Reversal of Fortune Page #3

their own lawyers to collect evidence.

And then they are going

to choose which evidence

they feel like passing on to the DA.

And the next victim isn't

gonna be rich like von Bulow,

but is gonna be some poor schnook who

can't afford or can't find a decent lawyer.

I think it's a little more complicated

than your simple moral superiority.

No?

I agree von Bulow is guilty, but that's

the fun. I mean, that's the challenge.

See? Now, there is a lawyer.

- What?

- I have Mr. von Bulow for you.

OK, put him on.

Alan, a rather unsavory character

called David Marriott contacted me,

claiming to have information about

a drug delivery at Clarendon Court.

- OK. Where does he live?

- Somewhere in Wakefield.

OK, we'll get on it.

Tom, I want you to get

a private investigator

to dig into a David Marriott,

lives in Wakefield.

- OK. How are we gonna win this case?

- The judge made lots of mistakes.

Judges always make mistakes.

How will we win?

One issue leaps up.

This lawyer, Brillhoffer,

interviewed Alex, Maria, everybody.

He was the first to hear their stories.

He took notes and used them at trial

against a defense witness.

But the defense never saw the notes.

The judge wouldn't let us have them.

It's perfect Brady.

OK, why don't you draft a letter,

writing to Brillhoffer,

asking him very nicely

to send us his notes?

- Yeah, right. He'll fax them right over.

- Yeah, right.

We could win on this issue alone.

You know it, I know it.

Just make sure he knows it.

- Now, Nancy and Dobbs.

- Yes?

They're going to attack

the medical testimony.

Our Rhode Island counsel,

Peter Macintosh,

he will analyze the state supreme court.

The rest of us should begin dissecting

the transcript. Errors, inconsistencies.

OK, great. Now remember, most cases

are won in the field, not in court.

Minnie?

You wanna work with Sarah on this?

- You may learn something.

- Come on, Minnie.

Minnie!

- Please?

- Come on.

I don't trust Marriott. I don't know him.

But if he knew Alex von Auersberg...

You're crazy. I don't know who

you think you are. Perry Mason?

Let our private investigator interview him.

It's stupid and unprofessional.

- It's fun.

- Fun? This guy is a sleaze.

- You don't know what he's gonna try.

- What, is he gonna shoot me?

Come on, I'm from Brooklyn.

OK, I'll stand by the window every ten

minutes. That way you can know I'm safe.

I had this friend, Gilbert Jackson.

Interior decorator.

Flaming queen,

but a very excellent guy.

He introduced me to Alex von Auersberg.

Sure it was Alex?

We had dinner a few times, drinks.

All I knew, Alex was some rich kid.

So sometimes - this is like summer of '77-

I'd motor to Newport for some R and R.

Gilbert asked me to bring Alex a package.

I figured interior decoration.

Maybe drapes.

Like six times. So I'd call Alex.

- How did you get his phone number?

- From Gilbert.

- You still have it?

- Maybe.

I'm that kind of guy.

Here.

One night, I got curious.

Opened the package.

F***in' pharmacy, man.

Needles, syringes, white powder,

nice selection of pills, Demerol...

Like a drugstore.

You delivered drugs six times

and didn't know it?

Stupid, huh?

Then Gilbert asked me again.

I couldn't say no, but this time I made

Alex open the package in front of me.

Voil.

I go "Awful lot of pharmaceuticals

for one person."

He goes "Oh, I give some

to my mom to keep her off my back."

A few weeks later,

Gilbert gets mistaken for a softball.

Two guys bash his head in.

Alex calls me, totally urinary.

Will the cops find his phone number

and f*** up his trust fund or something?

Well, that's the fat. That's the skinny.

You like it?

You traffic with drug dealers

and drag queens,

you have a part-time job,

you ride in rented limos.

All in all, I'd say you're probably the least

impressive witness I've ever seen.

Wait a minute.

You think I'm scum, don't you?

Blow it out your ass.

You want a witness to back me up?

I'll get one.

And hey, maybe I'll see you

at the Celtics, huh?

I am not going to let them execute you.

You're not gonna die.

Look, Johnny, this is gonna be

a lot easier on you if you don't cry, OK?

I... I know your brother's hysterical.

Number one, they always

set a date for the execution,

and they always postpone it.

He's great like this. I just wish he had

something left for those around him.

Why are you talking to me about money?

Anyway, it's nice to have you back here.

Say hello to your brother.

Right. OK.

OK, who's got what?

Maria's testimony. She says Sunny

did take Valium prescribed for Claus.

Score one for von Bulow.

- And this Jamie Smather prescription?

- Who's Jamie Smather?

300-pound red-headed hooker in white

boots. She supplied Claus with Valium.

He had a gorgeous mistress

and went to an ugly whore?

There are some things

even mistresses won't do.

- Like what?

- I am not telling.

Anyway, Maria swears she first saw

this Jamie Smather prescription

February 14th,

and then again February 28th.

- So?

- It wasn't prescribed till the 28th.

You're not suggesting she's lying?

How about Maria's insulin?

Anything more on that?

Not yet.

Something about that bothers me.

- OK, who's next?

- Brillhoffer wrote back.

He's very attached to his notes.

"I am satisfied that there is not

a scrap of paper in my files

that might even arguably

be viewed as exculpatory."

- Translation?

- He says he has nothing that'd help us.

- You with me?

- Pay dirt.

- What?

- He's a lawyer.

If he didn't have anything,

he'd give it to us.

But there's something there,

and he'll fight to hold on to it.

I will bet my fee that no one

remembered seeing insulin

until after the lab report came back.

- So you're suggesting...

- Memory enhancement.

- It might be more than that.

- Possibly.

- A frame-up.

- You mean, by the kids?

- Where d'you get this? Brillhoffer's letter?

- Pure deduction.

A good lawyer is part psychiatrist,

detective, logician.

- A great lawyer...

- Never would have taken this case.

If there's nothing more...

Has anybody read this?

It's an interview with Truman Capote.

He says, when she was 19, Sunny von

Bulow taught him how to inject drugs.

Let me see that.

- Well, well, well. The famous professor.

- My new girlfriend, Andrea Reynolds.

- I'm not his girlfriend. I'm his savior.

- Perfectly true.

Two days after the trial, we fell in love.

It was really very dramatic.

Andrea, Andrea, Andrea, come on.

Since then, I've devoted my life

to clearing his name.

I made him hire you.

"Get the Jew," I said.

Darling...

Can the Jew get down to business?

We've got an affidavit. Smythe.

Mrs. Ruth Smythe gave us an affidavit

corroborating Truman Capote.

I have affidavits, too.

Newport people.

They describe Sunny taking pills,

getting drunk and falling down,

thumping into doorways,

smearing lipstick all over her face.

- Not a very pretty picture.

- She did it, didn't she?

Don't be a priss.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes