Beyond A Reasonable Doubt Page #3

- Right.

- We don't know exactly how,

- but we know that he's doing it.

- Mm-hmm.

- You with me?

- So far, yeah.

Well, there's one way

we can prove it.

- And is this the risky part?

- Not yet.

First we have to wait

for the right murder.

What do you...

the right murder?

The murder of some

anonymous person, okay?

Some junkie or hooker

where the cops have no suspect

and they really don't give a sh*t.

And there's got to be some

vague physical evidence

like a tire track

or a footprint.

Not a lot.

And it's got to happen

when I have no alibi.

Who needs an ali...

why can't you have one?

I can't have an alibi 'cause that's when

we plant the circumstantial evidence.

We what?

We plant enough circumstantial

evidence that it points to me.

- You're shitting me.

- I sh*t you not.

We not only plant it,

you document us planting it.

You tape me doing it,

each time with the day's

newspaper in the shot.

That way we can prove that

the evidence came after the fact.

Aren't there laws

against this kind of thing?

More than one.

Anyway, enough circumstantial evidence

and District Attorney Mark S Hunter

won't be able to resist.

He'll arrest me, he'll indict me

and he'll put me on trial.

And not only will he

have a high profile case,

he will have a truly sexy, juicy,

front page lead story

that'll tie up the nomination

for governor.

And he'll have a white defendant

that he won't be able to resist.

Is there a change of seasons

on your planet?

Because he could never ever

ever afford to lose this case.

And he'll only have

circumstantial evidence.

Some trace of my DNA

will suddenly be found,

just like it was in all the other cases.

Only this time after he introduces it,

you get the video

and we show it in court.

You think there's a chance a judge

won't have much of a sense of humor

about this?

A judge will go stark raving apeshit.

The pandemonium this'll create

by graphically proving

that Hunter is crooked,

that'll overshadow everything.

Do you have any idea

how big of a story this will be?

Do you really think the DA's office

is gonna want to prosecute us

after this thing breaks?

Look, we know a wrong

is being committed

by a man that may become

our next governor.

We are investigative reporters.

This is our chance to prove it.

It's perfect.

I don't know, man.

Come on, this is our chance.

This could be our Pulitzer.

This is the diem

that we have to carpe.

This is the proverbial pot that we

have to sh*t or get off of.

This right here, right now,

this is it.

God help me.

I'm in.

No, God help Mark Hunter.

I don't know, Ella.

You're either awfully late

for your trial or really early.

You okay?

Uh, yeah, I'm okay.

It's just tomorrow

is my first day as lead so I'm trying to...

Thought maybe the best way to prepare

is sit here in the courtroom alone, huh?

That's what I did at my first trial.

You know, worked for me.

You see that judge's bench,

that big old fancy seal, the flag,

the jury box and you go, "Whoa.

This is big.

This is really big stuff. "

And it is.

We put bad guys away.

That's what we do.

And if you're sure...

I mean down to your marrow sure...

that defendant is guilty,

that jury is going

to follow you anywhere.

But if you've got

even an inkling of a doubt,

you'll lose them like sand

right through your fingers.

It's amazing. They can smell doubt.

I don't know how they do it.

So I guess the most important

thing is to be sure.

- Are you?

- Yes.

- No doubts?

- No.

You make them feel that,

you're not gonna have any

problem at all.

That, you know, and maybe work

the room a little bit, okay?

Okay.

- Ella, good night.

- Good night.

- And good luck.

- Thank you, sir.

- CJ, wake up!

- Jesus Christ.

Ow! Sh*t!

- CJ!

- Coming. Take it easy.

Is she here? I was hoping to

barge in on the two of you.

I'm dying to see her naked.

No, she's got a trial in the morning.

- What's going on?

- Why are you limping?

I came down on my ankle

funny when I got out of bed

because some a**hole woke me

up at 4:
00 in the morning.

What?

What is it?

Get dressed.

Gentlemen.

And I use that term loosely

with the fourth estate.

How'd you get here so fast?

We do have police scanners

in the newsroom, you know.

Really? Next thing you're gonna

tell me is you have a color TV.

- Who is she?

- Dead black junkie hooker.

Her purse was full of condoms.

Most of her customers must be white

'cause the condoms

are regular size.

Cute. Homicide?

Four stab wounds

to the chest and neck.

I'm gonna go way out

on a limb and say yes.

Got any leads?

Got a witness.

Fella over there saw the whole thing.

Or at least his dog did.

It bit the perp.

- Any physical evidence?

- Got a pretty good footprint.

What about the knife?

Did you find the knife?

Why are you so interested?

The victim doesn't have to be famous

for us to be interested.

Whatever you say.

- I'm gonna check him out.

- Yeah, all right.

Listen, think maybe I could take a look

at the crime scene report and photos?

- Now why the hell would I do that?

- I got two primo Springsteen tickets.

Springsteen?

Bruce Springsteen?

- No, his cousin Ralph.

- Do I look white to you?

What?

Do I look white to you?

Well, in certain angles.

Your Mr. Springsteen does not

do it for me. I am unmoved.

We're talking about The Boss here.

No, he's your Boss.

He ain't mine.

Did I mention backstage passes?

I mean, do you have any idea

what women will do

for backstage passes to Springsteen?

Take a good look at me.

This is exactly

what unmoved looks like.

I'll think of something.

You always do, my brother.

You always do.

Goody bag from Nickerson...

all the reports and crime scene photos.

I knew he couldn't pass up

Springsteen tickets.

All right, let's see

what we've got here.

Ooh, wow. Ha.

Shoeprint came in from some loopy

Italian sneaker called Montalvo.

They don't make it anymore.

Size 10-12. What are you?

for the Springsteen tickets.

They also found a can

of pepper spray at the scene.

Probably the victim's.

What did he go for?

The witness heard an argument

between a man and a woman.

He heard the man cry out in pain.

She probably sprayed him.

Then the woman screamed,

the dog took off,

bit the perp and the guy ran away.

- Got him Saint's tickets.

- Perfect. What kind of dog?

Jack Russell terrier.

Jim Carrey, "The Mask"...

love that film.

That's like my seats. What row?

The witness didn't see the perp but said

he was wearing a dark jogging suit.

Looked like Reebok because it had

two stripes down the side.

He was positive it had two stripes,

sneakers and a dark ski mask.

And he was holding a knife

with a dark handle.

Row 22.

Stab wounds are consistent

with a switchblade, around four inches.

That's the same row as...

Dude, tell me you didn't

give him my tickets.

- You're not telling me.

- It's for one season.

You said one reason, right?

Not one season.

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