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The following is not a novelization or an actual script but a dry transcript of the
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TRANSCRIPT:
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COLD OPEN.
[Recap: Outside the Brock Residence. Night. Sebastian Stark walks inside.]
[Recap: Brock Residence, Living Room. Deena Brock lies dead on the floor, in a
pool of her own blood. Stark looks at her mournfully.]
[Recap: Brock Residence, Kitchen. Gordie Brock sits on a stool, covered in his
wife's blood. He is flanked by two detectives.]
GORDIE BROCK: [arms folded smugly] My lawyer, boys, why not let me go right
now?
MAYOR DELGADO: [vo] We're starting a high-profile crime unit in the D.A.'s
office.
[Recap: Outside City Hall. Day. Stark walks with Mayor Manuel Delgado up the
steps.]
MAYOR DELGADO: To nail rich folks with fancy lawyers like you.
SEBASTIAN STARK: What schmo would take that job? Come on.
[The Mayor puts his hand around Stark's shoulders, pretty much answering his
question.]
MAYOR DELGADO: Who better to shake up the D.A.'s office, huh? Winning is what
you do, it's what makes you the man.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Trial is war, second place is death. Truth is relative. Pick one
that works.
[Recap: Courtroom. Day. A judge speaks to Julie, sitting in the witness box. Claire
Stark (with her lawyer) and Stark look on.]
JUDGE: Having reached the age of 16, you must now designate which parent will
act as custodian until your 18th birthday.
[Recap: Courthouse, Hallway. Day. Claire takes her frustration out on Stark.]
CLAIRE STARK: Do you have any idea what it takes to raise a teenage girl alone
in Los Angeles?
CLAIRE STARK: This is the biggest case you are ever going to get. Don't blow it.
SEBASTIAN STARK: You are a good attorney, but the people in your office,
[scoffs] they - I don't know, what's the word I'm looking for? Oh, yeah - sssuck.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Jesus, Manny, it took you less time to settle the [chuckling]
transit strike. Come on.
MAYOR DELGADO: That wasn't my money. [tosses some chips into the pot] Call.
BOB SHAPIRO: [tossing a chip into the pot] Raise five hundred.
SEBASTIAN STARK: A, I'm going to put you all in... [slaps all his chips into the
pot] and B, if you win, [holding his checkbook] I am writing a check for ten large
to that soup kitchen on Fig that you're always trying to save, okay?
SEBASTIAN STARK: I need decent work space for my unit at the D.A.'s office.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Come on, you're the Mexican Monty Hall, make a deal.
[The gamblers all look at her and greet her warmly. Stark, still sitting, hugs her
'round her waist.]
[Shapiro chuckles.]
MAYOR DELGADO: [impatient yet politely] Not to break up this touching family
moment, but can we get back to this game?
SEBASTIAN STARK: We had never left this game. You're virtually drawing dead. I
have a million outs, okay? So you're either going to [taunting] call like a man or
fold like a mouse.
[The Mayor looks around and calls, slapping his cards face-up on the table.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: [laughing] Yes. [as Wolfie picks out a card from the deck]
Give me the clubs, give me the queen, give me the queen--
SEBASTIAN STARK: [exulting] And the queen of clubs! Thank you very much.
SEBASTIAN STARK: [collecting his winnings] Send the sherbet to Herbert, send
the bread to Fred.
CUT TO:
[Downtown LA, Street. Night. A police helicopter flies overhead, flashing its light
over many police cruisers parked under a bridge. Mayor Delgado gets out of his
car, accompanied by his security detail. Stark arrives in his car. He walks up to
the crime scene tape and flashes his DA's badge at the cops assembled there.
They don't look too happy to see him. Delgado approaches Deputy Police Chief
George Martinson.]
[Stark comes up. They look at the dead man, lying shirt open, a gunshot wound
to his chest, a baggie stuffed in his mouth. A CSU criminalist clicks pictures
nearby.]
DEPUTY CHIEF GEORGE MARTINSON: [sees him, beat] I'll call you when we make
an arrest. You can earn a few bucks getting the scumbag acquitted.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Maybe you missed the memo; I'm on your side now.
DEPUTY CHIEF GEORGE MARTINSON: [sharply] Stay behind the yellow tape.
[Martinson leaves.]
MAYOR DELGADO: They risk their lives putting away bad guys. You made a living
letting them go.
[They hear a car door slam and turn. Isaac Wright, a tough-looking African-
American cop (in plain clothes), comes running up. He ducks under the crime
scene tape and goes over to the body, looking distressed. The criminalist stands
and prevents him from getting closer.]
MAYOR DELGADO: [turning to Stark] You want to make things right with the
LAPD? You nail the son of a bitch who did this.
[Stark nods slowly. Delgado leaves. Stark looks at crime scene. Isaac still stands
there mournfully looking at Rodriguez. Stark shakes his head and sighs.]
CUT TO:
[Opening Sequence.]
CUT TO:
CUT TO:
JESSICA DEVLIN: ... is a crime against our entire city. My office will work closely
with the LAPD to ensure that this vicious cop-killer is apprehended, prosecuted
and convicted. [motions towards Martinson] Deputy Chief Martinson will now take
your questions. Thank you.
[As reporters jostle to her ask Martinson their questions, Jessica and Delgado
walk up the steps out of earshot.]
JESSICA DEVLIN: In case you haven't noticed, the cops hate his guts.
MAYOR DELGADO: You have an election in two months, Jess. You need a win.
JESSICA DEVLIN: The relationship between this office and the LAPD is a powder
keg, and Stark's a blow torch.
MAYOR DELGADO: Exactly, and if he loses, they'll be scraping him off the
pavement and not you.
CUT TO:
[New, improved HPCU Office. Day. The excited team marvels at their new digs,
while workmen carry stuff out and in. Stark enters, pleased.]
[Stark enters his new office, where a young technician is working on the phone
wiring.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: Oh, we worked out a little system. I go behind her back to
get whatever I want, she wonders what happened. [places his briefcase on the
desk] All right, strap in, kids. We caught last night's cop-killing.
[The phone guy gives a confused shrug and puts his fingers into his ears.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: [walking outside his office] Scott Ransom. Big money family,
busted twice for selling drugs, walks both times.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Undercover narcs are about to pop him for moving
methamphetamine. Things blow up, Ransom pulls a gun. Detective Joseph
Rodriguez ends up dead in the street.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Because Wright says he didn't see the actual shooting and
Ransom's got an alibi. Says he was with his girlfriend all night in Los Feliz. [takes
Casey's cup of coffee] Oh, hey, thanks.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Normally, yes, but don't forget, this kid has already beaten
two drug raps due to the fact that he is represented by none other than Elliott
Dasher.
MARTIN ALLENDE: 1999, County of L.A. v. Pendleton, back when he worked for
the law firm of Stark, Bell.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Taught him everything he knows. Let's hope he forgot a few
things.
PHONE GUY: [fingers still in his ears] Hey, can I get back to work?
SEBASTIAN STARK: Thirty more seconds, you're a champ. All right, assignments.
Raina, Martin.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Rodriguez's widow is having people over. Pay our respects.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Since how about never? Look, guys, this is the hard part
about a case like this. These undercover narcs, they're around drugs and cash all
day long every day. Any defense attorney worth his salt is going to try to impugn
the integrity of the dead officer. Get over there, sniff around...
RAINA TROY: [protesting] That's disgusting. The woman just lost her husband.
SEBASTIAN STARK: You want to be a nun? Join a convent. You want to win? Stick
a Band-Aid on that bleeding heart of yours and do what I tell you.
[He walks into his office to collect his briefcase, walking past the phone guy, who
still stands with his ears covered.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: Now, the cops have been staking it out since shortly after the
murder. Ransom, of course, is lying low, probably at his lawyer's, so... [low
serious voice] I don't care what it takes. You get us inside that condo before
drug-boy decides to head home and destroy evidence. You got me? [in Casey's
face] By any means necessary.
CUT TO:
[Outside Rodriguez Residence. Day. Martin and Raina walk on the sidewalk
leading up to the house. Police cruisers are parked near the sidewalk.]
[Ana Rodriguez sits sadly on a lawn chair on her front lawn, her child on her lap.
An officer comes up and pays his respects. She thanks him and walks away.]
RAINA TROY: [stops] Let's just tell Stark that we talked to her.
MARTIN ALLENDE: Somos de la oficina del jurado del distrito. Condolencias por
nuestro parte.
[We're with the District Attorney's office. Our condolences.]
MARTIN ALLENDE: We'd like you to come in and prepare a testimony in the event
of a trial.
MARTIN ALLENDE: I want you to understand that we really want to put this guy
away. It will help to know anything that could potentially hurt the case.
MARTIN ALLENDE: In cases like this, the defense often tries to blame the victim.
MARTIN ALLENDE: It couldn't. But reputations come into play. Lawyers will pry
into your private lives.
ANA RODRIGUEZ: [incensed] Yeah, the hell you didn't. You come here, speaking
Spanish, all de lagente, pretending like you give a damn. [sniff] I'll testify, but it
won't be for you. [yells] Now get the hell out of here!
[Martin quietly apologizes and withdraws. He and Raina beat a hasty retreat,
getting a whole lot of dirty looks from the cops around.]
CUT TO:
[DA's Office, Elevator/HPCU Office. Day. Casey and Madeleine exit the elevator.]
MADELEINE POE: According to the M.E., the slug they took out of Rodriguez
"appears to be nine millimeter."
MADELEINE POE: The report's vague. We need a conclusive finding to have a shot
at a warrant.
CASEY WOODLAND: [sits at his desk] Ballistics'll confirm the caliber of the slug in
a few days.
MADELEINE POE: We don't have a few days. We need to get into Ransom's condo
now.
CASEY WOODLAND: It's not like we can misstate the M.E.'s report.
MADELEINE POE: [deadpan] Of course not. That would be unethical. Unless... it
was a simple oversight made under time pressure.
CUT TO:
[LA Street. Day. Stark is giving a nervous Julie driving lessons in his car (and
regretting it, by the looks of it). She slams the brakes, causing the car to come to
a jerky halt, jerking Stark in front.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: Okay, better. Good. Just tap the brake, though. You don't
want to stomp on it, right?
JULIE STARK: [arguing] I barely even touched the pedal. These brakes are
completely different than the ones on Mom's car.
SEBASTIAN STARK: That's 'cause these brakes cost more than Mom's car.
[smirks]
JULIE STARK: Can't believe I'm finally going to get my learner's permit.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Right. Sorry. Uh, hey, I noticed you're still living out of boxes
upstairs.
JULIE STARK: Thanks, but I was just going to hang some posters, and paint the
walls.
JULIE STARK: Oh, yeah, my friend Kim just redid her room this amazing shade of
purple.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Uh, we got to go back to the house... carefully. Hey, you did
great. And I'm going to have Sophia give you a call. Just, you know, trust me.
You'll love her.
CUT TO:
SEBASTIAN STARK: Heard you haven't lost in a while, Elliot. Don't worry. It's like
riding a bike - you never forget.
ELLIOTT DASHER: Are we almost done here? My client has a business meeting.
ELLIOTT DASHER: What do you say we end this farce? Mr. Ransom has an alibi.
His father's a respected business leader, and I'm not a third chair associate
anymore.
CASEY WOODLAND: We got something.
SEBASTIAN STARK: [as the officers take Ransom away] Make sure you read him
his Mirandas.
ELLIOTT DASHER: I always wondered what it would be like to take you on,
Sebastian.
ELLIOTT DASHER: What's that you used to say? Trial is war, second place is
death?
CUT TO:
[Crenshaw Precinct, Parking Garage. Day. Isaac Wright walks into the garage on
the way to his car. Stark comes up behind him.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: Look, I get that I'm not on the LAPD's Christmas card list,
but I am trying to convict a guy who shot your partner.
ISAAC WRIGHT: Eight years ago, you defended a rich scumbag named Palmer on
an assault charge.
[They reach Isaac's car. Isaac puts his coat in the trunk.]
ISAAC WRIGHT: [slams the trunk shut] So. So, I was the arresting officer, the
guy you accused of beating a confession out of your client. Is this all coming back
to you?
ISAAC WRIGHT: I faced a disciplinary board. They cleared me, but I had to switch
precincts. Start over again.
[Stark purses his lips. Isaac goes to the driver seat door.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: No, no, you help me out, and I promise you, I will screw
Scott Ransom ten times harder than I ever screwed you.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Detective, I saw you drive up to the scene. Where did you go
after the shooting?
ISAAC WRIGHT: After the paramedics arrived, I went after Ransom. But he drives
one of these Italian sports cars with a damn airplane engine. [shakes his head
sadly] Couldn't even get close.
ISAAC WRIGHT: I don't need your sympathy, Stark. Just put Ransom away.
[Isaac gets inside his car and shuts the door. Hold on Stark.]
CUT TO:
[HPCU Office. Day. Stark sits in his office while the team works on the case.]
CASEY WOODLAND: Who cares? The blood type on the baggie matches
Rodriguez.
MADELEINE POE: We're a DNA test away from paradise. My opening will be
brilliant.
RAINA TROY: Whoa, who said anything about Tinkerbell doing the opening?
[Casey looks sheepishly away from Stark. Stark looks at him and walks off.]
CUT TO:
[Courtroom. Day. Dasher stands at the Defense Table addressing Judge Dana
Pearlman.]
ELLIOTT DASHER: The petition states the bullet that killed Detective Rodriguez
was nine millimeter. The M.E.'s report makes no such conclusive finding. Hence
the search and all evidence yielded should be excluded.
JUDGE DANA PEARLMAN: I'm inclined to grant Mr. Dasher's motion and
recommend disciplinary action against both Ms. Poe and Mr. Woodland.
SEBASTIAN STARK: As lead attorney, I take full responsibility for this oversight.
JUDGE DANA PEARLMAN: Then I should pursue disciplinary action against you.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Your prerogative, Your Honor, of course. But I assure the
court that this oversight was completely unintentional, caused by our zeal for
justice in the wake of the tragic loss of a peace officer.
ELLIOTT DASHER: That heartfelt explanation not withstanding, the warrant for my
client's home was obtained with a factually flawed petition.
JUDGE DANA PEARLMAN: That's true. But I'm going to deny your motion to
suppress the search.
JUDGE DANA PEARLMAN: The court finds that even without the prosecution's
misstated claim there remains sufficient factual basis for probable cause, but I
warn you, Mr. Stark.
JUDGE DANA PEARLMAN: You represent the people of Los Angeles now, conduct
yourself accordingly.
[Judge Pearlman pounds the gavel, signaling an end to the proceedings. Dasher
and his team start packing up their paperwork.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: [to Dasher] Well, you can settle at any time.
ELLIOTT DASHER: Oh, you wish. Impressive team. Thought you had higher
standards.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Look, you screwed up, I fired you. You landed on your feet,
let it go.
ELLIOTT DASHER: Like you always used to say, "Never let go of your grudges,
they make you stronger."
CUT TO:
[Courthouse Hallway. Day. The team stands quietly. Stark strides up to them.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: [loudly] Listen up! Everybody stop talking and listen to me!
SEBASTIAN STARK: [quietly] Everybody nod your heads, pretend I just kicked
your puppy, okay. You understand me, [loudly to Casey] right, GQ?
[The kids bow their heads, looks of shame on their faces. Jessica seems to like
how Stark is handling this.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: Cue you, thank you. [quietly] Good, we're in great shape. All
we have to do is break down Ransom's alibi and we are home free, all right. [to
Casey] GQ, I want you to go over to the girlfriend's house, I want you to use that
million dollar smile, and I want you to knock her off her story. [loudly] Do you
understand me? Say yes!
SEBASTIAN STARK: Thank you! [stabs his finger towards Madeleine and Martin]
You and you! [quietly] Talk to Ransom's Venice neighbors and see what they
know. [loudly] Got it?
SEBASTIAN STARK: [stops, looks at Jessica, loudly] Almost forgot! Consider this a
lesson! The next time that you cheat, [quietly] don't get caught. [yells] Got it?!
[He looks at Jessica, a world-weary look on his face. Jessica seems mollified.]
CUT TO:
CASEY WOODLAND: [flattered] Thanks. But I'm from the D.A.'s Office. [flashes
the badge] Casey Woodland.
CARRIE REED: Oh, yeah I've seen you at the clubs, right? You used to go out with
that Australian model chick?
CASEY WOODLAND: [nodding] Total psycho. Listen, I need to ask you a few
questions about Scott Ransom.
CARRIE REED: Yeah, well, forget it. Like I told the detectives, [rehearsed speech]
he was with me the whole night. There's no way he could have killed that cop.
CASEY WOODLAND: He's a bad guy, Carrie. If you lie for him, you're an accessory
to murder.
CARRIE REED: [beat] You're a rich kid, right? Your daddy's some big-shot
congressman.
CARRIE REED: Well, my daddy's a used-car salesman in Rhode Island. All right,
Scott pays for this place, he takes care of me. He's a great guy...
[Casey walks off her porch and sees a man standing on the sidewalk, watering his
plants and the sidewalk. Casey walks up to him.]
CASEY WOODLAND: Excuse me. Hey, sorry to bother you. [flashing his badge]
I'm with the District Attorney's office. You live right here?
CARRIE'S NEIGHBOUR: Yeah, just a matter of time. Carrie's a sweet girl, but her
boyfriend, coming and going at all hours of the night. Stupid Ferrari.
CASEY WOODLAND: That's a pretty loud car. Must have woken you up a few
times.
CARRIE'S NEIGHBOUR: Yeah, try every night. [continues watering his plants]
Excuse me.
CUT TO:
CUT TO:
[Stark Residence, Garage. Day. Stark leads Julie (who's holding her eyes closed)
into the garage.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: That's not just a car. It's the ultimate PC-mobile, for young
tree-huggers on the go. [talking like a car salesman] Half a cylinder, solar-
powered, 400 miles to the gallon - it's you!
[Julie does know what to say.]
JULIE STARK: No, that's not the problem, I... I failed my driving school road test.
JULIE STARK: I don't... know, I-I got distracted. [quickly, defensively] The other
kids in the car were talking, and then the instructor started yelling at me and...
[Stark chuckles.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: No. Well... [chuckles] just a little. But, hey, um, it's okay. You
can just take it over, right?
JULIE STARK: No, I have to take the whole stupid course again!
JULIE STARK: Glad I could amuse you, thanks for the car.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Julie, please, Julie, sweetie. I'm sorry. Hey, come on.
[He sighs.]
CUT TO:
[HPCU Office. Casey enters, a smile on his lips, a spring in his step. He jumps up
onto a desk and announces.]
CASEY WOODLAND: Ransom's alibi is dead.
[The others look up. Stark comes out of his office to listen.]
CASEY WOODLAND: [jumping off the desk] Ah, because the guy's got a five-
month-old. Every time Ransom pulls in or out, this guy checks the baby monitor,
which has a time code.
RAINA TROY: [smiling] That's more than enough time for Ransom to kill
Rodriguez.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Ransom leaves Los Feliz at quarter to one [writes "LF" on the
glass window], heads into L.A. to make his buy [draws an arrow to the left, writes
"LA"], he shoots Detective Rodriguez at 1:15, [draws an arrow back to "LF"] he's
back in girlfriend's loving arms at 1:37. But under our theory, [scratching out the
second arrow] Ransom didn't go straight back to Los Feliz, did he?
CASEY WOODLAND: So if Ransom didn't put the drugs in the condo, who did?
CUT TO:
[Crenshaw Precinct. Stark barges into the precinct, an upset look on his face. He
goes past the receptionist.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: [as he reaches Isaac] Tell me - scale of one to ten - just how
incredibly stupid are you?
ISAAC WRIGHT: [standing up, menacing] You don't want to talk to me like that.
SEBASTIAN STARK: You weren't at the scene when I arrived. Where were you?
SEBASTIAN STARK: Which took about five minutes. Where did you go after that?
SEBASTIAN STARK: [mad] What did you do, Detective?! Let me guess. You found
the drugs on the ground, sitting in your partner's blood. The ambulance arrives,
you take off after Ransom. You get to the condo, he's not there. So you plant the
bag of drugs, and you take off. Just tell me, am I getting warm?
ISAAC WRIGHT: I don't know what you're doing here. You got everything you
need to nail the guy who killed Joey.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Yeah, and I could've done it without your help, Detective.
ISAAC WRIGHT: [gets in Stark's face, quietly seething] I've seen too many rich
perps walk by hiring hotshot lawyers willing to lie, cheat and steal to win.
SEBASTIAN STARK: [not cowed] Yeah. Well, thanks to you, it's about to happen
again.
[He walks out, ignoring the stares and glares of the cops present.]
CUT TO:
SEBASTIAN STARK: If Dasher finds out that Wright planted that bag of meth,
forget his eyewitness testimony, we are done!
RAINA TROY: He's the only one who could have dropped drugs covered in
Rodriguez's blood at Ransom's place. It's potentially exculpatory evidence.
MADELEINE POE: He's our eyewitness. We've got squat without him.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Correct, so here's the deal. Casey never talked to the
girlfriend's neighbor. We're just going to trade the hole in Ransom's alibi for the
drugs at the condo.
JESSICA DEVLIN: He doesn't have to lie. He just testifies to what he saw, nothing
more.
RAINA TROY: That's grounds for disbarment, not to mention totally unethical.
[Stark, at his wits' end, stops walking and gets in Raina's face.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: You know what, Raina! You are so getting on my nerves!
RAINA TROY: [not backing down] No, this is wrong, and you know it!
SEBASTIAN STARK: You want Scott Ransom to get away with murder?
RAINA TROY: You don't give a damn about that! No, this is all about winning.
RAINA TROY: Screw the law, screw the system. And I'm gonna tell you that
sucks.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Hello. [checks his watch] Yes, I can. Thank you. [hangs up]
Well, I've just been summoned to a meeting with the LAPD. Now, my problem is I
don't believe in God... and he hates me for it.
[He leaves.]
CUT TO:
[He walks inside. Jessica sits at her desk, with Mayor Delgado at the side. Three
cops, including Deputy Chief Martinson, are also there, looking angrily at Stark.]
JESSICA DEVLIN: Did you barge into Crenshaw Precinct and accuse a detective of
planting evidence?
SEBASTIAN STARK: Wait, let me try to remember. Uhh, [nods, smiling] yeah, that
was me.
DEPUTY CHIEF GEORGE MARTINSON: This isn't a joke, Stark.
SEBASTIAN STARK: You're damn right it isn't. Because of your guy, my case is in
the crapper.
MAYOR DELGADO: Can you prove the officer in question planted evidence?
SEBASTIAN STARK: No. But I'm praying the defense can't, either, because he was
the only one with motive and opportunity. [to Martinson] That's lawyer talk.
DEPUTY CHIEF GEORGE MARTINSON: Listen, wiseass, you pissed off a lot of
people at Parker Center. [testily, to Jessica] Did you know anything about this?
MAYOR DELGADO: I think we can all agree Mr. Stark's actions were regrettable.
DEPUTY CHIEF GEORGE MARTINSON: Allegedly! The department's just coming off
Rampart. Recruitment is up, the public's finally starting to trust cops again. The
chief doesn't want another scandal.
DEPUTY CHIEF GEORGE MARTINSON: The relationship between the D.A. and
LAPD is based on trust. When that trust is violated, the system suffers. Cops
don't show up to testify, evidence suddenly disappears. Nobody wants that.
JESSICA DEVLIN: [pissed yet quietly] This relationship goes both ways, George,
and I don't respond well to threats.
[Martinson looks at her a beat and walks out, followed by the other two.]
JESSICA DEVLIN: [to Delgado] What was that you were saying about avoiding
political fallout if Stark takes this case?
MAYOR DELGADO: Is there enough to convict Ransom without the drug evidence?
JESSICA DEVLIN: That's not the point! We have an obligation to disclose what we
know to the defense.
MAYOR DELGADO: You two work out the legal stuff. [to Jessica] This is your deal,
Jessica.
[He walks out, leaving Jessica shaking her head in bewilderment and Stark
standing, arms folded.]
CUT TO:
SEBASTIAN STARK: [to the instructor] Hey, how are you doing?
SEBASTIAN STARK: No, no, I'm looking for, [looking at Julie's test paper] uh,
"Norman Elby."
SEBASTIAN STARK: Ah, that's too bad. Hey, listen, I think you tested my
daughter yesterday. Julie Stark?
SEBASTIAN STARK: I host a game show. You know, Julie is a really great driver
and a great kid. She was a little nervous yesterday, so... Norm, can I confide in
you?
NORMAN ELBY: Yeah, I actually have a class in about five minutes.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Julie's going through a hard time right now, you know? Her
mom went to New York, she's very vulnerable. You know how that is, and if you
could possibly...
NORMAN ELBY: [cutting him off] She violated the posted freeway speed limit, she
rolled a stop sign.
SEBASTIAN STARK: [peers through the opposite window] Yeah. January 23,
1999. 'S that ring a bell?
SEBASTIAN STARK: Oh, really? Oh, 'cause you were stopped right over here in
Culver City for driving erratically. Suspected DUI. Pretty big ticket, Norm.
NORMAN ELBY: I made a deal with the prosecutor's office. I went into rehab, and
they dropped the charges.
SEBASTIAN STARK: [in "Shark Mode"] But did you tell your bosses about it,
Norm? 'Cause they kind of like to know who's teaching safe driving skills to
minors, don't you think? [speaking like a true game show host, putting Julie's test
paper on top of the car] So, Norm, how'd you like to trade your job for what's
behind curtain number one?
[Norman can only stare in bemusement, as Stark pushes the paper closer to
him.]
CUT TO:
[HPCU Office, Conference Room. Day. Jessica, accompanied by a sullen Stark,
offers a deal to Scott Ransom, accompanied by Dasher.]
JESSICA DEVLIN: I'm offering a sentence of fifteen years to life to settle this
matter.
ELLIOTT DASHER: Might I ask why the District Attorney has decided to make a
plea offer at this time?
JESSICA DEVLIN: The death of a police officer is a traumatic event for the
community. The sooner this matter is settled, the sooner we can all move on.
ELLIOTT DASHER: That's touching, but I assume there's more to the story.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Oh, you bet your sweet ass there is. Scott's old man controls
half the portfolios on the West Side - boy, there are a lot of campaign
contributions, there, huh, Jess?
JESSICA DEVLIN: [to Stark] All right. You shut your mouth.
JESSICA DEVLIN: This is a one-time offer. You have thirty seconds to make up
your mind.
ELLIOTT DASHER: You know, this little water ballet notwithstanding, you clearly
have a flawed case, or you wouldn't be offering an alleged cop-killer a break. And
sooner or later, I'm going to find that flaw.
[He walks out. Jessica and Stark, sly looks on their faces, watch him walk out the
door.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: [sitting] I kind of liked the campaign contribution thing. That
was pretty good.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Well, I'm the bad cop. I gotta be over the top.
JESSICA DEVLIN: Fine. But you will to turn over everything you have to Dasher.
[She leaves.]
[He gets up and walks outside the Conference Room. He sees Martin gently
instructing Ana Rodriguez. He and Ana exchange polite smiles.]
MARTIN ALLENDE: Just relax and try to tell the truth about your husband.
[Stark looks towards the kitchen and sees Raina speaking to Joe and Ana's
daughter, who eats a chocolate popsicle. Stark looks more closely at Raina, whose
eyes are filled with tears. She smiles at the little girl.]
CUT TO:
[Stark Residence, outside. Night.]
CUT TO:
[Stark Residence, Indoor Courtroom. Stark goes over his opening statement.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: The killing of a police officer represents the ultimate crime
against society. [quietly, to himself] Ah, focus, you idiot. It's about their... sense
of security, so make it personal. Personal, personal. [orating] When we walk down
the street [thinks]... we feel safe, because every few minutes, we spot a police
officer. Men and women willing to put their lives on the line to protect us.
SEBASTIAN STARK: No, I'm glad to see you. I wanted to apologize. I was a... a
jerk.
JULIE STARK: That's not exactly a first. Look, it's not your fault that I failed my
driving test. I-I totally freaked out and choked, so...
SEBASTIAN STARK: Apparently, your brilliant lane changes put you over the top.
JULIE STARK: [unhappy] God, Dad. You went down there and you, what, you
bribed someone?
JULIE STARK: I don't need you to fight my battles for me, okay? I can pick out
my own car, and I can decorate my own room! God, can't you see, Dad?! I'm not
a little girl anymore. You missed that part. While you were busy in here, I grew
up.
SEBASTIAN STARK: [losing it] Look, Jules, you're the one who wanted this! It was
your choice to move in here, not mine!
JULIE STARK: I had to make this choice, because we both know you weren't
going to fight for me!
JULIE STARK: Why... why didn't you fight for me, Dad?
CUT TO:
[Downtown LA, Street. While a train noisily moves under the bridge, Stark and
the team walk upto the crime scene.]
[No replies.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: [points to a spot on the ground] This... is the spot where
Detective Joseph Rodriguez was killed. Right here.
[The kids look down silently.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: This is where Ana Rodriguez became a widow, where two
little girls lost their father. A murder trial is not about facts and evidence - which
is good for us, since we're screwed on both. It's about asking a jury to demand
justice for this family. We don't want them to see a lawyer. We want them to see
Ana Rodriguez, a young mother in pain.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Those kids got to you. I saw. Use that bleeding heart of
yours, make twelve people understand what Scott Ransom took away.
[He moves away. Raina hangs back pensively, while the others join him.]
CUT TO:
[Courtroom. Day. The trial is underway. Raina delivers the opening statement to
the jury.]
RAINA TROY: Joseph Rodriguez woke up like it was any other morning. He kissed
his wife, Ana, brushed his daughters' hair, made them some oatmeal. Then he left
for work. He never saw them again. Detective Rodriguez loved working as a
narcotics officer. See, he knew what drugs could do to a neighborhood, especially
the children. He wanted his daughters to grow up in a city where poison wasn't
being sold on every street corner. The evidence will show that he was killed by
the defendant trying to protect his kids and yours
from that poison.
[Ransom, at the Defense Table, looks cockily at a fuming Detective Wright, sitting
in the galley.]
RAINA TROY: He wanted drug dealers like Scott Ransom off the street. Now it's
up to you to step up and finish what he started.
[Finished, she slowly moves away from the jury box. Behind her, a man enters
the courtroom. Stark adjusts Raina's chair so she can sit (a mark of respect). The
man hands a folder over to Dasher, who opens and peruses it.]
ELLIOTT DASHER: Your Honor, uh, information has just come to light that may
fundamentally impact this proceeding.
CUT TO:
[Judge's quarters. While Dasher (smiling victoriously) and Stark wait, Judge Dana
Pearlman walks in.]
ELLIOTT DASHER: The neighbor told the prosecution that Mr. Ransom departed
Ms. Reed's home and then returned such that he couldn't have reached his
condominium in Venice where the blood evidence was found. The prosecution
knew the inescapable implication of this statement was that the evidence had
been planted.
[Stark scoffs.]
ELLIOTT DASHER: They failed to share this information with the defense. That's a
flagrant 1054 violation.
SEBASTIAN STARK: We fully intended to reveal this evidence as soon as our own
crime lab could verify that Mr. Ransom's high-performance vehicle couldn't have
traveled the distance in question.
JUDGE DANA PEARLMAN: Any reason I shouldn't grant Mr. Dasher's motion?
SEBASTIAN STARK: Yes, Your Honor, because his client killed a police officer, and
you don't want to be the judge to let him walk.
JUDGE DANA PEARLMAN: I'm familiar with the rules of evidence, Mr. Dasher.
ELLIOTT DASHER: Then you'll invalidate the search and all evidence thereby
gathered?
JUDGE DANA PEARLMAN: Yes. But I'm also invalidating all inferences of police
misconduct arising from that evidence. It all goes.
ELLIOTT DASHER: No, no, no, hardly. That evidence was clearly planted by
Detective Wright. I should have the right to challenge his credibility if prosecution
calls him as an eyewitness.
SEBASTIAN STARK: [nervous chuckle] Your Honor, you're going to take away my
key piece of physical evidence AND my eyewitness?
JUDGE DANA PEARLMAN: Actually, you did that, Mr. Stark. And if you lose, you'll
be the one who lets a cop-killer go free.
CUT TO:
CUT TO:
[Stark Residence, Julie's room. Night. Stark walks along the corridor and stops at
Julie's room. She's on the phone with Claire.]
JULIE STARK: I don't know what happened, Mom. One minute, we were talking,
the next, we were screaming.
[Julie sits on her bed, facing away from the door. Stark slowly opens the door and
eavesdrops.]
JULIE STARK: Actually, I was doing most of the screaming. It was pretty awful.
[listens] No, no, you don't need to come out here. No, I can handle it, yeah.
[listens] I know, it's strange being so far away from you, too. New York must be
beautiful. I'm coming out as soon as exams are over. [listens] Look, please don't
worry about me. Things are weird, but I'll be okay. [listens] Yeah, I miss you, too.
[listens] Okay. Bye.
[She hangs up. She turns back, too late to have seen her father walk away from
there. She sighs.]
CUT TO:
[Courtroom. Day. The room is packed as before. Jessica stands beside Stark and
speaks quietly to him.]
JESSICA DEVLIN: You have no drug evidence, you have no eyewitness. It's over.
Drop the charges.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Just let me play it out. I'll go after the girlfriend.
JESSICA DEVLIN: You want to lose, go for it. But this is a direct order: stay away
from Detective Isaac Wright. Do not embarrass the police. Got it?
[Everyone sits.]
[Stark, however, is not listening. He looks at Joe's daughter, sitting next to Ana.
He smiles at her.]
[The cops, including Deputy Chief Martinson, seem surprised. He gives an ugly
stare at an equally surprised Jessica, who can only shake her head. Isaac stands
and, glaring at Stark, walks over to the witness box.]
JUDGE DANA PEARLMAN: Mr. Stark, I remind you that all, previous rulings are in
effect.
[Dasher whispers something to Ransom. Martin and Raina, at the Defense Table,
seem apprehensive.]
BAILIFF: [to Isaac] Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth, so help you God?
SEBASTIAN STARK: Detective, did you witness the murder of your partner,
Detective Joseph Rodriguez?
SEBASTIAN STARK: Your Honor, he's on tape discussing various drug deals with
the victim on several occasions. What, uh, should I call him?
SEBASTIAN STARK: Let the record show that Detective Isaac Wright has pointed
out the defendant. Detective, why were you unable to come to your partner's aid
that night?
ISAAC WRIGHT: [painful memory] A truck blocked me in. By the time I got free,
Joey was already hit.
ISAAC WRIGHT: Well, after the ambulance arrived, I went after Ransom.
SEBASTIAN STARK: You went back to the crime scene. Is that what you say?
[Isaac nods.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: You went back to the crime scene. You didn't go to Mr.
Ransom's condominium, break in and plant evidence implicating him in your
partner's murder, did you?
[The courtroom erupts in murmurs. Jessica closes her eyes. Stark's team look
shocked. Dasher himself seems confused.]
JUDGE DANA PEARLMAN: You don't have to answer that question, Detective.
ISAAC WRIGHT: There was a bag of meth sitting in my partner's blood. I picked it
up, I put it in my pocket, I went to Ransom's place and I stuck it inside.
ISAAC WRIGHT: Because he killed my partner! And I wanted him to go to jail for
what he did.
ISAAC WRIGHT: Rich perps hire expensive lawyers. They get away with all kind of
things. I couldn't let that happen.
SEBASTIAN STARK: So you broke the law to keep your partner's killer from going
free?
SEBASTIAN STARK: Did you realize that by planting evidence you were putting
your entire career in jeopardy?
ISAAC WRIGHT: Yes.
SEBASTIAN STARK: But you did it anyway. Why? Why would you do that,
Detective? Why?
ISAAC WRIGHT: [long beat, stifling a sob] Because I let my partner get killed.
SEBASTIAN STARK: You did the best you could. The truck got in the way.
ISAAC WRIGHT: We'd been up for thirty-six hours putting this buy together. I set
up in the alley, I waited for Ransom to show. I was dead tired. I closed my eyes
for what seemed like a second. The truck woke me up and... when I ran out of
the alley, I saw Ransom standing over Joey, who was lying in the street.
SEBASTIAN STARK: And yet you are willing to do that rather than let the man
who killed your partner... go free.
ISAAC WRIGHT: [fighting back tears, looking at Ana] Telling the truth is the least
I can do for Joey.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Thank you, Detective. LAPD could use a lot more men like
you.
[HPCU Office, Conference Room. Dasher and Ransom face Stark and Jessica,
standing stone-faced.]
ELLIOTT DASHER: We're prepared to accept your previous offer of fifteen to life.
JESSICA DEVLIN: That offer was good for thirty seconds. [checking her watch]
You missed it by forty-seven hours, fifty-nine and a half minutes.
ELLIOTT DASHER: [to Stark] You managed to make Isaac Wright look like a saint.
When I'm done, he'll look like Mark Fuhrman.
SEBASTIAN STARK: You lost the jury, Elliott, and they're not coming back.
[Ransom is led away by the officers. Dasher starts to walk out, but Stark gets in
his way.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: I say this from the heart, Elliott. It's good to lose every once
in a while. It keeps you grounded. [beat] From what I hear.
CUT TO:
[Courthouse, Stairs/Hallway. Raina ascends the staircase and sees Stark at the
top. She walks away from him.]
SEBASTIAN STARK: You've got a big mouth, you're stubborn, and your tedious
sense of morality drives me nuts.
[She smiles at him and leaves, passing Jessica on the way. Jessica walks with
Stark.]
JESSICA DEVLIN: [genuinely impressed] All right, just tell me one thing. How'd
you know Wright fell asleep in the car?
SEBASTIAN STARK: I didn't. I wanted to show the guy did the wrong thing for the
right reason by planting the drugs. His guilt over falling asleep in the car was a
tragic, added bonus.
JESSICA DEVLIN: You took a reckless chance that could've caused a huge rift
between this office and the LAPD.
JESSICA DEVLIN: Oh, you think, what, just because you got lucky and won, that
makes it all okay?
SEBASTIAN STARK: And you nailed a cop-killer, but still you're not happy. You
should see someone about that.
[They stop at the end of the stairs and smile at each other.]
CUT TO:
ISAAC WRIGHT: I figured I'd save everyone the hassle of a disciplinary hearing.
SEBASTIAN STARK: You've got a lot of support on the force. Maybe you could
win, if you had the right lawyer.
ISAAC WRIGHT: Save the apology. It's done. I'm moving on with my life.
ISAAC WRIGHT: I don't know. A friend of mine owns a private security company -
pays pretty good.
ISAAC WRIGHT: So's my partner being dead. But some things we can't change.
SEBASTIAN STARK: I need an investigator. Somebody with guts, who will do what
it takes, even when it's not pretty.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Because you like to put away bad guys, and [smiles] that's
what I do.
ISAAC WRIGHT: Even if I was interested - I'm not saying I am...
SEBASTIAN STARK: [chuckles] You say that like it's a bad thing. I need somebody
who can work with the police. Who better than a hero cop?
CUT TO:
[Stark Residence, Julie's room. Julie (dressed in old clothes) paints a wall purple
using a paint-roller. Stark enters.]
JULIE STARK: So I heard you put away the guy who killed the cop.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Yeah, I did. But I still can't figure out how to talk to my own
daughter.
SEBASTIAN STARK: Julie, you listen to me. Okay? I... love that you are here. And
the only reason I didn't fight for you is I felt I didn't have a right.
SEBASTIAN STARK: The thing is, I thought we were doing better, but, [chuckles]
you know... I mean, you seemed less pissed off at me. And now, it's just... It's
different since you moved in, huh?
JULIE STARK: Dad, look, I know you were just trying to help. But... see the thing
is, I'm not ready for that. To rely on you.
SEBASTIAN STARK: So you want me to step up and be there for you... and you
have absolutely no faith in me. [makes "one hand-other hand" gesture] Jules,
come on.
[Stark removes his jacket. Julie looks at him pick up a paintbrush, dip it into the
paint and start painting the adjacent wall.]
CUT TO:
SUPERIMPOSE:
In Loving Memory of
MICHAEL J. WOODS
[End Credits.]
FADE OUT.