This transcript was transcribed by VICKIE.
Disclaimer: I assume NO rights to The Practice, its characters or its storylines. They belong to David E. Kelly Productions and 20th Century Fox. I am in no way officially affiliated with The Practice. This is a cut and dry transcript of the episode "Losers' Keepers" which originally aired in the United States on Sunday, October 10, 1999. If you have questions or comments, please email me at vlfernandes@ucdavis.edu.
Prologue
Lucy walks into the office. She opens a letter/package and finds a picture of a person dressed as a nun, holding a newspaper. She scrambles around in the desk to find a magnifying glass, to look at the date on the newspaper in the picture. We see a shadow walk up behind her. It's Bobby.
Bobby: Lucy?
Lucy: Aaaaaaahh!!! You scared me.
Bobby: Sorry.
Lucy: Bobby, look at this. It's a nun holding the Boston Herald with yesterday's date.
Bobby: What?
Lucy: Look... he's still out there...the nun that stabbed Lindsay, he's not dead. Bobby, did you see that, that's yesterday date!
Bobby: Calm down!
Lucy: Don't tell me to calm down, why is he doing this?? What is this, some kind of threat? What are you doing?
(Bobby fiddles with the door handle of the office)
Bobby: Check the background. You'll see that lamp on Jimmy's desk. That picture was taken here. He knows how to get in.
Lucy: That's great. He's alive. With his own key.
Opening Sequence & Commercial
Scene is the office with the lawyers, Helen and police officers.
Helen: Could be a copycat.
Mike McGuire: Could. But this doesn't exactly fit a copycat profile.
Ellenor: It fits Joey Heric's profile. He would love to taunt us this way.
Eugene: You blame Joey Heric for everything.
Helen: How would he get a key?
Jimmy: Isn't it possible the lock was picked?
McGuire: Doesn't look like it.
Lindsay: Are you telling me that the guy who stabbed me might still be out there?
Lucy: Never mind out there Lindsay, how about in here?
Helen: Okay, let's not panic.
Lindsay: That's easy for you to say, you're not the one he's after.
Jimmy: It's gotta be connected to that nun killer case. What else could it be?
Cut to a scene of Rebecca with a client, in a side room of the courthouse
Rebecca: Six months.
Client (Ronnie Vega): I gotta serve?
Rebecca: Ronnie...
Vega: She darted out in front of me. I wasn't even speedin'...
Rebecca: The problem is, you fled the scene.
Vega: Then I turned myself in. Doesn't that count for somethin'?
Rebecca: If you want to try it, we can try it. I'm ready, the prosecution's ready. But if we lose at trial, you could get two to three years. My recommendation is... we take the deal.
Vega: Alright.
Rebeca: They'll call us up soon.
(Cut back to offices of DYD&F)
McGuire: We don't necessarily think it's the same guy. This firm has had a lot of high profile cases where you put murderers back on the street... the highest profile being that nun case. Also, Lindsay's attack got a lot of media attention.
Lindsay: I thought you said this wasn't a copycat.
McGuire: I said it didn't fit the profile. It could be someone that hates this firm and is using the nun motif to... well, dramatic effect.
Eugene: So what you're saying is, you don't have a clue.
Bobby: So what's gonna be done?
McGuire: We'll investigate, Bobby. But we don't even have a death threat here. I won't lie and say you'll get tremendously high priority.
Bobby: (sarcastic) Great.
McGuire: Changing the locks would be a good place to start.
Bobby: (to Lindsay) You're moving in with me tonight.
Ellenor: (to Lindsay.) Do you still have your gun?
Lindsay: Unless he took it... No, I've got it.
Jimmy: Let's not overreact here.
Ellenor: Overreact? There's some psycho targeting us Jimmy!
Bobby: And you think a gun's gonna be the answer?
Ellenor: Well maybe not, but if it is, I want it to be in MY hand.
Jimmy: I'd say this guy is already winning.
Cut to scene of Rebecca in court with her client
Court reporter: 30501, Commonwealth versus Ronald Vega, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident.
Judge Philip Swackheim: Another police conspiracy, counsellor?
Rebecca: No, your honor.
D.A. Jennifer: Your honor, we've reached a tentative agreement, subject to the approval of the court.
Judge: Let's hear it.
Jennifer: One second your honor, I need a moment. (She whispers to Rebecca) I'm sorry, the agreement is off.
Rebecca: What?
Judge: Something you'd like to share with the rest of us?
Jennifer: Your honor, Elizabeth Nicklen, the victim, died this morning from a ruptured spleen. Because the case now involves a homicide...
Rebecca: Homicide??
Jennifer: It was an injury sustained in the accident, in light of the new circumstances the Commonwealth would like to withdraw the plea offer agreement, add vehicular homicide to the charges and move forward.
Rebecca: You can't be serious.
Judge: Bond set at seventy-five thousand. Take him into custody.
Rebecca: This is outrageous.
Judge: Yes, well, given the fact that your client confessed, I suggest you get together with the D.A. and work out a plea.
Ronnie (to Rebecca): I need to talk to you...
Rebecca: I'll be back there in a second.
Ronnie: Miss Washington!!! -
Rebecca: I'll be there in a second!
Scene of Rebecca and the D.A. in the hallway of court
Rebecca: What the hell??
Jennifer: The doctors connect the death with the accident, Bec. It's not like I had much of a choice. I'll give you five.
Rebecca: Five years?
Jennifer: That's a deal. Vehicular, plus leaving the scene... Swack will pin him with eight, minimum. But he may not even sign off on five. Let's have it recalled, we'll get rid of it.
Rebecca: I have to talk to my client first.
Scene change to Rebecca visiting Ronnie in jail
Rebecca: The offer is now five years.
Ronnie: I didn't do it.
Rebecca: The doctors evidently can connect the injury with the -
Ronnie: I didn't hit her! I wasn't driving the car.
Rebecca: What are you talking about?
Ronnie: Teddy Barrington. He's this big real estate guy. I detail his car. He hit her. He was drinkin'. He paid me to say that I did it.
Rebecca: Wait, wait, wait a second, Ronnie... someone's paying you to take the fall?
Ronnie: Yes.
Rebecca: How much?
Ronnie: Thirty thousand. Plus ten for each month I had to serve. But five years? No way. I'm not doing five years.
Rebecca: But Ronnie, you signed a confession. Okay. Is there any way we can prove this? Do you have an alibi?
Ronnie: No. It was late at night and I was home sleepin' when he called. If you go to my apartment, look in my closet, you'll find the money. Miss Washington, I wasn't driving that car.
Scene change to Ellenor and Lindsay talking to a man behind a van with the back door open.
Gun dealer: This is exactly what you want. Got your auto recoil, small, easy to conceal.
Ellenor: Well, it would fit in my purse. But what about if I drop it? It's not going to go off is it?
Gun dealer: Best safety lock made.
Lindsay: How much?
Gun dealer: Six fifty.
Ellenor: That's a lot of money.
Lindsay: Pay him.
Ellenor: Five.
Gun dealer: I don't dicker. Look, you can't buy this anywhere. It's illegal for you to own it, and they don't give out carry permits.
Lindsay: Ellenor?
Ellenor: Okay, here. (She gives him the money in cash)
Gun dealer: You got any trouble, call me.
Lindsay: Thanks Phil.
Gun dealer: Have a safe day.
(Ellenor and Lindsay start to walk down the street)
Ellenor: I don't know whether to be happy I have a gun or appalled that you can buy them on the street.
Lindsay: Well, look at it this way... one less gun to fall into the wrong hands.
Ellenor: You know, maybe I should learn how to shoot it.
Lindsay: There are plenty of places for that. There's not much kick on it so it won't be that hard.
Ellenor: Have you ever fired yours?
Lindsay: Only at target practice...
(Their voices are drowned out by the sounds of the street and the music as they walk away. We are shown someone with their back towards us, watching Lindsay and Ellenor, dressed as a nun. Very freaky!)
Commercial, Scene with Rebecca and Jennifer in the D.A.'s office
Jennifer: This sounds a little like a tall tale Rebecca.
Rebecca: Yes it does. With one exception.
(She pours money on the desk).
Rebecca: Not a bribe. This is evidence. Thirty thousand! He also promised to pay him an extra ten for each month he spent in jail.
Jennifer: No witnesses?
Rebecca: No. But I ran Barrington's priors. He has two DUIs.
Jennifer: And your client has two cocaine priors. Look, maybe he got this money dealing.
Rebecca: He has been straight, sober and honest for six years.
Jennifer: We'll talk to this Barrington guy.
Rebecca: Can I be there? Please.
Jennifer: Okay. But listen Rebecca, if I find we're being put through the ringer on this, I'm taking five years off the table and I'm pushing for eight.
Rebecca: You think I'm putting you on?
Jennifer: I think he might be.
Scene of Ellenor walking down a busy sidewalk, with her purse
(She bumps into George Vogelman, and her purse falls. Her gun falls out onto the sidewalk)
Ellenor: George?
George: (whispering) Ellenor, what are you doing with a gun??
Ellenor: Never mind. What are you doing crashing into people on the sidewalk?
George: I wasn't crashing. You were walking with your head down
Ellenor: What are you doing here?
George: Well, I was coming by to say hi but I'm certainly rethinking that given the sound of your voice.
Ellenor: I'm sorry. I --
George: What the hell are you doing with a gun?
Ellenor: Our office is being terrorized by some wacko. We're all just a little jumpy.
George: But a gun? You?
Ellenor: Well, I just -
George: What you should be doing is moving. Getting out of that apartment. It's a bad neighbourhood.
Ellenor: It's already taken care of. I'm moving in with Helen Gamble. It's Beacon Hill, it's very safe... I still want a gun.
George: He's been terrorizing you how?
Ellenor: It's just - it's a long story and I'm late for a depo....
George: How about we catch dinner? You can tell me then.
Ellenor: Yeah, great. Okay. It would have to be an early one. (As she starts to walk away) Five-thirty, let's say, Angelina's?
George: Great. You'll be coming armed?
Ellenor: That's cute. I'll see ya.
Scene change to Mr. Barrington's high-rise office
Barrington: When Ronnie returned the car, I noticed he looked rattled.
Det. McKrew: How do you mean rattled?
Barrington: Nervous. Fidgety. So I decided to check the car out before I paid him.
McKrew: And that's when you saw the damage to your car?
Barrington: Yes. And it was at that time that he told me what he had done. I was upset with him at first, he started to cry, uh, he was very distraught about the whole situation.
Jennifer: Whose idea was it to call the police?
Barrington: It was mine. I told him that, either now or later, the police were gonna have to be told. I also made it very clear that if he voluntarily turned himself in, the D.A. might be more forgiving.
Jennifer: Did you go anywhere while Mr. Vega had your car?
Barrington: No, I stayed at home.
McKrew: Was anyone with you?
Barrington: My wife.
Rebecca: Why were you getting you car detailed at night?
Barrington: I typically have it done at night, because that's when I'm not using it. All of a sudden I get the feeling I'm the one being investigated.
Jennifer: Mr. Vega claims that you're paying him thirty thousand dollars for him to take the fall for you. That you hit Elizabeth Nicklen, not him.
Barrington: You're not taking him seriously. Then this interview's over.
Scene back to offices of DYD&F
Bobby: Out of a van?
Lindsay: What difference does it make, where?
Bobby: (angrily) What difference does it make??
Lindsay: (also angry) Yes. It's a thirty day wait in Massachusetts... We got a guy dressing up as a nun sending us threats... We're supposed to wait a month??
Bobby: That's the law.
Lindsay: There's a law against stabbing people too.
Bobby: Oh please.
Lindsay: What, oh please?
Bobby: We're lawyers Lindsay! Members of the bar. That goes for you too. We don't commit crimes! And you buying that gun off of God knows who??
Lindsay: It was a client.
Bobby: It's against the law. You complain every day we're not doing enough to legitimize ourselves. What if you get caught carrying? You could get disbarred! Did you think about that? Did you??
Lindsay: Oh Bobby, shut up.
Jimmy: Alright, let's all ---
Bobby: The fact that we're engaged doesn't mean that I'm not still senior partner. You don't speak to me like that in here.
Lindsay: Then let's step outside.
Jimmy: Oh, c'mon.
Bobby: Quiet.
Lindsay: Stay out of it.
Scene change to Rebecca in Jennifer's office
Jennifer: Hey.
Rebecca: Hey.
Jennifer: Sit.
Rebecca: I don't like the sound of that.
Jennifer: Barrington's wife backed him up. Said he was home the whole time.
Rebecca: Well, what'd ya expect? She's his wife.
Jennifer: Let's talk about what you expect, Rebecca. Rebecca: Jennifer, say what you have to say.
Jennifer: We're pressing forward against Vega.
Rebecca: I'm telling you ---
Jennifer: We have a signed confession!
Rebecca: He was paid to give that!
Jennifer: Which we can't prove!
Rebecca: And that is what this is all about, isn't it? The only case you'll be able to prove is against Vega. Why even investigate Barrington? Because it's Ronnie's testimony---he represents automatic reasonable doubt.
Jennifer: Rebecca....
Rebecca: Give him a lie detector.
Jennifer: Not admissible and you know it.
Rebecca: But it's accurate.
Jennifer: Rebecca, we're going forward against Vega. It comes from above.
Rebecca: Because a woman is dead and somebody needs to be convicted. Is that it?
Jennifer: All the evidence we have points to Vega.
Scene change to Rebecca visiting Ronnie in jail
Rebecca: Mr. Barrington's wife will provide an alibi. They're moving forward against you. Ronnie, I think we should just try it. You convinced me, you persuade one juror, we've got reasonable doubt. Now we can empanel first ---
Ronnie: I decided to stick with my confession Miss Washington.
Rebecca: I'm sorry?
Ronnie: It was me. I hit the woman. I decided to stick with my confession. Let that be that.
Rebecca: Wait a second... you're going back to saying you drove the car??
Ronnie: Yes.
Rebecca: You had any visitors here? Anybody here to see you?
Ronnie: Mr. Barrington's attorney. Came to ask why I was accusing somebody else of doin' what I did.
Rebecca: How much? How much are they offering you this time?
Ronnie: He appealed to my conscience.
Rebecca: You can't do this! This is a homicide! I don't care how much they're offering you, this will ruin your life. For God's sake, listen to me!!
Ronnie: My life'll be ruined? Do you know the first thing about my life, Miss Washington? My parents were dead when I was nine. I never finished high school. I make about eleven thousand dollars a year, IF I'm lucky. Going to prison may be the best way to prevent me from becoming a criminal.
Rebecca: You're a criminal right now, if you do what you're talking about.
Ronnie: I hit the woman! You have my confession!
Rebecca visits Judge Swackheim in chambers
Judge: What do you expect me to do?
Rebecca: Well, I want to be let off. A lawyer can't knowingly defraud the court.
Judge: You don't know anything. You suspect.
Rebecca: Your honor, I know.
Judge: So what? I take you off the case, he just lies to his next lawyer. He marches in here with some ignoramus, and the court is no better protected against fraud. Most attorneys wouldn't give a damn anyway.
Rebecca: How did you get to be so cynical?
Judge: I'm not cynical counsel, I'm annoyed. My day was supposed to end twenty minutes ago.
Rebecca: Oh. Forgive me. I'm sure you have a nice bowel movement planned, and you want to get to it, give your day some meaning. Have you been listening to what I'm saying? A kid has been bought off to take a homicide rap, in your court. And that doesn't bother you? Then don't tell me you're not cynical. Or jaded. Or even putrid for that matter.
Judge: I will reject the kid's guilty plea.
Rebecca: Thank you.
Judge: He will have a trial whether he likes it or not. And you will be his lawyer.
Rebecca: Me? I can't.
Judge: Yes, you can.
Rebecca: I may have to be a witness because of what I heard.
Judge: I'll decide that as I go along. We empanel in the morning.
Rebecca: He'll just fire me.
Judge: I won't let him. In the interests of justice, and non-cynicism, you're the best lawyer for the job.
Rebecca: Your honor---
Judge: Nine o'clock counsel. You delay my bowel movement one more second, I'll hold you in contempt.
Scene of Jimmy entering his apartment
Jimmy goes to put his key in the door. He looks up and notices that a piece of tape he placed on the door jam has been ripped. This means someone has entered his apartment since he's been gone. He gets on his cell phone without entering the apartment.
Jimmy: (whispering on his cell phone) Yes. It's an emergency. I think there's somebody in my apartment.
(Detective Mike McGuire arrives with a bunch of armed officers)
Jimmy: I put a little piece of tape on at lunchtime...it's broken
McGuire: And you don't have a maid or a super....
Jimmy: No, no. Nobody goes in there but me.
McGuire: And nobody's come out since you arrived.
Jimmy: No.
McGuire: Okay. Let's go in.
(The officers hold their weapons ready, and they search carefully through Jimmy's apartment. It's dark inside. They make their way to a back bedroom)
Officers: Police! Freeze!
Judge Kittleson: AAAAAAHHHHH!!!
(She is naked and she covers herself with a blanket or article of clothing)
Jimmy: Roberta!?!?
Kittleson: Get out. Get out! All of you!
McGuire: Judge Kittleson??
Kittleson: OUT!!!!!! Get out!
McGuire: Let's go.
(Officers leave)
Jimmy: What?
Kittleson: I came to surprise you.
Jimmy: Oh. It worked.
Commercial
(Scene back in the offices of DYD&F)
Eugene: Naked, naked?
Jimmy: Yes. Naked naked. She was standing there naked, nude, to surprise me and they busted in with guns.
Bobby: What'd she say?
Jimmy: Not much. She gathered her stuff and left. Won't take my calls.
Ellenor (to Lindsay): We can wait till the end of the week if it's easier.
Lindsay: No, it's fine. (to Bobby) Ellenor's gonna move in with Helen today, so I'll need to sleep at your place tonight.
Lucy: Sounds romantic. (She gets looks)
Eugene: I gotta go to court. I'm second chairing for Becca.
(Lindsay pulls a legal pad out of her desk drawer)
Lindsay: He's been here again. He held this.
Bobby: He held it??
Lindsay: He... (voice wavering) ..He had a certain smell, a cologne. This is it. No, this is no copycat. It's him.
(Ellenor takes the pad)
Ellenor (in a sympathetic voice): I don't smell anything.
Lindsay (very shaken): It's him. (She takes deep breaths)
Court scene of Rebecca, Ronald Vega, etc.
Witness (police officer): When we got there he was crying.
Jennifer: The defendant.
Witness: Yes. He said he'd hit a woman who was crossing the street. Then he panicked and drove off.
Jennifer: Anybody with him when you arrived?
Witness: Yes, a Mr. Theodore Barrington, the owner of the car.
Jennifer: And were you able to establish Mr. Barrington's connection with all this?
Witness: Basically the defendant was detailing Mr. Barrington's car. And when driving it home, the defendant hit the woman. He told Mr. Barrington about it, and evidently Mr. Barrington convinced him to notify us.
Rebecca: Did you look into whether Mr. Barrington was driving the car himself?
Witness: I'm told he was questioned later.
Rebecca: My question is....did YOU look into this possibility?
Witness: No.
Rebecca: Why not?
Witness: Because the kid confessed to it.
Rebecca: Are you aware that the defendant claimed he was paid thirty thousand dollars by Mr. Barrington---
Jennifer: Objection!
Judge Swackheim: Overruled.
Ronnie: I made that up!!
Judge: Mr. Vega, take your seat.
Ronnie: Judge, I told ---
Judge: I said take your seat and close your mouth! Or I'll have it taped shut. And if you don't think I'll do it, ask your lawyer!
Ronnie: I don't want her to be my lawyer!
Judge: I'll give you one last warning-
Ronnie: Look, I just want to plead guilty!
(Ronnie's mouth is taped shut with duct tape)
Rebecca: Okay, Detective Simons I'll ask you again. Are you aware that my client claimed he was paid thirty-thousand dollars by Mr. Barrington to say he was driving the car?
Witness: I was not aware of that at the time. I was made aware of that this morning, but I was told that the defendant had since retracted the statement.
Rebecca: Are you aware his subsequent retraction came AFTER Mr. Vega was paid a visit to his cell by Mr. Barrington's attorney?
Witness: I was not aware of that, no.
Rebecca: Thank you Detective. That's all.
Jennifer: Your honor, the Commonwealth calls Ronald Vega.
Rebecca: Objection, Your honor! My client has a 5th Amendment right NOT to testify.
Jennifer: I think if you remove the tape from Mr. Vega's mouth you'll learn that he waves that right.
Scene of Jimmy visiting Kittleson in chambers
Jimmy: What were you thinking?
Kittleson: Is that why you came? To compound my humiliation? Because believe me, it's not possible.
Jimmy: Roberta. I didn't know you and I were speaking romantically, much less...
Kittleson: I find it difficult to tell a man I miss him. For whatever reason, it's just easier to show up in his apartment naked. My God, how could I ever make eye contact with people again?
Jimmy: Oh, you said that when you were on the internet. You got over it.
Kittleson: This is much worse. I was standing there naked! I can't even imagine what people must think!
Jimmy: Why do you care what they think? You're always saying, when you put that robe on... you're a judge. It's so important that everybody think of you as a great judge with integrity.
Kittleson: Part of being a good judge is the appearance of dignity.
Jimmy: So they walked in on your personal life. That doesn't make you any less dignified professionally. You weren't doing anything illegal. It was a big mistake. And know what they're all talking about Roberta? Your body. How great it is.
Kittleson: Really?
Jimmy: I wasn't calling you over and over last night just cuz I felt bad for you. You got me... a little worked up. I'm not happy I walked in there with the police seeing you like that. I'll be honest. I was shocked. But I was glad to see you. I've missed you too.
Scene back at the offices of DYD&F
Bobby (on the phone): Okay. Thanks. (He hangs up) That was McGuire. No leads yet, but the fact that he's become bolder like this, they consider him dangerous.
Lindsay: Gee.
Lucy: Look, I think we should get a guard.
Bobby (to Lindsay): Can I talk to you?
Lindsay: Go ahead.
Bobby: In my office.
(They go in his office)
Bobby: What have I done to deserve this?
Lindsay: You've done absolutely nothing Bobby.
Bobby: I'm getting this because I don't like you buying illegal guns?? It doesn't make any sense.
Lindsay: (angry) You're getting this for always judging me.
Bobby: I'm not judging you!
Lindsay: Judging me, when you have absolutely no idea... (they argue and yell at the same time. Hard to make out what they're saying)
Lindsay: (still very angry) What do you think Ellenor or I should do Bobby? Expect the police to protect us?? Go to court, get a restraining order? All murderers stay away, one mile radius? Expect YOU to protect me??
Bobby: Okay, that was personal... you're attacking me...
Lindsay: No, you're the one who started the attack on me!...don't...
Bobby: What the hell is going on??
Lindsay: I've got scars Bobby. (She points to her abdomen where she was stabbed) You wanna see them? And they still hurt.
Bobby: (whispering) Here we go.
Lindsay: Here we go??
Bobby: Look, Lindsay...I know what you went through. I understand.
Lindsay: You know what I went through??
Bobby: If you want....
Lindsay: (very angry and upset now) I got stabbed THREE times. Somebody took a knife and stuck it into me THREE times. It went through muscles and ligaments and arteries....I was on that floor dying, and you think you know?? You...you give me an engagement ring you think it'll make it all go away? Will you marry me, that's supposed to just heal everything? I almost died and you can't bring yourself to talk about it!! I need to talk about it! (Her voice wavers and cracks as she yells and she starts to cry) A week later, you're wondering how many people we should invite! We can't pretend it never happened now, okay, he's out there, he's back. And he's come into this office, and I can smell him..... (She starts to sob) and I can smell him......I can smell him.....
(Bobby takes her into his arms and whispers "It's okay." She keeps sobbing "I can smell him" as he hugs her tightly and she just cries and cries.)
Scene of George Vogelman helping Ellenor move into Helen's apartment
George: (carrying a box) Living room or bedroom?
Ellenor: Uh, you can leave it right there.
George: Uggh. Two more.
Ellenor: George, take a break!
George: Two more, then I'll collapse. (He leaves to get more boxes)
Helen: What's the dish Ellenor? No guy carries that many boxes without expecting to get a little something in return.
Ellenor: Sorry to disappoint you, just friends.
Helen: Oh come on, roommates are supposed to share their little sexual secrets. I sleep with this football player, he comes over with his poodle. Dog likes to lick my toes during.
(Ellenor has a stunned look on her face)
Helen: Just kidding.
Ellenor: For a second I felt safer on the street.
Helen: Seriously Ellenor, no guy is interested in being just friends. Not even a loser like George.
Ellenor: Shhhh!!! Look, the truth is, under these circumstances, it's not the worst thing in the world to have a male friend close by.
Helen: Oh! Especially one who can cut off heads!
Ellenor: Would you shut up??
Helen: Look, I'm sorry. He's weird. Okay? I'm not as convinced as you are that he's innocent.
Ellenor: Would you just unpack?
Helen: Already bossing me around.....
(Their voices fade and the camera cuts to George just on the other side of the wall, who apparently heard their entire conversation)
Cut back to Rebecca's courtroom scene
Jennifer: Mr. Vega, under oath, is it your testimony that you struck Elizabeth Nicklen while driving Teddy Barrington's car? You turned yourself into police. You signed a full confession.
Ronnie: Yes.
Jennifer: Now, did you tell your attorney that Mr. Barrington paid you for a false confession?
Ronnie: Yeah, but I was lying to her. He never paid me. I hit the woman and I'm accepting responsibility.
Rebecca: So you were just lying to me when you told me you were paid to confess?
Ronnie: That's right.
Rebecca: You suddenly changed your story after getting a visit from Mr. Barrington's attorney, didn't you Ronnie?
Ronnie: Yea, cuz he appealed to my conscience. Plus, ya know, I don't wanna be sued for false accusin' somebody.
Rebecca: I see. You first told me he paid you thirty-thousand dollars. And then you told me to go to your apartment. And when I did, sure enough, I found almost thirty-thousand dollars-
Jennifer: Your honor, I have to object. She's giving testimony here. If she's gonna be a witness....
Judge: Let's just get through this.
Jennifer: A lawyer can't stand....
Judge: Overruled! Where'd the thirty-thousand come from?
Ronnie: Savings.
Rebecca: Savings? Ronnie, you made eleven thousand dollars a year in your best year. You saved up thirty?
Ronnie: Yes.
Rebecca: You have an account at Commonwealth Savings Bank totaling $703, why not put the thirty thousand in the bank?
Ronnie: It was illegal gains.
Rebecca: Illegal how?
Ronnie: I refuse to answer that on grounds it could incriminate me.
Rebecca: But you have a conscience Ronnie. And you're of the confessing mind.
Jennifer: Objection.
Judge: Sustained.
Rebecca: When you told me you were being paid to confess, and I was trying to talk you out of doing that, you said I couldn't know you-
Jennifer: These are attorney-client communications-
Judge: Counsel, you're lucky enough to have a scum-ball here who's willing to confess, why don't you sit and be happy with that?
Rebecca: You said the thirty thousand, plus ten thousand for every month you'd spend in jail. That's more money than you'd ever know. You said that going to prison, getting this money, might actually prevent you from becoming a criminal. That was all just a lie?
Ronnie: Yes!
Rebecca: You're lying now, aren't you Ronnie?
Ronnie: No!
Rebecca: Taking the fall for a homicide?? I bet you're getting a lot for that!
Ronnie: It was me drivin' the car!
Rebecca: Why aren't you looking at me Ronnie?
Ronnie: I look at you but you're just some ambitious bitch, doin' I don't know what or why.
Rebecca: I guess that's it. I'm just some ambitious bitch standing up here, who you're having trouble looking at.
Commercial
(Scene of Ellenor and Helen's apartment. George is there.)
Ellenor: Hey, you sure you don't want to stay for dinner? I'm going to the market, I can get you whatever you like.
George: Thank you, but believe it or not, I actually have plans tonight.
Ellenor: Oh really? You have a hot date?
George: Are you making fun of me Ellenor?
Ellenor: Uh, no, actually I wasn't.
George: Well, I thank you for the offer, but I do have plans.
Ellenor: Well, I thank you for all the help. You wanna walk me out?
George: Sure.
Cut to closing arguments of Rebecca's case
Rebecca: This is the craziest trial I've ever heard of. We have the defendant saying he's guilty, while his lawyer says he's not. I've been acting like a witness, offering facts into evidence and a lot of it has been attorney-client privilege. And all the while we have your honor up there, taping my client's mouth, calling him scum.... We have more grounds for appeal-
Judge: This is the trial court counsel. You can make your appeals later.
Rebecca: Maybe he doesn't care about Ronnie. But I bet he cares about the integrity of this room. I hope you care about it. Ronald Vega doesn't. He accepted money to be bought off the truth. He spits on this room. He spits on me, the judge, on you---
Vega: You don't represent me!
Judge: Mr. Vega!
Rebecca: You wanna rot in jail for cash, it's not just your business. It's mine. And it's theirs. And I won't be bought off. I doubt you will be either. You took an oath to uphold the law and find the truth. We all know the truth here, don't we? Ronald Vega wasn't driving that car.
Jennifer: If we can't convict with a confession, then something is definitely wrong with the system. All the evidence, all of it, supports Mr. Vega's confession. A woman is dead here, ladies and gentlemen. Ms. Washington may choose to characterize this trial as a farce, but a human life was lost. And we have an admission from the man responsible. If you were to acquit on the basis of the defense counsel's opinion---well, then we would have a farce, wouldn't we?
Cut to offices of DYD&F
Bobby: You all set?
Lindsay: I still have a lot of work to do, actually.
Bobby: Well, I'm not leaving you here alone.
Lindsay: (smugly) I have a gun, remember?
Bobby: Lindsay... I'm sorry. You just seemed to recover so fast, it didn't occur to me what should have been so obvious.
Lindsay: I'm okay Bobby.
Bobby: No. We're not going to make that mistake again, and just assume you're okay. You were almost killed. It's gonna take a long time before that trauma goes away. You were right... I was just happy to move forward and pretend it was all behind us. That's what I do. I like to believe everything's okay. But I can't do that here. (He kisses her hand) I am SO sorry.
Lindsay: It's just...him still being out there. It just brings it all back. I just keep thinking.... What if he's caught? Ever? And he goes to trial? And I have to testify...I... I don't think I could handle it. It was just so much easier with him being dead. I just want him dead.
Back to Rebecca's court scene
Judge: The jury has reached its verdict?
Foreperson: We have your honor.
Judge: The defendant will please rise. How say you Madam Foreperson?
Foreperson: Commonwealth versus Ronald Vega, on count one, vehicular homicide, and count two, leaving the scene of an accident, we the jury find the defendant, Ronald Vega...not guilty.
Rebecca: Whadda ya know?
Judge: Members of the jury, we thank you. You're free to go, as is the defendant. We are adjourned.
Rebecca: This is a pattern with me, I get them off, they never say thank you.
Judge: Miss Washington....The court thanks you.
Rebecca: You see that look he just shot me? What was that?
Eugene: Well deserved. C'mon, I'll buy you dinner.
Scene of Ellenor and Helen's apartment
(We see water running in the shower. Then Ellenor comes in the apartment door)
Ellenor: Hey Helen, I found the spinach angel hair pasta! I got all the ingredients. Hello? Helen?
(Ellenor runs in the bathroom, to find Helen laying unconscious in the tub with the water running on top of her)
Ellenor: Helen! Helen???!!! Oh my god, Oh my god, Oh my god....
(She checks for a pulse, then runs to the phone. The phone is dead, the line to the wall has been severed)
Ellenor: Dammit!!
(She turns, and there is George Vogelman in a nun's habit!)
George: Something wrong Ellenor? I changed my mind about dinner. But I think Helen's too dead tired to cook.
Ellenor: (stunned, and in a whisper) You?? Susan Robin? Lindsay??
George: You told me you had to work late that night, remember Ellenor? I had theatre tickets. You said you'd be in the office till at least nine but when I went there I found Lindsay.
Ellenor: (starting to cry) Why did you hurt her? Or Helen?
George: Helen's not dead. She just inhaled a little chloroform.
Ellenor: She's alive?
George: Sometimes I like to simulate death. When she wakes, she'll find you.
Ellenor: You came to kill me.
George: You know how many times you've killed me?
(She eyes her purse lying on the floor a few feet away)
George: Think you can reach that gun? Think you can use that gun to kill me Ellenor? Let me make it easier for you....
(He kicks the purse toward her so it is right next to her on the floor)
George: I would love to go out that way. With you pulling the trigger. Go ahead Ellenor, get your gun.
(She grabs her gun out of her purse)
George: Go ahead, shoot me. You'd be doing me a favor wouldn't you? Putting me out of my miserable, pathetic existence.
Ellenor: (She points the gun at him) What you don't know about me, is that I would. I will shoot you.
George: Then do it! I'll make you do it. I'm gonna kill you, unless you kill me.
Ellenor: George....
George: DO IT!!
Ellenor: Don't come any closer!!
George: Shoot me Ellenor!
Ellenor: Don't make me pull the trigger! Don't make me do it!
George: You're gonna have to do it Ellenor. You're gonna have to be the executioner.
Ellenor: George, put the knife down, we're gonna talk about it, just put it down.
(He comes at her with the knife, and she shoots him. He falls over and lays on the ground.)
George: (As he falls) You did it... you did it...
(Ellenor runs to the bathroom to help Helen. She shuts off the running shower and tries to revive Helen by shaking her and prying her eyes open.)
Ellenor: Helen! C'mon, wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Helen! Wake up! It's Ellenor, open your eyes...open them up...good girl...good girl...hey, can you see? Helen? Helen?
(Suddenly a shadow approaches behind her. She swings backward and its George. She knocks him against the bathroom wall as she screams...)
Ellenor: Open your eyes!
(She runs to the door of the apartment and tries to get out. But the door is locked. George approaches behind her)
George: I'm feeling better. I could even dance. (He spins around) What's the matter Ellenor? Not as dead as you hoped for? I told you, I love to simulate it. I put your blanks in your little gun earlier. You didn't really think I wanted to be killed by you, did you? Although I did want to see if you'd do it.
Ellenor: George, please, if you're psychotic or whatever, you obviously need help, and I can help you.
George: You just shot me. Now you wanna help me?
Ellenor: You have an insanity defense for everything you've done.
George: Well, then, I'll also have one for what I'm about to do.
Ellenor: Please!
(He lunges at her with the knife)
George: Bad boyfriend!
(All of a sudden there is a shot, and George is shot from behind. Ellenor screams. George falls against the door and a streak of blood follows him. Helen is there, with her gun, stark naked. She shot George in the back as he was trying to stab Ellenor. Now Ellenor and Helen just stand there in silence staring at his body).
End of episode