True Crime Page #5

over the potato chips?

What?

What potato chips?

I had a perfectly clear view.

Look, right here. Here's where

you come in the main entrance.

You look across and see Beechum

going out the service entrance.

Here in the center

is a rack of potato chips.

I don 't know how

you could have seen a gun there...

...unless he was waving it

over his head.

Why would I say

I saw a gun if I didn't?

I don't know.

Maybe you like telling the story...

...telling the police or reporters

something they didn't already have.

Maybe you like telling the girls

around the office coffee machine.

This is absolutely absurd.

You actually think that

I would jeopardize a man's life...

...in order to impress the girls

around my office?

I don't know, Mr. Porterhouse.

We only just met.

That's right, Mr. Everett.

We only just met.

But I did some checking on you

before I returned your call.

You led that crusade to get the rapist

released last year, didn't you?

That lying what's-his-name?

You wouldn't be referring

to the Mike Vargas case?

Had all your facts straight

on that one too, didn't you?

Then they threatened him with

the DNA test. The guy confesses.

I'm surprised

they didn't fire you on the spot.

So am I.

Look, I'm sorry.

I just thought...

I don't know what I thought.

Can I tell you about our specials?

All right, lunch is here

and the drinks are cold.

Who gets the roast beef?

Over here, Zach.

Here you go.

Seems like there's more fat

and less meat every time I get this.

Ain't that the way you order it?

Hold the meat, leave the fat?

Arnold's all right.

The more of him, the better.

What do you say we do some work

while we feed our faces?

You all know that at 1800 hours...

...the whole staff meets here

for a final briefing.

Excuse me, Warden.

The reverend here will hold a prayer

meeting after the briefing.

Which is optional for anyone

who wants to stay.

Also be advised...

...there's a change

in the 1600 interview thing.

The girl had some kind of accident.

They've replaced her with Everett.

Damn!

I realize his butt ain't quite

up to the standard of Michelle's...

...but that's who's coming anyway.

Everyone clear on that?

Well, speak of the devil!

Alan tells me I'm paying you too much.

You can rest assured I'm frittering

it away on women and booze.

You're a real dyed-in-the-wool

son of a b*tch.

Anybody ever tell you that?

Just close friends and family.

- I'll come back later.

- No, I was just leaving.

Still sober as a judge, right?

Guess you haven't been partying with

the Alameda County judges lately.

Yeah, sober as an ex-drunk, sir.

Good to see you, Steve.

Stop f***ing Bob's wife.

He doesn't like it.

What'd he do,

put it in the newspaper?

If he comes to me and wants your ass,

I have to give it to him.

You'll just be a hole

with no ass around it.

You know what, Ev?

You're a f***ing womanizer, that's what.

You'll f*** up

your career and marriage.

If you can't keep your prick

in your pants, I can't protect you!

How was she?

None of your damn business.

Not bad.

Lucky! I always liked

and respected her.

Did I ever tell you about

the D.A. I was banging?

No, and if you do, I'll rip

your throat out with my bare hands.

I'll save it for another day.

Edifying story.

- I've got this problem.

- The nickel finally drops!

You do have a problem.

I told you Bob's been gunning

for you since the day he got here.

In his quiet, earnest, reasonable way.

He's glad you banged his wife.

Now he has a mandate to destroy you.

I live to make him happy.

That's not the problem.

F*** my wife.

I'd just punch you.

I did.

Was she good?

A wildcat.

But that's not the problem.

What is it? Tell Papa.

Come to Papa, you soulless

sack of sh*t. What is it?

It's Frank Beechum.

I think he may be innocent.

After the briefing,

Arnold will check the phones...

...make sure the lines are working.

Don't want the governor

to get a busy signal.

Don't worry. I got

call waiting put on that line.

Christ, Atkins!

Reuben, make sure the clocks

are synchronized.

And the one in the press room too.

You've got the strap-down team.

I myself had

a personal heart-to-heart...

...with the prisoner myself

this morning.

And going by my experience with the men,

he won't be any trouble.

In my opinion.

All right.

What have you got on Beechum?

- Listen to me...

- I don't have to listen!

I'm looking at you. I'm looking and...

...I can see a reporter who's

about to tell me he has a hunch!

I've been checking some things.

You know my opinion

of reporters with hunches?

This witness said he saw a gun.

I don't think he did.

I can't fart loud enough

to express my opinion!

Even Michelle thought

there were discrepancies.

After a police investigation,

a trial, six years of appeals?

And you found discrepancies? How long

did it take you, half an hour?

You know the system.

His first attorney was probably

some 12-year-old legal-aid guy.

He couldn't object enough for the court

to make an intelligent decision.

- Lf they could make one.

- Come on.

I got your appeal.

They're going

to kill the guy tonight.

All right.

Man, I must be on acid!

So you're telling me you want

to turn a routine execution piece...

...into a fight-for-justice story...

...and give me an excuse

to stand up for you...

...when Bob asks me

to transfer you to the toilet.

Alan, I need this.

You won't get your wife and kid back.

She'll find out.

I'll fix that.

I can't tell you what will happen

if this is another Vargas piece.

So you come up with something, fine.

I'll run it. But it better be good.

The Vargas thing, I was drinking.

You lose your nose. My nose is back.

Well, we'll both find out, won't we?

Just one thing.

If I come up with something,

we can't wait till tomorrow to run it.

My God! I know what you're thinking.

It's like dogs that hear

a sound that humans can't.

I can actually hear your little brain

ticking away. I really can.

If you go to Lowenstein

thinking he'll call the governor...

The governor will listen to him.

It better be good. Or he not only

won't call the governor...

...he'll eat your heart

and throw you to the dogs.

You won't have to bone his wife, pal.

He'll fire you for free.

Thanks.

You don't have to thank me.

I don't know whose ass you're trying

to save, Beechum's or yours.

But if your nose for a story is gone,

my friend, you are gone too.

Because I won't run this paper...

...to salvage what's left

of your smarmy existence.

So you stand there and you look me in

the eye and you tell me, man-to-man:

Was she pretty good?

- Seriously.

- F*** you.

Lucky bastard!

Go get them, tiger.

I don't know what to say to you.

Been trying to figure out...

...what it was I wanted to say

to you, and I don't...

I'm sorry, Bob.

I really am sorry.

I don't think you are.

I don't think you're

capable of feeling sorry.

You're not capable of feeling

anything for other people.

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