Primal Fear Page #3

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- Excuse me.

I appreciate your faith in me.

I don't mean to be argumentative.

- It's what we pay you for.

- Open and shut, you don't need me.

The PD'll plead no contest and throw

the kid on the mercy of the court.

There's not a public defender.

He's got a lawyer? Already? Who?

Hey, I'm Martin Vail.

I'm defending Aaron Stampler.

I need to inspect the murder site.

Oh, the Butcher Boy, huh?

Thank you, yes. I forgot his real name.

What's the matter, Marty?

Lost your faith?

Looking for a little religion?

Tell me, counsellor. Which one of us

is the true headline chaser here?

- Unlike you, I was assigned.

- Yeah? And you're up to it?

Sold the book rights, or will you wait?

Wanna see some pictures?

They're kind of cute.

I think you'll agree they clearly show

the heinous nature of the crime.

Small piece of advice. Don't use

the word "heinous" in the courtroom.

Half the jury won't know

what you mean.

Small piece of advice. I'm not

sitting second chair to you any more.

In case you hadn't noticed,

I graduated.

- I had no reason to leave.

- You had every reason to leave.

- How can you still work for them?

- You expect me to trot out after you?

Quit just because you did?

I don't need a Mercedes. I don't need

to see my face on the evening news.

You knew I was coming here,

didn't you?

You knew I would defend him.

That's why you took the case.

Oh, please. What's the matter, Marty?

Are you nervous?

Been a while since you rubbed up

against a woman with a brain?

What's the matter? You tired,

you haven't been sleeping well?

You're the one with the score to settle.

I sleep great at night.

Cook County Dept. of Corrections

Div. IX Maximum Security Dormitory

Thanks.

- Hey. Where is he?

- Over here.

We'll be sitting at a table

with two of my associates.

Once the charges are read,

the judge'll ask how you plead.

- Not guilty.

- No.

But I'm not guilty, Mr Vail.

It doesn't matter.

Keep your mouth shut.

- Are you gonna say I'm not guilty?

- I'll say whatever I say. Don't worry.

- But...

- This is what I mean.

This can't go on in the courtroom. Get

used to it. I speak, you do not speak.

- Your job is to sit and look innocent.

- I am innocent.

That's it! That's how I want you to look.

Can you remember that?

Look in the mirror if you have to.

I don't have to.

This is how I always look.

Then you're way ahead

of the game already, aren't you?

Don't smile.

Don't.

- Mr Vail, can we have a statement?

- We're gonna find out what happened.

The only pressure is to find the truth.

You've talked to the police. I told you

not to. They get everthing wrong.

How will you explain

his blood-soaked clothes?

I won't explain anything now.

I've just been retained in this case.

Significant facts are in dispute here

and continue to be so.

You're a master at putting the victim

on trial to help your client.

That'll be very difficult in this case.

The victim in this case is my client.

We have two victims here,

no suspects. Thank you.

- You worried about his safety?

- No. Thank you.

I don't think there's any question

about the verdict.

All rise.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

Bailiff.

The State versus Aaron Stampler.

- Is every... Sit down. Everyone here?

- Yes, Your Honour.

Madame Prosecutor.

The State charges Aaron Stampler

with murder in the first degree.

How does your client plead?

If it pleases the Court,

I need time to make

a psychiatric evaluation before

charges are brought against us.

The State has enough evidence

to warrant the allegations.

I agree. Motion denied.

Mr Stampler.

- Do you understand the charges?

- Yes.

I direct my client not to answer that.

His response might incriminate him.

He is taking the Fifth on whether

or not he understands the charges?

Yes. Until we have a complete

psychological evaluation,

he will be taking the Fifth on any

and all questions posed to him.

The State versus Appleby.

For your review on precedent.

Thank you.

No, I can't do that. No.

What do you want?

I'm looking for the room a kid named

Aaron Stampler stayed in.

- Are you the police?

- I'm his uncle.

Well, hey.

- This is Alex's.

- Who's Alex?

He's one of the other altar boys.

An altar boy.

An altar boy was wearing this?

Well, not at mass.

This altar boy attacked a colleague

of mine and hurt him pretty bad.

What do you think he was doing

in your room?

I can't... I don't know.

I don't have nothing.

- You know where to find him?

- Who? Alex?

- No, I don't know where he is.

- You don't?

- Who's Linda?

- L-Linda?

Is she your girlfriend?

Where is she? I'd like to talk to her.

I don't know where she is.

I get this feeling

you're not telling me something.

- I'm telling you the truth.

- I don't think so.

Are you surprised

that Alex attacked my friend?

No. No, he has a temper.

Yeah, I'd say so.

Do you think it could be Alex

who was that figure you saw

at the Archbishop's room?

I... Alex? I couldn't be sure.

- But it could be him.

- I don't know.

You don't understand.

The State wants you dead.

You don't help me,

that's what they'll get.

I'm trying. I can't remember.

I don't understand. Why would Alex

wanna do such a thing?

For his own reasons.

Maybe someone hired him.

- Hired by who?

- Forget it.

Do you think he's capable of doing it?

I don't know.

I don't know who's capable

of such a thing.

- Oh, thanks.

- Sure.

He claims there was someone else

in the room, and he can't remember.

You want me to look into this amnesia

question and see what he knows?

What if he knows he did it?

Major causes of amnesia are:

substance abuse, seizures,

head injuries and malingering.

I think the kid is telling the truth.

OK. Then let's get something straight.

I'm happy to go in and analyse him,

in fact I'm looking forward to it,

but I won't go in there

to validate a story. Understood?

You do your job,

I do mine, yatta, yatta.

If I think it's necessary,

I'd wanna get an MRl, EEG

and Neuropsych testing.

- Yes, doctor. Good night.

- Good night.

I'll be recording our meetings

for Mr Vail.

So it isn't as confidential as it would be

if you were consulting with the doctor.

He may even call me as a witness.

If you have any questions...

- ...you should raise them to him now.

- No, ma'am. I understand.

Good. So, OK. I think we'll be fine.

- I'll see you later.

- OK.

Bye.

Vail told me there's time surrounding

the death you don't remember.

- Is that right?

- Yes.

I lost the time.

I mean I blacked out.

- Have you had blackouts before?

- Yes, I have.

When's the first time

you remember them happening?

They started when I was about twelve.

Were your parents aware

of what was happening to you?

N-no. My m-m-mother was dead.

And your father?

No, no. He was not a nice man.

- Did you seek treatment?

- Did I what?

- Did you see a doctor for them?

- Oh.

No.

You don't go to a doctor in Creekside

unless your leg's broken.

- Hey. Can I talk to you?

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