Suspect Page #5

I'm disappointed in you, Miss Riley.

I had heard good things about you.

But your cross has been weak

and your behavior unprofessional.

Well, I'm frustrated

because I have no character witnesses -

- and I have no one to

corroborate my client's story.

And I have no material witness,

so I desperately need a continuance.

We've been through this already.

You know howl feel.

But, last night, Michael John Guthridge

contacted me. And I am convinced -

- that if he isn't the real suspect,

then he saw who is.

- You think he can identify the killer?

- Yes, I do.

Whenever defense is in trouble,

there's always a "real" suspect.

I would like to help you,-

- but I can't grant a continuance

just because your case is weak.

Your dedication is commendable,

but don't sacrifice your integrity.

Because I warn you, Miss Riley.

If I find any evidence of collusion,

- I'll have you disbarred

and charged with jury tampering.

Thank you very much for coming.

- Eddie Wonder.

- Have you a minute, sir?

"Sir"? You never showed me

respect when I was on the hill.

You weren't a "sir" then.

Good afternoon, Mr. Gray.

From where I sit,

you have to be very discreet.

Come on, Paul, discretion

was never your best position.

I hear you've taken up my slack.

You know what they say.

You can't measure a live snake.

A friend of mine

was at a party the other night.

He jogs down by the Potomac

He found this.

I remember you wearing

a pair of them at a reception.

I thought maybe

you weren't discreet enough.

I didn't want it

to come back to haunt you.

I haven't lost one that I know of,

but I appreciate your concern.

Whoever did lose it

might not want it to be found.

Asking people about it

isn't such a bright idea, Eddie.

It's a good way to make enemies.

And this is a bad place to have enemies.

You were the one who told me

that everybody's your enemy.

It just isn't very smart

to go looking for 'em.

Maybe you're right.

Eddie, let's see that again.

I'll take a look at home.

Maybe it is mine.

- You don't need it, do you?

- What am I gonna do with it?

Detective Purcell,

you've already stated -

- that homicides are usually committed

by the most obvious suspect.

That's the way it usually falls.

And we will agree

with your logical assumption -

- that Mr. Anderson was

the most obvious suspect.

With the evidence and my experience

it was more than just an assumption.

Your experience is impressive indeed,

Detective Purcell.

But isn't it true,

in the American justice system, -

- that the police do not determine

the guilt or innocence of a man?

Yes, that's true.

And did you know, from the

Justice Department's own research, -

- at least 343 innocent people

have been convicted of capital crimes?

25 have been executed -

- and later found to be innocent.

They were obvious suspects too.

That's enough of that.

This is a cross-examination,

not an indictment of the justice system.

I am only trying to show

that the police are not infallible.

Counselor, approach the bench.

The jury will deal with the facts of

the case, not the defense's rhetoric.

Sir, would you step down, please?

Argue the merits of the case,

or I excuse the witness.

Do you understand?

What was that about a rope?

Detective, would you say we have

an abnormal amount of homeless?

Yes, I would.

I see them across from the White House

in Lafayette Square.

We've cleared most of 'em out

It just doesn't look good.

- Anywhere else?

- Yes, Union Station.

- We have a real problem there.

- Objection.

Where is the defense

going with this?

I'll let it continue. I'm interested

in seeing where she's going myself.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, you said Union Station.

When I take the train, I never

see any homeless people there.

You really have to look.

We've cleared most of 'em out.

So now they use

the old Railway Express building.

Hello.

I'm looking for somebody.

Man, who do you want?

I'm looking for a man

Hi.

He's got a tattoo on his hand.

A cross. It says "Jesus the Savior. "

You know who I'm talking about?

What's the matter?

I've asked for a delay

in the start of the proceedings.

A man found murdered

at Union Station this morning -

- has been identified as

Michael John Guthridge.

Well, Your Honor then I would

like to ask for a continuance -

- until the police can ascertain

if his murder is related to this case.

I'm inclined to agree with you.

Counselor?

I don't think a decision should be made

until more information is available.

I would propose we press on.

I want to give this

proper consideration.

We'll continue. I'll make my decision

known by the end of the day.

Bring in the defendant.

Call the jury.

Carl, don't!

I'm sorry, Your Honor

The defendant will remain handcuffed

during the rest of the proceedings.

- Please don't do this to me.

- Your client has done it for you.

Miss Riley,

call your first witness.

We call Dr Alan Alpert

to the stand.

Call Dr Alan Alpert.

Raise your right hand, please.

Do you swear to tell the whole truth

and nothing but the truth?

- I do.

- You may be seated.

Dr Alpert, you are a professor

of sociology, is that correct?

Yes.

- What is your field of expertise?

- Transient behavior.

Excuse me, counselor.

The president has asked me

to come to the White House.

This court is adjourned

until tomorrow morning at 9.30.

Your Honor.

What about my continuance?

A juror must have left this glove.

This is where she worked.

Elizabeth Quinn's section was putting

case transcripts on computer discs.

Hey! What are you doing

on this floor?

Fourteen is secure.

I thought you could use some help.

I've already done it.

Get up to the sixteenth floor.

Eddie.

Sh*t.

What did you expect?

Something was in there.

And Elizabeth Quinn found it.

And I'll find it if I have to read

through every goddamn case in 1968.

- How many cases?

- Over a hundred.

Paul Gray started out as

a federal prosecutor.

- Did he ever work here?

- I don't know.

All right, just hold on.

Morty said that Paul Gray

prosecuted here in the late sixties.

So tomorrow we go through

the cases he prosecuted first.

- Can you get home from here?

- Yeah, I just take the metro.

- I'm the other way.

- All right.

Eddie!

What?

Never mind.

I've read eight cases that

Paul Gray prosecuted. Nothing unusual.

Eddie, Supreme Court Justice Lowell

was presiding judge on two of them.

When did he kill himself?

December, before Christmas.

What's the connection?

See if you can find me 287.

What are you doing here?

I had no place to go.

I had a friend of mine

check out those license numbers.

Nothing, just names.

413927:
Spencer Lewis.

CAN 412:
Andrea Duncan.

That's a Maryland plate.

- I know 'em all by heart.

- I don't care.

- What do you mean?

- I'm tired and I don't care.

Well, f*** you too. Good night.

I don't deserve this.

I don't owe you

or anybody anything.

I'm busting my ass for some creep

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes