Guilty as Sin Page #2

l knew she was angry

with me and upset.

Depressed over our relationship.

Now, what could a man do

to get his wife that, that angry?

Miss Haines,

God put too damn many

attractive women on this earth.

Rita knew that about me

before we were married,

and l never promised to change.

You don't portray yourself

as a very sympathetic figure.

There's a hell of a big

difference between...

being a compulsive

womanizer and a murderer.

- Was your wife rich?

- Very.

So you stand to inherit

a great deal of money?

Yes. And l've earned every penny.

Look at what she's

putting me through now.

She could have just divorced you.

Not good enough.

Miss Haines,

my wife was a very sick woman.

Two years ago she had to be

institutionalized for seven months.

Clinical depression.

And she swore that she'd get back at me

even if it meant from the grave.

And now, thanks to her

letter writing skills,

l might just spend the rest

of my life behind bars.

- There was a letter?

- Yes.

lt arrived at the State's Attorney's

Office the day after her death.

They wouldn't let me see it,

but they made it pretty clear...

Where did you go?

Do l have to answer that?

l promise, nothing you say

could lower my opinion of you.

All right.

l met a very nice lady

at the bar at the Drake.

She had some clean shirts at

her place; so many of them do.

And they always seem to fit.

Terrible picture, don't you think?

Do you know that there

are some women that are...

always attracted

to men the same size?

l'm counting on you to arrange that.

l have someone at the State's Attorney's

Office you can surrender to...

without a lot of media coverage.

- And so you'll handle my defence?

- Oh, thank you, but no.

Why not?

Because you don't like me?

- Or because you do?

- You're not my type.

l wouldn't be

too sure about that.

Come on. Why won't you handle

my defence? l'm innocent.

How would l know that?

Because, Miss Haines,

you can tell about clients...

like l can tell

about women, like that.

You know, it's funny.

l actually believe you.

Liars are seldom as blunt

or ridiculous.

Well, then, come on. For every

five Lombardos you represent...

you should take on

at least one innocent man.

-Mmm, my calendar's full.

-l can't believe you're turning me down.

l'm sure it's a novel experience,

but you'll get used to it.

l never have.

l'll tell you what.

l'll arrange for Josephine Grimes

to come see you.

She's a capable attorney

with her own firm...

and two grown sons as her partners.

l'm sure she'll be safe with you.

Get me Stanley Helman

in the State's Attorney's Office.

- Well, l'm glad you're not

taking that vacation.

- Well--

We've decided to let you take over

on this Barry Carpenter mess.

uh, he's as innocent as a baby.

Let's hold off on that a minute.

Yesterday l spent ten minutes

in my office with a slick...

but very attractive womanizer

who really needs an attorney.

- Who?

- David Greenhill.

Oh, no. Not that guy who

threw his wife out the window.

- l don't know that he did.

- What did you tell him?

l turned him down,

but l'm having second thoughts.

- Why?

- Because l've never represented

anyone like Greenhill before.

He is completely in love

with himself, manipulative...

and an outrageous flirt.

Uh-huh.

l mean, he is a classic target.

The media is gonna have

a field day with him.

''Gigolo murders society wife.''

''Lady-killer kills lady.''

They are gonna hate him

and try and destroy him.

ls that why you're

tempted to take him on?

- Maybe.

- You're really feeling your oats,

aren't you, Jennifer?

- You said you thought

l could be one of the best.

- Mmm.

You carried me through law school,

kept moving me up in the firm.

You want an honest answer?

l am feeling my oats.

- Good.

- l think l can get him off.

Besides, he makes a very good

case for his own innocence.

- l believe him.

- Well, l can see you're

talking yourself into it.

He should be able to afford

the very best defence, eh?

l thought you'd find

something positive about it.

You actually showed up.

You can't-- You can't imagine

how much better l feel...

- just knowing that you're here.

- Well, don't feel too good.

The State's Attorney's Office

say the lab reports show...

your fingerprints

all over that window.

And the houseboy claims he

cleaned it just the day before.

l-lt was stuck.

Rita deliberately...

got me to open the window

that morning.

Can anybody corroborate that?

lt was after the houseboy went out.

Goddam it. Don't you think

if l was gonna toss my wife

out the f***in' window,

l'd have the common sense to

wipe my fingerprints off of it?

You don't have to convince me.

- Okay.

- Rodriguez! Your defence

counsellor is here.

Here's a copy of the letter she sent

to the State's Attorney's Office.

Beautiful.

According to her, l may as well have

taken an ad out in the Chicago Trib.

Our first problem is gonna be

to get you free on bail,

which is always very difficult

in a capital offence.

Then l guess l got me

an attorney.

Can you post bond?

Well, my wife's family

has tied up all the assets,

but Miriam said that she would

stand for the bond and--

Oh, and she said

she'd pay your fee.

- Miriam?

- Miriam Langford.

She's a dear friend.

You don't mind

if l have friends, do you?

Just don't marry them

'til the trial's over, okay?

Ah, don't worry about that.

l might even fall in love

with somebody else by then.

Your Honour, my client, David Greenhill,

has no prior record...

of any criminal activity,

nor has he any history of violence.

He maintains strong financial

and property ties to the community.

There is no reason to believe there is

any danger he'll flee the jurisdiction.

We respectfully request

bail not be denied.

Your Honour, we're dealing here with a

case of cold-blooded murder for profit.

An act so brutal, so premeditated,

it would lead any civilized person...

to believe the perpetrator would be

a danger to others in the community.

Therefore, it's in

the interest of the people that

David Greenhill be denied bail.

The court sets bail

in the amount of $250,000.

And you will surrender

your passport today. Next.

- Let me get outta here.

- Case number 623394.

Miriam, thank you

so much for everything.

l can't tell you

what this means to me.

You're the only one

that believes l'm innocent.

- What about Miss Haines?

- Oh, God, Miss Haines!

She said she'd defend me

even if l was guilty.

- That's her job, isn't it?

- l don't trust her.

See, people like us, Miriam,

we're-- We're warm people.

But she's a--

She's an attorney!

Don't you talk to her about us.

Don't discuss anything with her.

- Do you understand?

- She's awfully attractive.

Not to me, she's not.

All she cares about is winning.

She's like a goddam machine.

She did get you out of jail.

lt's what you wanted.

No, baby.

This is what l wanted.

- Just to your right, ma'am.

- Thank you.

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