history,
former State Attorney Prosecutor Martin Vail will lead...
Richard Rushman was a man of God.
He spent his life giving to the people of Chicago.
He was a beacon ofinspiration, not only as a spiritual leader...
...deliver his opening statement tomorrow...
My name is Martin Vail. The reason I'm here, and the reason you're here,
is to make sure the whole truth is known.
We can learn the truth
by talking about what the Prosecution does not want you to hear.
Do not be fooled by the defendant's innocent appearance and demeanour.
Aaron Stampler sat injudgment ofArchbishop Rushman
and determined that not only should he die,
but he should die the most brutal...
We all saw Aaron being arrested minutes after the Archbishop's death.
But why? Because he was convenient and the police were under pressure...
The evidence will show that Aaron Stampler stalked, ambushed
and savagely murdered this great man.
The Prosecution doesn't want you to hear about
the other altar boys who have mysteriously disappeared.
At the close of evidence, you will learn
that Aaron Stampler had everything he needed
for the perfect assassination. Using this knife...
..Aaron Stampler repeatedly stabbed at the Archbishop's chest,
his genitals and his eyes.
They don't want you to hear that the Archbishop
invested on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church.
Investments resulting in huge losses for some very powerful people.
They don't want you to hear about the 20 death threats he received this year.
And they really don't want you to hear about their theory of motive.
Why is that? Very simple.
They don't have one.
Inspector Woodside, explain to the court where the sneakers came from.
They were taken off the defendant when he was apprehended.
What was the result of the blood-stain analysis?
They proved to be human blood
matching the blood type and DNA characteristics of the Archbishop.
What did the bloody footprints surrounding the body tell you?
The killer left a pattern of footprints around the area of the struggle,
as indicated by the spread of blood through the room.
Yes or no, inspector. Could there have been a third person in the quarters?
- There's no evidence to suggest that. - No evidence proves there wasn't.
No.
What happened after the struggle?
Our analysis suggests the killer was startled and ran
from the bedroom and down the stairs.
Is it possible, inspector... that the real killer, the third person,
who maybe was smart enough not to tramp a whole freeway of blood
through the whole place,
couldn't this third person have placed the defendant's prints on the knife...
- ...while he was passed out? - Anything is possible.
Clearly the victim suffered a great number of stab wounds.
Yes, he did. 78.
He tried to defend himself, that explains cuts on hands and forearms.
Doctor, isn't it a fact that you can't be sure
whether more than one person inflicted these 78 stab and incised wounds?
It could have been more than one, but I doubt it.
From your analysis of the knife wounds,
do you have an opinion whether the killer was left or right-handed?
The wounds to the throat and most of the chest wounds
were made from an angle that strongly suggests a left-handed person.
- Is the defendant left-handed? - Yes, he is.
It's possible a right-handed person could have used his left hand.
Yes, I suppose that's possible.
Then it's reasonable to assume there was a third person at the crime scene.
Reasonable, no. But it is possible.
...then following opening statements it was a day ofstrong testimony
from the Prosecution's first witnesses,
Forensics ChiefHarvey Woodside and Medical Examiner Emile Weil.
It was also tough cross-examination of Woodside and Weil
by Stampler defence attorney Martin Vail.
Captain Stenner, thank you for the time you've given us.
But finally, I'd like to turn your attention to the symbol carved into the chest.
Would you please tell the jury about that, captain?
Yes, the letter and the numbers
B 32.1 56 were carved into the Archbishop's chest.
Have you been able to find an identical reference anywhere?
I believe so, yes.
The symbol B 32.1 56 is actually catalogue code for a book
discovered in a private reading room located in the church basement.
That particular number, the B 32 part, refers to a book, The Scarlet Letter,
by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
When we opened the book to page 1 56,
we discovered an underlined passage.
Could you please read this underlined passage to the court?
"No man, for any considerable period,"
"can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude"
"without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true."
Thank you.
What does that passage mean to you?
Objection. He's a policeman, not an English professor.
His interpretation will be speculative and irrelevant.
She didn't ask for an expert opinion. Witness can answer.
Well, to me it's simple.
The killer thought his victim was two-faced, dishonest in some way.
In your experience, captain,
do killers ever intentionally leave clues to their motive?
Not often, but it happens.
Thanks.
- Thanks, man. - Yeah, sure.
Did you underline that book?
- What? - Did you underline that book?
- No, Mr Vail. - No?
No, Mr Vail. I never even opened The Scarlet Letter.
I don't like Hawthorne.
We had that one about the house with the seven somethings in high school,
I couldn't even get past page 1 0.
I wasn't the only one using Bishop Rushman's library.
Everybody borrowed books from Bishop Rushman.
He encouraged it. Altar boys, staff, everyone was in there.
Guard.
You don't give up, do you?
- You didn't know anything about that? - No.
- What about the impact...? - I can't talk right now.
My office will call you, right? OK, bye.
- Thanks. - See you.
Bye.
What the fuck happened in there?
I guess that 8 was a B after all.
You think this is funny? We're losing this case.
What happened? How could you've missed that?
There are 50 of them, plus the entire Chicago PD.
How was I to know he had a reading room in the basement?
- It's your job. - You want my job?!
- No, I want you to do your job! - Marty, come on.
I'm working on a third-man defence. Figured that out yet?
I don't have a third man. Why? Because you can't fucking find him!
- Is it that hard to find one indigent kid? - Maybe we already got the kid.
We have to at least consider the possibility that he did it.
The evidence points towards him, and you refuse to look at it.
I'm not refusing to look at anything! I don't think he did it!
We're up there in a couple of days, and we got dick!
- Do your fucking jobs! - Fuck!
It must have been hard to come to Chicago. You didn't know anybody.
Nobody.
Did you have any money?
No, nothing.
I wanna talk more about your girlfriend, Linda. Can we, Aaron?
- No. - Why not?
Aaron.
Oh, I'm sorry.
D-d-do you think we can do this later?
- No, I wanna stay with this a while. - I'm just a li-li-little tired.
I know. Why does talking about Linda Forbes upset you?
It d-d... It doesn't.
I just don't want to talk about it right now.
- Why not? Are you all right? - No, my head hurts.
OK, I'm sorry. Let me just fix this.
- You know what I can do with this? - No, how the fuck should I know?
Jesus Christ.
Aaron?
What? What were you saying?
What do you want? I'll kill you!
I don't think so, Alex. Drop it.
Drop it.
- Remember me, huh?! - My name is Martin Vail.
I don't give a fuck! You have no right!
Every fucking right! I'm Aaron Stampler's attorney, you little shit!
Now! What do you know about the Archbishop's murder?
- Nothing. - Where do you think you're going?
Bullshit! Don't fuck with us.
I swear I know nothing.
What were you doing at Aaron's house? What were you looking for?
- A tape. - A tape? A videotape?
- Yeah. - Of what?
- Sex stuff. - Sex stuff?
Do I have to draw a picture for you?
Who?
Who?!
Me, Linda.
- And Aaron? - He shot it, too, for the Archbishop.
Are you telling...
Are you telling me that Archbishop Rushman is involved with sex stuff?
Yeah, he called it "purging the devil".
He'd say a sermon for ten minutes, and then he would tell us what to do.
I don't give a fuck what you believe!
Hey, hey, hey. What were you going to do with the tape?
Trash it. I was gonna throw it away.
One. Just one tape.
One tape. He'd keep recording over and over.
- Why did you think Aaron had this? - I don't know.
I thought he got it, and he went back and killed him.
- He did kill him, right? - No, he didn't.
Where's this girl? Where's Linda?
She freaked out! She panicked. She split.
And I'm not expecting any postcards.
Look at me.
Get him out of here, Tommy.
- Where to? - A warm bunk and three meals a day.
- You can't arrest me! You're no cop! - I used to be. Does that work for you?
- Look who's here. - Finish it. It's a good article.
You know the rules. Don't disturb anything,
don't remove anything or it's my ass.
Yeah, mine too. I won't touch anything.
Excuse me.
...preach the gospel to every...
Hello.
- What are you watching? - Wait a minute.
Go to her.
Good. Now help her.
That's it, Aaron. Good.
Linda, help out.
Good. Take offher blouse, Aaron.
That's it. Now help him, Linda.
Isn't that sweet, Linda? Good.
That's it. Now, take him in your mouth.
Here's motive.
Take her from behind.
- Aaron, take her from behind. - Jesus Christ.
Thanks.
- I wanna talk to you alone. - We should discuss...
I need to be alone with my client.
Do you trust me?
Yes, yes, of course I do.
Good. Because I don't trust you.
I'll lay it all out for you.
I'm losing this case because my fucking client is lying to me.
- I never, never lied... - Bullshit!
No more bullshit. No more games.
Everybody thinks you did this, everybody.
Only I believe you, and I'm that close.
So I want it all out. Right now, right here.
Did you underline that book?
Hey, hey, look at me. Did you underline that book?
- N-n-no, I didn't. - I don't believe you.
- That's bullshit. - I told...
I don't believe you! I saw the tape!
I saw the tape. I know what he did to you. I wanna hear it from you.
No! No!
Don't do this. I want you to tell me the truth.
- You fucking killed him! You did it! - No!
You're so full of shit! You did it! Tell me the truth. Don't lie.
You little fuck! You killed him!
- You son of a bitch! You killed him! - No!
What do you want from me now?
Quit crying! I can't understand a word you're saying.
You little sissy! You make me sick!
- Look here. Who the fuck are you? - Who the fuck are you?
This is my cell! Who the fuck are you?
I got you now. You're the lawyer.
You're a lawyer, ain't you? With your fancy suit. I heard about you.
My, my, you sure fucked this one up, counsellor.
Sounds like they're gonna shoot Aaron so full of poison it'll come out his eyes!
- Where is Aaron? - He's crying in a corner somewhere.
You scared him off! You got to deal with me now, boy.
I ought to give you a beating on principle. Look at me.
You pull that tough-guy shit on Aaron again, I'll kick your ass to Sunday!
- Do you understand me? - I understand you.
Aaron gets in trouble, he calls you. You're the man.
Aaron couldn't kick his own ass.
You seen him with the "da-da-da".
Yeah.
Jesus Christ, he can't handle anything.
He sure couldn't handle all that preacher's blood.
If he'd done like I told him, we wouldn't be in this mess.
But he got scared and "da".
Ran off and got himself caught, the stupid little shit.
So Aaron did kill Rushman.
Hell no! Jesus Christ, where did they find you?
Haven't you listened to me? Aaron doesn't have guts to do nothing.
It was me, boy.
- It was you. - Yes, it was.
He came crying to me like always, stuttering and whining.
"I ca-can't take it no more, Roy. You g-got to help me."
"Please, please, Roy."
I said, "Shut your mouth! Grow up. Be a man. Take care of yourself."
So your name is Roy?
Oh, Jesus, I'm sorry. Yeah. What is it? Marty?
Marty, I'm dying for a smoke. Do you have a cigarette?
- No, I quit. - Fuck that.
Can't live without them. Got to be a butt here.
Roy.
Roy, tell me about Linda.
Linda? Who the fuck cares about Linda?
I care about Linda. I'd like to know about her.
That little tramp. Everybody had a piece of her, you know.
She had Aaron wrapped up so tight, he thought she was his girlfriend.
She broke his heart.
So that's why you had to kill Rushman. Because of the sex stuff.
You've seen the tape.
Answer me, you son of a bitch!
Do you think I'm playing with you? I will break your fucking neck!
- I'll ask again. Have you seen it? - Of course I saw the tape.
Dammit, I told him, "Get that tape. It's motive, you asshole!"
This'll fuck everýthing up. Don't you show that to anyone!
- Do you understand me?! - Yeah.
- Aaron. - Damn!
Mist...
Mister Vail?
Yeah, I'm right here, Aaron.
He did it. The little fuck did it.
How could I have missed that?
- Am I gonna need stitches? - No.
He didn't do it. Aaron has no idea what just happened in there.
I kept seeing the signs. The big ones.
Abusive background, these repeated blackouts, the ellipses in thought.
He's ambidextrous. I tried to tell you.
You may be thrilled by all this, but I'm fucked. I don't have a case.
Textbook multiple personality disorder. Put me on the stand. I'll testify.
He's insane.
I can't. I can't change plea in the middle of a trial.
The judge would never allow it. Insanity is the hardest thing to prove.
OK.
My professional opinion.
This is not a criminal we're dealing with. He's a sick kid.
He's sitting in a cell, and that's not where he belongs.
You got an aspirin?
Come on, Connerman, ask it.
Ask what?
The question you wanted to ask me before.
I don't understand, Mr Vail.
"How can you defend someone if you know they did it?"
"How can you defend these fucking scumbags?" Isn't that it?
All those fucking coy questions, all that bullshit.
Bottom line is: "How can you do what you do?"
You think it's the money, don't you?
The money's nice. The money's very, very nice, Jack.
The first thing I ask a new client is:
"You been saving up for a rainy day?"
"Guess what? It's raining."
You think it's because I want to see my face on magazine covers?
My 1 5 seconds on TV? I love it. I fucking love that shit. I really do.
But guess what?
It's not it.
- You go to Las Vegas? - Yeah.
I don't go to Vegas. Why don't I go to Vegas?
Marty, it's late. I think we should just get up and...
Why gamble with money when you can gamble with people's lives?
That was a joke.
All right, I'll tell you.
I believe in the notion that people are innocent until proven guilty.
I believe in that notion because I choose to believe
in the basic goodness of people.
I choose to believe that not all crimes are committed by bad people.
And I try to understand
that some very good people do some very bad things.
You know when I was working for Shaughnessy,
I did something very, very bad.
Illegal. I was a prosecutor then.
This thing I did. I was very upset by it and decided to leave.
So I left. I became a defending attorney.
The irony being that everyone assumed I was lying anyhow.
I made myself this little promise that...
...l would reserve my lies for other than my public life.
You print any of this, I'll sue your fucking ass.
- All right, so I made a little mistake. - No shit.
What do you want? A new suit? I'll buy you a new suit.
You made a mistake? You told us the third man did it.
You got your third man. And a fourth man and a fifth man...
What are you going to do, Marty?
I don't know. I really fucked up here.
You were right.
- So how are you gonna get him off? - I don't know.
What I know is that Aaron did not commit first-degree murder.
- He stabbed him a billion times... - Not Aaron.
To convict someone of a capital crime the State must prove intent.
- Roy had intent, Aaron didn't. - Then you have to plead insanity...
...which we can't do mid-trial, unless you plan a career change.
I could've been mistaken, but I wasn't wrong.
Aaron is innocent. It's Roy who is guilty.
He doesn't need a lawyer, he needs an exorcist.
You're full of shit. You weren't there. You didn't see it.
He's one sick boy who's been fucked around by his father, by his priest.
It's our job to make sure the jury believes he doesn't deserve to die.
- OK. - OK. How do we do it?
By somehow introducing this whole abuse thing.
- The tape. - That's crazy. That gives him motive.
No, it looks like that, but it's...
No, actually, it turns this whole thing around.
It gives concrete documentation of what Rushman did to this kid.
But we can't put it in. You know that.
But we're not going to.
Oh, fuck!
- OK. - Good.
What the hell are you doing? You know damn well who it is.
- Barleycorn's, Marty. Now. - Janet?
Cute porno. Part of your collection?
Hey.
Where did you get it? Steal it?
- From the crime scene? - I don't know anything...
- You are such a liar. - Think about it.
If it contains that, I wouldn't give it to you. It's motive.
You had to give it to me.
If you introduced it, the jury'd despise you for dishonouring the bishop.
If you get me to show it, motive or no motive, I'm the one who looks bad,
and you gain sympathy for your poor, little, abused boy.
- You think so? - I hate you.
Don't use it.
I have no intention of using it.
- The usual, Stu. - You got it.
- You're up to even more than that. - I'm not up to anything.
You're opening a door for me with a tiger on the other end, and I don't...
You know who you'd really upset? Shaughnessy.
- Fuck him. - Fuck him?
Fuck you.
Thanks a lot.
- If this is not your motive, what is? - I have motive.
Yeah, what is it?
I'm really gonna tell you.
Better tell the jury soon. Time's running out.
Here you go.
You think you've got me, huh?
You think because you know me as well as you do, you know how I think.
Well, I know how you think.
You know what I'm thinking?
What happened to your face?
I... I bumped it in a medicine cabinet.
No, that was a girl on her way out.
- We should come back here later. - They close in ten minutes.
No, after.
After the trial.
When we got nothing to lose.
How can your timing be so good in a courtroom
and so bad in real life?
I'll think about it later. I hate you too much right now.
You got a visitor.
Here she comes.
Talk to you later.
Janet.
Morning.
So where's the tape?
There's some pretty ugly stuff on that tape.
- Yes, there is. - Who would've thought?
- Where did it come from? - Landed on my front door. No note.
- Vail? - Who else?
Clever prick.
What do you think he's up to?
- I honestly don't know. - Cut the crap.
You know him well. You were balling him.
- Where is it? - At home.
I have some advice for you.
If you have aspirations beyond this particular office,
pick up your handbag, go home and destroy this tape
you should've destroyed, like I did.
You don't think Vail has a copy?
You don't think there's an original?
Stampler is on trial, not the Catholic church.
If you haven't found another motive to hang him on, God help you.
All rise.
Please, sit down.
Madame Prosecutor.
Miss Venable.
The State calls Thomas Goodman.
Objection, Your Honour.
Prosecution knows Mr Goodman is my investigator in this case,
and under the Work Product Rule he can't be compelled to testify.
- Permission to approach the bench? - Granted.
I have important evidence which the witness can authenticate.
That's Mr Vail's privilege. If he doesn't want Goodman to testify, he won't.
Make a decision, Mr Vail.
- You ever been to my apartment? - No.
- By that I mean my apartment building. - Allegedly.
I'm sorry. You have or you haven't. "Allegedly" doesn't figure into it.
I have...been there, yes.
- Why did you go there? - I was delivering something.
For whom?
Martin Vail.
Mr Vail sent you to deliver something to me.
- Yes. - What was it?
A video tape.
Could this be the tape you delivered for Mr Vail?
I have a feeling it is, yes.
The People place this video tape in evidence.
So ordered. Please index.
Where did Mr Vail get this tape, if it is the same one?
He took it from the closet of Archbishop Rushman.
- Stole it. - Borrowed it.
Once I made the transfer for him, I returned it.
Can you describe what's on the tape?
There was a sermon by Archbishop Rushman, a rehearsal,
followed by...
- ..a kind of home movie. - A home movie? Of what?
- Some altar boys. - And?
- A girl. - Doing what?
An altar boy lesson of some kind?
Having sex.
Quiet.
A porno movie.
- Mm, yes. - Yes. Now.
How is it that this tape, this porno tape,
was in the Archbishop's closet in order for Vail to find it there?
- He was the...director. - Who was?
- Archbishop Rushman. - Quiet!
And was the defendant one of the altar boys performing in the movie?
- Yes, he was. - Was his girlfriend, Linda Forbes?
Yes, she was.
Did it appear to you that the defendant was enjoying
performing in this film with his girlfriend?
No, he does not.
I will not ask you if you think we've uncovered motive here.
We will decide that for ourselves once we've all seen the video tape.
No further questions.
Does Defence wish to cross?
- No, Your Honour. - Court's in recess.
Bailiff, please set up for the tape. Mr Goodman, you're excused.
Thanks for the advice.
- Mr Vail said she was your girlfriend. - Yes, she was.
- How did you meet? - We were both at the Savior House.
I was an altar boy,
and she was working for Bishop Rushman.
Doing what?
Were you sleeping with anyone else at the time?
- No, no. - Was she?
N-n-no.
Has she been to see you, Aaron?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm still here.
What?
Mr Vail, are you prepared to proceed with your first witness?
Yes, Your Honour. The Defence calls John Shaughnessy.
The People object. Mr Shaughnessy has never been identified as...
- Your Honour, may I approach? - Yes, you may.
My client is on trial for his life. He maintains there was a third person.
Can Mr Shaughnessy confirm that?
The US Constitution takes precedence here,
permitting calling any witness to prove innocence.
That's stated in the Sixth Amendment and profound in Brady vs. Maryland.
Mr Shaughnessy, you sit on the board of the Rushman Foundation?
I am an honorary board member.
Explain the nature and purpose of this foundation.
It was founded by the late Archbishop.
Its purpose is to invest in projects for the greater good of the community.
The greater good of the community, OK.
Would that be true in the case of the now bankrupt...
- ...South River Housing Development? - Yes.
Could you tell the court why the South River project was abandoned?
There was a difference of opinion as to the costs.
Wasn't there also a difference of opinion
between the investors and the late Archbishop?
- I don't recall. - You don't...
What kind of money are we talking about?
How much money was invested in this failed South River enterprise?
- 60 million dollars. - Quiet.
60 million dollars!
Wow, that's a lot of money.
You and the Archbishop have been friends for 20 years?
- You knew each other well. - That's right.
- Did that tape's content surprise you? - Yes, of course.
You've never heard any allegations against the Archbishop?
Not that I recall, no.
Especially since you were State's Attorney for the last 1 5 years,
you've supervised all prosecutions in Cook County during that time,
especially the prosecutions of prominent figures.
I also have a staff of a thousand of the best prosecutors...
As State's Attorney it was up to you, ultimately, to decide...
- ...who would be indicted. - Yes.
Let me just take you back now.
Let's go back to June 1 985.
Do you recall any allegations of sexual misconduct...
- ...against the Archbishop then? - I don't recall that, no.
Do you recall a young man by the name of Michael O'Donnell
who came to the felony review unit at your office?
I have no idea what you're talking about.
That's confusing because a document from the Chicago Metropolitan Police
says that Michael O'Donnell spoke to the supervisor for two weeks,
explaining sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of Archbishop Rushman.
Isn't it also true, Mr State's Attorney, that you then decided that your friend
was not going to stand trial for any of it?
He owed you big time, John.
You must have been pissed off when he pulled out of South River.
He just said, "I can't take it any more"? He said, "No!"
You and your investors had 60 million reasons to kill him!
- You little cocksucker! - That's it. Witness dismissed.
- Vail, in my chambers now. - That's for Joey Pinero, shithead.
Start looking for a job.
You think you can use my courtroom to wage vendettas and settle old scores,
you are sorely mistaken.
I'm striking Shaughnessy's testimony from the record as irrelevant,
and I'm holding you in contempt to the tune of 1 0,000 dollars.
You're saying that I can't get a fair trial in your courtroom?
Be very careful, Mr Vail. You're on dangerous ground.
You want the cheque made out to you?
You want me to take you off this case?
You're making a mockery of my courtroom, and I won't allow it.
I suggest you start representing your client and stop representing yourself.
- Can we do this later? - No, I want to stay with this.
- I'm feeling very, very tired. - Yeah, I know.
Why does talking about Linda Forbes upset you?
It doesn't. Ijust...
- OK. - I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- You know what I can do with this? - How the fuck should I know!
Dr Arrington, how much time have you spent with Aaron Stampler?
- Around 60 hours. - What did you find in your evaluation?
Mr Stampler suffers from an acute disassociative condition.
- Multiple personality disorder. - Objection, Your Honour.
She's only stating what she's personally observed.
- Your Honour. - Counsellors.
- I know what you're doing. - Excuse us for a minute?
If he wants to question his client's sanity...
I'm trying to establish a medical basis for amnesia.
That's not what he's doing. He's saying he's crazy.
- Are you? - No, I am not.
I'll allow you to proceed with this witness if you're very careful.
Absolutely. Yes.
Write down that he said that.
All right, where were we?
Now, could Aaron Stampler
have been present during the murder of Archbishop Rushman...
- ...and not remember it? - Yes, he could.
Could you explain that, please?
Stampler's state was such that his body could be present at a homicide,
and yet his mind would be unable to recall it.
- How would this be possible? - This neurological mechanism...
...began with the early abuse suffered at the hands of his father.
In defence Aaron's psyche splintered into two separate personalities.
- Your Honour. - I didn't say it. I did not say it...
You've been warned twice. You wanna pursue this?
And I suggest you think long and hard before answering.
Your Honour, just one last question.
All right, Dr Arrington...
...in your opinion is Aaron Stampler capable of murder?
No, he's far too traumatised to express normal anger and frustration.
He keeps his emotions repressed,
which is why he created Roy, who is capable...
- Objection. - That's enough, Mr Vail.
The jury will disregard this witness' last statement, as will the court.
- Prosecutor, do you wish to cross? - You bet I do.
Since you brought it up, against the instructions of the court,
is multiple personality disorder your primary area of expertise?
It's not my primary field, no.
Is forensic psychiatry your primary area of expertise?
- No, I'm a neuropsychologist. - I see.
So you have no forensic experience and you're more of an academic?
Then you will forgive this rather academic question.
I'm driving, somebody cuts me off.
I feel like killing this guy, but I don't. Now do l?
- I would hope not. - That's right.
Things happen to us. People wrong us.
But we don't all invent psychopaths to do our dirty work for us, doctor?
I'm not suggesting you have multiple personalities.
- I'm saying Mr Stampler does. - Yes, I know. We heard.
You have also testified that you have met this... What was his name again?
- Roy. - Roy what?
- He didn't give a last name. - I see.
Did this Roy tell you that he had murdered the Archbishop?
Mr Vail was with him, I was outside,
but soon after I was in the room and saw both Roy
and his transformation back to Aaron.
Did you happen to tape this appearance of Aaron...?
Oh, I'm sorry. I just cannot get used to this name.
- Roy. - Did you?
- No, the tape was off. - Off?
So you have no record whatsoever of his appearance.
- No. - No.
- Does Aaron know right from wrong? - Yes, he does.
- If Aaron butchered the Archbishop... - Objection.
...would he know if Aaron murdered the Archbishop?
- Would he know he'd broken the law? - Yes, he would. But it wasn't Aaron...
Oh, yes, I know, doctor. It was Roy.
That's all. No further questions, Your Honour.
Witness may step down.
If you'd like to re-open your case and call the State's psychiatrist...
- ...l will certainly agree to it. - No, l...
I don't think that's necessary. I think we all get the picture here.
Mr Vail, are you ready to proceed?
Would you like a recess?
Roy?
Aaron.
Could you tell us a little about your relationship with the Archbishop?
Well, he was like a father to me. I loved him very much.
Why did you love him?
- Why? - Aha.
Well, he...he s-saved my life.
He was the only person who ever treated me like I was worth anything.
Stop your whining, little girl. Be a man.
We've all seen that tape that you were in, Aaron.
How did that make you feel? Did it change your feelings about Rushman?
No.
He was a wonderful man.
So you didn't feel anger towards him for forcing you to perform in that tape?
No, he did everýthing for me.
There was nothing else I could do for him, and he needed it.
Do you know someone named Roy?
No, I don't.
You heard Dr Arrington's testimony about what she and I saw at the jail.
There are strange things going on. Do you remember?
I heard what she said, but I don't remember any of that.
Did you kill Archbishop Rushman?
No, sir, I did not.
Thank you.
Your witness.
Mr Stampler, would you like some water?
- N-no, ma'am. - You sure?
Ye-yes, ma'am.
Mr Stampler, did you believe that the Archbishop wore masks?
I'm sorry, what did you say?
Do you think he acted one way in public and another way in private?
N-no, I don't think that.
Isn't that why you underlined the Hawthorne passage?
Mr Stampler?
No, I did not underline that book.
- You didn't underline it? - No, ma'am.
And you didn't carve the numbers of that passage into his chest?
No, ma'am, I did not. I told you l...
You loved him.
You loved him like a father.
Even though he made you and your girlfriend
perform demeaning sexual acts for his own gratification.
No, you don't understand. He...
There was no other way for him to cast out his demons. He...
He needed to get off, Aaron. That's what he was doing.
That's what he needed you for. To perform like a circus animal.
- That was your function in his life. - N-no.
Oh, Mr Stampler, I'm gonna ask you straight because I am tired.
I've had enough of this sordidness, and I wanna go home.
And I wanna wash my hands, and I wanna forget all about you
and Archbishop Rushman.
Did the Archbishop force you and your girlfriend and others
to perform sexual acts while he watched? Yes or no?
- Yes, he did, but... - Yes. Yes, he forced you.
He forced you using a threat of expulsion from Savior House
and a life on the street with no heat and no water and no food.
He put you in front of a camera! He made you take off your clothes!
And you don't think that's another side?
Another face of a man that we all thought...
- No! No. - Someone did that to me, I'd kill him.
I would stab him 78 times with a butcher knife!
I would chop off his fingers! I would slash his throat open!
I would carve numbers into his chest! I would gouge out his eyes! I swear.
But that's me.
- No further questions. - Where the hell are you going?
Look at me when I'm talking to you, bitch!
Fuck you, lady! Come here!
Order! Bailiff! Order!
Let's play rough! Come on. Back off!
- Roy! - Keep coming, and I'll break her neck!
- Come here and talk. - Fuck you, Marty! I'm walking out!
No! No! Don't you... !
You OK?
Don't even think of lighting that cigarette, Miss Venable.
- How's your neck? - I'll live.
I could call a doctor.
Mr Shaughnessy just called to inform me there will be no mistrial.
- As if that was his right. - I can't believe...
...that scumbag has the balls to call.
No thanks.
What matters to me is what you have to say. Your case has been damaged.
In fairness to the Prosecution I would declare a mistrial,
regardless of what Shaughnessy and Vail think, if that's what you want.
The Prosecution doesn't wanna try this case again even if it could.
Which it can't. At least not by me.
I think I can guarantee you there's no one
in the DA's office who will. So...it's up to you.
I'm gonna dismiss the jury in favour of a bench trial
and a blind plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Yes?
The defendant will be remanded to Elgin for a 30-day evaluation period.
Let them decide the term of his commitment.
- Do you have a problem with that? - He'll be out in a month.
Take it up with the Legislature, Miss Venable.
I'm going home.
- Your Honour. - No, I won't refund your contempt fine.
Next time you wanna get a client off on insanity, you plead that way,
or I'll have you disbarred.
- You OK? - Am I OK? Do I seem OK?
I get attacked by this sick twist, I've lost the case, I'm out of a job.
No, I'm not OK. But hey, you won, justice was done. Who cares, right?
Congratulations.
You knew, didn't you?
You knew if I went after him, he'd wig out.
I knew he'd come out if he was threatened.
Who better to do that than me?
You used me.
Yeah, I did. I had no choice.
What did I use that was so terrible?
I knew you'd do your job. I knew you'd stand up to Shaughnessy.
I knew you'd try to win the case. What's wrong with that?
- I lost my fucking job! - Good, you should've left years ago.
- You always say what's right for me. - I'm arrogant.
I'm very...
...very arrogant.
- You wanna dance? - No.
- Sure? - Yeah.
All you have to do is turn around.
No.
I have to see my client.
- I'd like a minute alone with him. - You sure?
You OK?
My head hurts.
You don't remember what just happened?
No?
I lo-lost time again.
Well, I got some good news.
They've agreed to stop the trial.
They'll be sending you to a hospital... to get the help you need.
There's a very good chance you can get out someday soon.
Yeah.
I c-can't believe it.
- I d-don't know what to say, Mr Vail. - That's all right.
I knew the minute you came into my cell that everýthing would be OK.
You s-saved my life.
I got to go.
- When will I see you again? - That's up to the courts now.
I don't want you to worry. I'm gonna stay on top of this, OK?
Thank you.
- Give me a call if you need to. - I will.
- Mr Vail? - Yeah.
Will you t-tell Miss Venable I'm sorry?
Tell her I hope her neck is OK.
Yeah.
- What did you just say? - What?
You told me you don't remember. You black out.
So how do you know about her neck?
Well, good for you, Marty.
I was gonna let it go.
You were looking so happy just now. I was thinking...
To tell you the truth, I'm glad you figured it.
'Cause I have been dying to tell you.
I just didn't know who you'd wanna hear it from.
Aaron or Roy, Roy or Aaron.
Well, I'll let you in on a client- attorney-privilege type of secret.
It don't matter who you hear it from. It's the same story.
I j-j-just...
had to kill Linda, Mr Vail.
That cunt just got what she deserved.
But...cutting up that son of a bitch Rushman...
...that was just a fucking work of art.
You're good. You are really good.
Yeah, I did get caught, though, didn't l?
So there never... there never was a Roy?
Jesus Christ, Marty. If that's what you think, I'm disappointed in you.
There never was an Aaron, counsellor.
Come on, I thought you had it figured there at the end.
The way you put me on the stand like that, that was brilliant.
The whole "act-like-a-man" thing. I knew what you wanted.
It was like we were dancing, Marty!
- Guard. - Don't be like that, Marty.
We did it, man. We fucking did it. We're a great team, you and me.
You think I could've done this without you?
You're feeling angry because you started to care about old Aaron, but...
...love hurts, Marty. What can I say?
I'mjust kidding, bud! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!
What else was I supposed to do?!
You'll thank me down the road, 'cause this'll toughen you up, Martin Vail!
You hear me? That's a promise!
Resync: Xenzai[NEF]
ENGLISH