Boston Legal s05e04 Episode Script
True Love
- Previously on Boston Legal.
- I'm just trying to get an erection! Who knows? Maybe it's the mad cow.
My penis has Alzheimer's.
- Phoebe.
- Alan.
Why drag this out beyond a time we're still attracted to each other? - I'm not attracted to you now.
- Fine.
Let's go with that.
- Phoebe.
- What happened? - I was in love with her.
- That'll kill the moment.
And she loved me.
Just not enough.
- Maybe it's not too late.
- She's happily married with children.
[Pounding.]
[Snoring Softly.]
[Knocking.]
[Pounding.]
- [Squeaks.]
- [Recorded Voice.]
Denny Crane.
[Pounding Continues.]
[Both Screaming.]
- What are you doing? - I got scared.
- Of what? - I heard banging.
- What banging? - [Knocking.]
- That banging.
- That's a knock.
Answer it.
- Me? - You heard it.
- You live here.
- [Pounding.]
[Gasps.]
Never mind.
We'll both answer it.
[Pounding.]
[Doll Squeaks.]
[Pounding.]
[Pounding Continues.]
- Phoebe.
- Can I talk to you, Alan? It's important.
- What's going on? - The police just arrested my husband.
They showed up in the middle of the night.
I tried to call you, but I guess your phones are turned off.
- Arrested him for what? - Murder.
- [Gasps.]
- Murder? - [Whispering.]
Murder.
- You're the best lawyer that I know.
- So will you help? - Who is he accused of killing? One of his nurses.
I'm sorry, Alan, but this is my family here.
L- I need you.
This is gonna be a good one.
- [Funk.]
- [Man Vocalizing.]
[Man.]
Uh-huh - All right - Boom.
Come on [Lips Pop.]
Come on All right Well, yeah Well, yeah Outlaw So he's in custody now? Yeah.
They're arraigning him first up.
It's my opinion they purposely arrested him at night.
The district attorney involved loves gamesmanship - so you'll have your work cut out for you.
- [Rooster Crows.]
Can we talk about the case itself? Well, my husband is one of the leading cardiologists at Boston General.
Well, isn't he special? - Sorry.
- Uh, the victim is one ofhis former nurses.
She was found poisoned to death.
They claim that he was having an affair with her.
He wasn't.
He had, briefly in the past, but it was long over.
[Rooster Crows.]
I'm sorry.
Could you excuse us for a second? I'll be right back.
Denny.
- What the hell is that? - What? The rooster noise.
And don't pretend- - I don't know what you're talking about.
- It's coming from you.
What the hell is it? Well- You remember that little, uh- uh, blood-flow issue I had? - Yeah.
- The doctor has hooked me up to a monitor.
I'm supposed to keep a journal.
Any kind of blood flow- - I'm supposed to, uh, make a note.
- A monitor? - Yeah.
- Connected to- - Shh.
Yeah.
- One that sounds like a rooster.
That's just my ringtone.
You can choose from many.
Look.
Obviously this is a serious case.
- That's why the doctor wanted- - I'm talking about the murder.
I do not want to be hearing from that thing.
- Are you listening to me? - I'll put it on vibrate.
Sorry.
So, uh- - The arraignment's tomorrow morning? - First up.
The thing is, Alan, they found evidence of him being present at her house.
He was there a week ago, but not on the night of the murder.
Which was when? Two nights ago.
I'm surprised you haven't heard about it.
It's been all over the news.
He is the top cardiologist at Boston General.
Yes.
You mentioned that.
You say he once had an affair with the victim? A while ago, yes.
But it was over.
If it was over, why was he at her house a week ago? He said that she was distraught, and he went there to calm her down.
- And you believe that? - I do.
- Okay.
- Plus, he has an alibi.
- Which is? - Me.
He never left the house two nights ago.
Ah.
You're sure? Positive.
- Hello.
- [Buzzing.]
- [Squeaks.]
Denny Crane.
- [Buzzing Continues.]
- [Elevator Bell Dings.]
- [Clamoring.]
- Please excuse us.
I have absolutely no comment.
- I have a comment.
If you go to dennycranelaw.
Com- - Please, I will ask you to respect my privacy.
- You'll find candid photos- This is obviously a very difficult time.
- I can say unequivocally that my husband is innocent.
- If you'll excuse us.
- [Chattering.]
- I'd advise you not to talk to the press.
The D.
A.
Is trying this case in the media.
Even so.
I mean, will you look at this? It's very high profile.
My husband is the leading cardiologist- All right, already.
Sorry.
All rise.
This court is now in session.
The HonorableJudge Beacon presiding.
Let's be clear right now.
This is a courtroom, not a circus.
Anyone breaking its decorum is going to get spanked by me personally.
- [Buzzing.]
- The clerk will call the case.
[Man.]
Number 32859, Commonwealth v.
Robert L.
Brooks on the felony count of murder in the first degree.
Good morning, Your Honor.
Alan Shore for the defense.
My goodness, what a splendid turnout.
We'll waive reading of the charges and enter a plea of not guilty.
I'd ask that you release my client on his own recognizance pending trial.
My client is a respected doctor.
In fact, I'm told he's the top cardiologist- Stewart Betts representing the State, Your Honor.
Good morning.
We do not typically afford bail to first-degree murderers.
My client has well-established roots in the Boston community.
He's certainly not a flight risk.
He has no prior criminal record.
His being at large poses no real risk to society.
[Betts.]
I don't know about Mr.
Shore, Your Honor but I think that the rest of the public would consider a murderer- any murderer, especially this murderer a devious murderer- to be a risk.
I'm sorry.
Did you use the word "murderer" four or five times in that sentence? - I'd hate to misquote you.
- Mr.
Shore, would you like to be disciplined? [Buzzing.]
Given the sophisticated methodology of this murder making it appear like a heart attack, I'm persuaded that the defendant possesses the requisite craftiness to indeed escape this jurisdiction with little effort ifhe so chooses.
- Gee, that sounded impartial.
- Bail is denied.
The defendant shall return to custody.
We're adjourned.
- [Gavel Raps.]
- I'll be back to meet with you shortly.
In the meantime, please do not speak to anyone.
Well done on bail.
He can be a bit chilly at first, but- - Shall we go and meet him? - I like to sit with him alone, please.
- Why? - Because I would.
I like to get a feel for those I defend.
Denny, you need to stop your penis from humming.
[Gate Clanks.]
[Buzzer Sounds.]
Thank you.
- You want me to stay? - I think I'm good.
You don't plan to kill me, do you? We'll see how it goes.
[Door Clangs Shut.]
So, is it "Robert" or "Bob"? Robert.
So what can you tell me, Bob? I'm innocent.
I did have a short-lived relationship with her which I broke off, to her less-than-concealed dismay.
When you say short-lived- Seventeen days, last autumn.
She was your nurse? One of my nurses, yes.
What occasioned the end of the affair? You're not curious as to what precipitated the beginning? I've seen a picture of her.
I can fill in that blank.
Well, the affair's end was occasioned by Ms.
Goulet's emotional instability.
She was becoming increasingly erratic causing an unacceptable distraction for me at work.
I severed the relationship and I sought to create a distance.
She was persistent.
I never saw her romantically again I most certainly did not go to her home the evening of her death and I played no role whatsoever in her death.
Questions? According to the incident report you were seen by a neighbor at her house that night.
Neighbor's mistaken.
I was there several days before the murder.
I'd gone in an attempt to diffuse her emotions.
I was not there on the murder night which my wife will confirm.
Well, wives have been known to lie for their husbands.
The jury will find my wife very persuasive.
Don't you find her impressive, Mr.
Shore? Denny, if this case comes down to his testimony- [Exhales.]
He's incredibly unlikable.
All worked out then, didn't it? What do you mean? Alan, you didn't really wanna like this guy, did you? - No, but I do wanna win the case.
- Really? Of course "really.
" What, do you think I'd purposely lose so I could be with his wife? - I would.
- You would not.
Your true love is your undefeated record.
And your true love is her.
You know, Denny I must admit from time to time through the years in various cases I've secretly fantasized that she was in the back of the room - watching.
- [Chuckling.]
Everything we do is all about impressing the girl- Even when the girl isn't there.
But here, she will be there watching me.
Relying on me, even.
Alan, look at me.
At first I thought this would be fun.
Exciting.
Now I'm telling you as your best friend, get out.
In defeat, you lose disappointing the one woman you really loved.
In victory she walks away with her husband- which isn't you.
Okay, at first the coroner ruled natural causes and you can pretty much see why.
- Not a mark on her.
- Except for this mole here.
It's spectacular.
Can I touch it? But once they tumbled to the affair they decided to look again.
That's when they found this.
You could see the needle mark here on the thigh.
Succinylcholine.
The beauty is, it basically disappears from the system within minutes.
And best of all, the symptoms mimic a heart attack.
- And it kills you immediately? - First paralysis, then death.
It's likely she woke up when she gotjabbed, but going into paralysis- Nothing she could do- except watch her killer walk out the door.
- Any semen? - Not yet.
[Buzzing.]
No semen was found.
- Saliva or hair? - Nothing found on the body.
Almost the perfect crime.
Whoever did this was one smart guy.
Neighbor's house is here, meaning his sight line is this way which basically means he'd see cars from the front given the curve of the street.
What's the lighting like? Streetlamp here.
So it's not great.
If we can shake this witness, everything else is completely circumstantial, right? Phoebe, they can place him at the scene with forensics.
- Not that night.
- Well, the neighbor does that.
Your husband had a romantic history with the victim.
- The victim's mother will testify as to threats he made- - She's lying.
Yes, according to your husband.
Whoever did this clearly has medical expertise.
Add to that- Add to that what? The jury will hate him.
Meaning you hate him.
- My feelings aren't relevant.
- Oh, come on, Alan.
Your feelings aren't in play here? [Exhales.]
I think that if you look at this case clinically you will appreciate that the prosecution's case is very weak.
The evidence is all circumstantial - the victim had other affairs- - Which we can't prove.
And my husband has an alibi.
Testimony of a devoted wife is rarely winning.
I don't think the jury will believe you.
Do you believe me? No.
I know you.
You would never forgive him for having the affair.
In fact, if memory serves me, you can be quite punishing on that subject.
It's different when you have kids.
Yes, and your children need their father around.
So you're willing to do whatever you can to keep him out of jail including lie for him in the witness chair.
- You're wrong.
- I don't think so.
Well, clearly I need to get another attorney.
- If we agree to plead to manslaughter- - Absolutely not.
That's your husband's decision.
And I know exactly what that will be.
There will be no guilty plea.
This wasn't a heat of passion crime, Phoebe.
It was calculated, cold.
Do you trust this man? How about around your children? He would never hurt the children.
And he did not commit this crime however much you're determined to believe otherwise.
You still love me, Alan.
As do I you.
You- You don't think that I want to believe that he's guilty sometimes? It would be so easy to.
I am still angry over the affair.
Of course I am.
And sometimes I think it would just be easier if l- if I just ditched everything, in- including him- and took off to some island with- with an old boyfriend that I've nev- - Don't.
- Mmm.
Do not make that mistake.
You need to protect yourself, Alan because when this trial is over I will be walking away with him.
My family is my life.
I know she was afraid of him, because she told me so.
She was in a very excitable state when she did so.
She said, "Mom, I'm scared to death ofhim.
" Why did your daughter fear the defendant, Mrs.
Goulet? She threatened to tell his wife that they had resumed the affair.
- [Murmuring.]
- What else did your daughter tell you? She said he said, "If you do tell her you will pay for it.
" Very dramatic.
Probably see it on the news.
You like being on the news? Oh, you think I enjoy talking about my daughter's murder? - I see you a lot on TV.
- Almost as much as him.
- Not that much.
- You're right.
- [Gavel Raps.]
- [Buzzing.]
Uh, Phyllis- May I call you Phyllis? [Buzzing.]
- [Mouthing Words.]
- Uh, when your daughter told you that she feared my client, were you worried? - Of course I was.
- Did you tell anybody? Surely you told somebody- - A friend, a relative, a mental health specialist.
- Objection.
- Overruled.
- Phyllis, did you make up this little story? No, I did not.
You disgusting person.
I don't like being called disgusting.
- Did you ever call your daughter disgusting? - Of course not.
I have a copy of a letter here that you wrote to your daughter shortly before her death.
The prosecution has the letter and they mistakenly forgot to produce it during discovery.
Oversight.
Would you read the highlighted section, please? And don't forget to project.
There's a camera back there.
Objection.
The highlighted section, please.
"You never call.
"You're too busy running around with all your married men.
"You're disgraceful disgusting, a whore.
" [Murmuring.]
no evidence of anybody else being present in the home except for the victim and the defendant.
Sounds like sloppy work for the defendant to leave his prints behind.
He didn't.
Not really.
We only found a few old prints here and there.
The crime scene was otherwise conspicuously meticulous.
It causes cardiac arrest, ventricular dysrhythmia it quickly degrades.
It's very difficult to detect after a few hours.
Sounds like the perfect drug, if you're looking to get away with murder.
It is.
She never told me she was afraid of him, but she did say she was thinking about telling his wife about the affair.
- Were there other men, to your knowledge? - There were rumors of others.
She, of course, never brought them around the hospital.
[Man.]
I'd seen his car many times.
And you saw it the night of the murder? Yes.
I'd gotten up to go to the bathroom.
I looked out the window.
I saw it.
You first told the police you weren't sure.
[Man.]
Well, it had happened a few days earlier and I had to think back.
I did, and I am sure I saw it that night.
Ever see any other cars go into that driveway on other nights? Oh, many times.
Ms.
Goulet had a very diverse recreational life.
What do you mean, I shouldn't testify? My feeling is it would be a disaster.
Prosecution would pick you apart over the affair and all you can do, really, is say that you didn't go to the victim's house that night, and we have Phoebe to say that.
Well, I'm not an attorney, but I would think at a minimum, a defendant need take the stand - to deny the crime for which he is charged.
- You would be wrong.
[Denny.]
Come on, you're guilty as sin.
You don't fool us.
You won't fool a jury.
Stop being such a baby.
Tell me, Bob, had you resumed the affair? Just a yes-or-no question.
No.
I think we'll skip your testimony.
Are you in love with my wife, Mr.
Shore? Just a yes-or-no question.
He strikes me as a very difficult man to love.
Well, that seems to be my curse.
I fall for difficult men.
- It doesn't look good, does it? - It looks terrible.
We've still got reasonable doubt.
Phoebe, our entire defense is you.
You have to persuade the jury tomorrow.
And I'm sorry, but I have to say this.
You need to do a much better job persuading them than you have so far of persuading me.
Or me.
The Robert Brooks trial winds down today with the defendant's wife, Phoebe Prentice, taking the stand.
She is, of course, expected to say that her husband never left the house - on the night of Isabel Goulet's murder.
- [Elevator Bell Dings.]
- Denny Crane.
Step aside.
- Mr.
Crane- Not wearing underwear.
Not pretty.
No comment.
You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth - and nothing but the truth, so help you God? - I do.
Be seated.
Ms.
Prentice, you're married to the defendant, Dr.
Robert Brooks? - I am.
- And how long have you been so? Sixteen years.
I imagine this has been quite an ordeal for you.
- Yes.
- Do you love your husband? Very much.
So in the interest of fairness, it should be said you have a strong bias here.
I do.
Notwithstanding that bias, you understand that your testimony today is subject to the pains and penalties of perjury? I do.
Then let's cut right to the chase, shall we, because we're all dying to know: : Where were you on the night Isabel Goulet was murdered? Well, I arrived home from work a little after 7:00, which was my routine.
We like to have dinner as a family.
It's a ritual we're very conscientious about.
- You, your husband and your two children? - That's right.
- And after dinner? - My kids did their homework.
It was a school night.
And Robert did some work in his den and I think that I did some laundry or something.
Then, at about 10::00 my kids went to bed, and Robert and I had a glass of wine.
We watched some news and then he took a sleeping pill which he invariably does.
And we went to sleep.
It was pretty uneventful.
- You stayed in all night? - That's correct.
Did your husband leave the house? Ms.
Prentice, did your husband leave the house? I'm sorry, Your Honor.
Could I please take a short break? [Judge Beacon.]
No, I think you should answer the question, ma'am.
Did your husband leave the house that night? - Yes.
- [Crowd Murmuring.]
- Your honor, I'd like a short recess to confer with- - Not gonna happen.
When did he leave? I don't know.
I, uh- I woke up after midnight.
- Your honor, I need to confer with my client.
- Mr.
Shore, be quiet.
Do you know where he went? No, I did not know.
When did he get home? - Some time after 3:00.
- [Mouthing Words.]
- Your Honor, this is unfair surprise.
- It's your witness.
I don't care.
We're fast approaching grounds for a mistrial.
You need to give me a recess.
All right.
We're gonna take a one-hour break.
- What the hell was that? - I am so sorry.
If your intent was to bury him, why'd you hire me? To reconnect, so you'd be there for her when her husband went off to jail.
- That isn't true.
- Yes, it is.
You love Alan.
Do you deny it? I hired Alan to secure my husband's freedom.
That was my intent.
I wanted to preserve my family at whatever cost.
So what changed? I suddenly thought- If- If I commit perjury- What if I go to jail? Who raises my kids then? They could be faced with losing both their father and their mother, and- - Plus, l- - Plus what? I really believed that the affair was over, Alan.
I did.
But it wasn't.
Now, how am I supposed to lie for somebody who's not even faithful to me? [Buzzer Sounds.]
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
So, Bob, we need to talk.
You okay? - Fine.
- You want me to take this? I'll take it.
First of all, I admire your honesty- To give testimony against somebody you love- We all witnessed an extraordinary thing.
Of course, you didn't have to give that testimony.
While it's true you were under oath you also enjoy a privilege as the defendant's spouse to not give evidence against him.
Well, as I said, I didn't plan to but once I took the stand I felt that I'd effectively waived that privilege.
Ah.
I guess the other conclusion would be that perhaps you really did want to testify against him.
Did you? You know I didn't.
Ms.
Prentice, have you undergone any psychiatric treatment of late for a personality disorder? I've never been diagnosed with any personality disorder.
That wasn't my question.
I asked whether you've been treated recently for one.
My medical history is private but I will repeat that I've never been diagnosed with a personality disorder.
Would you consider yourself to be a violent person, Ms.
Prentice? - No.
- Have you ever been violent? Well, I'm sure everyone has lost his or her temper, but- Ever lost yours with a knife? Am I being too vague? Have you ever lost your temper with a knife, with your nine-year-old daughter? - No.
- No? Gee.
For someone with such a strong obligation to tell the truth under oath, that answer surprises me.
Did you not threaten your nine-year-old daughter with a knife after she spilled grape juice on your new living room carpet? I snapped at her while I had a knife in my hand.
Wasn't it more like you were watching television she spilled the juice, you flew into a rage, went into the kitchen returned with paper towels and the knife, and threatened her? - Wasn't it more like that? - I never threatened her with a knife.
A few minutes ago in that witness room you indicated to me that you had now reached the conclusion that your husband had resumed his affair with Ms.
Goulet, did you not? - Yes.
- In truth, you reached that conclusion a week before the murder, when Ms.
Goulet told you the affair was back on, right? This time you picked up the knife and threatened your husband.
- No.
- You told him you would kill him, didn't you? - No.
- Then you said you'd think of something - even better than killing him, didn't you, Phoebe? - No.
You testified that Robert took a sleeping pill that night.
Did he unknowingly take two or three extra, maybe in his wine? - That's ridiculous.
- You were driving the car that pulled into Ms.
Goulet's driveway that night and you gave her the injection that killed her knowing full well the police would suspect him.
- Your Honor, this is- - Sit down, Mr.
Betts.
And you didn't just frame him and bury him at trial you added the indignity of having an old boyfriend be part of the equation.
One might find that to be a little sick.
You know, he is the sick one.
And he has concocted this fantastic tale to get away with murder.
You don't look well, Phoebe.
You're diabetic.
How do you get your insulin? - Injections.
- Pretty good with needles then.
Spectacular performance but I must say, I'm not surprised.
Mr.
Shore is legendary for his stunts and spellbinding maneuvers that no doubt dazzle his audiences- I object to my sex life being introduced.
Mr.
Shore.
[Betts.]
You see? This is what he does.
He distracts.
He uses sleight of hand.
He manipulates, but all of these ploys- They come from desperation.
All the physical evidence points to the doctor and it took the expertise of a doctor to make it Iook like a heart attack, didn't it? The doctor was romantically involved with the victim.
The doctor is the one who threatened the victim.
Mr.
Shore had no choice but to reach into his magic hat and grope for something that he could pass off as reasonable doubt.
Well, there's desperation, and there is desperation.
Let's all get real.
I wouldn't even know where to begin to get real.
It's so hard to believe that any of this could possibly be real.
It's so implausible, so fantastic so utterly Phoebe.
Whether she suddenly chose to bury her husband while on the stand or whether it was part of some master plot, I don't know but she buried him.
There is no disputing that.
This crime was executed with Machiavellian efficiency by a woman who not only had plenty of motive but is also quite handy with needles and- True, there was no forensic evidence to prove she was at the scene, but you heard the detective.
He said the house was "conspicuously meticulous.
" It had been cleaned up.
Could Phoebe Prentice have known about the drug succinylcholine? Why not? Her husband is a doctor.
Their house is full of medical books.
There's all kinds of evidence against her, but the truth is, it doesn't matter because you saw all you needed to in her testimony.
You saw it in her eyes, you heard it in her voice and you know she did it.
Phoebe Prentice killed the woman her husband was sleeping with and framed her cheating husband in the process.
Perfect crime.
Almost.
Almost.
Okay.
[Clears Throat.]
Madam Foreperson- The jury has reached a unanimous verdict? - We have, Your Honor.
- The defendant will please rise.
- What say you? - In the matter of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts v.
Robert L.
Brooks, on the charge of murder in the first degree, we find the defendant, Robert Brooks not guilty.
[Crowd Murmuring.]
[Clamoring.]
My advice to you, Dr.
Brooks- if you have out-of-town relatives, the press here does not figure to let up for a while.
No doubt your wife has left town.
Well, I suppose a huge thank you would be in order.
- I suppose.
- Thank you.
Can't say that you were everything Phoebe built you up to be but, uh, you were close.
Did you really not suspect that she'd left the house that night? I never left the house, Alan.
When you told me that I was the whole defense and that I wasn't persuasive I decided on another tack- incriminating my husband in a way that would make me seem guilty.
Do you really think that I would threaten my own child with a knife? Come on.
We had to make up a few things- Give you something to get her with.
I never got the call from the victim telling me about the affair.
I never told Robert I was gonna kill him.
And I never left the house that night.
You were very convincing.
You might have been too convincing.
You're now almost certain to be arrested and charged with the crime.
I can risk that, since there's no evidence of me committing it, because I didn't.
And if need be Robert can always set the record straight.
He's protected now by double jeopardy.
- There's still perjury.
- Who committed perjury? He never testified, and I never lied.
You'll remember that I denied all of your accusations.
In fact, the only one who tried to introduce false evidence was you.
It was never my intent to play it this way.
My plan was simply to be his alibi but then, when you said that I wasn't persuasive- I'm sorry.
You should leave now.
- Come on.
- The truth is, I never deceived you.
- You told me he was innocent.
- But you weren't deceived, were you? Two other things I told you- Keeping my family together, whatever the cost was everything to me and that, at the end, I would be walking away with Robert.
I was very clear on that.
- I'm just trying to get an erection! Who knows? Maybe it's the mad cow.
My penis has Alzheimer's.
- Phoebe.
- Alan.
Why drag this out beyond a time we're still attracted to each other? - I'm not attracted to you now.
- Fine.
Let's go with that.
- Phoebe.
- What happened? - I was in love with her.
- That'll kill the moment.
And she loved me.
Just not enough.
- Maybe it's not too late.
- She's happily married with children.
[Pounding.]
[Snoring Softly.]
[Knocking.]
[Pounding.]
- [Squeaks.]
- [Recorded Voice.]
Denny Crane.
[Pounding Continues.]
[Both Screaming.]
- What are you doing? - I got scared.
- Of what? - I heard banging.
- What banging? - [Knocking.]
- That banging.
- That's a knock.
Answer it.
- Me? - You heard it.
- You live here.
- [Pounding.]
[Gasps.]
Never mind.
We'll both answer it.
[Pounding.]
[Doll Squeaks.]
[Pounding.]
[Pounding Continues.]
- Phoebe.
- Can I talk to you, Alan? It's important.
- What's going on? - The police just arrested my husband.
They showed up in the middle of the night.
I tried to call you, but I guess your phones are turned off.
- Arrested him for what? - Murder.
- [Gasps.]
- Murder? - [Whispering.]
Murder.
- You're the best lawyer that I know.
- So will you help? - Who is he accused of killing? One of his nurses.
I'm sorry, Alan, but this is my family here.
L- I need you.
This is gonna be a good one.
- [Funk.]
- [Man Vocalizing.]
[Man.]
Uh-huh - All right - Boom.
Come on [Lips Pop.]
Come on All right Well, yeah Well, yeah Outlaw So he's in custody now? Yeah.
They're arraigning him first up.
It's my opinion they purposely arrested him at night.
The district attorney involved loves gamesmanship - so you'll have your work cut out for you.
- [Rooster Crows.]
Can we talk about the case itself? Well, my husband is one of the leading cardiologists at Boston General.
Well, isn't he special? - Sorry.
- Uh, the victim is one ofhis former nurses.
She was found poisoned to death.
They claim that he was having an affair with her.
He wasn't.
He had, briefly in the past, but it was long over.
[Rooster Crows.]
I'm sorry.
Could you excuse us for a second? I'll be right back.
Denny.
- What the hell is that? - What? The rooster noise.
And don't pretend- - I don't know what you're talking about.
- It's coming from you.
What the hell is it? Well- You remember that little, uh- uh, blood-flow issue I had? - Yeah.
- The doctor has hooked me up to a monitor.
I'm supposed to keep a journal.
Any kind of blood flow- - I'm supposed to, uh, make a note.
- A monitor? - Yeah.
- Connected to- - Shh.
Yeah.
- One that sounds like a rooster.
That's just my ringtone.
You can choose from many.
Look.
Obviously this is a serious case.
- That's why the doctor wanted- - I'm talking about the murder.
I do not want to be hearing from that thing.
- Are you listening to me? - I'll put it on vibrate.
Sorry.
So, uh- - The arraignment's tomorrow morning? - First up.
The thing is, Alan, they found evidence of him being present at her house.
He was there a week ago, but not on the night of the murder.
Which was when? Two nights ago.
I'm surprised you haven't heard about it.
It's been all over the news.
He is the top cardiologist at Boston General.
Yes.
You mentioned that.
You say he once had an affair with the victim? A while ago, yes.
But it was over.
If it was over, why was he at her house a week ago? He said that she was distraught, and he went there to calm her down.
- And you believe that? - I do.
- Okay.
- Plus, he has an alibi.
- Which is? - Me.
He never left the house two nights ago.
Ah.
You're sure? Positive.
- Hello.
- [Buzzing.]
- [Squeaks.]
Denny Crane.
- [Buzzing Continues.]
- [Elevator Bell Dings.]
- [Clamoring.]
- Please excuse us.
I have absolutely no comment.
- I have a comment.
If you go to dennycranelaw.
Com- - Please, I will ask you to respect my privacy.
- You'll find candid photos- This is obviously a very difficult time.
- I can say unequivocally that my husband is innocent.
- If you'll excuse us.
- [Chattering.]
- I'd advise you not to talk to the press.
The D.
A.
Is trying this case in the media.
Even so.
I mean, will you look at this? It's very high profile.
My husband is the leading cardiologist- All right, already.
Sorry.
All rise.
This court is now in session.
The HonorableJudge Beacon presiding.
Let's be clear right now.
This is a courtroom, not a circus.
Anyone breaking its decorum is going to get spanked by me personally.
- [Buzzing.]
- The clerk will call the case.
[Man.]
Number 32859, Commonwealth v.
Robert L.
Brooks on the felony count of murder in the first degree.
Good morning, Your Honor.
Alan Shore for the defense.
My goodness, what a splendid turnout.
We'll waive reading of the charges and enter a plea of not guilty.
I'd ask that you release my client on his own recognizance pending trial.
My client is a respected doctor.
In fact, I'm told he's the top cardiologist- Stewart Betts representing the State, Your Honor.
Good morning.
We do not typically afford bail to first-degree murderers.
My client has well-established roots in the Boston community.
He's certainly not a flight risk.
He has no prior criminal record.
His being at large poses no real risk to society.
[Betts.]
I don't know about Mr.
Shore, Your Honor but I think that the rest of the public would consider a murderer- any murderer, especially this murderer a devious murderer- to be a risk.
I'm sorry.
Did you use the word "murderer" four or five times in that sentence? - I'd hate to misquote you.
- Mr.
Shore, would you like to be disciplined? [Buzzing.]
Given the sophisticated methodology of this murder making it appear like a heart attack, I'm persuaded that the defendant possesses the requisite craftiness to indeed escape this jurisdiction with little effort ifhe so chooses.
- Gee, that sounded impartial.
- Bail is denied.
The defendant shall return to custody.
We're adjourned.
- [Gavel Raps.]
- I'll be back to meet with you shortly.
In the meantime, please do not speak to anyone.
Well done on bail.
He can be a bit chilly at first, but- - Shall we go and meet him? - I like to sit with him alone, please.
- Why? - Because I would.
I like to get a feel for those I defend.
Denny, you need to stop your penis from humming.
[Gate Clanks.]
[Buzzer Sounds.]
Thank you.
- You want me to stay? - I think I'm good.
You don't plan to kill me, do you? We'll see how it goes.
[Door Clangs Shut.]
So, is it "Robert" or "Bob"? Robert.
So what can you tell me, Bob? I'm innocent.
I did have a short-lived relationship with her which I broke off, to her less-than-concealed dismay.
When you say short-lived- Seventeen days, last autumn.
She was your nurse? One of my nurses, yes.
What occasioned the end of the affair? You're not curious as to what precipitated the beginning? I've seen a picture of her.
I can fill in that blank.
Well, the affair's end was occasioned by Ms.
Goulet's emotional instability.
She was becoming increasingly erratic causing an unacceptable distraction for me at work.
I severed the relationship and I sought to create a distance.
She was persistent.
I never saw her romantically again I most certainly did not go to her home the evening of her death and I played no role whatsoever in her death.
Questions? According to the incident report you were seen by a neighbor at her house that night.
Neighbor's mistaken.
I was there several days before the murder.
I'd gone in an attempt to diffuse her emotions.
I was not there on the murder night which my wife will confirm.
Well, wives have been known to lie for their husbands.
The jury will find my wife very persuasive.
Don't you find her impressive, Mr.
Shore? Denny, if this case comes down to his testimony- [Exhales.]
He's incredibly unlikable.
All worked out then, didn't it? What do you mean? Alan, you didn't really wanna like this guy, did you? - No, but I do wanna win the case.
- Really? Of course "really.
" What, do you think I'd purposely lose so I could be with his wife? - I would.
- You would not.
Your true love is your undefeated record.
And your true love is her.
You know, Denny I must admit from time to time through the years in various cases I've secretly fantasized that she was in the back of the room - watching.
- [Chuckling.]
Everything we do is all about impressing the girl- Even when the girl isn't there.
But here, she will be there watching me.
Relying on me, even.
Alan, look at me.
At first I thought this would be fun.
Exciting.
Now I'm telling you as your best friend, get out.
In defeat, you lose disappointing the one woman you really loved.
In victory she walks away with her husband- which isn't you.
Okay, at first the coroner ruled natural causes and you can pretty much see why.
- Not a mark on her.
- Except for this mole here.
It's spectacular.
Can I touch it? But once they tumbled to the affair they decided to look again.
That's when they found this.
You could see the needle mark here on the thigh.
Succinylcholine.
The beauty is, it basically disappears from the system within minutes.
And best of all, the symptoms mimic a heart attack.
- And it kills you immediately? - First paralysis, then death.
It's likely she woke up when she gotjabbed, but going into paralysis- Nothing she could do- except watch her killer walk out the door.
- Any semen? - Not yet.
[Buzzing.]
No semen was found.
- Saliva or hair? - Nothing found on the body.
Almost the perfect crime.
Whoever did this was one smart guy.
Neighbor's house is here, meaning his sight line is this way which basically means he'd see cars from the front given the curve of the street.
What's the lighting like? Streetlamp here.
So it's not great.
If we can shake this witness, everything else is completely circumstantial, right? Phoebe, they can place him at the scene with forensics.
- Not that night.
- Well, the neighbor does that.
Your husband had a romantic history with the victim.
- The victim's mother will testify as to threats he made- - She's lying.
Yes, according to your husband.
Whoever did this clearly has medical expertise.
Add to that- Add to that what? The jury will hate him.
Meaning you hate him.
- My feelings aren't relevant.
- Oh, come on, Alan.
Your feelings aren't in play here? [Exhales.]
I think that if you look at this case clinically you will appreciate that the prosecution's case is very weak.
The evidence is all circumstantial - the victim had other affairs- - Which we can't prove.
And my husband has an alibi.
Testimony of a devoted wife is rarely winning.
I don't think the jury will believe you.
Do you believe me? No.
I know you.
You would never forgive him for having the affair.
In fact, if memory serves me, you can be quite punishing on that subject.
It's different when you have kids.
Yes, and your children need their father around.
So you're willing to do whatever you can to keep him out of jail including lie for him in the witness chair.
- You're wrong.
- I don't think so.
Well, clearly I need to get another attorney.
- If we agree to plead to manslaughter- - Absolutely not.
That's your husband's decision.
And I know exactly what that will be.
There will be no guilty plea.
This wasn't a heat of passion crime, Phoebe.
It was calculated, cold.
Do you trust this man? How about around your children? He would never hurt the children.
And he did not commit this crime however much you're determined to believe otherwise.
You still love me, Alan.
As do I you.
You- You don't think that I want to believe that he's guilty sometimes? It would be so easy to.
I am still angry over the affair.
Of course I am.
And sometimes I think it would just be easier if l- if I just ditched everything, in- including him- and took off to some island with- with an old boyfriend that I've nev- - Don't.
- Mmm.
Do not make that mistake.
You need to protect yourself, Alan because when this trial is over I will be walking away with him.
My family is my life.
I know she was afraid of him, because she told me so.
She was in a very excitable state when she did so.
She said, "Mom, I'm scared to death ofhim.
" Why did your daughter fear the defendant, Mrs.
Goulet? She threatened to tell his wife that they had resumed the affair.
- [Murmuring.]
- What else did your daughter tell you? She said he said, "If you do tell her you will pay for it.
" Very dramatic.
Probably see it on the news.
You like being on the news? Oh, you think I enjoy talking about my daughter's murder? - I see you a lot on TV.
- Almost as much as him.
- Not that much.
- You're right.
- [Gavel Raps.]
- [Buzzing.]
Uh, Phyllis- May I call you Phyllis? [Buzzing.]
- [Mouthing Words.]
- Uh, when your daughter told you that she feared my client, were you worried? - Of course I was.
- Did you tell anybody? Surely you told somebody- - A friend, a relative, a mental health specialist.
- Objection.
- Overruled.
- Phyllis, did you make up this little story? No, I did not.
You disgusting person.
I don't like being called disgusting.
- Did you ever call your daughter disgusting? - Of course not.
I have a copy of a letter here that you wrote to your daughter shortly before her death.
The prosecution has the letter and they mistakenly forgot to produce it during discovery.
Oversight.
Would you read the highlighted section, please? And don't forget to project.
There's a camera back there.
Objection.
The highlighted section, please.
"You never call.
"You're too busy running around with all your married men.
"You're disgraceful disgusting, a whore.
" [Murmuring.]
no evidence of anybody else being present in the home except for the victim and the defendant.
Sounds like sloppy work for the defendant to leave his prints behind.
He didn't.
Not really.
We only found a few old prints here and there.
The crime scene was otherwise conspicuously meticulous.
It causes cardiac arrest, ventricular dysrhythmia it quickly degrades.
It's very difficult to detect after a few hours.
Sounds like the perfect drug, if you're looking to get away with murder.
It is.
She never told me she was afraid of him, but she did say she was thinking about telling his wife about the affair.
- Were there other men, to your knowledge? - There were rumors of others.
She, of course, never brought them around the hospital.
[Man.]
I'd seen his car many times.
And you saw it the night of the murder? Yes.
I'd gotten up to go to the bathroom.
I looked out the window.
I saw it.
You first told the police you weren't sure.
[Man.]
Well, it had happened a few days earlier and I had to think back.
I did, and I am sure I saw it that night.
Ever see any other cars go into that driveway on other nights? Oh, many times.
Ms.
Goulet had a very diverse recreational life.
What do you mean, I shouldn't testify? My feeling is it would be a disaster.
Prosecution would pick you apart over the affair and all you can do, really, is say that you didn't go to the victim's house that night, and we have Phoebe to say that.
Well, I'm not an attorney, but I would think at a minimum, a defendant need take the stand - to deny the crime for which he is charged.
- You would be wrong.
[Denny.]
Come on, you're guilty as sin.
You don't fool us.
You won't fool a jury.
Stop being such a baby.
Tell me, Bob, had you resumed the affair? Just a yes-or-no question.
No.
I think we'll skip your testimony.
Are you in love with my wife, Mr.
Shore? Just a yes-or-no question.
He strikes me as a very difficult man to love.
Well, that seems to be my curse.
I fall for difficult men.
- It doesn't look good, does it? - It looks terrible.
We've still got reasonable doubt.
Phoebe, our entire defense is you.
You have to persuade the jury tomorrow.
And I'm sorry, but I have to say this.
You need to do a much better job persuading them than you have so far of persuading me.
Or me.
The Robert Brooks trial winds down today with the defendant's wife, Phoebe Prentice, taking the stand.
She is, of course, expected to say that her husband never left the house - on the night of Isabel Goulet's murder.
- [Elevator Bell Dings.]
- Denny Crane.
Step aside.
- Mr.
Crane- Not wearing underwear.
Not pretty.
No comment.
You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth - and nothing but the truth, so help you God? - I do.
Be seated.
Ms.
Prentice, you're married to the defendant, Dr.
Robert Brooks? - I am.
- And how long have you been so? Sixteen years.
I imagine this has been quite an ordeal for you.
- Yes.
- Do you love your husband? Very much.
So in the interest of fairness, it should be said you have a strong bias here.
I do.
Notwithstanding that bias, you understand that your testimony today is subject to the pains and penalties of perjury? I do.
Then let's cut right to the chase, shall we, because we're all dying to know: : Where were you on the night Isabel Goulet was murdered? Well, I arrived home from work a little after 7:00, which was my routine.
We like to have dinner as a family.
It's a ritual we're very conscientious about.
- You, your husband and your two children? - That's right.
- And after dinner? - My kids did their homework.
It was a school night.
And Robert did some work in his den and I think that I did some laundry or something.
Then, at about 10::00 my kids went to bed, and Robert and I had a glass of wine.
We watched some news and then he took a sleeping pill which he invariably does.
And we went to sleep.
It was pretty uneventful.
- You stayed in all night? - That's correct.
Did your husband leave the house? Ms.
Prentice, did your husband leave the house? I'm sorry, Your Honor.
Could I please take a short break? [Judge Beacon.]
No, I think you should answer the question, ma'am.
Did your husband leave the house that night? - Yes.
- [Crowd Murmuring.]
- Your honor, I'd like a short recess to confer with- - Not gonna happen.
When did he leave? I don't know.
I, uh- I woke up after midnight.
- Your honor, I need to confer with my client.
- Mr.
Shore, be quiet.
Do you know where he went? No, I did not know.
When did he get home? - Some time after 3:00.
- [Mouthing Words.]
- Your Honor, this is unfair surprise.
- It's your witness.
I don't care.
We're fast approaching grounds for a mistrial.
You need to give me a recess.
All right.
We're gonna take a one-hour break.
- What the hell was that? - I am so sorry.
If your intent was to bury him, why'd you hire me? To reconnect, so you'd be there for her when her husband went off to jail.
- That isn't true.
- Yes, it is.
You love Alan.
Do you deny it? I hired Alan to secure my husband's freedom.
That was my intent.
I wanted to preserve my family at whatever cost.
So what changed? I suddenly thought- If- If I commit perjury- What if I go to jail? Who raises my kids then? They could be faced with losing both their father and their mother, and- - Plus, l- - Plus what? I really believed that the affair was over, Alan.
I did.
But it wasn't.
Now, how am I supposed to lie for somebody who's not even faithful to me? [Buzzer Sounds.]
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
So, Bob, we need to talk.
You okay? - Fine.
- You want me to take this? I'll take it.
First of all, I admire your honesty- To give testimony against somebody you love- We all witnessed an extraordinary thing.
Of course, you didn't have to give that testimony.
While it's true you were under oath you also enjoy a privilege as the defendant's spouse to not give evidence against him.
Well, as I said, I didn't plan to but once I took the stand I felt that I'd effectively waived that privilege.
Ah.
I guess the other conclusion would be that perhaps you really did want to testify against him.
Did you? You know I didn't.
Ms.
Prentice, have you undergone any psychiatric treatment of late for a personality disorder? I've never been diagnosed with any personality disorder.
That wasn't my question.
I asked whether you've been treated recently for one.
My medical history is private but I will repeat that I've never been diagnosed with a personality disorder.
Would you consider yourself to be a violent person, Ms.
Prentice? - No.
- Have you ever been violent? Well, I'm sure everyone has lost his or her temper, but- Ever lost yours with a knife? Am I being too vague? Have you ever lost your temper with a knife, with your nine-year-old daughter? - No.
- No? Gee.
For someone with such a strong obligation to tell the truth under oath, that answer surprises me.
Did you not threaten your nine-year-old daughter with a knife after she spilled grape juice on your new living room carpet? I snapped at her while I had a knife in my hand.
Wasn't it more like you were watching television she spilled the juice, you flew into a rage, went into the kitchen returned with paper towels and the knife, and threatened her? - Wasn't it more like that? - I never threatened her with a knife.
A few minutes ago in that witness room you indicated to me that you had now reached the conclusion that your husband had resumed his affair with Ms.
Goulet, did you not? - Yes.
- In truth, you reached that conclusion a week before the murder, when Ms.
Goulet told you the affair was back on, right? This time you picked up the knife and threatened your husband.
- No.
- You told him you would kill him, didn't you? - No.
- Then you said you'd think of something - even better than killing him, didn't you, Phoebe? - No.
You testified that Robert took a sleeping pill that night.
Did he unknowingly take two or three extra, maybe in his wine? - That's ridiculous.
- You were driving the car that pulled into Ms.
Goulet's driveway that night and you gave her the injection that killed her knowing full well the police would suspect him.
- Your Honor, this is- - Sit down, Mr.
Betts.
And you didn't just frame him and bury him at trial you added the indignity of having an old boyfriend be part of the equation.
One might find that to be a little sick.
You know, he is the sick one.
And he has concocted this fantastic tale to get away with murder.
You don't look well, Phoebe.
You're diabetic.
How do you get your insulin? - Injections.
- Pretty good with needles then.
Spectacular performance but I must say, I'm not surprised.
Mr.
Shore is legendary for his stunts and spellbinding maneuvers that no doubt dazzle his audiences- I object to my sex life being introduced.
Mr.
Shore.
[Betts.]
You see? This is what he does.
He distracts.
He uses sleight of hand.
He manipulates, but all of these ploys- They come from desperation.
All the physical evidence points to the doctor and it took the expertise of a doctor to make it Iook like a heart attack, didn't it? The doctor was romantically involved with the victim.
The doctor is the one who threatened the victim.
Mr.
Shore had no choice but to reach into his magic hat and grope for something that he could pass off as reasonable doubt.
Well, there's desperation, and there is desperation.
Let's all get real.
I wouldn't even know where to begin to get real.
It's so hard to believe that any of this could possibly be real.
It's so implausible, so fantastic so utterly Phoebe.
Whether she suddenly chose to bury her husband while on the stand or whether it was part of some master plot, I don't know but she buried him.
There is no disputing that.
This crime was executed with Machiavellian efficiency by a woman who not only had plenty of motive but is also quite handy with needles and- True, there was no forensic evidence to prove she was at the scene, but you heard the detective.
He said the house was "conspicuously meticulous.
" It had been cleaned up.
Could Phoebe Prentice have known about the drug succinylcholine? Why not? Her husband is a doctor.
Their house is full of medical books.
There's all kinds of evidence against her, but the truth is, it doesn't matter because you saw all you needed to in her testimony.
You saw it in her eyes, you heard it in her voice and you know she did it.
Phoebe Prentice killed the woman her husband was sleeping with and framed her cheating husband in the process.
Perfect crime.
Almost.
Almost.
Okay.
[Clears Throat.]
Madam Foreperson- The jury has reached a unanimous verdict? - We have, Your Honor.
- The defendant will please rise.
- What say you? - In the matter of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts v.
Robert L.
Brooks, on the charge of murder in the first degree, we find the defendant, Robert Brooks not guilty.
[Crowd Murmuring.]
[Clamoring.]
My advice to you, Dr.
Brooks- if you have out-of-town relatives, the press here does not figure to let up for a while.
No doubt your wife has left town.
Well, I suppose a huge thank you would be in order.
- I suppose.
- Thank you.
Can't say that you were everything Phoebe built you up to be but, uh, you were close.
Did you really not suspect that she'd left the house that night? I never left the house, Alan.
When you told me that I was the whole defense and that I wasn't persuasive I decided on another tack- incriminating my husband in a way that would make me seem guilty.
Do you really think that I would threaten my own child with a knife? Come on.
We had to make up a few things- Give you something to get her with.
I never got the call from the victim telling me about the affair.
I never told Robert I was gonna kill him.
And I never left the house that night.
You were very convincing.
You might have been too convincing.
You're now almost certain to be arrested and charged with the crime.
I can risk that, since there's no evidence of me committing it, because I didn't.
And if need be Robert can always set the record straight.
He's protected now by double jeopardy.
- There's still perjury.
- Who committed perjury? He never testified, and I never lied.
You'll remember that I denied all of your accusations.
In fact, the only one who tried to introduce false evidence was you.
It was never my intent to play it this way.
My plan was simply to be his alibi but then, when you said that I wasn't persuasive- I'm sorry.
You should leave now.
- Come on.
- The truth is, I never deceived you.
- You told me he was innocent.
- But you weren't deceived, were you? Two other things I told you- Keeping my family together, whatever the cost was everything to me and that, at the end, I would be walking away with Robert.
I was very clear on that.