The Brief (2004) s02e04 Episode Script
The Architect's Wife
1
[Indistinct conversations,
dance music plays]
Acorn Media
Happy birthday, dear Rachel ♪
Happy birthday to you ♪
Happy birthday to you,
happy birthday to you ♪
Happy birthday,
it's your round ♪
Good fame and fortune.
Do you want the same again?
Yes, please!
Who's the guy at the bar
who keeps staring over at me?
Gray jacket.
Michael Gilbraith,
Laura's sister's
Ex.
Two minutes.
- Ex?
- Mm.
Two weeks ago.
- Really?
- Serena's really devastated.
[Indistinct conversations]
Excuse me, c
Gary, can you
get this girl a drink?
Can I have a vodka and Coke,
please, white wine spritzer,
and gin and tonic.
Thanks.
Weren't we supposed to
be getting a drink?
I'm gonna call it a night.
You're right.
Let's go.
Rachel, darling, we're gonna go.
Oh, no, no, don't.
I've just
I've just got your drink in.
Oh, well.
Where is that bloody husband
of yours, by the way?
RACHEL: What?
What time is it?
VICKY: Isn't he supposed to be
taking you out to dinner?
I'm gonna wait for him
another 10 minutes,
and then I'm gonna go home.
Well, I'd give him a knee
in the testicles if I were you,
- but that's me.
- [Laughs]
Sure you don't want
to get a cab with us?
No, I'm fine.
I'm gonna wait 10 minutes.
Okay. Bye.
[Water running]
Rach?
Rachel.
Sweetheart?
I'm so sorry.
I couldn't get away.
I left you a couple of messages.
RACHEL:
Pass me a towel.
WILL:
Sweetheart, what's wrong?
What's wrong?
Rach.
Sweetheart.
I'm sorry I have to
ask this again.
Um, if you were raped, Rachel,
why has it taken you three days
to report it?
Um
I
I didn't quite catch that,
Rachel.
I was ashamed.
We've spoken
to Michael Gilbraith.
You know what he's saying,
don't you?
CLEO:
There was a mutual attraction
between you and the defendant,
wasn't there?
So you had consensual sex,
didn't you?
No.
This was a false accusation,
wasn't it, Rachel?
A malicious, selfish,
heartless accusation?
No.
CLEO: Michael Gilbraith
didn't rape you at all.
You made it clear
you wanted him.
You let him drive you to
a car park to have sex with him.
And then you felt so ashamed,
you felt had to make
this story up, didn't you?
Your story was all
a fabrication, wasn't it?
A convenient lie
to save your marriage.
I'm sorry.
[Sobbing]
Rachel, look,
we pushed the boat out for you.
You're making me feel
like I made a mistake.
Rachel, do you know
how few reported rapes
ever get to trial, hmm?
If you back out now,
the whole world's going to think
you made this up.
And all the other women
who report rapes to us,
you're letting them down, too.
Rachel.
[Indistinct conversations]
Michael.
I am so pleased.
Oh, thank you, Cleo.
- Thank you for everything.
- Thanks very much.
Thank you.
[Alarm clock ringing]
[Thud, ringing stops]
Oh, morning, stranger.
Late again, Millicent.
Oh, depressed.
Not tired of sleeping alone?
Oh, I think
I can cope with that.
Career.
My last cases were a 73-year-old
accused of stealing
from a corner shop
and a 13-year-old girl drunk and
disorderly for the fourth time.
Well, imagine what you'd get if
the chief clerk didn't like you.
All I need is a nice wise person
to take me out for dinner
and discuss it with me.
[Horn honks]
Don't say anything.
Where's the Ferrari?
Don't say anything.
What you driving that for?
- It come in your cornflakes?
- I'm not listening.
Mikey.
[Baby babbling]
What is it?
Rachel Browning is suing me
in the civil courts.
We've got to
go through it all again.
COLLINA: Did you look at
the original trial?
Jimmy, rape is hardly
my area of expertise.
And if it broke down
18 months ago, what chance now?
It's almost unheard of for a
rape to get to the civil courts.
I'm a jury man.
Gilbraith was gonna
give evidence at the trial,
but it never got that far.
It needs someone like you to get
at him, you know, one-to-one,
expose his weaknesses.
In front of some cold-hearted
civil judge?
Morning, Henry.
More papers to sign, I'm afraid.
There are barristers who do
these all the time. Why me?
It's private money.
It'll be a lot, won't it, Ray?
Plenty of potatoes, sir.
TEBBOTT: What are you messing
with legal aid for?
A couple of these, we could
get your bankruptcy discharged.
Has Cleo been retained?
Rachel Browning's claiming
damages on three counts
For the alleged rape itself,
for distress,
and for loss of earnings.
Why does she want to
go through this again?
[Sighs]
I wish I knew.
There's no new evidence.
She's like a stalker.
Michael, I don't think you raped
her, but we can't be complacent.
Look, I have to warn you,
the burden of proof is lower
in a civil trial.
What does that mean?
They only have to prove
rape was probable.
God Almighty, what's "probable"?
I mean, how low
do they move the bar?
This woman's ruined my life.
She'll go on and on until I'm
too tired to fight it anymore.
Don't worry.
Her new counsel's
an undischarged bankrupt
who's never done a rape before,
let alone a civil action.
He's only in it for the money,
and I know his tricks
rather well.
[Computer chimes]
Red alert.
[Keyboard clacking]
Oh, yes.
HENRY:
Bank account.
Just making sure
all those payments
are zipping through
to my creditors.
I'm only taking a personal
interest because I like you.
[Chuckles]
You're not doing him any favors,
you know.
I haven't put so much as a pound
on anything for weeks,
not even the lottery.
What were you doing
when I came in?
Just looking.
[Indistinct conversations]
- Morning.
- HENRY: Hey.
I hear Zak's coming to visit.
That's great news.
Yeah, on his own, too.
How was France?
Oh, I had a great time.
- Did you find anywhere?
- Beautiful little cottage.
I want you to come and visit.
Henry
I want you to have this.
Open it later.
[Envelope tears]
10 grand?
Till you get back on your feet.
I can't spend all I've won.
It's all a bit daft.
I don't feel
like I've earned it.
Mo, you're a friend for life,
but I can't.
Oh, Henry, please, let me.
No, really.
I'll be fine.
[Sighs]
Bugger.
- Hey.
- Hi.
Rachel.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Will.
- Yeah.
There's a lot at stake for you.
I mean, it's a lot of money.
Don't worry about the money.
The money's not a problem.
I've got a big contract coming
from a new building, so
Are you sure you can handle
cross-examination
by the same counsel
for a second time?
I just got rattled
when she tried to make out
that I was some sort of slag.
I kept thinking,
"What does Will think?"
He's been my rock.
So I am ready
for Cleo Steyn now.
They went after
Rachel's reputation.
I want you to do the same
to Michael Gilbraith.
HENRY: I just need to remind
Rachel of what to expect.
Mr. Farmer, that doesn't matter.
See, Michael Gilbraith is not
some testosterone-fueled bloke
who just pushed things
a bit too far.
When I didn't do what he said,
he forced his hand into my mouth
until I was choking.
He raped me for 20 minutes.
So I promise you, I can handle
whatever they throw at me now.
Your stepmother
won't come to London anymore.
She goes to bed
in her Wellingtons.
Her secateurs
are welded to her wrists.
Now she wants me
to sell the flat.
Will you talk to her?
Why me?
The girls always side
with their mother.
I'm not ready
to give up my club.
This why you invited me for tea?
No.
I wanted to see you, as well.
You never ring me.
I've always rather enjoyed
our relationship
as estranged father and son.
I, um, thought you might like
to borrow some money.
I've got some nice cake.
GILLESPIE:
Yes, thank you, Leslie.
I don't know what to say.
I want to help.
I've got more than I need.
£50,000?
It'll see you on the road
to solvency.
No, thank you.
I can't accept.
I'm sorry.
All right,
you don't want my help.
I can't.
I mean, I couldn't accept
even if I knew you better.
Marry that Marsh girl.
Dad.
Family's in fish.
She's my junior colleague.
Half the tuna in the Pacific
have swum through Daddy's hands.
Probably dying to have kids.
Problem and future solved.
Not my type.
You need a woman
to sort you out!
Your life's a shambles!
You can't be a decent barrister
and live like a gypsy.
Well, maybe I should take up
fortune-telling, then.
If you wanted to reclaim me
as a son,
just gone about it
the wrong way.
I don't know the right way.
[Sighs]
You should know
it was your mother left me.
In the sense of the bedroom.
It was a lonely feeling.
[Ducks quacking]
About 10 minutes after Laura
and Vicky left,
I decided to go home, too.
So I said goodbye to Gilbraith.
Did you kiss him?
I gave him a peck on the cheek.
He asked me if I wanted a lift
home then, but I said no.
Well, he says he asked you
what a married woman
was doing alone on her birthday.
And I'm supposed to have said,
"Sad, isn't it?
Shall we do something together?"
I don't think so.
Unfortunately,
he is very consistent.
RACHEL:
Oh, he's smart, all right.
HENRY:
What happened outside here?
Well, Gilbraith came outside
after me.
And it had started to rain,
and he asked me again
Rather sweetly, I thought
If I wanted a lift,
and he pointed to his car
over there on the corner.
I mean, I didn't really
see the harm in it.
After all, he wasn't
a complete stranger.
Laura knew him.
So you got into his car
and gave him directions home.
Yeah, he tried to kiss me
in the car,
and, well,
even though I was angry,
I felt I'd handled it okay.
I mean,
it didn't seem aggressive.
Why didn't you get out
of the car, then?
Well, that was my big mistake,
wasn't it?
To be perfectly honest,
I was tired.
It was raining, and I just
wanted to get home quickly.
I mean, I thought
I could handle it.
He was Laura's friend.
CLEO:
So, what did you think
when Rachel came up
and started talking to you?
Oh, this is just a married woman
being friendly,
maybe acknowledging
the attraction a bit, you know.
Then I began to think
that she wasn't happy,
she was lonely maybe.
I guess married people can be.
But in your statement,
you said that she
When she was leaving,
she half-kissed,
half-brushed your cheek
in a very provocative way.
Yeah. I thought she might
just be playing games.
But I couldn't leave without
finding out if she was serious.
So you followed her outside?
Yeah.
When I came out,
she was waiting for me.
She said, "You might have
hung back for a bit,
made it seem a little
less obvious," you know?
What'd you think about that?
Well, sort of, "You're on."
So I said, "Do you want
to come back to mine?"
And she said, "No way,"
so I pointed to my car.
As soon as we got in there,
she was all over me.
HENRY:
So you let him drive off.
RACHEL: Yeah, well,
he started off with the talk
basically as soon
as we got in the car.
And it was just like
a complete personality change.
All the things
that he wanted to do to me.
I told him to stop,
but he didn't.
So I asked him if he would
let me out, said I would walk.
He wouldn't.
He locked all the doors,
and that was when
I really started to panic.
But he he was
He was completely calm
and unfazed.
When you say, "the things
he wanted to do to you,"
how did that come across?
Was it seductive or laddish?
It was like written porn,
you know, the kind of things you
used to giggle over at school.
MICHAEL: Even after I drove off,
she was all over me.
I thought we were gonna
have an accident.
That's why I pulled
into the car park.
CLEO:
That wasn't entirely innocent.
MICHAEL: No.
Look, it was late.
She was very definitely willing.
It felt like an adventure.
Serena kicking me out
really shook me up.
I didn't know whether to go back
or to enjoy my freedom.
Yes, it's not a good feeling.
Suddenly being alone.
We should go.
[Car alarm chirps]
Millie, you're just
what I'm looking for.
- Junior on the Gilbraith rape.
- Oh, my God.
No, I mean, thanks.
Henry, let's behave well
on this one, shall we?
Absolutely.
You look happy.
I've just got
Browning v. Gilbraith.
Oh, I'll have to move out, then.
You can't live together and be
on opposite sides in court.
We're not living together.
The fibs people tell
in this place.
Stop it.
You know what I'm saying.
Yeah, you're living together.
Well, don't worry.
I'll move out.
I'm the lodger.
MILLIE: You haven't got
anywhere else to go.
HENRY:
Where will you go?
- Oh, I've got options.
- Billy's.
Maybe, maybe not.
But since we're on opposite
sides, I couldn't possibly say.
BEN: Rachel draws Gilbraith
as a full-on psycho,
which seems a bit unlikely.
He's an accountant.
There's nothing against him
No complaint on file,
no violence, nada.
Doesn't seem like
a very thorough
police investigation to me.
Did they look
into his background?
Yep. Everything since
his gonads dropped.
They were convinced
it was date rape at first
because of the lack of forensic.
I think they're both
overplaying it.
They go to the car park.
She backs off
at the last minute.
He gets the wrong signal.
Still rape, though.
Tell me about the family setup.
He was fostered at 10 by a nice
middle-age couple, now deceased.
They adopted him,
and it was a success.
BEN: There were no marks on her,
no sign of anything more
than rough sex
in the back of a vehicle.
Yeah, but she says
that he had his hand
practically down her throat.
What about the gloves
he was wearing?
Did he throw them away?
No, no, the police
thought they'd got lucky.
They found them in a rubbish bag
outside his flat.
Rachel identified them.
But he denies they were his.
They must have had her DNA
all over them.
COLLINA: They put them through
forensic to test for her saliva,
but it was negative.
Why would she make up
the thing about the hand?
I don't think
we're gonna win this case
if we ignore what Rachel says.
Someone want to look
into Michael's childhood
more carefully?
And we should get those gloves
tested again.
We've nearly exhausted
the budget.
I thought Will Browning
was designing a skyscraper.
Yes. Apparently there's been
some kind of delay.
I told him he'd have to pay the
other side's costs if we lost,
but he didn't take it to heart.
Arguing amongst yourselves
already.
You're working too hard.
Don't have much choice.
You've got problems at work,
haven't you?
If we lose,
we might not be able to pay.
We won't lose.
Did you know we didn't have
enough money to cover the costs?
I knew there was a risk.
I thought it was a risk
worth taking.
Right.
Why would you
want to take a risk?
Well, it's not a risk, really,
is it?
It's, um
Just as long as you're doing
this because you believe me
and not 'cause you're trying
to find some kind of proof
that I'm telling the truth.
Of course not.
Right.
Well, how about we have
an early night, then?
Well, I'm sorry.
I'm a bit tired.
Yeah, you look tired.
So, why don't we have an
early-to-sleep night, then, hmm?
[Knock on door]
Well, it seems
Rachel Browning's marriage
isn't quite as cozy
as they say it is.
Yes, it's an interesting case,
that, miss.
I myself was forced to doubt
my own wife's fidelity,
only to discover
that she was merely unhappy.
I don't see the relevance.
Well, I mean
that the facts suggest
that the plaintiff's husband
more or less forced her
- to prove her faithfulness.
- Mm-hmm.
I'm sorry, miss.
I was forgetting
your own circumstances.
Yes, but they're not the same.
Are you fishing?
Well, I don't care.
The baron's offered me a really
pathetic amount of alimony.
My reward for 26 years
of devotion.
Well, I suppose
if you're that rich,
you don't throw it about.
Yes, you could put it that way.
Which is why I'm going to
have to take him to court.
And it's all going to be
very public and very nasty.
Then the second thief
I ever defended
was caught with £400 in 20s
up his bottom.
And he wanted me to say
it was his own money
and that some an old lag
had told him
it was the best place
to keep it.
The prosecution opened with,
"I want to take you through
the defendant's movements."
He nearly fainted.
"On that three-mile
cross-country walk,
was the money inside your rectum
the entire time?
When you bought the bus ticket,
was it still there?
And how did you pay
for the chicken vindaloo?
[Both laugh]
I think I've got
some champagne somewhere.
I thought you'd moved
into your friend's.
So? Case doesn't start
till tomorrow, does it?
[Cellphone ringing]
Save it for when I win.
Sorry.
[Cellphone beeps]
- Hello, Les.
- Miss?
What's wrong?
Well, why can't he
come to the phone?
Okay.
Okay.
[Cellphone beeps]
It's my old man.
I don't know what's wrong.
I'll see you in court
tomorrow, then.
Yeah, see you in court.
He's, uh, passed out.
I don't know what to do.
He's been drinking all day.
You look as if you have,
as well.
I'm all right now.
He likes me to keep him company.
He kept going on about
wanting to see you urgently.
Wouldn't say why.
He often goes like that.
Leslie, get an ambulance.
MAN:
Okay, what have we got?
WOMAN: 68 years old.
Passed out two, three hours
Henry?
Thank you.
Thanks.
Hiya, Faith.
They're operating now.
It's a perforated bowel.
He's lost a lot of blood.
I'm sorry.
I'm in court today.
I'll be back tonight.
Oh, Henry,
I've been dreading this.
You were getting on so well,
weren't you?
CLEO:
Uh, go ahead.
MILLIE: Okay.
Do you want to follow me?
Has something happened, Henry?
No, I'm fine, Cleo.
Not a good start.
[Sniffles]
I didn't realize that she
might be cross-examining today.
Rachel, don't lose heart.
Ohh.
Do you think Gilbraith
might rape someone else?
You've got to go in there
and do the best you can.
We'll help you through this.
Look at the state of me.
I'm worse than I was
the last time.
What's going to happen to me
if I lose this case?
Don't worry about Cleo Steyn.
Stand up to her,
she'll collapse.
Make sure Michael has a strong
cappuccino when we adjourn.
- Okay.
- And a large Kit Kat.
He likes Kit Kat.
When the respondent
started talking
in what you describe
as top-shelf language,
what was going through
your head?
Nothing but, "Get out of here."
I tried to open the door
as he turned left,
but he had locked them somehow.
HENRY:
What happened next?
He just said,
"Come on, let's do it."
and I said, "No,"
about six times loud and clear,
and he, uh
He laughed at me.
He even managed
to get the seats back somehow
when I was trying to find
the central locking switch.
I was I was panicking,
but I couldn't seem
to do him any harm.
It was such a tight space.
So I thought,
"If I make a lot of noise,
then someone might hear me."
Did he say anything?
Yeah, he held me
against the seat.
And he said,
"Do you want to get hurt,
or do you want to enjoy this?"
HENRY:
How did you feel about that?
RACHEL: I felt I would get hurt
if I fought him.
I had to reason with him.
I
I talked about love,
about my husband.
About how we were all connected
and and what would
our friends think.
He just talked about
what he wanted to do to me.
Then he, uh
He started to undress me.
So I bit his hand.
And he pulled back my hair.
Did he say anything then?
Yes.
He said, "If you so much
as scratch me, I'll kill you."
[Scoffs]
Never.
My lord.
I think this is a good time
to adjourn.
No interruptions, please.
Oh, thank you very much.
You remembered.
God, I hate this.
I've been waiting a year
and a half to tell my story.
Oh, good.
Thank you, Millie.
Michael, if you want to win,
don't do that again.
Uh, yeah. I know.
I'm sorry.
I just couldn't let it go.
You must.
That's what he said?
"If you so much as scratch me,
I'll kill you."
Yes.
HENRY:
And you believed him?
Yeah.
It was his eyes.
They, uh They terrified me.
I just did what he wanted
after that.
I was in shock.
I just wanted it to be over.
And how long did this go on for?
It seemed like hours, but it
must have been about 20 minutes.
He put his hand into my mouth
to shut me up.
Forced it right in.
He said eventually
that he would take it out
if I promised to keep quiet.
I was just crying,
but he kept on.
Can you remember
what he said afterwards?
RACHEL: Yeah.
Yes. He said, "Don't go
telling anybody that I raped you
because you and I know
that I didn't."
And then he just started the car
and he drove off.
I did ask him to let me out.
He
He drove within yards
of my house.
He was so arrogant.
And I just fell out the car.
I was very confused.
And I didn't know what to do.
HENRY:
Thank you.
Sorry to hear about
Sir Marshall.
CLEO:
Any news?
No.
I hope you don't think
I'm being impertinent, miss,
but I think you're making
a big mistake
if you make a large settlement
your priority.
I beg your pardon.
Well, a woman of your talents
is clearly destined to go
to the very top in the law.
And you have to think clearly
whether or not
a high-profile alimony case
would do harm to your career.
It's very kind of you
to be so concerned, Ray.
I mean, I-I appeased my wife
by selling the best car
I ever owned
and putting £50,000 in her hand.
I felt a lightening of the soul.
Yes, well, I'm hoping the baron
will feel something similar.
I was thinking more
of your future.
Well, I-I don't know
what's in store for me.
My future suddenly
seems rather cold and lonely.
A woman of your talents
and beauty still in her prime.
Oh.
There's another millionaire
out there.
[Laughs]
Really?
Well, you're very kind.
Um, I was going to
make some changes
when I first took over here,
you being one of them.
Yeah, I was dimly aware there
was something in the air, miss.
Yes, well, um
it was insecurity.
I'm glad I didn't.
You're a first-rate clerk, Ray.
I don't think we've had
a young barrister here
who hasn't thrived,
thanks to you.
Well, you think about
what I've said.
We've never had a woman
Lord Chief Justice.
[Chuckles]
Come on through.
- How are you?
- Okay.
How's my little niece?
Sleeping like a log.
And Michael?
Wretched.
How can he think
of anything else?
You love him so much, don't you?
Why shouldn't I?
It must have been strange having
him turn up on your doorstep
saying he'd been accused
of rape.
Didn't you ever doubt him?
I'd seen other women
throw themselves at him.
I knew he was susceptible.
Did he just sit
and tell you everything?
Mm-hmm.
Didn't enjoy hearing it.
It was him and another woman.
Why are you
asking me this again?
It wasn't loaded.
Are you having doubts?
Ever since I took him back,
there hasn't been one thing
that's made me think
Believe me, I would leave him
if there was.
Of course.
You know, the police
were so desperate,
they even tried to plant
a pair of gloves in his rubbish.
I didn't know that.
The trial never got that far.
I bought him these gloves,
which he lost weeks before.
These gloves There wasn't
a trace of him on them.
They were a plant.
Do you think they'll
do something like that again?
It's not the police this time,
thank God.
No.
What I worry about is
this burden-of-proof business.
I mean, there's no jury.
What if she impresses the judge
and he gets nervous
or makes a mistake?
[Indistinct conversation]
Henry.
Don't run away.
Poor Leslie.
He's worked for us
for over 20 years.
And now he feels guilty
because Marshall never liked
to drink alone.
But you can't tell that man
what to do.
Would you like to be with alone
with him?
Is he dying?
Well, he's too frail
for an operation like that.
You concocted this story to keep
your marriage alive, didn't you?
RACHEL:
My marriage is fine, thank you.
You didn't tell your husband
you'd been raped for 24 hours.
RACHEL:
I was traumatized.
CLEO: Isn't that
too strong a word?
I put it to you, you behaved
exactly like someone
who'd just committed adultery
and then been found out
by her husband.
Well, perhaps it did
seem like that,
but I was shaken and confused.
You don't tell your partner
of 12 years,
the father of your children.
It doesn't make any sense,
does it,
unless you have
a guilty conscience?
And that's why you've brought
this action, isn't it?
Because your husband
doesn't believe you
and you want to keep
your family together.
My family is together.
You were angry
because your husband was late.
You felt he was neglecting you
in general,
and so you took your revenge
and then tried to cover up,
didn't you?
I was angry with him,
but I wouldn't sleep with
somebody else because of it.
Six months before you wrongfully
accused the respondent of rape,
you had an affair with
Robert Gillingham, didn't you?
Please answer the question.
When you were on holiday
in Greece with your children,
did you have an affair
with Robert Gillingham?
My lord,
this cannot be admissible.
Mr. Farmer, since the plaintiff
insists in all her statements
that she is
a happily married woman
and since Mr. Gilbraith
has insisted in all of his
that she's not, I must allow it.
Mr. Gillingham
has given a statement
and will give evidence
if necessary.
Did you have an affair with him?
No, it wasn't an affair.
I became fond of him briefly.
- You had sex with him.
- RACHEL: No, I didn't.
CLEO: Well, you held hands,
you kissed, you went for walks.
While your children
were being looked after.
RACHEL: Yes, but I never had
a sexual relationship with him.
CLEO:
Well, even if that's true,
your action doesn't imply
a happy marriage, does it?
My husband and I were
going through a rough patch.
He had been away
for most of six months.
And
I lost confidence.
The only time
I have ever had intercourse
with any man other than
my husband is with that man.
CLEO:
I'm not disputing that.
Thank you.
BEN: Okay, I don't know
whether this is relevant.
Michael Gilbraith's mother
was 18 when she had him,
but he was brought up
mostly by his father.
Michael's mum was 18?
Can we find out more?
She might well be still alive.
I do have a witness to examine.
Hey.
It says on the adoption forms,
relationship with his mother
was abruptly terminated
when he was 10.
Is your father all right?
He's out of theater,
but it's too early to say.
I really like him.
Yeah, I know.
I'm cross-examining
your next witness
The redoubtable
Mrs. Vicky Rushton.
You're up against Ben.
Oh, I'm disappointed.
I wanted you.
Well, you can't have me.
Who knows when the chance
may come again?
Sleep tight, sweetheart.
So, everything you told me about
the holiday, that was the truth?
Yeah, all of it.
And the bit about you
not having sex with him?
Of course.
I wouldn't do that to you.
Look, if you don't want
to give evidence for me,
then you don't have to.
Of course I do.
[Monitor beeping]
[Siren wailing in distance]
You do realize hiding large sums
of money from me
is a reportable offense.
I saved £200
for my son's birthday present.
- 200 miserable pounds!
- You couldn't even be bothered
to put it into
an interest-bearing account.
If your clerk's right about
the fee for this civil case,
I may be able to deal with your
creditors sometime next year,
get you back on your feet,
but you've got to go carefully.
Don't worry. I am living life
in the slow lane, Malcolm.
Have you nailed
this alleged rapist yet?
When do we see some money?
Did I tell you?
He's an accountant, as well.
[Indistinct conversations]
Have another one.
HENRY: Who knew about
this holiday romance?
Laura was the only one
that I told.
That's where
they've got it from.
Thank God it's your friend Vicky
giving evidence next.
Uh, we've got a problem.
I think we better make
a decision on this one, Jimmy.
[Grunts]
Vicky, you look flushed.
Have you got a problem?
What I hate is all that "She
was asking for it" nonsense.
If every woman that
looked sexually attractive
was deemed to be asking for it,
we'd all end up being raped.
Whoa, Vicky, hang on here.
Don't worry.
I know what to say.
It was her birthday.
She was having a whale
of a time.
She's a respectable mum
most of the time.
Why can't she let her hair down?
Did she look attractive?
You bet.
Is that a crime?
I don't think so.
Right.
HENRY: Can you tell me what
you remember about that night?
Yes, I was late at a meeting,
and I phoned Rachel a couple
of times and left messages,
and she'd done the same to me,
but we kept missing each other.
I eventually got to the pub at
about 10:45, incredibly late,
but she'd gone, so I went home.
HENRY:
What happened at home?
WILL: I found Rachel
in the shower.
HENRY:
Were you surprised?
I was surprised
that she wasn't angry with me
for missing the meal we planned
for her birthday, yes.
Can you remember
how your wife told you
about what happened to her?
Yes, she wasn't herself
for about 24 hours,
and I found her
in the children's room
after she'd put them to sleep.
She'd obviously been crying
for quite some time.
I begged her to tell me,
and eventually she did.
HENRY:
What was your reaction?
I was shattered.
But I believed her.
It explained everything.
HENRY:
Do you have a strong marriage?
Yes.
I married Rachel
when she was quite young,
and nobody gave us
much of a chance,
but we have two children and we
have a very good relationship.
What do you feel about fidelity
in a marriage?
WILL: We both believe in it
very strongly.
I don't believe that Rachel
has ever been unfaithful to me.
HENRY: Thank you.
CLEO:
Do you know why the police
advise rape victims
not to shower?
WILL: Because it destroys
forensic evidence.
Did you ever consider
your wife might be showering
to conceal something, intimacy
with another man, perhaps?
Did you ever think about that?
Absolutely not.
Did you know about this man
she met on holiday?
WILL:
Yes. He rang the house once,
and I had to tell him
to leave Rachel alone.
When you first saw her
on the night in question,
showering in the dark,
deflecting your questions,
did you not consider that
she might have had an affair?
If I did, I put it
out of my mind immediately.
CLEO: You can't put
something like that
out of your mind, can you?
Can you?
I trust my wife.
Even though your work means
you don't have a properly
fulfilled relationship.
I think we do.
CLEO: You went to Relate, the
marriage guidance organization,
didn't you, just before
your wife sued my client?
Yes, we did.
CLEO: Was that because you were
suspicious of your wife
and it was poisoning
your marriage?
WILL: No.
Was it because your wife felt
you were no longer interested
in making love to her?
Look, there were some issues
to do with our lives
How hard we work, bringing up
children at the same time,
all of which I am told are
very common to people like us.
Perhaps the romantic side of
things was taking a back seat.
CLEO:
Aren't we standing here
because of what came out
of these counseling sessions?
Wasn't this the only way
to rebuild trust between you?
I don't think so.
CLEO: Your wife needed
to prove herself to you,
and you needed that proof badly,
didn't you?
Perhaps. I don't know.
CLEO:
Thank you, Mr. Browning.
HENRY: Rachel said he was
gabbling bad porn stuff at her.
Why didn't the police
investigation throw anything up?
BEN: Porn's the first thing
they look for with sexual cases.
They were pretty thorough.
Nothing on the home computer,
nothing at work.
He hired family entertainment
on Serena's video card.
HENRY: We might as well
check out what he hired.
We can't afford this.
It means research,
interviews, records,
possibly even bribes.
How can it prove anything?
Is there a really big problem
with money?
Anything could help.
We could lose this.
I'm gonna cross-examine him,
I need to get inside his head.
Laura, why won't you
give evidence for me?
I didn't see what happened.
You were with me all night.
I went home, didn't I?
Look, I know that your sister
is obsessed with Gilbraith.
Is Is that why
you're protecting him?
This is bad, Rachel.
He raped me.
Why won't you believe that?
Because my sister isn't a fool.
She wouldn't have anything
to do with violence,
and you had a reason
to lie about Michael.
How long have you known me,
Laura?
I've known my sister
all my life.
Why didn't you just leave Will
if you were unhappy
instead of dragging
everyone else into your mess
and ruining their lives, too?
Ah, look who's here.
Henry, sorry to have to
tell you bad news.
Your client's best friend Laura
will be giving evidence
against her.
When did this happen?
Well, Rachel tried
to pressure her.
And unfortunately for her,
it's had the opposite affect.
Well, thanks for cheering me up.
How could Laura do this to me?
It wasn't a good idea
trying to contact her.
What can she say, Rachel?
Is there anything
you haven't told me?
What difference does it make?
I mean, I came here
to save my marriage,
but it looks like I've failed,
doesn't it?
LAURA: I swear by Almighty God
that the evidence I shall give
will be the truth,
the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth.
You and Rachel were
close confidants, weren't you?
Yes, completely.
She'd tell you everything about
herself, everything intimate.
Did she say something
in the pub that night?
Yes, we went to the pub
that night,
and she said that sexual
relations in her marriage
had broken down,
were almost nonexistent.
CLEO:
Did she say why?
LAURA: She said the kids
took up her time,
but her husband was a workaholic
and was always tired
or unavailable.
And were you sympathetic?
LAURA:
Yes, obviously.
At first.
What changed your mind?
When she was putting on lipstick
before we left the ladies',
she said something
a bit unlike her.
CLEO:
What did she say?
She said, "If I don't get laid
in the next two hours,
I'm going to explode."
CLEO:
Thank you.
The plaintiff told you
she was going to
have a birthday dinner
with her husband, didn't she?
Yes, but he hadn't turned up.
HENRY: Surely the remarks were
meant to refer to her husband,
sex with a partner
after a birthday dinner.
LAURA: I didn't think
that's what she meant.
Whatever your feelings,
do you agree that she
could have meant that?
Yes.
Did you assume that she meant
Mr. Gilbraith?
No.
Thank you.
Thanks for the test
on the gloves.
COLLINA: Yes, I nearly paid
for that out of my own pocket.
It's money thrown away, too.
BEN: Traces of washing powder.
Did you notice?
Yeah, I did.
And according to his statement,
the girlfriend, Serena Clifford,
she bought him the pair
of gloves as a present,
which he claims to have lost
weeks before.
Was she asked to identify the
ones that were found in the bin?
BEN: Not according
to what I've read.
But then, she'd have backed him
anyway, wouldn't she?
Depends if she's
the sort of person
who's gonna lie
to get him out of trouble.
I-I don't see
where this is getting us.
I was just thinking,
could we get an odontologist
to look at them?
More tests?
An odontologist!
What's an odontologist?
BEN:
Ooh, about a grand a day.
CLEO:
Is there any particular reason
why you remember
seeing Mrs. Browning
talking to Michael Gilbraith
that evening?
Well, I'm like most men
You tend to notice the most
attractive women in your pub.
She was a sexy lady who knew
how to show herself off.
You couldn't help noticing her,
and I got the impression
they were both up for it.
CLEO:
What gave you that impression?
LAKER: Well, she was standing
right up close to him,
which is a bit of a giveaway.
CLEO:
How close exactly?
She was rubbing up against him.
Did you see them
leave the pub together?
Yeah, they left together.
And I saw them outside
getting into his car.
CLEO: Did you see
what they were doing?
Yeah, he held the door open.
They got in
and then they kissed full-on.
Thank you.
Michael Gilbraith is a regular,
isn't he, Mr. Laker?
You've known him about 10 years?
Yeah, about that.
Isn't your pub is so full
at 10:00 p.m. on a Friday
that nobody could get to the bar
without being guilty
of rubbing intimately
against any number of people?
I suppose so.
HENRY:
Now, you couldn't have seen
Rachel Browning
kissing Michael Gilbraith
because his car
was parked in a place
you couldn't possibly have seen
from behind the bar.
I saw it through the window.
HENRY:
You couldn't have seen them
unless you forced your way
through a packed room,
gone to the door, opened it,
gone out into the street.
That's very odd behavior for
an overworked barman, isn't it?
You didn't really see them
at all, did you?
I must have done.
I saw them.
CLEO: I would like to suggest
an early adjournment, my lord,
since my client
was about to give evidence
but is getting married
and has a fitting.
The date was arranged
before the trial.
My learned friend has forgotten
there is no jury to impress.
I'm sure my lord
has taken the hint
that her client has a partner
who's prepared to make
an honest man of him.
May I suggest, when my learned
friend has mellowed a little
Does he want to contact
HELLO! magazine
to arrange photographs
in the court's time?
[Gavel bangs]
This case has wasted enough
public money as it is.
I would like to get on
before it enriches
any more undeserving lawyers.
Fat chance, my lord.
People have been ringing up
to speak to you about your dad,
people you don't know,
law lords and the like.
How is he?
Why did it happen so suddenly?
Don't know.
It's a lifetime of rich food
and fine wine.
Oh, thanks for these,
by the way.
How are ya?
Just can't concentrate,
you know?
Have to force myself.
Bet you wish you were doing
a nice petty larceny
at Snaresbrook.
Yeah, be better than a rape.
A very wise man once said,
"Walking into a rape trial
is a bit like walking
to the freezer."
HENRY:
Thanks for that, Paul.
I don't want him to die, Mo.
Too many loose ends.
I've grown fond of him now.
I'm still angry.
[Footsteps]
[Door opens, closes]
Oh.
Oh, God.
Hi.
It's, um, been a long trial.
Do you want a coffee
or something?
No, I don't drink coffee
this late.
Very sensible.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to disturb you.
Oh, you disturbed me.
I'm not your type.
Whoever told you that
was a liar.
Well, you did.
You might as well stay tonight.
I'm not gonna tell anyone.
I don't think he raped her.
I do.
Um, excuse me, if you're
not living together,
and you definitely
shouldn't be
I picked her up.
I hope you haven't been
getting to my junior.
I might have to talk
to the judge.
We traced the mother.
Dead but interesting.
I swear by Almighty God
that the evidence I shall give
will be the truth,
the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth.
Mr. Gilbraith,
you haven't yet given evidence
in either court, have you?
No, the original trial
was stopped
before I could give my account,
which I'm pleased
to get the chance to do.
CLEO: After you'd parked
the car, what did you do?
MICHAEL: I put the seat back,
and we made love.
Rachel seemed quite frantic,
in a real hurry,
and all I was thinking
was how nice it would be
to do this properly in a bed.
CLEO:
And what happened then?
Well, after we'd finished,
she didn't say much.
I drove off, and she was in the
back finishing getting dressed.
Did she say anything to you?
She just directed me to where
she wanted me to drop her off.
I asked her on the way
if I could see her again.
And she said, "I told you
I was married, didn't I?"
That's the last thing
she said to me
before she got out of the car.
She'd gone very cold
and distant,
and I remember thinking,
"Poor girl."
What made you think that?
Well, she was gorgeous,
but I think she was lonely.
Are you sure she wanted
to make love to you?
100% certain?
She didn't at any stage by word
or gesture say "no" or "stop"
or anything like that.
Thank you, Mr. Gilbraith.
[Monitor beeping]
Suppose the judge
could be forgiven
for thinking she might have gone
for a quick one in the car park.
[Whimpers]
Dad?
Sorry.
HENRY:
Nothing to be sorry for.
I am anyway.
[Groans]
Will you
Will you get me out of here?
HENRY: My lord I would like
to introduce as evidence
a pair of gloves
found in dustbins
near the respondent's home.
My lord, these gloves
were not admitted
during the original trial
because they bore no trace
of either the plaintiff
or the respondent.
HENRY: My lord, I would submit
detailed evidence in due course,
but I can prove
an identical make of gloves
was purchased
by the respondent's girlfriend,
Serena Clifford, at Selfridges
approximately two years ago.
Well, I can't admit
late evidence
without studying it
in some detail, Mr. Farmer,
and I am doubtful.
Then perhaps I may be permitted
to cross-examine the respondent,
if he has returned
from choosing the menu
for the wedding breakfast
or whatever.
Why did you choose
that particular car park,
Mr. Gilbraith?
I didn't.
She was very eager,
and I thought we might
have an accident.
So I turned off the road
as soon as I could.
HENRY: That car park's
used mainly by commuters.
Very busy in the day,
empty at night.
It's close to a nearby
overhead train line,
the noise of which might muffle
any of the victim's screams.
I'm sorry.
I just went there and parked.
BEN:
Excuse me, my lord.
Your father.
[Monitor beeping]
They, um They think
he's got an infection now.
He's very hot.
I'll go and sit with him
for a bit.
These are all the films
hired on her card.
I've seen them all.
Nothing to interest
a frustrated rapist there.
779 minutes, including
a French arty movie.
I have to confess
I didn't quite finish that one.
"La Lune Noire."
I like French films.
Here. Take them, please,
in case you can't sleep.
I just heard about your client
not having any money.
I thought I saw the light at
the end of the tunnel there, Mo.
Bankruptcy discharged.
I was even gonna go
to Gamblers Anonymous.
Now I'm worse off
than I was before.
I think you need a holiday.
[Low-tempo music plays]
[Man speaking French]
[Thudding]
[Man speaking French]
[Woman screaming]
[Slapping]
[Screaming continues]
CLEO:
My lord, once more,
new and very specious evidence
at a last hour.
I will see the film.
Mr. Farmer, it must be relevant.
The court will adjourn.
I'm sorry.
It was so boring, I fell asleep.
[Cellphone beeping]
[Indistinct conversations]
Oh, Henry, this is
D.I. Joan Fernandes,
the original case officer.
- Hi.
- Hi.
A 23-year-old woman read
the reports of the case
and came forward yesterday.
Too scared to report it before.
Similar fact back of the car,
hand in the mouth.
Cornwall last summer.
He gave a different name,
but it could be him.
The description fit.
Are you going to arrest him?
CPS are only going to go for it
if you win.
Oh, no pressure, then.
[Cellphone rings]
Excuse me.
[Cellphone beeps]
[Indistinct talking]
Wow, don't believe this.
You've got no right
to be looking so well.
Can't rely on your civil judge
loving you.
[Chuckles]
Well, I never thought
judges would love me.
He'll think,
collapse of original trial,
bloody waste of money.
Presume your poor alleged rapist
on legal aid.
Oh, dear,
not a level playing field.
Case is nearly over, Dad.
I'm cross-examining Gilbraith
tomorrow.
Oh.
I thought you were a goner.
Well, I'm not.
Why did you tell me
about you and Mum?
I'm she would have told you
when she thought you were ready.
About what?
She have an affair?
Oh.
Something got lost somewhere.
She felt hurt.
I felt hurt.
Never sorted it out.
Thought it best to leave her to
do the job of bringing you up.
Did it rather well, I think.
I've got to got to go.
The way to get your man
Make him angry.
But you're far too nice.
[Paper rustles]
You told me you lost
those gloves I bought you.
Yeah, I did.
So how come they found an
identical pair in your rubbish?
Oh, come on.
I told you, it was a plant.
They're bastards, all of them.
The bloody odontologist £900.
And Judge Kagan didn't like
that French film at all.
Did you hire a French film
called "La Lune Noire"
from the High Street shop
Video Metro
200 hundred yards from your home
on September the 9th last year?
I don't know.
My fiancée is the member there.
HENRY:
Can you think of any reason
why she would hire this film
four times?
She liked it, I suppose.
She watched a lot of films
when she was pregnant.
The film ends with
a particularly realistic
and violent rape scene.
Do you remember it now?
No.
The woman is raped when two men
break into her apartment.
The scene lasts for 27 minutes.
Do you remember it now?
MICHAEL: I wouldn't have
been interested in it.
HENRY:
It's a beautifully shot film,
but it dwells in shocking detail
on the face and the expressions
and the indignity of a victim
of a prolonged and violent rape.
Do you remember it now?
No. I have no interest
or recollection.
You hate your mother, don't you?
My lord, this is impossible.
It is hard to see the relevance.
HENRY: Your mother
first left your father
when you were 8 years old
and went back to working
as a prostitute, didn't she?
That's a lie.
You don't have to answer
that question.
My client has had to endure
a stream of remarks
about her personal life
and background in two courts.
Mr. Farmer, I understand
you're under stress.
You have my sympathy,
but please don't bring
your personal feelings
into this courtroom.
My lord, this is
of urgent relevance.
I would also like to enter
an up-to-date
odontologist's report.
JUDGE:
I shall permit you to continue,
but my patience is wearing thin.
You may be damaging your case.
When your mother deserted you,
you left home and went
looking for her, didn't you?
But she kept dumping you
back home again,
taking you back to your father,
who didn't want you, either.
- Isn't that right?
- My lord, you can't allow this.
Is it right, Mr. Gilbraith?
Yes.
HENRY: You've felt angry
and powerless since that time
and have developed
a hatred of women
who won't do exactly
what you want.
You raped Rachel Browning
to give yourself a sense
of power, didn't you?
No.
She was an easy lay
who was angry with her husband.
Earlier you described her
as flirtatious, possibly lonely.
You said you felt sorry for her.
Now she's an easy lay.
Is that what you really feel?
I didn't rape her.
She was asking for it.
HENRY: She wasn't asking for it
at all, was she?
You decided she was asking
for it, just like in the film,
only a hundred times more real.
I told you what I said, okay?!
She was begging for it.
One of the rapists
puts his gloved hand
deep into the woman's mouth
until he's choking her.
Does that ring any bells
with you at all?
No!
HENRY: You washed your gloves
in the washing machine,
and to be doubly sure, you threw
them in the rubbish, didn't you?
Those weren't my gloves.
I draw the court's attention
to the odontologist's report.
The odontologist has performed a
test using microscopic analysis
of discrepancies
between the flexible surface
of the leather gloves
and the inner lining.
Comparing it with
the plaintiff's dental records,
he finds a pattern
of tiny indentations
on both the upper
and lower surfaces
of the fingers of one glove,
consistent with it being placed
inside the plaintiff's mouth.
[Muffled screams]
I am so angry.
Disgusting man.
I made the really
unprofessional mistake
of completely believing
my client.
You learn from this.
Miss.
Oh, thank you.
I hear it's not going
very well, miss.
Oh, thank you, Ray.
Brilliant time
to state the obvious.
Oh, I've, um
I've been thinking about
your advice re my husband,
you know, alimony
versus my career.
And, well, I'm afraid anger
and avarice have won the day.
I'm going to take him
for £50 million.
Miss?
Thank you.
So how long do I have to wait
for a verdict?
Hard to say.
I'm so pleased
about your father.
Thanks.
Oh, take me to court,
report me to the Bar Council.
Just leave me alone!
Oh, all right,
so you don't want to know
I've traced the cash
owed to you.
That bent solicitor who ran off
with all his clients' money?
Jerry Fingal?
Quite an electronic journey.
But you should get a fair bit.
So, if you get paid for this,
I might get you discharged
by the end of the year.
Subject to some
further economies.
Having considered
all the evidence,
I believe it is likely that the
respondent, Michael Gilbraith,
did rape the plaintiff.
I shall now give my reasons
in detail.
I'm taking my boy, Zak,
over to Ireland next week.
Fancy a glass of Black Velvet
and the Hennessey Gold Cup
at Leopardstown?
Separate rooms, obviously.
Acorn Media
[Indistinct conversations,
dance music plays]
Acorn Media
Happy birthday, dear Rachel ♪
Happy birthday to you ♪
Happy birthday to you,
happy birthday to you ♪
Happy birthday,
it's your round ♪
Good fame and fortune.
Do you want the same again?
Yes, please!
Who's the guy at the bar
who keeps staring over at me?
Gray jacket.
Michael Gilbraith,
Laura's sister's
Ex.
Two minutes.
- Ex?
- Mm.
Two weeks ago.
- Really?
- Serena's really devastated.
[Indistinct conversations]
Excuse me, c
Gary, can you
get this girl a drink?
Can I have a vodka and Coke,
please, white wine spritzer,
and gin and tonic.
Thanks.
Weren't we supposed to
be getting a drink?
I'm gonna call it a night.
You're right.
Let's go.
Rachel, darling, we're gonna go.
Oh, no, no, don't.
I've just
I've just got your drink in.
Oh, well.
Where is that bloody husband
of yours, by the way?
RACHEL: What?
What time is it?
VICKY: Isn't he supposed to be
taking you out to dinner?
I'm gonna wait for him
another 10 minutes,
and then I'm gonna go home.
Well, I'd give him a knee
in the testicles if I were you,
- but that's me.
- [Laughs]
Sure you don't want
to get a cab with us?
No, I'm fine.
I'm gonna wait 10 minutes.
Okay. Bye.
[Water running]
Rach?
Rachel.
Sweetheart?
I'm so sorry.
I couldn't get away.
I left you a couple of messages.
RACHEL:
Pass me a towel.
WILL:
Sweetheart, what's wrong?
What's wrong?
Rach.
Sweetheart.
I'm sorry I have to
ask this again.
Um, if you were raped, Rachel,
why has it taken you three days
to report it?
Um
I
I didn't quite catch that,
Rachel.
I was ashamed.
We've spoken
to Michael Gilbraith.
You know what he's saying,
don't you?
CLEO:
There was a mutual attraction
between you and the defendant,
wasn't there?
So you had consensual sex,
didn't you?
No.
This was a false accusation,
wasn't it, Rachel?
A malicious, selfish,
heartless accusation?
No.
CLEO: Michael Gilbraith
didn't rape you at all.
You made it clear
you wanted him.
You let him drive you to
a car park to have sex with him.
And then you felt so ashamed,
you felt had to make
this story up, didn't you?
Your story was all
a fabrication, wasn't it?
A convenient lie
to save your marriage.
I'm sorry.
[Sobbing]
Rachel, look,
we pushed the boat out for you.
You're making me feel
like I made a mistake.
Rachel, do you know
how few reported rapes
ever get to trial, hmm?
If you back out now,
the whole world's going to think
you made this up.
And all the other women
who report rapes to us,
you're letting them down, too.
Rachel.
[Indistinct conversations]
Michael.
I am so pleased.
Oh, thank you, Cleo.
- Thank you for everything.
- Thanks very much.
Thank you.
[Alarm clock ringing]
[Thud, ringing stops]
Oh, morning, stranger.
Late again, Millicent.
Oh, depressed.
Not tired of sleeping alone?
Oh, I think
I can cope with that.
Career.
My last cases were a 73-year-old
accused of stealing
from a corner shop
and a 13-year-old girl drunk and
disorderly for the fourth time.
Well, imagine what you'd get if
the chief clerk didn't like you.
All I need is a nice wise person
to take me out for dinner
and discuss it with me.
[Horn honks]
Don't say anything.
Where's the Ferrari?
Don't say anything.
What you driving that for?
- It come in your cornflakes?
- I'm not listening.
Mikey.
[Baby babbling]
What is it?
Rachel Browning is suing me
in the civil courts.
We've got to
go through it all again.
COLLINA: Did you look at
the original trial?
Jimmy, rape is hardly
my area of expertise.
And if it broke down
18 months ago, what chance now?
It's almost unheard of for a
rape to get to the civil courts.
I'm a jury man.
Gilbraith was gonna
give evidence at the trial,
but it never got that far.
It needs someone like you to get
at him, you know, one-to-one,
expose his weaknesses.
In front of some cold-hearted
civil judge?
Morning, Henry.
More papers to sign, I'm afraid.
There are barristers who do
these all the time. Why me?
It's private money.
It'll be a lot, won't it, Ray?
Plenty of potatoes, sir.
TEBBOTT: What are you messing
with legal aid for?
A couple of these, we could
get your bankruptcy discharged.
Has Cleo been retained?
Rachel Browning's claiming
damages on three counts
For the alleged rape itself,
for distress,
and for loss of earnings.
Why does she want to
go through this again?
[Sighs]
I wish I knew.
There's no new evidence.
She's like a stalker.
Michael, I don't think you raped
her, but we can't be complacent.
Look, I have to warn you,
the burden of proof is lower
in a civil trial.
What does that mean?
They only have to prove
rape was probable.
God Almighty, what's "probable"?
I mean, how low
do they move the bar?
This woman's ruined my life.
She'll go on and on until I'm
too tired to fight it anymore.
Don't worry.
Her new counsel's
an undischarged bankrupt
who's never done a rape before,
let alone a civil action.
He's only in it for the money,
and I know his tricks
rather well.
[Computer chimes]
Red alert.
[Keyboard clacking]
Oh, yes.
HENRY:
Bank account.
Just making sure
all those payments
are zipping through
to my creditors.
I'm only taking a personal
interest because I like you.
[Chuckles]
You're not doing him any favors,
you know.
I haven't put so much as a pound
on anything for weeks,
not even the lottery.
What were you doing
when I came in?
Just looking.
[Indistinct conversations]
- Morning.
- HENRY: Hey.
I hear Zak's coming to visit.
That's great news.
Yeah, on his own, too.
How was France?
Oh, I had a great time.
- Did you find anywhere?
- Beautiful little cottage.
I want you to come and visit.
Henry
I want you to have this.
Open it later.
[Envelope tears]
10 grand?
Till you get back on your feet.
I can't spend all I've won.
It's all a bit daft.
I don't feel
like I've earned it.
Mo, you're a friend for life,
but I can't.
Oh, Henry, please, let me.
No, really.
I'll be fine.
[Sighs]
Bugger.
- Hey.
- Hi.
Rachel.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Will.
- Yeah.
There's a lot at stake for you.
I mean, it's a lot of money.
Don't worry about the money.
The money's not a problem.
I've got a big contract coming
from a new building, so
Are you sure you can handle
cross-examination
by the same counsel
for a second time?
I just got rattled
when she tried to make out
that I was some sort of slag.
I kept thinking,
"What does Will think?"
He's been my rock.
So I am ready
for Cleo Steyn now.
They went after
Rachel's reputation.
I want you to do the same
to Michael Gilbraith.
HENRY: I just need to remind
Rachel of what to expect.
Mr. Farmer, that doesn't matter.
See, Michael Gilbraith is not
some testosterone-fueled bloke
who just pushed things
a bit too far.
When I didn't do what he said,
he forced his hand into my mouth
until I was choking.
He raped me for 20 minutes.
So I promise you, I can handle
whatever they throw at me now.
Your stepmother
won't come to London anymore.
She goes to bed
in her Wellingtons.
Her secateurs
are welded to her wrists.
Now she wants me
to sell the flat.
Will you talk to her?
Why me?
The girls always side
with their mother.
I'm not ready
to give up my club.
This why you invited me for tea?
No.
I wanted to see you, as well.
You never ring me.
I've always rather enjoyed
our relationship
as estranged father and son.
I, um, thought you might like
to borrow some money.
I've got some nice cake.
GILLESPIE:
Yes, thank you, Leslie.
I don't know what to say.
I want to help.
I've got more than I need.
£50,000?
It'll see you on the road
to solvency.
No, thank you.
I can't accept.
I'm sorry.
All right,
you don't want my help.
I can't.
I mean, I couldn't accept
even if I knew you better.
Marry that Marsh girl.
Dad.
Family's in fish.
She's my junior colleague.
Half the tuna in the Pacific
have swum through Daddy's hands.
Probably dying to have kids.
Problem and future solved.
Not my type.
You need a woman
to sort you out!
Your life's a shambles!
You can't be a decent barrister
and live like a gypsy.
Well, maybe I should take up
fortune-telling, then.
If you wanted to reclaim me
as a son,
just gone about it
the wrong way.
I don't know the right way.
[Sighs]
You should know
it was your mother left me.
In the sense of the bedroom.
It was a lonely feeling.
[Ducks quacking]
About 10 minutes after Laura
and Vicky left,
I decided to go home, too.
So I said goodbye to Gilbraith.
Did you kiss him?
I gave him a peck on the cheek.
He asked me if I wanted a lift
home then, but I said no.
Well, he says he asked you
what a married woman
was doing alone on her birthday.
And I'm supposed to have said,
"Sad, isn't it?
Shall we do something together?"
I don't think so.
Unfortunately,
he is very consistent.
RACHEL:
Oh, he's smart, all right.
HENRY:
What happened outside here?
Well, Gilbraith came outside
after me.
And it had started to rain,
and he asked me again
Rather sweetly, I thought
If I wanted a lift,
and he pointed to his car
over there on the corner.
I mean, I didn't really
see the harm in it.
After all, he wasn't
a complete stranger.
Laura knew him.
So you got into his car
and gave him directions home.
Yeah, he tried to kiss me
in the car,
and, well,
even though I was angry,
I felt I'd handled it okay.
I mean,
it didn't seem aggressive.
Why didn't you get out
of the car, then?
Well, that was my big mistake,
wasn't it?
To be perfectly honest,
I was tired.
It was raining, and I just
wanted to get home quickly.
I mean, I thought
I could handle it.
He was Laura's friend.
CLEO:
So, what did you think
when Rachel came up
and started talking to you?
Oh, this is just a married woman
being friendly,
maybe acknowledging
the attraction a bit, you know.
Then I began to think
that she wasn't happy,
she was lonely maybe.
I guess married people can be.
But in your statement,
you said that she
When she was leaving,
she half-kissed,
half-brushed your cheek
in a very provocative way.
Yeah. I thought she might
just be playing games.
But I couldn't leave without
finding out if she was serious.
So you followed her outside?
Yeah.
When I came out,
she was waiting for me.
She said, "You might have
hung back for a bit,
made it seem a little
less obvious," you know?
What'd you think about that?
Well, sort of, "You're on."
So I said, "Do you want
to come back to mine?"
And she said, "No way,"
so I pointed to my car.
As soon as we got in there,
she was all over me.
HENRY:
So you let him drive off.
RACHEL: Yeah, well,
he started off with the talk
basically as soon
as we got in the car.
And it was just like
a complete personality change.
All the things
that he wanted to do to me.
I told him to stop,
but he didn't.
So I asked him if he would
let me out, said I would walk.
He wouldn't.
He locked all the doors,
and that was when
I really started to panic.
But he he was
He was completely calm
and unfazed.
When you say, "the things
he wanted to do to you,"
how did that come across?
Was it seductive or laddish?
It was like written porn,
you know, the kind of things you
used to giggle over at school.
MICHAEL: Even after I drove off,
she was all over me.
I thought we were gonna
have an accident.
That's why I pulled
into the car park.
CLEO:
That wasn't entirely innocent.
MICHAEL: No.
Look, it was late.
She was very definitely willing.
It felt like an adventure.
Serena kicking me out
really shook me up.
I didn't know whether to go back
or to enjoy my freedom.
Yes, it's not a good feeling.
Suddenly being alone.
We should go.
[Car alarm chirps]
Millie, you're just
what I'm looking for.
- Junior on the Gilbraith rape.
- Oh, my God.
No, I mean, thanks.
Henry, let's behave well
on this one, shall we?
Absolutely.
You look happy.
I've just got
Browning v. Gilbraith.
Oh, I'll have to move out, then.
You can't live together and be
on opposite sides in court.
We're not living together.
The fibs people tell
in this place.
Stop it.
You know what I'm saying.
Yeah, you're living together.
Well, don't worry.
I'll move out.
I'm the lodger.
MILLIE: You haven't got
anywhere else to go.
HENRY:
Where will you go?
- Oh, I've got options.
- Billy's.
Maybe, maybe not.
But since we're on opposite
sides, I couldn't possibly say.
BEN: Rachel draws Gilbraith
as a full-on psycho,
which seems a bit unlikely.
He's an accountant.
There's nothing against him
No complaint on file,
no violence, nada.
Doesn't seem like
a very thorough
police investigation to me.
Did they look
into his background?
Yep. Everything since
his gonads dropped.
They were convinced
it was date rape at first
because of the lack of forensic.
I think they're both
overplaying it.
They go to the car park.
She backs off
at the last minute.
He gets the wrong signal.
Still rape, though.
Tell me about the family setup.
He was fostered at 10 by a nice
middle-age couple, now deceased.
They adopted him,
and it was a success.
BEN: There were no marks on her,
no sign of anything more
than rough sex
in the back of a vehicle.
Yeah, but she says
that he had his hand
practically down her throat.
What about the gloves
he was wearing?
Did he throw them away?
No, no, the police
thought they'd got lucky.
They found them in a rubbish bag
outside his flat.
Rachel identified them.
But he denies they were his.
They must have had her DNA
all over them.
COLLINA: They put them through
forensic to test for her saliva,
but it was negative.
Why would she make up
the thing about the hand?
I don't think
we're gonna win this case
if we ignore what Rachel says.
Someone want to look
into Michael's childhood
more carefully?
And we should get those gloves
tested again.
We've nearly exhausted
the budget.
I thought Will Browning
was designing a skyscraper.
Yes. Apparently there's been
some kind of delay.
I told him he'd have to pay the
other side's costs if we lost,
but he didn't take it to heart.
Arguing amongst yourselves
already.
You're working too hard.
Don't have much choice.
You've got problems at work,
haven't you?
If we lose,
we might not be able to pay.
We won't lose.
Did you know we didn't have
enough money to cover the costs?
I knew there was a risk.
I thought it was a risk
worth taking.
Right.
Why would you
want to take a risk?
Well, it's not a risk, really,
is it?
It's, um
Just as long as you're doing
this because you believe me
and not 'cause you're trying
to find some kind of proof
that I'm telling the truth.
Of course not.
Right.
Well, how about we have
an early night, then?
Well, I'm sorry.
I'm a bit tired.
Yeah, you look tired.
So, why don't we have an
early-to-sleep night, then, hmm?
[Knock on door]
Well, it seems
Rachel Browning's marriage
isn't quite as cozy
as they say it is.
Yes, it's an interesting case,
that, miss.
I myself was forced to doubt
my own wife's fidelity,
only to discover
that she was merely unhappy.
I don't see the relevance.
Well, I mean
that the facts suggest
that the plaintiff's husband
more or less forced her
- to prove her faithfulness.
- Mm-hmm.
I'm sorry, miss.
I was forgetting
your own circumstances.
Yes, but they're not the same.
Are you fishing?
Well, I don't care.
The baron's offered me a really
pathetic amount of alimony.
My reward for 26 years
of devotion.
Well, I suppose
if you're that rich,
you don't throw it about.
Yes, you could put it that way.
Which is why I'm going to
have to take him to court.
And it's all going to be
very public and very nasty.
Then the second thief
I ever defended
was caught with £400 in 20s
up his bottom.
And he wanted me to say
it was his own money
and that some an old lag
had told him
it was the best place
to keep it.
The prosecution opened with,
"I want to take you through
the defendant's movements."
He nearly fainted.
"On that three-mile
cross-country walk,
was the money inside your rectum
the entire time?
When you bought the bus ticket,
was it still there?
And how did you pay
for the chicken vindaloo?
[Both laugh]
I think I've got
some champagne somewhere.
I thought you'd moved
into your friend's.
So? Case doesn't start
till tomorrow, does it?
[Cellphone ringing]
Save it for when I win.
Sorry.
[Cellphone beeps]
- Hello, Les.
- Miss?
What's wrong?
Well, why can't he
come to the phone?
Okay.
Okay.
[Cellphone beeps]
It's my old man.
I don't know what's wrong.
I'll see you in court
tomorrow, then.
Yeah, see you in court.
He's, uh, passed out.
I don't know what to do.
He's been drinking all day.
You look as if you have,
as well.
I'm all right now.
He likes me to keep him company.
He kept going on about
wanting to see you urgently.
Wouldn't say why.
He often goes like that.
Leslie, get an ambulance.
MAN:
Okay, what have we got?
WOMAN: 68 years old.
Passed out two, three hours
Henry?
Thank you.
Thanks.
Hiya, Faith.
They're operating now.
It's a perforated bowel.
He's lost a lot of blood.
I'm sorry.
I'm in court today.
I'll be back tonight.
Oh, Henry,
I've been dreading this.
You were getting on so well,
weren't you?
CLEO:
Uh, go ahead.
MILLIE: Okay.
Do you want to follow me?
Has something happened, Henry?
No, I'm fine, Cleo.
Not a good start.
[Sniffles]
I didn't realize that she
might be cross-examining today.
Rachel, don't lose heart.
Ohh.
Do you think Gilbraith
might rape someone else?
You've got to go in there
and do the best you can.
We'll help you through this.
Look at the state of me.
I'm worse than I was
the last time.
What's going to happen to me
if I lose this case?
Don't worry about Cleo Steyn.
Stand up to her,
she'll collapse.
Make sure Michael has a strong
cappuccino when we adjourn.
- Okay.
- And a large Kit Kat.
He likes Kit Kat.
When the respondent
started talking
in what you describe
as top-shelf language,
what was going through
your head?
Nothing but, "Get out of here."
I tried to open the door
as he turned left,
but he had locked them somehow.
HENRY:
What happened next?
He just said,
"Come on, let's do it."
and I said, "No,"
about six times loud and clear,
and he, uh
He laughed at me.
He even managed
to get the seats back somehow
when I was trying to find
the central locking switch.
I was I was panicking,
but I couldn't seem
to do him any harm.
It was such a tight space.
So I thought,
"If I make a lot of noise,
then someone might hear me."
Did he say anything?
Yeah, he held me
against the seat.
And he said,
"Do you want to get hurt,
or do you want to enjoy this?"
HENRY:
How did you feel about that?
RACHEL: I felt I would get hurt
if I fought him.
I had to reason with him.
I
I talked about love,
about my husband.
About how we were all connected
and and what would
our friends think.
He just talked about
what he wanted to do to me.
Then he, uh
He started to undress me.
So I bit his hand.
And he pulled back my hair.
Did he say anything then?
Yes.
He said, "If you so much
as scratch me, I'll kill you."
[Scoffs]
Never.
My lord.
I think this is a good time
to adjourn.
No interruptions, please.
Oh, thank you very much.
You remembered.
God, I hate this.
I've been waiting a year
and a half to tell my story.
Oh, good.
Thank you, Millie.
Michael, if you want to win,
don't do that again.
Uh, yeah. I know.
I'm sorry.
I just couldn't let it go.
You must.
That's what he said?
"If you so much as scratch me,
I'll kill you."
Yes.
HENRY:
And you believed him?
Yeah.
It was his eyes.
They, uh They terrified me.
I just did what he wanted
after that.
I was in shock.
I just wanted it to be over.
And how long did this go on for?
It seemed like hours, but it
must have been about 20 minutes.
He put his hand into my mouth
to shut me up.
Forced it right in.
He said eventually
that he would take it out
if I promised to keep quiet.
I was just crying,
but he kept on.
Can you remember
what he said afterwards?
RACHEL: Yeah.
Yes. He said, "Don't go
telling anybody that I raped you
because you and I know
that I didn't."
And then he just started the car
and he drove off.
I did ask him to let me out.
He
He drove within yards
of my house.
He was so arrogant.
And I just fell out the car.
I was very confused.
And I didn't know what to do.
HENRY:
Thank you.
Sorry to hear about
Sir Marshall.
CLEO:
Any news?
No.
I hope you don't think
I'm being impertinent, miss,
but I think you're making
a big mistake
if you make a large settlement
your priority.
I beg your pardon.
Well, a woman of your talents
is clearly destined to go
to the very top in the law.
And you have to think clearly
whether or not
a high-profile alimony case
would do harm to your career.
It's very kind of you
to be so concerned, Ray.
I mean, I-I appeased my wife
by selling the best car
I ever owned
and putting £50,000 in her hand.
I felt a lightening of the soul.
Yes, well, I'm hoping the baron
will feel something similar.
I was thinking more
of your future.
Well, I-I don't know
what's in store for me.
My future suddenly
seems rather cold and lonely.
A woman of your talents
and beauty still in her prime.
Oh.
There's another millionaire
out there.
[Laughs]
Really?
Well, you're very kind.
Um, I was going to
make some changes
when I first took over here,
you being one of them.
Yeah, I was dimly aware there
was something in the air, miss.
Yes, well, um
it was insecurity.
I'm glad I didn't.
You're a first-rate clerk, Ray.
I don't think we've had
a young barrister here
who hasn't thrived,
thanks to you.
Well, you think about
what I've said.
We've never had a woman
Lord Chief Justice.
[Chuckles]
Come on through.
- How are you?
- Okay.
How's my little niece?
Sleeping like a log.
And Michael?
Wretched.
How can he think
of anything else?
You love him so much, don't you?
Why shouldn't I?
It must have been strange having
him turn up on your doorstep
saying he'd been accused
of rape.
Didn't you ever doubt him?
I'd seen other women
throw themselves at him.
I knew he was susceptible.
Did he just sit
and tell you everything?
Mm-hmm.
Didn't enjoy hearing it.
It was him and another woman.
Why are you
asking me this again?
It wasn't loaded.
Are you having doubts?
Ever since I took him back,
there hasn't been one thing
that's made me think
Believe me, I would leave him
if there was.
Of course.
You know, the police
were so desperate,
they even tried to plant
a pair of gloves in his rubbish.
I didn't know that.
The trial never got that far.
I bought him these gloves,
which he lost weeks before.
These gloves There wasn't
a trace of him on them.
They were a plant.
Do you think they'll
do something like that again?
It's not the police this time,
thank God.
No.
What I worry about is
this burden-of-proof business.
I mean, there's no jury.
What if she impresses the judge
and he gets nervous
or makes a mistake?
[Indistinct conversation]
Henry.
Don't run away.
Poor Leslie.
He's worked for us
for over 20 years.
And now he feels guilty
because Marshall never liked
to drink alone.
But you can't tell that man
what to do.
Would you like to be with alone
with him?
Is he dying?
Well, he's too frail
for an operation like that.
You concocted this story to keep
your marriage alive, didn't you?
RACHEL:
My marriage is fine, thank you.
You didn't tell your husband
you'd been raped for 24 hours.
RACHEL:
I was traumatized.
CLEO: Isn't that
too strong a word?
I put it to you, you behaved
exactly like someone
who'd just committed adultery
and then been found out
by her husband.
Well, perhaps it did
seem like that,
but I was shaken and confused.
You don't tell your partner
of 12 years,
the father of your children.
It doesn't make any sense,
does it,
unless you have
a guilty conscience?
And that's why you've brought
this action, isn't it?
Because your husband
doesn't believe you
and you want to keep
your family together.
My family is together.
You were angry
because your husband was late.
You felt he was neglecting you
in general,
and so you took your revenge
and then tried to cover up,
didn't you?
I was angry with him,
but I wouldn't sleep with
somebody else because of it.
Six months before you wrongfully
accused the respondent of rape,
you had an affair with
Robert Gillingham, didn't you?
Please answer the question.
When you were on holiday
in Greece with your children,
did you have an affair
with Robert Gillingham?
My lord,
this cannot be admissible.
Mr. Farmer, since the plaintiff
insists in all her statements
that she is
a happily married woman
and since Mr. Gilbraith
has insisted in all of his
that she's not, I must allow it.
Mr. Gillingham
has given a statement
and will give evidence
if necessary.
Did you have an affair with him?
No, it wasn't an affair.
I became fond of him briefly.
- You had sex with him.
- RACHEL: No, I didn't.
CLEO: Well, you held hands,
you kissed, you went for walks.
While your children
were being looked after.
RACHEL: Yes, but I never had
a sexual relationship with him.
CLEO:
Well, even if that's true,
your action doesn't imply
a happy marriage, does it?
My husband and I were
going through a rough patch.
He had been away
for most of six months.
And
I lost confidence.
The only time
I have ever had intercourse
with any man other than
my husband is with that man.
CLEO:
I'm not disputing that.
Thank you.
BEN: Okay, I don't know
whether this is relevant.
Michael Gilbraith's mother
was 18 when she had him,
but he was brought up
mostly by his father.
Michael's mum was 18?
Can we find out more?
She might well be still alive.
I do have a witness to examine.
Hey.
It says on the adoption forms,
relationship with his mother
was abruptly terminated
when he was 10.
Is your father all right?
He's out of theater,
but it's too early to say.
I really like him.
Yeah, I know.
I'm cross-examining
your next witness
The redoubtable
Mrs. Vicky Rushton.
You're up against Ben.
Oh, I'm disappointed.
I wanted you.
Well, you can't have me.
Who knows when the chance
may come again?
Sleep tight, sweetheart.
So, everything you told me about
the holiday, that was the truth?
Yeah, all of it.
And the bit about you
not having sex with him?
Of course.
I wouldn't do that to you.
Look, if you don't want
to give evidence for me,
then you don't have to.
Of course I do.
[Monitor beeping]
[Siren wailing in distance]
You do realize hiding large sums
of money from me
is a reportable offense.
I saved £200
for my son's birthday present.
- 200 miserable pounds!
- You couldn't even be bothered
to put it into
an interest-bearing account.
If your clerk's right about
the fee for this civil case,
I may be able to deal with your
creditors sometime next year,
get you back on your feet,
but you've got to go carefully.
Don't worry. I am living life
in the slow lane, Malcolm.
Have you nailed
this alleged rapist yet?
When do we see some money?
Did I tell you?
He's an accountant, as well.
[Indistinct conversations]
Have another one.
HENRY: Who knew about
this holiday romance?
Laura was the only one
that I told.
That's where
they've got it from.
Thank God it's your friend Vicky
giving evidence next.
Uh, we've got a problem.
I think we better make
a decision on this one, Jimmy.
[Grunts]
Vicky, you look flushed.
Have you got a problem?
What I hate is all that "She
was asking for it" nonsense.
If every woman that
looked sexually attractive
was deemed to be asking for it,
we'd all end up being raped.
Whoa, Vicky, hang on here.
Don't worry.
I know what to say.
It was her birthday.
She was having a whale
of a time.
She's a respectable mum
most of the time.
Why can't she let her hair down?
Did she look attractive?
You bet.
Is that a crime?
I don't think so.
Right.
HENRY: Can you tell me what
you remember about that night?
Yes, I was late at a meeting,
and I phoned Rachel a couple
of times and left messages,
and she'd done the same to me,
but we kept missing each other.
I eventually got to the pub at
about 10:45, incredibly late,
but she'd gone, so I went home.
HENRY:
What happened at home?
WILL: I found Rachel
in the shower.
HENRY:
Were you surprised?
I was surprised
that she wasn't angry with me
for missing the meal we planned
for her birthday, yes.
Can you remember
how your wife told you
about what happened to her?
Yes, she wasn't herself
for about 24 hours,
and I found her
in the children's room
after she'd put them to sleep.
She'd obviously been crying
for quite some time.
I begged her to tell me,
and eventually she did.
HENRY:
What was your reaction?
I was shattered.
But I believed her.
It explained everything.
HENRY:
Do you have a strong marriage?
Yes.
I married Rachel
when she was quite young,
and nobody gave us
much of a chance,
but we have two children and we
have a very good relationship.
What do you feel about fidelity
in a marriage?
WILL: We both believe in it
very strongly.
I don't believe that Rachel
has ever been unfaithful to me.
HENRY: Thank you.
CLEO:
Do you know why the police
advise rape victims
not to shower?
WILL: Because it destroys
forensic evidence.
Did you ever consider
your wife might be showering
to conceal something, intimacy
with another man, perhaps?
Did you ever think about that?
Absolutely not.
Did you know about this man
she met on holiday?
WILL:
Yes. He rang the house once,
and I had to tell him
to leave Rachel alone.
When you first saw her
on the night in question,
showering in the dark,
deflecting your questions,
did you not consider that
she might have had an affair?
If I did, I put it
out of my mind immediately.
CLEO: You can't put
something like that
out of your mind, can you?
Can you?
I trust my wife.
Even though your work means
you don't have a properly
fulfilled relationship.
I think we do.
CLEO: You went to Relate, the
marriage guidance organization,
didn't you, just before
your wife sued my client?
Yes, we did.
CLEO: Was that because you were
suspicious of your wife
and it was poisoning
your marriage?
WILL: No.
Was it because your wife felt
you were no longer interested
in making love to her?
Look, there were some issues
to do with our lives
How hard we work, bringing up
children at the same time,
all of which I am told are
very common to people like us.
Perhaps the romantic side of
things was taking a back seat.
CLEO:
Aren't we standing here
because of what came out
of these counseling sessions?
Wasn't this the only way
to rebuild trust between you?
I don't think so.
CLEO: Your wife needed
to prove herself to you,
and you needed that proof badly,
didn't you?
Perhaps. I don't know.
CLEO:
Thank you, Mr. Browning.
HENRY: Rachel said he was
gabbling bad porn stuff at her.
Why didn't the police
investigation throw anything up?
BEN: Porn's the first thing
they look for with sexual cases.
They were pretty thorough.
Nothing on the home computer,
nothing at work.
He hired family entertainment
on Serena's video card.
HENRY: We might as well
check out what he hired.
We can't afford this.
It means research,
interviews, records,
possibly even bribes.
How can it prove anything?
Is there a really big problem
with money?
Anything could help.
We could lose this.
I'm gonna cross-examine him,
I need to get inside his head.
Laura, why won't you
give evidence for me?
I didn't see what happened.
You were with me all night.
I went home, didn't I?
Look, I know that your sister
is obsessed with Gilbraith.
Is Is that why
you're protecting him?
This is bad, Rachel.
He raped me.
Why won't you believe that?
Because my sister isn't a fool.
She wouldn't have anything
to do with violence,
and you had a reason
to lie about Michael.
How long have you known me,
Laura?
I've known my sister
all my life.
Why didn't you just leave Will
if you were unhappy
instead of dragging
everyone else into your mess
and ruining their lives, too?
Ah, look who's here.
Henry, sorry to have to
tell you bad news.
Your client's best friend Laura
will be giving evidence
against her.
When did this happen?
Well, Rachel tried
to pressure her.
And unfortunately for her,
it's had the opposite affect.
Well, thanks for cheering me up.
How could Laura do this to me?
It wasn't a good idea
trying to contact her.
What can she say, Rachel?
Is there anything
you haven't told me?
What difference does it make?
I mean, I came here
to save my marriage,
but it looks like I've failed,
doesn't it?
LAURA: I swear by Almighty God
that the evidence I shall give
will be the truth,
the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth.
You and Rachel were
close confidants, weren't you?
Yes, completely.
She'd tell you everything about
herself, everything intimate.
Did she say something
in the pub that night?
Yes, we went to the pub
that night,
and she said that sexual
relations in her marriage
had broken down,
were almost nonexistent.
CLEO:
Did she say why?
LAURA: She said the kids
took up her time,
but her husband was a workaholic
and was always tired
or unavailable.
And were you sympathetic?
LAURA:
Yes, obviously.
At first.
What changed your mind?
When she was putting on lipstick
before we left the ladies',
she said something
a bit unlike her.
CLEO:
What did she say?
She said, "If I don't get laid
in the next two hours,
I'm going to explode."
CLEO:
Thank you.
The plaintiff told you
she was going to
have a birthday dinner
with her husband, didn't she?
Yes, but he hadn't turned up.
HENRY: Surely the remarks were
meant to refer to her husband,
sex with a partner
after a birthday dinner.
LAURA: I didn't think
that's what she meant.
Whatever your feelings,
do you agree that she
could have meant that?
Yes.
Did you assume that she meant
Mr. Gilbraith?
No.
Thank you.
Thanks for the test
on the gloves.
COLLINA: Yes, I nearly paid
for that out of my own pocket.
It's money thrown away, too.
BEN: Traces of washing powder.
Did you notice?
Yeah, I did.
And according to his statement,
the girlfriend, Serena Clifford,
she bought him the pair
of gloves as a present,
which he claims to have lost
weeks before.
Was she asked to identify the
ones that were found in the bin?
BEN: Not according
to what I've read.
But then, she'd have backed him
anyway, wouldn't she?
Depends if she's
the sort of person
who's gonna lie
to get him out of trouble.
I-I don't see
where this is getting us.
I was just thinking,
could we get an odontologist
to look at them?
More tests?
An odontologist!
What's an odontologist?
BEN:
Ooh, about a grand a day.
CLEO:
Is there any particular reason
why you remember
seeing Mrs. Browning
talking to Michael Gilbraith
that evening?
Well, I'm like most men
You tend to notice the most
attractive women in your pub.
She was a sexy lady who knew
how to show herself off.
You couldn't help noticing her,
and I got the impression
they were both up for it.
CLEO:
What gave you that impression?
LAKER: Well, she was standing
right up close to him,
which is a bit of a giveaway.
CLEO:
How close exactly?
She was rubbing up against him.
Did you see them
leave the pub together?
Yeah, they left together.
And I saw them outside
getting into his car.
CLEO: Did you see
what they were doing?
Yeah, he held the door open.
They got in
and then they kissed full-on.
Thank you.
Michael Gilbraith is a regular,
isn't he, Mr. Laker?
You've known him about 10 years?
Yeah, about that.
Isn't your pub is so full
at 10:00 p.m. on a Friday
that nobody could get to the bar
without being guilty
of rubbing intimately
against any number of people?
I suppose so.
HENRY:
Now, you couldn't have seen
Rachel Browning
kissing Michael Gilbraith
because his car
was parked in a place
you couldn't possibly have seen
from behind the bar.
I saw it through the window.
HENRY:
You couldn't have seen them
unless you forced your way
through a packed room,
gone to the door, opened it,
gone out into the street.
That's very odd behavior for
an overworked barman, isn't it?
You didn't really see them
at all, did you?
I must have done.
I saw them.
CLEO: I would like to suggest
an early adjournment, my lord,
since my client
was about to give evidence
but is getting married
and has a fitting.
The date was arranged
before the trial.
My learned friend has forgotten
there is no jury to impress.
I'm sure my lord
has taken the hint
that her client has a partner
who's prepared to make
an honest man of him.
May I suggest, when my learned
friend has mellowed a little
Does he want to contact
HELLO! magazine
to arrange photographs
in the court's time?
[Gavel bangs]
This case has wasted enough
public money as it is.
I would like to get on
before it enriches
any more undeserving lawyers.
Fat chance, my lord.
People have been ringing up
to speak to you about your dad,
people you don't know,
law lords and the like.
How is he?
Why did it happen so suddenly?
Don't know.
It's a lifetime of rich food
and fine wine.
Oh, thanks for these,
by the way.
How are ya?
Just can't concentrate,
you know?
Have to force myself.
Bet you wish you were doing
a nice petty larceny
at Snaresbrook.
Yeah, be better than a rape.
A very wise man once said,
"Walking into a rape trial
is a bit like walking
to the freezer."
HENRY:
Thanks for that, Paul.
I don't want him to die, Mo.
Too many loose ends.
I've grown fond of him now.
I'm still angry.
[Footsteps]
[Door opens, closes]
Oh.
Oh, God.
Hi.
It's, um, been a long trial.
Do you want a coffee
or something?
No, I don't drink coffee
this late.
Very sensible.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to disturb you.
Oh, you disturbed me.
I'm not your type.
Whoever told you that
was a liar.
Well, you did.
You might as well stay tonight.
I'm not gonna tell anyone.
I don't think he raped her.
I do.
Um, excuse me, if you're
not living together,
and you definitely
shouldn't be
I picked her up.
I hope you haven't been
getting to my junior.
I might have to talk
to the judge.
We traced the mother.
Dead but interesting.
I swear by Almighty God
that the evidence I shall give
will be the truth,
the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth.
Mr. Gilbraith,
you haven't yet given evidence
in either court, have you?
No, the original trial
was stopped
before I could give my account,
which I'm pleased
to get the chance to do.
CLEO: After you'd parked
the car, what did you do?
MICHAEL: I put the seat back,
and we made love.
Rachel seemed quite frantic,
in a real hurry,
and all I was thinking
was how nice it would be
to do this properly in a bed.
CLEO:
And what happened then?
Well, after we'd finished,
she didn't say much.
I drove off, and she was in the
back finishing getting dressed.
Did she say anything to you?
She just directed me to where
she wanted me to drop her off.
I asked her on the way
if I could see her again.
And she said, "I told you
I was married, didn't I?"
That's the last thing
she said to me
before she got out of the car.
She'd gone very cold
and distant,
and I remember thinking,
"Poor girl."
What made you think that?
Well, she was gorgeous,
but I think she was lonely.
Are you sure she wanted
to make love to you?
100% certain?
She didn't at any stage by word
or gesture say "no" or "stop"
or anything like that.
Thank you, Mr. Gilbraith.
[Monitor beeping]
Suppose the judge
could be forgiven
for thinking she might have gone
for a quick one in the car park.
[Whimpers]
Dad?
Sorry.
HENRY:
Nothing to be sorry for.
I am anyway.
[Groans]
Will you
Will you get me out of here?
HENRY: My lord I would like
to introduce as evidence
a pair of gloves
found in dustbins
near the respondent's home.
My lord, these gloves
were not admitted
during the original trial
because they bore no trace
of either the plaintiff
or the respondent.
HENRY: My lord, I would submit
detailed evidence in due course,
but I can prove
an identical make of gloves
was purchased
by the respondent's girlfriend,
Serena Clifford, at Selfridges
approximately two years ago.
Well, I can't admit
late evidence
without studying it
in some detail, Mr. Farmer,
and I am doubtful.
Then perhaps I may be permitted
to cross-examine the respondent,
if he has returned
from choosing the menu
for the wedding breakfast
or whatever.
Why did you choose
that particular car park,
Mr. Gilbraith?
I didn't.
She was very eager,
and I thought we might
have an accident.
So I turned off the road
as soon as I could.
HENRY: That car park's
used mainly by commuters.
Very busy in the day,
empty at night.
It's close to a nearby
overhead train line,
the noise of which might muffle
any of the victim's screams.
I'm sorry.
I just went there and parked.
BEN:
Excuse me, my lord.
Your father.
[Monitor beeping]
They, um They think
he's got an infection now.
He's very hot.
I'll go and sit with him
for a bit.
These are all the films
hired on her card.
I've seen them all.
Nothing to interest
a frustrated rapist there.
779 minutes, including
a French arty movie.
I have to confess
I didn't quite finish that one.
"La Lune Noire."
I like French films.
Here. Take them, please,
in case you can't sleep.
I just heard about your client
not having any money.
I thought I saw the light at
the end of the tunnel there, Mo.
Bankruptcy discharged.
I was even gonna go
to Gamblers Anonymous.
Now I'm worse off
than I was before.
I think you need a holiday.
[Low-tempo music plays]
[Man speaking French]
[Thudding]
[Man speaking French]
[Woman screaming]
[Slapping]
[Screaming continues]
CLEO:
My lord, once more,
new and very specious evidence
at a last hour.
I will see the film.
Mr. Farmer, it must be relevant.
The court will adjourn.
I'm sorry.
It was so boring, I fell asleep.
[Cellphone beeping]
[Indistinct conversations]
Oh, Henry, this is
D.I. Joan Fernandes,
the original case officer.
- Hi.
- Hi.
A 23-year-old woman read
the reports of the case
and came forward yesterday.
Too scared to report it before.
Similar fact back of the car,
hand in the mouth.
Cornwall last summer.
He gave a different name,
but it could be him.
The description fit.
Are you going to arrest him?
CPS are only going to go for it
if you win.
Oh, no pressure, then.
[Cellphone rings]
Excuse me.
[Cellphone beeps]
[Indistinct talking]
Wow, don't believe this.
You've got no right
to be looking so well.
Can't rely on your civil judge
loving you.
[Chuckles]
Well, I never thought
judges would love me.
He'll think,
collapse of original trial,
bloody waste of money.
Presume your poor alleged rapist
on legal aid.
Oh, dear,
not a level playing field.
Case is nearly over, Dad.
I'm cross-examining Gilbraith
tomorrow.
Oh.
I thought you were a goner.
Well, I'm not.
Why did you tell me
about you and Mum?
I'm she would have told you
when she thought you were ready.
About what?
She have an affair?
Oh.
Something got lost somewhere.
She felt hurt.
I felt hurt.
Never sorted it out.
Thought it best to leave her to
do the job of bringing you up.
Did it rather well, I think.
I've got to got to go.
The way to get your man
Make him angry.
But you're far too nice.
[Paper rustles]
You told me you lost
those gloves I bought you.
Yeah, I did.
So how come they found an
identical pair in your rubbish?
Oh, come on.
I told you, it was a plant.
They're bastards, all of them.
The bloody odontologist £900.
And Judge Kagan didn't like
that French film at all.
Did you hire a French film
called "La Lune Noire"
from the High Street shop
Video Metro
200 hundred yards from your home
on September the 9th last year?
I don't know.
My fiancée is the member there.
HENRY:
Can you think of any reason
why she would hire this film
four times?
She liked it, I suppose.
She watched a lot of films
when she was pregnant.
The film ends with
a particularly realistic
and violent rape scene.
Do you remember it now?
No.
The woman is raped when two men
break into her apartment.
The scene lasts for 27 minutes.
Do you remember it now?
MICHAEL: I wouldn't have
been interested in it.
HENRY:
It's a beautifully shot film,
but it dwells in shocking detail
on the face and the expressions
and the indignity of a victim
of a prolonged and violent rape.
Do you remember it now?
No. I have no interest
or recollection.
You hate your mother, don't you?
My lord, this is impossible.
It is hard to see the relevance.
HENRY: Your mother
first left your father
when you were 8 years old
and went back to working
as a prostitute, didn't she?
That's a lie.
You don't have to answer
that question.
My client has had to endure
a stream of remarks
about her personal life
and background in two courts.
Mr. Farmer, I understand
you're under stress.
You have my sympathy,
but please don't bring
your personal feelings
into this courtroom.
My lord, this is
of urgent relevance.
I would also like to enter
an up-to-date
odontologist's report.
JUDGE:
I shall permit you to continue,
but my patience is wearing thin.
You may be damaging your case.
When your mother deserted you,
you left home and went
looking for her, didn't you?
But she kept dumping you
back home again,
taking you back to your father,
who didn't want you, either.
- Isn't that right?
- My lord, you can't allow this.
Is it right, Mr. Gilbraith?
Yes.
HENRY: You've felt angry
and powerless since that time
and have developed
a hatred of women
who won't do exactly
what you want.
You raped Rachel Browning
to give yourself a sense
of power, didn't you?
No.
She was an easy lay
who was angry with her husband.
Earlier you described her
as flirtatious, possibly lonely.
You said you felt sorry for her.
Now she's an easy lay.
Is that what you really feel?
I didn't rape her.
She was asking for it.
HENRY: She wasn't asking for it
at all, was she?
You decided she was asking
for it, just like in the film,
only a hundred times more real.
I told you what I said, okay?!
She was begging for it.
One of the rapists
puts his gloved hand
deep into the woman's mouth
until he's choking her.
Does that ring any bells
with you at all?
No!
HENRY: You washed your gloves
in the washing machine,
and to be doubly sure, you threw
them in the rubbish, didn't you?
Those weren't my gloves.
I draw the court's attention
to the odontologist's report.
The odontologist has performed a
test using microscopic analysis
of discrepancies
between the flexible surface
of the leather gloves
and the inner lining.
Comparing it with
the plaintiff's dental records,
he finds a pattern
of tiny indentations
on both the upper
and lower surfaces
of the fingers of one glove,
consistent with it being placed
inside the plaintiff's mouth.
[Muffled screams]
I am so angry.
Disgusting man.
I made the really
unprofessional mistake
of completely believing
my client.
You learn from this.
Miss.
Oh, thank you.
I hear it's not going
very well, miss.
Oh, thank you, Ray.
Brilliant time
to state the obvious.
Oh, I've, um
I've been thinking about
your advice re my husband,
you know, alimony
versus my career.
And, well, I'm afraid anger
and avarice have won the day.
I'm going to take him
for £50 million.
Miss?
Thank you.
So how long do I have to wait
for a verdict?
Hard to say.
I'm so pleased
about your father.
Thanks.
Oh, take me to court,
report me to the Bar Council.
Just leave me alone!
Oh, all right,
so you don't want to know
I've traced the cash
owed to you.
That bent solicitor who ran off
with all his clients' money?
Jerry Fingal?
Quite an electronic journey.
But you should get a fair bit.
So, if you get paid for this,
I might get you discharged
by the end of the year.
Subject to some
further economies.
Having considered
all the evidence,
I believe it is likely that the
respondent, Michael Gilbraith,
did rape the plaintiff.
I shall now give my reasons
in detail.
I'm taking my boy, Zak,
over to Ireland next week.
Fancy a glass of Black Velvet
and the Hennessey Gold Cup
at Leopardstown?
Separate rooms, obviously.
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