- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: You decide yet what you wanna do this afternoon?
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: I don't care.
- [Tommy Sr. gets a drink of water at the water fountain]
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Ugh! The water here tastes like spit. You're the one who wants to play father and son.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: You flew all the way from Boston...
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Taking a look at ya. Tomorrow, I'm back to Boston.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Fine! I was only thinking...
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Trouble is you think too much. Uhh!
- [Tommy Jr. turned and find out that his father Tommy Sr. got a fatal heart attack]
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: What, Pop?
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Oh, I feel like I've been in shot.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Uh, okay, come on. Uh, we'll drive you to the hospital.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: I can't.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: I'm gonna call an ambulance.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Don't leave me alone.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: I'll be right back!
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: I said, don't leave!
- [Tommy heads to the payphone and ask the janitor]
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Hey, could get me an ambulance? Hurry!
- [the janitor while mopping the floor heads to the payphone. Tommy Jr. is coming to help his father Tommy Sr. His mouth is bleeding]
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Hang in there, Pop.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: [Tommy Sr. Groans] I'm wet. I peed myself like a damn baby.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: You're okay.
- [Back and return to the courthouse, Daniel has mysteries to be solved in the hall. But there's someone renew Daniel's acquaintance. Her name is Linda Salerno]
- Linda Salerno: Daniel?
- Daniel Morales: Well, hi. I'm sorry, I didn't know.
- Linda Salerno: Linda.
- Daniel Morales: Right.
- Linda Salerno: I, uh... I changed my hair.
- Daniel Morales: Yeah. What are you doing in L.A.?
- Linda Salerno: Moved down a couple months ago. I found a new, uh, court reporting job. Of course if I'd known it was so expensive, I might have stayed in Santa Barbara.
- Daniel Morales: Yeah. Listen, I gotta go.
- Linda Salerno: Listen, you look great. The city is treating you well.
- Daniel Morales: Actually, it's not.
- Linda Salerno: Really? Can I help?
- Daniel Morales: No. No, thanks. I'll see you later.
- [Linda grab while holding Daniel's shoulders to give hugs]
- Linda Salerno: If there's something I can do, please let me know.
- [Daniel nodded his head. And Linda Salerno gives Daniel a kiss. Daniel just left. And Linda has to find out who she is like in Fatal Attraction]
- [In the office, Stuart has to think about what happened about his life, and Ann is here to talk with Stuart about her reaction]
- Ann Kelsey: Stuart, you're making it worse.
- [Stuart is not in the mood, and he's very busy]
- Stuart Markowitz: I'm busy.
- Ann Kelsey: Please, don't do this.
- Stuart Markowitz: Why am I getting subpoenaed by the City Attorney's Office?
- Ann Kelsey: Because I'm angry, Stuart.
- Stuart Markowitz: No kidding.
- Ann Kelsey: There were two of us who were mugged, and only one of us was treated! What about me?
- Stuart Markowitz: I didn't ask for this, Ann. I'd give anything for this not to have happened. But it happened. And now what I wanna do is get past it!
- Ann Kelsey: And what am I supposed to do? I have been waiting...
- Stuart Markowitz: Waiting for what? What do you want from me, Ann?
- Ann Kelsey: I want you the way you were!
- Stuart Markowitz: Well, it's not possible. I'm sorry, but that's not possible. A person can't go through what I went through and come out the same as he went in. And if you can't accept that, I'm packing up and I'm outta here.
- [Ann has opened the door and leave for the moment]
- [Here at the Los Angeles hospital. Tommy walked and see how his father doing so far]
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: How you feeling?
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Better. Get my clothes.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Dr. Horowitz says you gotta lay low.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: If I passed out once, I passed out a thousand times. It's no big deal.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Relax, Pop. You're in for a while.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Give me a smoke.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: I'm not allowed.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Give me a drink?
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Not allowed either.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Then gimme...
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: No more gimmes. Why don't you get some sleep?
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Yeah. I'm tired.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Sure. I'll be here when you wake up.
- [Tommy will have the first watch to look after his father]
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Hello, everybody!
- Stuart Markowitz: Oh, great.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: It's a gorgeous day. Oh, what a view from the tower of power. One of these days. Uh, Dana Romney, City Attorney. Douglas Brackman may have told you about me.
- Ann Kelsey: We know who you are, Mr. Romney. Let's get on with this. All of us are very busy.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: We certainly are, Ms. Kelsey, which is why your meritless claim offends me. Why not spare taxpayers the cost of defending your charges, and your husband the agony of, well, my interrogation?
- Ann Kelsey: Excuse me?
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Drop the suit.
- Ann Kelsey: Drop dead.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Is it just me or there a surplus of hostility in this room?
- [Romney laughing]
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Okay.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: No guy is scrubbing my ass. Especially no guy with earrings!
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Uh, why don't I take over? My father can be kind of difficult.
- Peter Jablow: Not a problem. Got a dozen more just like him... Waitin'.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: What kind of place is this? You wake up and some homo has got his arm around ya!
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Pop, relax, huh? Nobody's had a chance to clean you up, that's all. You need a bath.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: I need a drink.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Enough already with that! Now come on. Come on. Lean forward.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: [Groans] Hospitals. Doctors tell you to rest. Step by step, they're prodding and poking.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Don't you get tired of complaining?
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: A fact is a fact. Hey! Easy. That water is cold!
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: You know, you've always bitched about the cold. So tell me, how come we lived in Boston?
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: I don't know what you mean, "How come we always lived in Boston?" That's where my family was! I had no choice. Not like you. Every step of the way, you did... exactly as you pleased.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: ...exactly as you pleased. I did not ask for a lecture.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: All I'm trying to get into your head is that in the end, all you got is family. Don't be left alone. You understand?
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Pop, there's something I haven't told you. I've been, um... Me and Roxie? We're having a baby.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: [That's better] I'm gonna be a grandpa? Oh! Oh!
- [Tommy Sr. laughs. That's makes Tommy Jr. happy and smiled to love his father. Tommy Jr. gives a hug to his father Tommy Sr. and bless them]
- Ann Kelsey: Stuart, I have something I need to say to you.
- Stuart Markowitz: Can it wait, Ann? Douglas needs these figures.
- Ann Kelsey: This can't wait.
- [Ann closed the door. Stuart puts his paper and his pen down and listen. Ann needs to tell Stuart the truth all about Ann and Stuart]
- Ann Kelsey: Stuart, I wish I had been more supportive. Less judgmental, more secure with myself in who I am. But when all this happened, it so shook my world, it... it so altered everything that I... had finally begun to take for granted. All I wanted was to punish the people that had done this to us. And instead, I... I wound up punishing... the only true victim of this whole sorry mess. So if... if you really want to leave this marriage, I'll understand. But I love you, and... if you could possibly forgive me and help me to put this behind us.
- Stuart Markowitz: Shh.
- [Stuart will comfort Ann and forgive her. Holding Ann, hug and kissed her]
- Stuart Markowitz: I love you.
- [And continues kissing]
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Mr. Markowitz, uh, according to your wife's suit, since your attack, you are not the same man you once were. Uh, Miss Kelsey cites that the declining rate of marital concupiscence. That is, to say, sexual intercourse? Is that accurate?
- Stuart Markowitz: Yes.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: She says you haven't had sex in over 3 months? Is that accurate?
- Stuart Markowitz: Sounds right, yes.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: So is it your position, then, that your lack of intermarital sex results from the beating you took last April?
- Stuart Markowitz: No, the only reason my wife and I don't have sex is that I currently find her undesirable.
- [Ann is silent and scared]
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Really?
- [Ann is going to be alone in her office for a while. Romney sighs]
- City Attorney Dana Romney: I couldn't have secured better testimony if I'd written it myself.
- [snickers]
- Stuart Markowitz: Are we done?
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Free to go, Mr. Markowitz. Bye.
- [Stuart will take a break. The City Attorney Romney turning the pages]
- [Tommy is back and brought some magazine for his father to read in the hospital bedside]
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Hey. I brought you something to read.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: I appreciate it.
- [Find out that where did Tommy Sr. get the cup of liquor]
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Where did you get that booze?
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: That orderly. He wasn't so bad.
- [Tommy take a seat]
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: So tell me. Do you want to be a father? Or did you just knock Red up?
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: It was planned, Pop. It was very planned.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: You were a mistake. Your brother, too.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Yeah, you told me.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: You see, I never wanted to be a father. But your ma, oh, she just loved kids, and if she knew that you're gonna have one, this would be the happiest day on Earth.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Yeah.
- Gordon Reeve: About 7:00 that night, Bill Collins called the newsroom.
- Phyllis Wodjack: Did you know who he was?
- Gordon Reeve: Sure. After the trademark closing, Collin was all over the airwaves, giving speeches. A lot of people knew who he was.
- Phyllis Wodjack: What did Mr. Collins say on the phone?
- Gordon Reeve: He said he was gonna set himself on fire in front of the Trademark building, to protest American jobs going overseas. He said, "Send a camera."
- Phyllis Wodjack: And what did you do?
- Gordon Reeve: First, I called the police. Then I told my Station Manager, Eric Simms, and he said, "Cover it."
- Phyllis Wodjack: What happened when you got to the Trademark building?
- Gordon Reeve: I didn't see anything at first. But, uh, as soon as I set down my equipment, Collins walked out of the alley carrying a can of gasoline, stood on the sidewalk, said he was gonna kill himself. I asked him why. He said, "Turn on the camera and I'll tell you."
- Phyllis Wodjack: What happened next?
- Gordon Reeve: I did what he said. I was, I'm... expecting the cops to show.
- Phyllis Wodjack: And what happened after you began rolling the camera?
- Gordon Reeve: Collins made a speech, poured gasoline on himself, and then he lit a match.
- Phyllis Wodjack: You have no regrets about your actions that day?
- Gordon Reeve: Do I second-guess myself? Sure. I feel for Bill Collins... and his family. But who's to say that he died in vain? After what he did, Trademark scratched plans to close that Anaheim plant.
- Melina Paros: Objection. Speculation.
- Judge Richard Lobel: Sustained.
- Phyllis Wodjack: Mr. Reeve, do you feel responsible for Bill Collins' death?
- Gordon Reeve: Over 19 years as a cameraman, I've seen a lot of tragedy. I've seen, uh, soldiers blown up by grenades. I've seen, uh, children starving.
- [sighs]
- Gordon Reeve: I, uh, I just photograph these things. I don't cause them.
- Phyllis Wodjack: Thank you. Nothing further, Your Honor.
- [Back here in is the Los Angeles Courthouse in Los Angeles. The testimony continues crossing the examination is Eric Simms, Station Manager of KINX News]
- Phyllis Wodjack: Mr. Simms, as Station Manager of KINX News, have you set a policy governing the way that your reporters cover the news?
- Eric Simms: Yes. We tell our people to get as close as possible to the event, without breaking the law, of course.
- Phyllis Wodjack: Did Mr. Reeve conform to station policy when covering the self-immolation of Mr. Collins?
- Eric Simms: Yes.
- Phyllis Wodjack: Assisting a suicide is against the law, isn't it?
- Eric Simms: Gordon didn't assist a suicide. He didn't pour the gasoline. He didn't offer a match. He was there to record an event.
- Phyllis Wodjack: How do you respond to the plaintiff's charge that the very act of videotaping encouraged Mr. Collins to kill himself?
- Eric Simms: We've been hit with these charges before. During the riots, we were accused of fermenting the looting, simply because we showed pictures of people looting. But that doesn't change the fact that what was happening was news.
- Phyllis Wodjack: But you could be selective in what stories you pursue.
- Eric Simms: Editorial decisions shouldn't be made by courts. Start telling us what we can and can't cover, and that's the slippery slope to tyranny.
- Phyllis Wodjack: Thank you. Your witness.
- Melina Paros: Thank you. Mr. Simms, are you aware that Mr. Collins notified two other news groups of his planned suicide, only the elected not to cover it citing ethical considerations?
- Eric Simms: When we made that tape available, every station in this city aired it, including the networks and the cable news programs.
- Melina Paros: Last year, didn't you speak to a group of UCLA journalism students, exhorting them to "strive for journalistic integrity?"
- Eric Simms: I did. And that's the same thing I try to empress upon my employees.
- Melina Paros: Last November, did you air footage of a game warden being eaten by an alligator? A skydiver whose parachute didn't open? A home video of a grandmother as she was being gunned down by a drive-by shooting?
- Eric Simms: Yes.
- Melina Paros: And as your October 31st staff meeting, did you exhort your employees to seek out such sensational stories?
- Eric Simms: We're a small station, Ms. Paros, fighting for our share of the audience. Yes, I went after those stories, because that's what people want to watch. And that's why we beat our competition during that Sweeps period.
- Melina Paros: Was Mr. Reeve at this October 31st meeting?
- Eric Simms: Yes.
- Melina Paros: On what date did Mr. Reeve photograph the immolation of Mr. Collins?
- Eric Simms: I believe it was November 5th.
- Melina Paros: Thank you. Nothing further.
- [Here at the witness room. Melina and her plaintiff Belinda Collins sitting quietly. Coming from outside, Phyllis Wodjack and her two defendants Gordon Reeve and Eric Simms has arrived at the witness room, have a seat, talk, and make the offer]
- Melina Paros: What's your offer?
- Phyllis Wodjack: Mr. Collins made 40,000 a year when he was let go. Assuming he remained healthy, he had another 10 years of earnings. Add loss of love and affection, we're round it up to 500,000, present value of 385.
- Melina Paros: Belinda?
- Belinda Collins: Okay. On one condition. I want you to go on TV and take responsibility for what you did. I want you to say that what you did was immoral.
- Eric Simms: Mrs. Collins, I can't allow Gordon to do that, even if he wanted. We'd be inviting lawsuits from every person who didn't like what we put on the air.
- Belinda Collins: Then I reject your offer.
- [Belinda declines the offer. Phyllis Wodjack is taking Eric Simms outside and leave. While Melina is outside the witness room, waiting for Belinda, but Gordon Reeve want to owe Belinda an apology of how Gordon feel, ashamed and terrible about what happened to Belinda's late husband Bill Collins]
- Gordon Reeve: Mrs. Collins, I want you to know that. I feel terrible about what happened to your husband, and if I had it to do over... I wish I had done something.
- Belinda Collins: Why didn't you say that under oath?
- [Belinda is leaving with Melina and Gordon will be alone]
- [Gwen kisses Lucy, the baby girl, hold by her loved father Daniel, and she back and reunited. Gwen is wounded in her left arm. And Gwen is going to be all right]
- Daniel Morales: Oh, yes.
- Gwen Taylor: She was in the ladies room?
- Roxanne Melman: Yeah, she was just sitting there, waiting to be found.
- Daniel Morales: Oh, sweet girl. Thank God you're all right.
- Roxanne Melman: Look how she's so happy to be back with her daddy.
- [But Warren McElroy knocking the door and has made something important]
- Warren McElroy: I notified the Santa Barbara Police Department. They've assigned an officer to your parents, around the clock.
- Daniel Morales: You should come with me.
- Warren McElroy: Daniel, you need to get Lucy to a safe place. With this woman still out there, nobody knows what she wants. At least with the two of you apart, the focus is split.
- Gwen Taylor: Daniel, I'll be fine.
- Daniel Morales: I'll call as soon as I get there.
- [Daniel gives a kiss to Gwen]
- Gwen Taylor: Drive carefully. Bye, sweetie.
- [Gwen kisses Lucy, the baby girl. Daniel will take his daughter Lucy and heads safely to Santa Barbara County. While Warren McElroy keep an eye on the first watch to protect Gwen from being stalked]
- Melina Paros: [Ms. Paros prepares the closing argument] Gordon Reeve says that taking pictures of a distraught man burning himself to death is all in a day's work. "I'm a journalist," he says, "No blood on my hands." But Mr. Reeve crossed the line. Not only of responsible journalism but of human decency and the law. Why? Violence sells. Now, Bill Collins may have thought that he was dying for a purpose, but the only purpose that Mr. Reeve and his station had in mind was winning higher ratings. If you think that their actions were a substantial cause of Mr. Collins' self-immolation, then you must find Mr. Reeve and KINX responsible for contributing to his suicide. Thank you.
- [Ms. Paros heads back to her seat. And the opposing counsel Ms. Wodjack's turn to prepare for closing]
- Phyllis Wodjack: That video... is excruciating to watch. But it happened. And it was news. And every station in this town, every network ran that tape. It's estimated 20 million people saw the footage. Now, maybe you think that Gordon Reeve is an awful person because he didn't stop somebody from killing himself. But under the law, he had no duty to rescue Bill Collins from himself. His duty as a journalist was to photograph the event. And to say Bill Collins wouldn't have killed himself if my client had capped his lens is rank speculation. And believe me, if Gordon Reeve had refused to run his camera, Bill Collins would have found another reporter who would have gladly covered the story.
- [Ms. Wodjack turned to plaintiff Belinda Collins]
- Phyllis Wodjack: This is tragic news. Yes, I grant you that. But don't make the mistake of blaming the messenger.
- [Ms. Wodjack is finished with the closing and head back to her seat]
- [Here at home, Gwen turns on the lamp and sees the Ice Hockey sports on television. Gwen's left arm will be healed, and she's looking up letters, sit down and drink tea. But someone is knocking on the door. But someone is going to stalk Gwen. She's going to answer the door and see who it is]
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Okay, okay.
- Warren McElroy: Evening, Miss Taylor. I found this weasel, uh... slinking around in the shadows.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: I wasn't slinking. That's my natural gait.
- Gwen Taylor: Romney?
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Yeah. Thought I'd come by and see if you were okay. Only I didn't know Efrem Zimbalist Jr. was parked on your front step. Guess I'll go.
- Gwen Taylor: No, come on in.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Really?
- Gwen Taylor: Yeah.
- [Romney will never do that ever again. And McElroy will let Romney stay for awhile with Gwen. And she invited him in]
- Gwen Taylor: So, at least your content to hang out here in the shadows.
- Warren McElroy: Yeah. If she makes it to the door, Miss Taylor, I got her.
- Gwen Taylor: Okay.
- [Here at the courthouse]
- Melina Paros: And when did your late husband go into his depression?
- Belinda Collins: Last year. After Trademark Tools moved their manufacturing plant to Taiwan. After 23 years as a die-maker, he was on the street, along with 50 other machinists.
- Melina Paros: Please go on.
- Belinda Collins: He felt tremendous guilt. As a worker's rep, he helped management to keep Trademark non-union in return for the assurance that their jobs would be secure. And after the shutdown, he... he became obsessed with how he'd been lied to. He wrote letters constantly to congressman, magazines, "60 Minutes." He believed that what happened to Trademark was symbolic of what's wrong in this country, with companies selling out their workers and shipping jobs overseas. He wanted his story to be heard. No one was interested.
- Phyllis Wodjack: Objection. We don't know the state of the decedent's mind. This is sure speculation.
- Judge Richard Lobel: I'll allow it.
- Belinda Collins: By staging this, uh... spectacle, my late husband was crying out for help. But he never would have gone through with it had it not been for the cooperation of Gordon Reeve.
- Phyllis Wodjack: Your Honor...
- Judge Richard Lobel: Mrs. Collins, while you're on the witness stand, you will limit your comments to questions posed by the attorneys, understood?
- [Belinda nodded]
- Judge Richard Lobel: The jury will disregard Mrs. Collins' outburst.
- Melina Paros: Nothing further. Thank you.
- Phyllis Wodjack: Mrs. Collins, were you aware in advance of your husband's preoccupation with his suicide?
- Belinda Collins: I knew he was troubled.
- Phyllis Wodjack: On November 2nd, 3 days before his suicide, didn't you tell a county mental health worker that you were afraid your husband might harm himself?
- Belinda Collins: Yes, I called Social Services.
- Phyllis Wodjack: Do you wish you'd done more to prevent your husband's death?
- Belinda Collins: Of course. But I didn't know what he was planning.
- Phyllis Wodjack: And you honestly believe that my client's photographing of your husband's suicide influenced his decision to go through with it?
- Belinda Collins: Bill told your client that he wanted to send a message. Your client was the messenger. If he'd refused, he would not have done it.
- Phyllis Wodjack: Well, you may feel that way, Mrs. Collins, but isn't it possible that your husband would have killed anyway even if my client had never turned his camera on?
- Belinda Collins: Gordon Reeve should have done something. He was only 6 ft. away? Filming? When my husband doused himself with gasoline...
- Phyllis Wodjack: Mrs. Collins.
- Belinda Collins: ...and then lit a match!
- Phyllis Wodjack: Your Honor.
- Belinda Collins: And then he burned!
- [Sobbing]
- Belinda Collins: And he burned!
- Judge Richard Lobel: Mrs. Collins.
- Belinda Collins: ...until... How could you?
- Judge Richard Lobel: Mrs. Collins, please.
- Belinda Collins: How could you stand there and not do something? I...
- Judge Richard Lobel: Mrs. Collins, that's enough.
- Belinda Collins: [Belinda speaks quietly] How could you.
- Phyllis Wodjack: Nothing further.
- [Judge Lobel handover the verdict to the bailiff and return it back to the members of the jury]
- Judge Richard Lobel: Has the jury reached a verdict?
- Jury Foreperson: We have, Your Honor.
- Judge Richard Lobel: What say you?
- Jury Foreperson: We find damages in the amount of $600,000. We apportion 90% of the responsibility to Mr. Collins and 10% to the defendant.
- Judge Richard Lobel: The verdict is so entered. The defendant is ordered to pay Mrs. Collins the amount of $60,000. The jury is discharged with the thanks from the court. We're adjourned.
- Belinda Collins: 60,000?
- Melina Paros: The jury felt your husband was mostly responsible for his suicide. I'm sorry.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: [Dana Romney sits and watching TV] This is nice. You and me, alone in the apartment, sitting, watching a little TV. I want you to know, I'm willing to stay the night. If you want, I'll even take the couch. Although it's probably safer if I don't let you out of my site, okay, Gwen?
- Gwen Taylor: McElroy's right outside.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Are you saying you want me to leave?
- Gwen Taylor: No.
- [Gwen is opening the envelope and check the results. She looked, read, and it's the Huntington's test. Passed the test and Gwen is safe]
- Gwen Taylor: Oh, God!
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Publisher's Clearinghouse?
- Gwen Taylor: [Gwen whispering] No, my-my test. It's negative. I thought I had Huntington's chorea, but, um...
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Wait a minute. You had this information and you didn't...
- Gwen Taylor: No, no, no, that doesn't matter, Romney. The fact is I'm fine. I'm gonna be fine.
- [Gwen laughs]
- Gwen Taylor: Oh, God.
- [Gwen give thanks to Dana Romney and give him a hug. How can Gwen ever repay City Attorney Dana Romney]
- Gwen Taylor: Oh.
- [Dana kisses Gwen]
- Gwen Taylor: Romney.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Sorry.
- [Thank goodness]
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: What?
- Roxanne Melman: I'm surprised to find you here.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Oh, you're full of surprises today.
- Roxanne Melman: How's your father?
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Dead. Yeah. We had a fight, I walked out to cool off. Next thing I know, I get this phone call. He's had a heart attack.
- Roxanne Melman: Oh, Tommy, I'm sorry.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Rox, what was I'm thinking? He came all this way so as not to be alone, and I left them alone.
- Roxanne Melman: You couldn't be there every second.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: No, no. I walked out 'cause I was... mad. I was afraid, like when I was a kid. The doctors worked on him. Finally they gave up. Body gets cold quick. My old man never liked the cold.
- Roxanne Melman: Let's go.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: I'm watching the show. Or I would be if this jerk weren't blocking my view.
- [Talking to the fat boy]
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Hey! Fat boy! Have a seat!
- Linda Salerno: There's your daddy.
- [Daniel drop off Gwen home]
- Linda Salerno: He's probably looking for you.
- Detective Tom Blomquist: [Gwen needs under surveillance police protection] Since Miss Taylor's been staying here, we've rerouted her calls. Both lines are monitored.
- Daniel Morales: Yeah. Gwen.
- [Gwen needs help, Daniel is on Gwen's side, here to protect Gwen, and then Daniel hugs Gwen safely. There's someone be with Daniel any minute]
- Gwen Taylor: Daniel Morales, this is Melina's friend from the FBI, Behavior Science Unit. Warren McElroy.
- Daniel Morales: [McElroy shows his FBI I.D. badge] Hi.
- Warren McElroy: I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter.
- Daniel Morales: Do you think she's in danger?
- Warren McElroy: I think it's definitely a consideration, yeah, I mean, I've gone over all the information that Melina gave me. The thing that concerns me is the "Fairy Tale" motif in the gifts and letters this woman sent. Characters in... in children's stories often meet tragic ends. They fall down wells or they're - they're eaten by wolves or-- I remember a rhyme about a cobbler named Grendel who ground babies up into sausages.
- Detective Tom Blomquist: McElroy, you're not helping matters talking this way.
- Warren McElroy: I have successfully assisted in the safe return of 17 children kidnapped by mentally unstable suspects.
- [McElroy will be back any minute and look for mystery clues in that ransom]
- Detective Tom Blomquist: Mr. Morales, I'd like you to look over some mugshots.
- Warren McElroy: Suspect doesn't have a record.
- Detective Tom Blomquist: If you don't mind, I'm not so sure. Mr. Morales, whenever you're ready.
- Daniel Morales: Yeah. Yeah.
- Warren McElroy: As soon as Linda Salerno's photo's faxed, we'll let Gwen try and make a positive I.D.
- Daniel Morales: She was right there in my face. It just never occurred to me to do anything...
- Detective Tom Blomquist: Stop beating yourself up. How well did you know her?
- Daniel Morales: Barely. Sometimes we said hello in the morning. Or good-bye at night. That was it.
- [McElroy hand in the cup of coffee to Daniel]
- Daniel Morales: Why-why would she pick me?
- Warren McElroy: In most cases of erotomania, the initial contact is insignificant. You might not even remember It, but to her, it's the beginning of the most meaningful relationship in her life.
- Gwen Taylor: Why take Lucy?
- Warren McElroy: To force a confrontation. We'll hear from her, within 24 hours.
- Detective Tom Blomquist: Or we could be in for a long wait.
- Warren McElroy: As I was saying, uh, from everything that I know, it seems to suggest that this woman suffers from a combination of psychological disorders. Primarily erotomania.
- Gwen Taylor: She's a sexual deviant?
- Warren McElroy: Erotomania is about romance, not sex. I mean, it seems this woman has deluded herself into thinking that she has a relationship with Daniel.
- Gwen Taylor: So, she knows Daniel?
- Warren McElroy: They've definitely met. You need to search your memory for any acquaintance that fits the description that Gwen and Melina gave you.
- Daniel Morales: I have. Wait a minute.
- Gwen Taylor: Daniel?
- Daniel Morales: This woman who used to work as a court reporter for Santa Barbara county. Linda Salerno. I just ran into her at the courthouse. Oh, my God.
- [Daniel finds out that Linda is on the loose]
- Daniel Morales: I let her get away.
- Douglas Brackman, Jr.: Any word on Daniel's baby?
- Leland McKenzie: No, not yet, but we're all working on the problem.
- Arnie Becker: My old colleagues at Channel 3 have been...
- Jonathan Rollins: I've got city councilmembers getting the word out in their districts.
- Douglas Brackman, Jr.: Well, let's hope these efforts pay off before time runs out for Lucy.
- [Leland is looking at his appointment book]
- Douglas Brackman, Jr.: Well, Collins vs. Reeve and KINX News. Wasn't this settled?
- Melina Paros: KINX is offering nuisance value, but on my advice, Mrs. Collins has refused.
- Leland McKenzie: What cause of action?
- Melina Paros: Wrongful death. We're suing the cameraman and the news group for 1,000,000 bucks.
- Arnie Becker: Come on, this poor guy's distraught over losing his job, barbecues himself on TV, you blame the press?
- Melina Paros: If a cameraman weren't there, my client's husband would be alive.
- Jonathan Rollins: Except for the First Amendment, you might have a case.
- Melina Paros: I know I'm pushing the envelope, but the people are tired of the media's lack of responsibility. I think it'll fly.
- Douglas Brackman, Jr.: Who knows? Maybe you'll set a precedence. We could use the publicity.
- Douglas Brackman, Jr.: Ann Kelsey vs. City of Los Angeles. What's this?
- Ann Kelsey: I'm suing the LAPD for inadequate response during the riots. They had a helicopter overhead during Stuart's attack, and all they did was watch.
- Leland McKenzie: Stuart, you're not involved in this action?
- Stuart Markowitz: No, I'm not. This is Ann's show.
- Douglas Brackman, Jr.: What kind of damages are you looking for?
- Ann Kelsey: Loss of consortium.
- Leland McKenzie: Well, you're aware with a case such as this, you can expect questions about your intimacies...
- Stuart Markowitz: Doesn't matter, Leland. Clearly, I'm a shadow of my former self.
- [Stuart needs to take a moment and be alone at his office]
- Ann Kelsey: I understand that this is a matter of public record, but it's not up for discussion here.
- [Ann closed her desk folder]
- Ann Kelsey: Excuse me.
- Leland McKenzie: Yes, ma'am.
- [Telephone ringing]
- Daniel Morales: All right, I'll get that. You guys ready?
- Detective Tom Blomquist: No. Ms. Taylor, that's your phone. You better answer it.
- [Telephone ringing. Gwen will pick and answer it. The rest of the three will listen to other telephones]
- Gwen Taylor: Hello?
- Linda Salerno: [the stalker Linda's voice on the telephone] Hi, Gwen.
- [Baby Lucy crying]
- Linda Salerno: Oh, Lucy says hi, too.
- Gwen Taylor: Please don't hurt her.
- Linda Salerno: [Linda's voice] She wants to see you.
- [Baby Lucy crying]
- Linda Salerno: And you certainly must want to see her. Meet us at the Civic Center, in the tunnel. And, Gwen, don't bring anyone.
- [the telephone hung up. Click, dial tone]
- Daniel Morales: Let's go.
- Warren McElroy: No. Hang on. You have to go alone.
- Gwen Taylor: Okay.
- Daniel Morales: What are you talking about? She goes by herself? That's out of the question.
- Warren McElroy: No. Listen, we'll be following a short distance behind. If this woman gets wind of us, which your daughter could be in real danger.
- Detective Tom Blomquist: I'm afraid he's right.
- Gwen Taylor: Daniel, we don't have any other choice.
- Warren McElroy: It's your choice.
- Daniel Morales: Let's just go.
- [the court bailiff set up the video and the television screen in the courtroom]
- Melina Paros: Mr. Reeve, you've testified that you're trained to avoid becoming part of the story?
- Gordon Reeve: That's right.
- Melina Paros: But it never occurred to you that by agreeing to videotape Mr. Collins' suicide, you helped create the story?
- Melina Paros: No. I don't see it that way.
- Melina Paros: You had no sense that Mr. Collins was performing for the camera?
- Gordon Reeve: Most of the people I shoot are performing for the camera.
- Melina Paros: And you feel no responsibility for how others react to being taped?
- Gordon Reeve: If I had to worry about that, I wouldn't be able to do my job.
- Melina Paros: Let's see what kind of a job you did.
- Phyllis Wodjack: Your Honor, I renew my objection. This tape is prejudicial...
- Judge Richard Lobel: I've made my ruling, Miss Wodjack. Proceed, Ms. Paros.
- Bill Collins: [Bill Collins making messages, seen on the videotape footage] The board of directors at Trademark treat the American worker like slave labor. When are the CEO's of this country gonna learn? Sending American jobs to a Third World is creating a Third World right here in the United States! Did you hear that?
- Gordon Reeve: Got it!
- [But pause the videotape]
- Melina Paros: Mr. Reeve, do you think that by affirming that Mr. Collins' message was heard, you encouraged his suicide?
- Gordon Reeve: He asked me a question, I replied. I didn't encourage him.
- [Continue playing videotape footage. Bill pours a can of gas all over by himself. Belinda watched her late husband on the screen. Miss Paros watched. Ms. Wodjack is watching]
- Bill Collins: You ready?
- Gordon Reeve: I'm rolling!
- [pause the videotape]
- Melina Paros: Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you just green light a suicide?
- Gordon Reeve: No. I didn't tell him to do anything.
- Melina Paros: A man drenched in gasoline, holding a match, asks you if you're ready, and you answer affirmatively. You don't call that encouragement?
- Gordon Reeve: I just told him I was rolling. What he did was up to him.
- [Continues playing a footage, Bill lights the match and throws it to the ground and Bill Collins was burned himself to death. Belinda was sobbing and lost her husband. Bill screaming. Members of the Jury find out. Bill continues screaming to his death of immolation on fire]
- [Roxanne is washing her face. She grab a towel to pat her face. But suddenly she sees something's on the floor and found out that baby Lucy was in the women's room. Roxanne found Lucy]
- Roxanne Melman: Lucy? Baby? Oh, Lucy. Oh, Honey.
- [Lucy is safe and sound]
- [Here at the police department. The two police officers have taken the suspect in handcuffs and were taking him for booking. Gwen here signing the release papers of Daniel Morales]
- Daniel Morales: What took so long?
- Gwen Taylor: You're still facing contempt charges for withholding evidence. The judge was reluctant to sign your release.
- Daniel Morales: The judge is a mean son of a bitch. My little girl's kidnapped, and he keeps me locked up.
- Gwen Taylor: The police are working on a composite sketch of the woman who took Lucy.
- Daniel Morales: You're sure this is the same woman claiming to be my wife?
- Gwen Taylor: Positive.
- Daniel Morales: What about the Attorney General's office? Maybe Melina has some connections there...
- Gwen Taylor: Carrie spoke to the FBI agents. It's gonna amuse the apartment.
- Daniel Morales: All right, I'll drop you off there. I'm going back to the courthouse and look through the file, see if I can dig up somebody with the motive.
- [Pulling over is the Police Sergeant in the police car]
- Police Sergeant: Morales.
- Daniel Morales: You found Lucy?
- Police Sergeant: No, no, no. You wasted your time withholding evidence by hiding that gun, Morales.
- Daniel Morales: What is that mean?
- Police Sergeant: Last night at County, your client got done in by his own gang. Knife in the shower. Well, it looks like you got yourself locked up for no reason, Counselor.
- Gwen Taylor: Talk about a mean son of a bitch.
- [Tommy drinking beer]
- Roxanne Melman: Why are you drinking?
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Uh, it tastes good. Rox, I forgot how good-- It can handle this.
- Roxanne Melman: Come on. Let's go, sweetheart.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: I'm not sweetheart to you! I'm just a sperm donor!
- Roxanne Melman: There is nothing you can say to me...
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Roxy, come on. I was just joking.
- Roxanne Melman: I'm leaving.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: So leave. Hey, Rox! Would you mind telling that guy to sit down?
- [Roxanne leaving. But Tommy watch the show and continues drinking beer]
- Gwen Taylor: [Yawning] I'm gonna go take a shower.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Well, that's an idea.
- [Dana strengthening his necktie]
- Gwen Taylor: Alone.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: About time for me to go anyway.
- Gwen Taylor: Well, I really appreciate you coming by. It was so thoughtful.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Do you want me to wait while you shower?
- Gwen Taylor: No, you-- Um, yeah.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Take your time.
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Thanks.
- [City Attorney Dana Romney open the bottle of beers. Knocking the door]
- City Attorney Dana Romney: McElroy?
- Gwen Taylor: Something wrong?
- City Attorney Dana Romney: I don't think so.
- [Dana opened the door is Warren McElroy]
- City Attorney Dana Romney: Hi. You look cold.
- [Warren McElroy fell on the floor and he was shot in the back with an arrow by the stalker Linda Salerno. She is on the loose]
- Gwen Taylor: Oh!
- [Gwen Taylor and Dana Romney see that Warren McElroy was murdered]
- Leland McKenzie: [Knocking on the door is Leland] You have a minute?
- Ann Kelsey: Of course.
- Leland McKenzie: Ann, we've known each other a long time. Going forward with your lawsuit against the city is the worst thing you could possibly do.
- Ann Kelsey: I'm acting on my own, Leland, not as a representative of McKenzie-Brackman.
- Leland McKenzie: Come on now. You know I'm not concerned about the affect on this firm. I'm talking about you and Stuart.
- [Ann takes a seat and talk with Leland]
- Ann Kelsey: Did Stuart talk to you?
- Leland McKenzie: No, no. But you know better than I, he's against this.
- [Ann glares]
- Leland McKenzie: See, I--I can only imagine how difficult this year has been for the two of you. But you have a chance to put the past behind you, to get on with your lives.
- Ann Kelsey: Leland, I cannot just pretend that this never happened. I cannot let the people that did this to us just get away with it.
- Leland McKenzie: But you can't unring a bell, Ann. No amount of money, no prison terms, however lengthy, can balance the books. And I won't lecture you, but I do know that I have been lucky enough in my life to have loved twice. My wife and Rosalind. Twice to have that taken away. Well... There are a million reasons that people... who end up alone. There need only be one to stay together.
- [Leland leaves and closes the door]
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Get yourself a cup.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: You know I don't drink anymore.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Nah. This isn't anymore. This is special. We'll toast your baby.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Pop, I'm not gonna have a drink.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: All I'm asking is a toast.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Try and respect my-- Listen!
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: A toast to the Mullaney! Get yourself a cup! What's the harm?
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Pop, I'm not drinking with you.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: This is a request. Don't you know I'm... I'm dying?
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: After 7 years of being sober, you want me to fall the wagon out of pity?
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: What pity? I'm trying to celebrate.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: You're trying to screw me up one last time, and I won't let ya.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Get out.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Look, Pop, let's...
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: I'm being nice, and you spit on me. Out!
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Pop.
- Tommy Mullaney, Sr.: Get the hell out of here!
- [Tommy Jr. turned and walk away to cool off since having a fight with his alcoholic father. Tommy Sr. takes out the hiding bottle of liquor underneath his blanket. Twisting and opening to pour a liquor in his cup and drink by himself. That's before he died of cardiac arrest. His son Tommy Jr. is not drinking with him]
- [Back at the hospital. Tommy Mullaney has arrived and find out that his Alcoholic father Tommy Mullaney is gone. He's dead. He's nowhere to be found at the hospital. But suddenly, Dr. John Michael Horowitz has arrived. He got some terrible news]
- Dr. John Michael Horowitz: We tried to call you as soon as he went into arrest. I'll need you to come downstairs and sign his paperwork.
- A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney: Huh? Um... I'll be out later.
- Dr. John Michael Horowitz: Sure. I'm sorry, Mr. Mullaney.
- [Tommy Jr. is going to sit down for a minute and vigil his late father Tommy Sr.'s hospital bed]
- Arnie Becker: Roxanne, you got crumbs all over the Behringer file!
- Roxanne Melman: Better than the alternative. At least soda crackers stay down.
- [Looking up the Behringer file]
- Roxanne Melman: Good as new.
- Douglas Brackman, Jr.: Any word on Lucy?
- Roxanne Melman: Still missing. Uhh.
- Arnie Becker: What?
- Roxanne Melman: I guessed wrong about the soda crackers.
- [Roxanne heads to the ladies' room]
- Douglas Brackman, Jr.: So, what's the latest on my oeuvre?
- Arnie Becker: Oeuver-budget.
- Douglas Brackman, Jr.: How's that?
- Arnie Becker: Long and short of it, your book's overwritten. We had to make cuts.
- Douglas Brackman, Jr.: What did you take out?
- Arnie Becker: A little judicious trimming here and there. Chapters 4-12.
- Douglas Brackman, Jr.: Those chapters were the heart of my story.
- Arnie Becker: Douglas, worldwide wouldn't have to make any cuts if we rescaled the production. The scope of the material may be too intimate for a big-budget release.
- Douglas Brackman, Jr.: Ah, a smaller boutique presentation, similar to a foreign film?
- Arnie Becker: No, more like a... movie of the week. Now it takes place in a women's prison. Ah!