The Accused Page #3

I'd say go to hell.

Miss Murphy, are you sure you're

in a position to be quite so adamant?

- A rape trial...

- Is always a gamble. I agree, Mr Henley.

And I know your reputation.

But look at these photographs.

This is what the jury is going to see.

And they'll see the girl, too.

You can't tell from these, but she's tiny.

The most defenceless-looking thing

you ever saw.

If we go to trial and you lose, I'm gonna

ask for 15 to 25 - and I'll get it.

- 18 months.

- Stop dancing.

What's your best offer?

Two to five, rape two.

With luck,

your boys will be out in nine months.

On one condition.

I'll accept that on behalf of my client

if the formal charge is changed

to one without a sexual element.

He's a kid of 22.

He's an A student. He's got a future.

I can't do that.

He won't plead guilty

to a sexual offence.

Assault?

Coercion?

Reckless endangerment?

- Malicious...

- Reckless endangerment?

Three men accused of raping

a young woman in a local bar

pleaded guilty to a reduced charge

of reckless endangerment.

They were sentenced

to two-and-a-half to five years in prison.

Neither the district attorney's office

nor the defence

would comment on the plea bargain.

No explanation was given

for reducing the charges

from rape to reckless endangerment.

A source close to the defence hinted

that the alleged victim would not have

made a strong witness for the state.

- Where do you want these?

- There.

I think this looks raw.

- Sh*t.

- I'll get it.

Here we go. Now, this is an experiment,

so I want you all to be kind, OK?

Excuse me.

You double-crossing b*tch.

You sold me out. Did you see this?

- Is this what you did?

- Excuse us.

Yeah, I wouldn't make a good witness.

I'm too fragile. My past is questionable.

I'm a drunk,

I'm a pothead, a drug addict,

a slut that got bounced

around a little in a bar?

- So I didn't get raped?

- Of course you were raped.

How come it doesn't say

"Sarah Tobias was raped"?

What the f*** is

reckless endangerment?

A felony that carries

the same prison term as rape.

You asked me to put them away,

and that's what I did.

Who the hell are you to decide that

I ain't good enough to be a witness?

I bet you if I went to law school

and I didn't live in some dump...

I understand how you feel.

I did my best.

You don't understand how I feel.

I'm standin' there with my pants down

and my crotch out for the world to see

and three guys are stickin' it to me

and other guys are yelling and clapping

and you're standing there telling me

that that's the best you can do.

If that's the best you can do,

then your best sucks.

I don't know what you got for sellin' me

out, but I sure as sh*t hope it's worth it.

Wow. What did you do?

- That looks weird.

- I needed a change.

It's nothin' heavy. It's just...

I'm not used to it.

Stop. All right?

When are you gonna get over this?

You're gonna have to snap out of this

pretty soon cos it's gettin' boring.

Get outta here.

Fine.

- Be back in a couple of hours.

- No.

You get the f*** out

and don't come back.

Sh*t. You can cut your f***in' hair

any way you want.

This is my house

and I don't want you in it. Now get out.

Fine. I'm gone.

You caught me. I'm sorry. This is gonna

sound like the worst kinda crap,

- but I seen you before.

- You're right. It's the worst kinda crap.

I have seen you. You're a friend

of Johnny Alworth's sister.

No.

It was Duck Island.

Last Sunday afternoon, softball game?

- Your hair was different.

- No.

Yes. It was long.

Look, I live with somebody.

OK? All right?

I got it. I'm sorry.

He's a lucky guy.

You sure you don't wanna

go out tonight?

I got a smile. Well, it's a start.

- Sexy Sadie, what about it?

- I told you, I live with somebody.

- I don't mind. I'm liberated.

- Well, I do. I mind.

- Cos I do know you, Sexy Sadie.

- You mixed me up with somebody else.

Nope. You're the girl

from The Mill that night.

I remember Sexy Sadie. I do know you.

Am I right?

Hey, Sexy Sadie.

I know you. Do I remember you!

Hey, lover lady.

Wanna play pinball?

I pay my bills. I'm sick and tired of this.

Come on, let's go.

- I'm sorry...

- Come on.

I'm sorry about this.

But I do know that I made the payment.

There's an insurance company that

I made the payment to. My husband...

- Come on, babe.

- OK. I'll phone them. Thanks.

You can go in now. Keep it short.

Thanks.

Sarah?

What happened?

"Wanna play pinball?"

What?

That's what he said.

"You wanna play pinball?"

He sees I'm a piece of sh*t.

Everybody figures I'm a piece of sh*t.

Why not?

You told 'em that.

I never got to tell nobody nothin'.

You did all my talkin' for me.

I don't get it.

I thought you were on my side.

You told me you were on my side.

Why did you do that?

Sorry, Officer. It's one of those days.

My insurance is no good here.

I pay all my bills.

What happens? Nothing.

I'm sorry, OK?

- How's your head?

- Just great.

Honey, just wait here.

I'll go get the car.

Excuse me, sir.

I'm sorry to bother you.

What exactly happened?

Exactly? She rammed my truck.

I was minding my own business. She

drove her car into my truck. All right?

- Do you know why?

- How do I know why? She's nuts.

- Do you know her?

- No, I don't know her.

She's a whore. Last time I saw her,

she was doin' a sex show.

- Come on.

- You watched?

- You bet. She put on a great show.

- I thought she was raped.

Raped? She f***ed a bar full of guys,

then she blames them for it?

She loved it. She had an audience.

She did the show of her life.

Come on, move over.

Next time she does another show,

tell her I'll be right there to cheer her on.

I'd like to report a girl's in trouble.

- May I have your name?

- Listen, a girl's in trouble.

- It's The Mill, the bar on Mill Road.

- Sir, I must...

She may be hurt. An assault's going on.

It's a rape. There's three or four guys.

I don't know. There's a whole crowd...

- There's a whole crowd.

- Can I get your name, please?

"...or otherwise attempts to persuade

another person to commit a felony."

Please.

I know about criminal solicitation.

But in this case it simply doesn't apply.

It's not the intent of the statute.

Listen again. "A person is guilty

of criminal solicitation

if he commands, induces, entreats

or otherwise attempts to persuade

another person to commit a felony."

You can read it to me

till you're blue in the face.

I am not gonna let you prosecute

a bunch of spectators.

They're not spectators.

They solicited the rape.

Do you really want to ask a jury

to lock up a bunch of people

for clapping and cheering?

Clapping, cheering, pushing, goading.

Getting the rape going

and keeping it going.

What happens if you lose?

You'll look like an incompetent.

If you win,

you'll look like a vengeful b*tch.

Either way,

you hurt yourself and this office.

Now drop it.

You've got more important things to do.

No, I haven't.

You haven't got more important things

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