Madame X Page #6

Clay, I realize how

important your first case is,

but no one expects

you to win it, you know?

Maybe not,

but I've got to try.

You're the best lawyer I know.

What would you do?

How would you defend her?

Well, I'm only

a corporation lawyer, but it

seems to me that I remember

an old professor

of mine at Harvard.

He used to say that

a best defense

is a good offense.

Now, Sullivan's got a record

a mile long, hasn't he?

He sure has, grand larceny,

procuring, blackmail...

Try him on that record.

"Ladies and gentlemen

of the jury, this poor

woman did not sin.

"She was sinned against."

Try Dan Sullivan

for his own murder?

Exactly.

Exactly.

The prosecution

on behalf of The People

of the State of New York

charges the defendant with

murder in the first degree,

and asks that the

penalty be fixed at death.

How does the defense plead?

The defense pleads

not guilty, Your Honor.

(CROWD CHATTERING)

(GAVEL POUNDING)

The defense will show that the

defendant was not responsible

at the time of the crime,

and that the

so-called confession was

obtained under duress.

Prosecution may

present its case.

Is this the gun?

It is.

Had the gun been discharged?

Yes. Three bullets

had been fired.

No further questions.

JUDGE:
Cross-examine.

Did you speak to the defendant

when you found her?

Yes, I asked her name.

What was her answer?

She didn't answer.

Now, according to the

report you filed,

you addressed

several questions to her.

Did she answer any of them?

No.

Did she look at you

when you spoke to her?

No, she just sat there

and stared out.

In other words,

the defendant appeared

to be in a state of shock.

Objection, defense counsel

is asking the witness

for a medical opinion.

Well, Your Honor, I think

we can presume that a police

officer is experienced enough

to recognize a state of shock.

Objection overruled.

Did the defendant

appear to be

in a state of shock?

Yes, she did.

Now, will you tell the court

the defendant's words

when you entered the room?

She said, "Get the police.

I've killed a man."

Did you see the gun?

Yes, she was holding it.

Mr. Lopez,

did you see the defendant

kill Dan Sullivan?

Point the gun,

pull the trigger?

No, he was already dead.

Thank you.

No further questions.

Will you read the court

the criminal record

of Daniel M. Sullivan?

Objection. The record

of the deceased is irrelevant

and immaterial to this case.

Your Honor, the defense

respectfully contends

that the character

of the deceased had a

direct bearing on his death.

I'm going to allow

the witness the answer.

In 1954,

Sullivan served three months

for petty larceny.

In 1955, he was convicted

of extortion on charges

of a Mrs. Arthur Golden,

paid a $1,000 fine.

In 1957, Sullivan was

convicted of procuring and

served a year in state prison.

In 1960, three years

for violation of the

Federal Narcotics Law.

In 1963, a bench warrant

was issued for his arrest

on another extortion charge

by a Miss Frances Elliott,

age 63.

But he got across

the border to Mexico before

he could be apprehended.

Were there any

other blackmail charges

brought against Sullivan?

Yes, four times

extortion charges were

brought, and dropped,

when the claimants

refused to sign.

Your Honor, I must

protest. If the charges

weren't substantiated,

surely they're not

admissible as evidence.

Your Honor,

victims of blackmail

are rarely willing

to sign complaints.

Objection sustained,

the answer is stricken.

The jury is instructed

not to consider the

last question and answer

in their deliberations.

Sergeant Riley,

based solely on convictions,

Daniel M. Sullivan's crimes

were mainly directed

against women, weren't they?

Yes.

No further questions.

Doctor, would you describe

absinthe to the court?

Absinthe is a green,

toxic liqueur,

between 70 and 80 proof,

distilled from

wormwood and aromatics.

Is absinthe procurable

in this country?

Not legally.

Well, is absinthe

legally procurable

anyplace in the world?

Not to my knowledge.

Why not?

Well, absinthe

produces a degenerative

effect upon the system.

It attacks the digestive

organs and nerve centers.

It can induce

delirium and has been

known to destroy sanity.

Doctor, is the defendant

addicted to absinthe?

She is.

No further questions.

Cross-examine.

Dr. Evans,

did you examine the defendant

when she was arrested?

Yes.

Did you request a

psychiatric examination?

I considered it.

Did you request it?

No.

Then we must assume

that you considered

the defendant legally sane.

No further questions.

Dr. Evans, what does the term

"legally sane" mean?

Well, that the

defendant understands

the nature of his act

and its probable consequences.

Well, would it be possible for

an individual to be legally

sane, but medically insane?

Tragically so.

Now, when you

allowed the defendant

to face trial,

did you consider

her medically sane?

Objection. The medical

sanity of the defendant

has no bearing on this case.

(GAVEL POUNDING)

The Penal Code of the State

of New York plainly states...

JUDGE:
Address your remarks

to the bench.

But Your Honor,

the medical sanity

of the defendant

is not the consideration

of this court.

Overruled, Mr. Spalding.

Did you consider the

defendant medically sane?

No.

Thank you.

No further questions.

Are you a doctor

of psychiatry?

No.

Would you feel yourself

qualified to pass on

the sanity of the accused?

Objection.

The prosecution is attempting

to impeach its own witness.

You can't play both

sides of the street...

JUDGE:
Order, order...

(BOTH ARGUING)

(GAVEL POUNDING)

Stop it! Stop it.

I can't bear anymore.

How long must I wait?

(CRYING)

JUDGE:
Order, or I will have

the court cleared.

How long must I wait?

Counselor, please

ask your client to

try to compose herself.

Take my life!

The sooner the better,

but take it.

Court will recess until 2:00.

How is she?

Well, I've given her

an injection, but it's like

trying to hold onto a wraith.

May I talk with her?

Only for a moment.

She's worn out in spirit

as well as body.

She can't endure much more.

There's only

a little time left.

We still have a chance,

but you've got to

tell me what happened.

You've got to give me

something to fight with.

Help me before it's too late.

Please, help me.

I'm sorry, sir,

would you mind using

the main entrance?

Now, you've seen

the murder weapon,

and you've heard the

defendant's admission of guilt

to the hotel employee,

Manuel Lopez,

and to Detective Combs,

and you've seen the confession

signed by the defendant, "X."

I solemnly charge you,

do not be tricked

into sympathy for her.

She is a murderess.

She has broken

the law of God and man.

She must pay for her crime.

Now, the defense attorney

would persuade you

to convict Dan Sullivan

of his own murder.

He'd have you

believe that the deed of

Madame X was justified

because Dan Sullivan

was a disreputable man.

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