Criminal Law Page #6

Ben, this is Ellen. I think

I found the right files.

The Women's Medical Clinic,

corner of Pine and Pearl.

And I think I have a chance to make sure.

It's almost 5:
30.

I'll call you back.

Hi, Ben. It's me.

I've been trying to get you

all week at your office,

but your secretary's too smart.

The Women's Medical Clinic,

corner of Pine and Pearl.

And I think...

Ellen?

It's Sybil Thiel.

I called you earlier.

I didn't get a message.

This is not a matter

for employees, Mr. Chase.

I talked to Martin.

I told him about the files.

Why didn't you tell him?

When was that?

Before the motion in the first place.

No, when did you talk to

Martin and where was he?

Early this afternoon.

Hello, this is the recorded

voice of Ben Chase.

Please leave your name and

number when you hear the beep.

Dammit, where are you? I don't

know what to do with these files.

Doreen Clark, Phylis Gilder, Janet.

They all had abortions here. Now, Dr.

Thiel never treated any of them,

but she had access to the files...

I see you know who I am. That's only

fair, since I know who you are.

You're Janet's friend and you

must be Ben's friend, too.

His little helper.

I should have known.

Poor, unfaithful Ben.

This is all Ben's fault.

You know that.

No!

No! No!

Ellen!

Ellen. It's me! It's Ben!

Please.

Ellen!

Ellen! Ellen!

Ben!

Martin, you frightened me.

Is Mother here?

She's in her office working late again.

Thanks.

You're back.

Busy now?

Killing babies?

Dr. Thiel!

Dr. Thiel!

Yes?

Martin?

You betrayed me, Ben.

Where are you?

You have no one to blame but yourself.

Are you at your mother's?

I have no mother.

Martin, what does that mean?

It means there's only

the two of us, you and me.

I need to see you.

9:
00 tomorrow night

at River Point.

You and no one else.

Promise me that, Ben.

Promise me, Ben.

I promise.

That was him, wasn't it?

I've gotta kill him.

It's not worth it.

It is to me.

Ben, I saw the look in your eyes back there.

I know that look.

I have seen it on so many husbands,

and mothers and fathers.

And on the worst nights,

I've looked in the mirror

and seen it in my own eyes.

But when the light comes up,

I always know that you've

got to let the law have it.

That's exactly what he's counting on.

You'll arrest him.

Read him his rights.

Let him make a phone call to call

the best lawyer money can buy

and the whole thing will start over.

What's the alternative?

Murder?

It'll be self-defense.

Or I'll make it look that way.

It's not how it'll look.

It's how it'll feel.

It'll feel good.

Ben, you'll be just like him.

Ben.

Over here.

Follow the wires.

I'm breaking the rules.

You didn't bring any flowers, either.

You're pretty goddamn chipper.

What have I got to

worry about? I'm dying.

I didn't know.

Last time we talked, I didn't know.

Sure you did. We're all dying, all the time.

Don't remind me.

It's good to be reminded.

It's the only thing the

dead can do for the living.

Well, in the meantime,

what can I do for you?

Got any new quotes?

I thought you gave that up.

Too late to break the habit.

I've been thinking about an old one.

"There's no such thing as

justice, in or out of court."

Clarence Darrow.

And what do you think he meant?

That law and justice

are two different things.

They're not the same.

At least not here and now.

Not anywhere, not ever.

They're never the same.

Where does that leave you?

When I was just out of law

school, I went to Washington.

And the only thing I wanted to see

was a Justice of the Supreme Court.

I couldn't imagine what such an

exalted being would look like.

I went to the Court, and waited outside.

I saw Louis Brandeis.

It was like seeing Zeus.

I held my breath.

Then, he stepped on a patch

of ice hidden in a shadow

and did the most perfect

pratfall I ever saw.

I rushed forward and helped him up.

He wasn't hurt.

He wasn't embarrassed.

I was.

He just thanked me,

and left me standing there.

Then I looked up

and saw that the shadow fell

from one of the gleaming statues.

The figure that represents abstract justice.

Brandeis was just a human being.

Trying to keep his balance in pursuit

of an ideal that is always above us.

The law is the dark shadow of justice.

It does not shine.

It's not even the same shape,

but it is connected.

We know what casts the shadow,

and it's as close as we can get.

I've gotta go.

So do I.

Court will grant us time.

Your Honor,

defense would have no objection, of course.

But I assure the court

that the facts are simple.

And the rule clearly...

Your Honor, this is the most technical

and insignificant violation

of the man's rights.

No f***ing way. No way.

You've got no choice, Mesel.

It's me he wants.

Anybody else shows up, he won't be there.

Why didn't you tell us this last night?

I have to do this.

Do what, Ben?

I'm here. I'm gonna

let you have him.

But you gotta let me be part of it.

Why should we?

Have to be on the record. Everything

you've been up to is gonna come out.

I'm past worrying about that, Jean.

Way past.

Liberating, ain't it?

What do you say?

We say yes, if it makes sense.

I wanna wear a bug.

You're still his lawyer.

I won't be after the first minute.

I'll return his retainer, and tell

him I no longer represent him

and try to get him to talk

about his mother's death.

If you're not his lawyer, why

should he tell you anything?

I know him.

I know him well enough.

We have a rather special relationship.

If he tumbles to the wire, he'll kill you.

Let me worry about that.

Look, Sonny.

Don't think for a second that I

give a damn what happens to you.

But this is our business. If there's

one thing we can tell you it's this:

A crazy killer is crazy.

And he will kill you.

I know.

Okay.

9:
00. The park

at River Point.

Come by the office

at 6:
00.

We'll rig the equipment.

You bastard!

You bastard! You promised!

Come on!

You son of a b*tch!

You promised me!

You promised me!

I love the rain.

After the purifying fire,

the cleansing rain.

I'm glad we've come back here, Ben.

It was a good time for us.

Get me the hostage unit, the SWAT team,

and the paramedics!

Clear the building!

Keep your men back from there.

It's good to know how things really are.

Even if I have to be alone.

Even if you're not with me.

What did you want me to do?

Hold them down?

Find innocent women...

Innocent women?

What about their babies?

More innocent than angels.

That's all over now.

But it was never the point

between us, Ben. Never.

You've missed the heart of what

I've been trying to tell you.

And what is the heart of it?

That you must judge for yourself.

And you must act on that

judgment, whatever the cost.

You were great. You were

so great in here, Ben.

You saved my life.

And I haven't forgotten that.

I'll prove it.

I have your life here

at the end of my finger.

I can take it, or spare it.

But what difference does it make,

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