Beyond A Reasonable Doubt Page #2

of mind to pick up his shell casings

but not his cigarette butt

that he left right next to the victim's hand?

I think you used the word proof?

The interview tape.

Just bear with me here.

The detective on the left,

one Anthony Merchant.

Now before Hunter joined the DA's

office, he was a police detective

and his partner for many

of those years was none other

than Detective Lieutenant

Anthony Merchant.

Now watch.

Okay, here we go.

That's how they got the cigarette

butt with Benson's DNA.

- It's right there in front of us.

- This is your proof?

You going along with this?

All of these 17 convictions

were decided by DNA evidence.

In each case the lead detective was

none other than Anthony Merchant.

How did you get that tape?

From a source.

And I bet this source has a skirt.

Does it matter?

- Not really.

- Then what is it?

I mean, this is a story...

a monster story.

I just received the new budget.

We can't afford the investigation

team anymore.

- What?

- You've got to be kidding me.

- Come on.

- Have you looked at your ratings?

- No.

- Well, it's not a pretty sight.

It just so happens that the folks

who own this place

have this funny little obsession

about ratings.

It seems that ratings pay the rent.

No ratings, no rent.

So you guys are both

going on general assignment.

- Oh, come on.

- I don't like this any more than you do.

Hey, I saw your documentary.

That's why I hired you. I know you're good.

- What about this story?

- What story?

You've got some stones coming

in here using the word proof.

You answer me one simple question:

How in the hell could Detective Merchant

plant that cigarette at the crime scene

when the interview took place

three days after

the crime scene photographs

were taken?

Well...

Pick up your assignments

at the front desk and get out of here.

I would just like to say

that is an excellent tie.

Out!

I've been assigned to our fearless

sportscaster and his lovely toupee.

You're doing a piece on people

over 65 who run the 10k.

Hunter's dirty.

I can feel it in my bones.

And I'm gonna prove it.

I've worked too hard to go back

to baby rhinos at the zoo.

There's baby rhinos at the zoo?

What? No, it's a metaphor.

- You know, baby rhinos, kitten in a tree.

- Right.

- So there's no baby rhinos?

- Would you shut up?

Hey, CJ, that woman

is on the line again.

Yeah, okay.

I'll take it.

- Yeah, line 7.

- Thanks.

- Do you mind?

- No, not at all. Go ahead.

- Get the hell out of here.

- Call me if you need me.

Hello?

Yeah.

Listen, now's...

this isn't really a good time.

Yes.

No, I'm not.

Things aren't going

very well for me right now.

I understand.

Okay.

I will.

I promise.

Thank you.

You should have seen

that 10k.

There should be an age limit

for wearing spandex.

Sorry I missed it.

I didn't come out here

to do stories like that.

Who does?

Right.

You're not staring at me.

You told me I wasn't allowed to.

I didn't think you'd actually listen.

I'm feeling too sorry for myself

to do any good staring.

- That's a damn shame.

- I could try.

Give it your best shot.

That's not too bad.

I could do much better.

This is my B stare.

If I ever give you my full stare...

Shut up.

Keep staring.

I felt so sorry for you.

You looked so sad

at the table.

Ah yes, the whole

end-of-my-career thing.

I was making that up.

It's not the end of your career.

- It's not exactly a promotion.

- Yeah, but it's not the end.

All you have to do

is something really good.

Really good,

and they'll have to put it on.

Well, I...

think I might have something.

Might have.

- Maybe.

- Well, what is it?

Not now.

I just can't tell you now.

I don't even have it yet.

And it's privileged.

Everything I said

when I took my clothes off,

that's privileged.

Morning.

Good morning is right.

Coffee?

Thank you.

What's in your kitchen?

A stove, a refrigerator

that makes ice cubes.

What about eggs?

Yes, eggs.

I can do eggs.

- And maybe even some toast?

- Mmm.

Holy sh*t.

You won an award.

Yeah, that's what brought me out here.

I was working for a little station

in Buffalo, New York.

You know, Mark Twain once said that to

commit suicide in Buffalo was redundant.

I did this piece

on a girl, Taieesha,

by her stepfather

and her mother kicked her

out of the house.

She had no home,

no place to go

in the middle

of December in Buffalo.

You can't even begin to imagine

what winters are like there.

Found her living on the streets

hooking to make money.

It's nice to know people will pay

to have sex with a pregnant teenager.

She was in a snowstorm

when she went into labor.

I'd like to see it.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

Okay.

She was so little.

She wouldn't let me show her face.

Felt like she could break

if you held her wrong.

I cleaned her off as best I could.

I knew I had to keep her warm.

I wrapped her underneath my coat.

I could feel her against my breast.

After a while I felt her grow,

you know, cold

up against my skin.

I knew the church,

they'd take care of her.

They'd bury my baby girl.

When I started to walk away

I just couldn't see her wrapped

in all those newspapers

in front of the church.

I couldn't.

I knew she was with God.

Still...

I couldn't look back.

Jane Doe's mother had a...

Wow.

I, uh, don't really know

what to say.

It's... I'd like to see the rest.

Go ahead, take it.

I've got a bunch of copies.

- She, uh...

- What happened to her?

She died of an overdose

two weeks after the interview.

She never got to see the piece

or the attention it got.

So they brought me out here.

It's not much bigger,

but at least I got my own

investigative unit.

And now that's gone.

CJ, you really are

a good reporter.

Hey, no no.

You said you had an idea.

Well, go, follow it.

Look, I told you

this is not a good time.

All right, I will.

Just stay calm.

You dropped your pens.

Later.

Four, four, good.

I'm not close.

Stay on that way.

Focus here.

No seven.

I need you. I need you.

- Come on.

- Come on, I was on a roll.

- Yeah, I noticed.

- What's happening?

How far would you go

for the story of your lifetime?

I mean, you know me,

farther than far.

Would you risk everything?

Depends on what you mean

by everything.

Everything means everything,

including going to prison.

- You're kidding.

- Never been more serious in my entire life.

Jesus. I mean, I don't know.

I'm talking about the biggest story

we've ever dreamed of.

I'm talking about the Pulitzer Prize.

- You're also talking about prison.

- Just hear me out.

When I'm done, you say no

we don't do it. It's your choice.

Of course it will mean you'll spend

the rest of your numbered days

producing ticky tidbits

from a minor league infield.

And it'll also mean

you have no scrotal sack.

We gonna cut to commercial

before we do Final Jeopardy?

Right, cut to the chase.

We both know that Hunter is bringing

in fake DNA to get those convictions.

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