Magnum, P.I. (1980) s05e07 Episode Script
Blind Justice
He belongs behind bars.
Not for murder.
Yes, for murder! He hurt Mommy.
Did you see him do that? I'm not supposed to tell.
Call off the hearing, Aldridge.
Mr.
Magnum, I really hope you have some other way of earning a living, because your days as a private investigator are over.
Well, you can't take these matters into your own hands.
It might be justice.
This is the only physical evidence that you bring into this courtroom to tie this man to a crime he did not commit.
I'm trying to answer the question you asked me.
Objection! Objection! Where are you going? You're not going out without me.
Greg, I'm talking to you.
A birthday poem for Nana from Beth.
Honey, wait for me.
I'll change my clothes.
Don't bother.
It won't take but a minute.
I said, don't bother.
Well, I am bothered.
And I wanna talk about it.
There's nothing to talk about.
I'll see you later.
Greg, where are you going? If you think I'm gonna sit home and wait for you, you're crazy! I don't care what you do.
You're not Come back here! You're not leaving! Watch me! Don't! Give me the keys.
I'm getting out of here.
No! You're not going anywhere.
You're staying right here.
That's right.
Keep pushing.
Don't! I'll call the police.
You leave and I'll call the police! You humiliate me one more time and I'll kill you! Big man.
Big, scary man! Oh, my God.
Ow.
Good morning, Higgins.
How nice of you to knock.
I was just making some breakfast.
Protein drink.
Goat's milk, brewer's yeast, raw eggs and desiccated liver.
Would you like some? You want something, Higgins? I've just been examining the grounds.
Have you any idea what you've done? The gate! Oh, I'm sorry about the lock.
See I'm not referring to the lock.
A breach of security could perhaps be overlooked, but how can one possibly overlook death and mutilation? Mutilation? Do you deny that you drove the car off the driveway, thereby destroying dozens of healthy, thriving flowers which Kenji and I had scheduled to plant this morning? Flowers? What flowers? The flowers.
Gee, I don't remember I The hours Kenji and I spent discussing, searching, seeking out the ideal plants for that section of the estate.
The joy we felt when the plants arrived.
The hope we shared as this year's Yard and Garden Show judging drew near.
All of that destroyed with one reckless turn of the steering wheel.
It was dark.
I mean, Higgins, don't you think you're overreacting just a little bit? They're just flowers.
I might have expected something like that from you.
This morning, I came to a startling and horrifying realization.
Since your arrival at Robin's Nest, you have insidiously eroded away my sense of diligence.
Security has fallen completely apart.
The grounds are in a terrible state of neglect.
This guesthouse should be condemned.
It doesn't look so bad! And the estate is completely overrun with your good-for-nothing friends, sleazy clients and unexpected guests.
That is not true! Hi, Thomas.
The gate was open, so I just came on in.
I am now going to call a locksmith before someone else arrives unannounced, and then I am going to put away the Ferrari for good.
Carol.
Jonathan.
- Higgins? We are going back to a strict regimen around here.
A military regimen.
Good day.
Higgins! Thomas Carol.
Come in, sit down, have some protein drink.
I'll be right back.
Where are you going? I'm Now, I made a special trip over here because you said you could talk to me about my case.
That's what you get when you go to your friends for free advice.
I knew this would happen I have to clear up this car thing with Higgins.
so I had the department give me an advance on your salary.
Cash! You're hiring me? What makes you think she's telling the truth? Why would she lie to me? That's what lawyers get paid to do.
Look, Thomas, if it were such an open-and-shut case, I mean, why would she hire you to go snooping around? It's an important trial.
There's gonna be a lot of press coverage.
She just wants to make sure the police didn't miss anything in their investigation.
Hey! What do you think of this one? Look, did she tell you that the girl that turned up dead had something of a reputation? $1,000 down, limited 30-day warranty? $1,000 would eat up the rest of my savings.
Thomas, those girls hung around the club a lot.
They were the drinking and partying set Will you forget about the case? I thought you were gonna get me a deal on a car.
Hey, Rick! Okay, okay.
Hey, bro! Hey, how you doing? Hey, bro! How you doing? All right, all right.
Thomas Magnum, I want you to meet Willie Kanati Kali He's Hawaiian.
Willie K.
, we'll say.
How are you? How's it? Willie here has got the most incredible talent for putting the right car with the right person.
Thomas here is looking for a good used car cheap, Willie.
Hey, today is your lucky day! I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong.
I could have bought something sensible, something with low maintenance.
But I realized that, as a professional private investigator, I needed something with speed, something that would help me out in an emergency.
Something I could depend on.
Not to mention the value it had as an investment.
You have to look at these things in terms of the long run.
You know, if it weren't for Elizabeth, I'd probably pull into a cocoon and hide away from this whole ugly mess.
But, for Beth's sake, I intend to see that justice is done.
Your granddaughter It's funny how families come together for weddings and funerals, isn't it? The happiest day of my life was when Debbie married Greg.
Her first husband died in an automobile accident, and she always seemed a little lost after that.
And Beth needed a full-time daddy around the house.
She loved Greg so much.
We all did.
To think, somehow, it has all deteriorated to this Those were taken several months ago.
Debbie decided she wanted to file for divorce, and she wanted proof that Greg was beating her.
Your granddaughter witnessed the murder? You know, it wasn't until after the funeral That I remembered I even had these photographs.
I hope they will do some good.
Do you have any idea what he might have done with the murder weapon? I didn't even know he had a gun.
He must've been at very close range.
I'm sorry.
I We can talk about this later.
No, no, it's all right.
Our neighbors heard the gunshot and they saw Greg drive out of here very fast.
After they found Debbie, the police picked him up at his At a lady friend's house.
But they never found the gun.
Mrs.
Carrington, I know that you don't want your granddaughter to testify.
No.
No.
She's been through enough.
But I wondered if she could talk to me.
She might remember something that would lead us to the weapon.
There is nothing she could tell you that I haven't already told the police.
This is where he went off the road in his hurry to get out of here.
But the police said these tracks don't prove anything.
I'm so glad you think they might be useful.
Has anyone moved that car since No, no, the police impounded it.
They still have it.
There's something else that has been bothering me.
For the last few months, I began to hear gossip that Greg had been married before, something he never mentioned to Debbie or me.
I tried to talk to her about it, but somehow Oh, I don't know.
She was always so insecure.
Perhaps she didn't want to know.
Anyway, I don't know whether this is any help to your investigation, but I wanted to make sure I told you everything.
Well, thank you.
I'm sure it's nothing serious.
T.
C.
Can take a look at it.
Carol! You just went through a red light! Are you trying to get me killed? You've come up with worse suggestions.
Okay, I am sorry my car died.
It's not like I did it on purpose.
The reason I hired you to investigate was because I didn't wanna go around spending my valuable time driving around gathering up evidence.
Look out! Nice Ford.
Let me out of here! You wanted to go to the Hall of Records, I'm taking you to the Hall of Records.
After that, you're on your own.
Fine! These photographs are incredible! This is just the kind of evidence we need to lock down the case.
I thought it was already locked down.
Well, it is, practically.
I mean, a lot of people have offered to testify that he had a violent temper.
But now, we have physical evidence that he hit her.
All you have are some photographs.
And if Mrs.
Carrington's hunch is right, if we do find an ex-wife somewhere in the woodwork, we may have one hell of a surprise witness.
I still wish we had a murder weapon.
Can you make me copies of these to send to the defense? And I'll need a couple copies of the tire tracks, too, because I want to introduce them into evidence to corroborate the neighbor's testimony.
Anything else? Yeah.
I'm sorry I yelled at you in the car.
Oh, forget it.
No, no.
There was no excuse.
No, no.
No, I'm sorry.
And you know what? When I get back to the office, I'm gonna call the disbursement clerk and I'm gonna tell him he was so wrong, 'cause you really are worth the money.
Very funny.
Thomas Magnum? Yes, that's us.
I've got that information you wanted on Greg Bowman.
Great! Now, I found only one marriage license application, but there's something else here I think you'll wanna take a look at.
Excuse me.
Ms Jones.
Ray, I'm busy.
I told you never to call me at the office.
What are you talking about? You can't do this to me, Ray, not on the phone.
Is it someone else? Would you stop it, please? I don't believe this! This is the same conversation she had two years ago.
Do you mind? You knew I was a career woman It was the same conversation she had two years ago when I was here on another case.
Could we just get the paperwork and get out of here? I don't see why we can't at least have dinner.
I Why can't we discuss this, you know, like two civilized human beings? Ray.
Don't you dare hang up on me, Ray, I Gee, I'm sorry.
Why don't you just mind your own business? I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to listen, I Thomas, look.
"Application to marry, Gregory Xavier Bowman, Deborah Ann Carrington.
"Certificate of live birth, Gregory Xavier Bowman, September 17, 1947.
"Certificate of death, "September 19, 1947.
" Greg Bowman died when he was two days old.
Who've they got in jail? This time, it is not going to work.
I know you.
First, you hook me in with some cockamamie story and then, after I'm in over my head, you yell, "Surprise!" Thomas, I am just as surprised as you are.
No, no, no, no.
Scout's honor.
This is how you operate.
First I find out the suspect isn't the guy you said he was, and now I find out you don't even have a case against the guy.
I do! You do not! Do you have a confession? No.
Do you have witnesses to the crime? Now, you listen here.
You're just cranky I am not cranky! Oh, all right, all right.
You are just out of sorts because your new car broke down.
But please don't take it out on the case.
You have been paid to investigate.
Well, Thomas, I think your little red wagon is running again.
I mean, that guy That guy must've spent hours looking through death certificate records to come up with a new identity.
So, all we had to do was synchronize the carburetor What I'm wondering is, why would he go to that trouble unless he had something to hide? He could have for any number of reasons.
replace the condenser Like trying to hide criminal activity, huh? intake manifold gaskets Nobody knows where he came from, he has no visible means of support the fan belt and yet he's able to afford the services of M.
Barry Aldridge, one of the most formidable criminal attorneys in the state.
Now, where does he get that kind of money? Yeah, then I tightened the fan belt and I changed the oil.
You know, if you warm this thing up properly, you shouldn't have any more trouble.
Oh, great, T.
C.
Thanks.
And that should come to $49.
88.
You're charging me? This is not a mechanic's shop.
I am doing you a favor.
So you should be willing to pay for your own parts.
Thomas, the man fled the scene of the crime.
His skin was found under his murdered wife's fingernails.
The bullet taken from her body matches the gun registered in his name.
Everyone that knew him said that he had a brutal, violent, possessive temper.
He terrorized his wife.
I think I can prove he killed her.
But I'm gonna need every single piece of evidence I can get to put him away.
Well, I can call his friends, see if they know his aliases.
Great! And check with Five-O for fingerprints and see what they turn up.
Oh, it's already taken care of.
I'm supposed to stop by there this afternoon to see what they've come up with, if anything.
T.
C.
, you have my change? What are you doing? Don't worry about it.
I'll take it off your fee.
Doesn't it feel good to be able to pay your debts? Yeah, well, it feels good to me.
Oh.
Island Hoppers.
Maybe we'll get lucky.
Maybe he'll just call us up and tell us his name.
You'll find it, super-sleuth.
I know you will.
Hey, Tom.
Some guy's been calling the club trying to find you.
Some lawyer named M.
Barry Aldridge? I understand you work for the city.
No, I'm a private investigator.
Oh, is that right? Make a pretty good living at it, do you? I get by.
Actually, I've heard a lot of good things about you.
You're a top-notch investigator, the kind of guy who'd do very well working in a firm like ours.
Well, I'm happy working for myself.
I like the hours.
We handle dozens of cases every year, big cases.
The kind that keep my daughters in private school.
As a matter of fact, we could use someone who knows when a case is worth investigating and when it isn't.
Mr.
Aldridge, what are you saying? Well, sometimes it works better for everyone not to spin your wheels, if you follow my drift.
Wait a minute.
You would pay me not to investigate? If it was to our benefit.
It's kind of like a government subsidy not to grow wheat.
Something like that, I guess.
So, in other words, let's say you had a case, insurance fraud.
Well, yes, that falls within our area of expertise.
Well, how much would that be worth to me? I mean, would I be paid on a commission basis or hourly? I could spend a lot of time not investigating.
That would be up to my discretion, Mr.
Magnum.
Well, would a murder be worth more than a burglary, for instance? I mean, I'd hate to waste my time not investigating the penny ante stuff.
I see we have nothing further to discuss.
No, no.
This is a fascinating concept.
I just need some time to think about it.
You know, maybe I could bring some cases to you.
There's this one case that I haven't been investigating for nearly five years.
Would this payment be retroactive? He should be reported.
I'm going straight to the Ethics Committee.
He didn't say anything.
We were alone and he didn't say anything incriminating.
He should be taken off the case! Will you calm down? You're getting all rattled.
That's exactly what he wants.
Now, come on, calm down.
All right, all right.
You're right.
I'm calm.
Good.
I just wish I would've been there, that's all.
I think we've got a match.
Oh, Thomas, look.
He's our guy! His name is Randy Lewis.
He was arrested as he reported to work.
Mr.
Lucky's Casino, Atlantic City.
Booking number 82015112.
Suspicion of murder.
His wife.
He was acquitted! Looks like he has a whole string of assault and battery arrests.
And no convictions.
Right.
Thomas Magnum.
Hi, Lieutenant.
Yeah, I heard you were in here.
Say, what's with you? You've been stepping on some toes again.
We just heard that some very important people are after your license.
Finding him at the girlfriend's house could be damaging.
Perhaps we could send her on a vacation? Someplace where the prosecution can't find her to make a deposition.
Call off the hearing, Aldridge.
Mr.
Aldridge, I tried to tell him you were busy.
Mr.
Magnum, we are preparing a case.
Now, we really don't have any more time for banter, as amusing as you are.
You got no grounds for trying to pull my license.
Well, let's see.
What about misrepresentation, conflict of interest, unethical conduct, just to name a few? You should have thought of the consequences before you barged into my office and tried to bully information out of me about my client.
I never talked about your client.
You called me.
I have no record of our calling him.
You're going to testify under oath at a court hearing that you didn't call me? Perhaps I won't have to testify at all.
It seems to me there are a number of witnesses that can attest to your abusive behavior.
It doesn't matter whether I investigate this case or someone else does.
You can't stop the process, Aldridge.
Your client is going on trial, and it'll be up to a jury to decide whether he's guilty or innocent, not you.
My client's guilt or innocence is not really any of my concern.
My only concern is to see that he's not convicted.
And by the way, the frosting on the cake is that I get to see your license revoked.
Now, I really hope you have some other way of earning a living, Mr.
Magnum, because your days as a private investigator are over.
Exactly what is the meaning of this? Well, it's a little hard to tell in the dark, but those look like the keys to my car, a car I bought with earnings from this very important case that I've been working on, because you, in a moment of petty and impulsive vindictiveness, a moment so unworthy of you, Higgins, you took away my rights to the Ferrari.
Well, you're going to have to do something about it.
It was belching exhaust fumes all over the Duchess of Wellington.
Was? You didn't turn it off? Of course I did.
If you turned it off, it won't start again! It was fouling the rose garden.
We're going back to a strict regimen, Magnum.
You may as well accept it.
My God.
What happened to that poor woman? Her husband.
He's being charged with her murder.
Do these photographs look funny to you, Higgins? I don't know whether it's the light or the pose.
I don't know.
Take a look at this.
The lower right-hand corner.
This is a photograph of a photograph.
They've been doctored.
That's a very distinct possibility.
I don't believe it.
How did she do it? Well, looks like she took an existing photograph, darkened it in areas to look like bruises, and then took a photograph of that so we couldn't tell it was tampered with.
But even the negatives are perfect.
Almost.
Take a look at it.
Here.
You can just see the corner of the original photograph right there, in here.
Ah! Oh, that poor woman.
Yeah.
That poor woman gave you false evidence.
Well, she's probably too scared to leave anything to chance.
I know how she feels.
Oh, Thomas, it's like I have opening-night jitters.
I keep having this recurring dream.
I dream that You promise you won't laugh? Not even a snicker.
In my dream, I get to court, I open my briefcase, and I have nothing in it except blank paper.
You promised you wouldn't laugh! I just keep thinking that there's something I haven't locked down, some loophole that Aldridge will pull his client through and it'll be all my fault.
I couldn't concentrate yesterday, so I went for a walk down to Queen Emma Street, and I'm just standing there, and I stood and I stared at that courthouse for the longest time.
Well, anyway, it made me feel better.
Carol, maybe we should talk to the little girl.
No.
She might remember something that would lead us to the weapon.
And then what do we do? We put her on the stand? Aldridge is gonna pull every trick in the book to get Bowman off.
And you wanna play by his rules? I don't want this guy walking away.
Well, neither do I.
Look, as a lawyer, I can tell you that she's not a reliable witness.
She's too young, she's too traumatized.
There's no telling what Aldridge would get her to say.
And the truth of it is that most lawyers would put her on the stand.
I can't, Thomas.
I just can't ask her to relive that night.
We have enough without her testimony.
And I am now going to go home and I'm gonna memorize it all one more time.
Thanks for supper.
And don't worry about it, Thomas.
We'll get him.
Yeah, I know.
Part of me knew that Carol was absolutely right.
But part of me couldn't put aside the price we'd pay if she was wrong.
I wasn't sure how I was going to get in to see the little girl or what I was going to say if I did see her.
But I knew I had to at least play it out.
Hi.
Nana isn't here.
She's inside.
Well, maybe I could talk to you.
Are you going to take my picture? Do you want me to? I saw you before.
Nana says you're going to make Greg go to jail for a long time.
Do you know why? He hurt Mommy.
Did you see him do that? I'm not supposed to tell.
Well, I think it would be all right to tell me.
No, it's all right.
You don't have to do that.
It's all right.
They were yelling and yelling, and he hit her, and all the books fell down, and then he left.
And I tried to hug her, but she pushed me away.
She told me to go to bed and she Then she She picked up the gun.
After he left? And it made a loud noise.
And my mommy died.
My mommy died! It's okay.
What have you done? She's sleeping.
My daughter was an only child, and she was spoiled.
She was used to having her own way.
And Lord knows, she had a lot of problems.
But she didn't deserve to die.
Railroading Bowman isn't gonna change that.
The fact that he didn't kill her is simply an accident of timing.
I wish to God I had pictures of every time he beat her up.
But you don't.
He tricked us, all of us, took us in and then betrayed us.
He robbed us of everything that was good about this family.
He belongs behind bars.
Not for murder.
Yes, for murder! He killed his first wife.
He was acquitted! He was guilty! You don't know that! This is a recording my granddaughter was making for my birthday.
I found it still in the tape recorder the next morning.
Don't! I'll call the police.
You leave and I'll call the police! You humiliate me one more time and I'll kill you.
Big man.
Big, scary man! I swear I'll kill you.
I got away with it before.
Don't push me.
I'll do it again! Oh, don't hurt me.
Big man.
Big, scary man! I swear I'll kill you.
I got away with it before.
Don't push me.
I'll do it again! He leaves right after that.
Then my daughter's suicide is also recorded, establishing, of course, that at least this time, he was not responsible.
When I found Debbie, I wiped her fingerprints off the gun, threw it into the trash compactor, and I called the police.
I didn't think, until much later, about fixing the photographs.
You take it with you, Mr.
Magnum.
Listen to it as many times as I have and then tell me if what I did was wrong.
How'd the hearing go? They gonna get your license? Aldridge withdrew the charges.
Hit-and-run tactic.
How you doing? Well, the jury selection went faster than I expected.
He's rushing me, hoping to push me off balance.
Well, you're too wily for that.
I was gonna call you later.
I've got you on the docket tomorrow.
I'm gonna be introducing the tire track pictures, so you'll have to explain how you went about taking them, how you know that they match the tires on the Rolls, all that stuff.
Okay? Is tomorrow all right? Carol, the tracks don't prove anything.
You don't need me to testify.
When you've built a case on overwhelming circumstantial evidence, you need to present every piece of that overwhelming circumstantial evidence.
I know the tire tracks aren't important by themselves, but they do corroborate the neighbor's testimony.
I I just don't know.
Oh, come on, Thomas.
Don't hang me up.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Private investigators often work right on the fringes of the law.
As a private citizen, I had no legal obligation to tell anyone that Bowman was innocent.
But what about the moral and ethical obligations? I wanted time to make the right decision, but it was clear I wasn't in control of how much time I'd have, or of anything else, for that matter.
These are superb specimens, Kenji.
They'll look absolutely magnificent once they're planted.
It will be comforting living once again in an ordered universe.
Hi, Thomas.
I'm sorry if I was kind of short with you today.
I guess I'm a little nervous about the case.
Will you call me back? I need to talk to you.
All right, Magnum, what is it that you want? Well, I was hoping I had butter, but I guess I'll just have to eat it plain.
Don't be flippant.
I'm referring to that collection of scrap metal and baling wire that you so whimsically call your car.
What do you want to get rid of it? I would love to get rid of it, Higgins, but I can't.
The guy who sold it to me won't take it back, and if I sell it as is, I'll lose money, so I guess I'll just have to take it to T.
C.
For another look.
Popcorn? No.
It's perfectly obvious what you're doing.
You're resisting my plan to go back to a military regimen.
This is all an elaborate trick to get the Ferrari back.
But it won't Aren't you going to answer your phone? No.
As I was saying, it won't work.
It's not a trick.
And don't answer my phone.
You can't just let it ring endlessly.
Don't answer my phone! Hey, Thomas, if you're worried about testifying, we can talk about what you're going to say.
But at least call me and let me know you're going to be there tomorrow.
Okay? Please? I don't know what else to say.
Call me.
You're worried about testifying tomorrow? I don't think I'm going to.
Trial by jury is one of the cornerstones of democracy.
I know that, Higgins.
And yet you would avoid your civic duty? Well, what would you do? I just found out this guy killed his first wife and was acquitted.
He can never be tried for that crime again.
Well, even so, I realize there are flaws in the system, but But, Higgins, he's about to go on trial for a second murder.
Then this time, surely, justice will prevail.
Will it? I have the proof that he didn't commit this crime.
Proof he doesn't even know about.
So what's my civic duty? Do I go forward and inform the court that he's innocent and let him walk away again? Or do I just keep quiet and let him go to jail for a crime he didn't commit? Well, you can't take these matters into your own hands.
That's vigilantism.
That's anathema to everything that is civilized and virtuous in human society.
It might also be justice.
Poetic justice, at least.
I'll call the police! You humiliate me one more time and I'll kill you! Big man.
Big, scary man! I swear I'll kill you.
I got away with it before.
Don't push me.
I'll do it again! Hello? Thomas, are you all right? Carol, if I take the stand, what do I have to testify to? Just the photographs.
That's all the physical evidence you have, unless you've come up with a signed confession.
That was a joke.
You will be there, won't you, Thomas? That's my car! And it is your expert opinion that these tracks were made by the tires which are on the Rolls-Royce driven by the defendant? Yes.
Thank you.
Mr.
Magnum, how long have you been a private investigator? Object.
Overruled.
The witness will answer the question.
About six years.
About six years.
And before that, you were in naval intelligence, is that correct? Your Honor, I Establishing the credibility of the witness, Your Honor.
Something the prosecution has already managed to do.
May I? These tire tracks, Mr.
Magnum, they're very impressive.
Is this the kind of work you did for your country? Your Honor, I object.
Withdraw the question.
Mr.
Magnum, you testified that these tracks match the tread on the tires of the Rolls-Royce driven by the defendant on the evening of July 18th of this year, is that correct? Yes.
I see.
Can you pinpoint for me the exact hour that those tracks were made? No.
I see.
Or, perhaps, who was driving the car the night the tracks were left in the mud? Can your photographs tell us that? No.
Your Honor, I object.
Yet this is the only physical evidence that you bring into this courtroom to tie this man to a crime he did not commit.
No.
What? No, it is not the only physical evidence I have of the events of that evening.
No further questions, Your Honor.
I'm trying to answer the question you asked me.
Your Honor, we request a brief recess.
The witness will be allowed to answer the question, Counselor.
I have a tape recording of the defendant and the victim No! You're not going anywhere! the night that she was killed.
Your Honor, there is no foundation laid for this evidence before anything can be played here.
I'll call the police.
You leave and I'll call the police! You humiliate me one more time and I'll kill you! Big man.
Big, scary man! Objection! Objection! Objection! I swear I'll kill you.
I got away with it before.
Don't push me.
I'll do it again! Your Honor Objection sustained.
Testimony will be struck from the record, and the jury is admonished to disregard it.
I will meet with counsel in my chambers.
You will join us, Mr.
Magnum.
Your conduct in court today was absolutely inexcusable.
This is hardly the first time you've testified in a court of law.
You know better than to bring unsubstantiated tapes to the witness stand.
Your Honor, you didn't hear what was on the rest of the tape.
I believe if you listen to Hearsay evidence, Your Honor.
There's no way of knowing whether that tape has been altered or manufactured.
It hasn't.
It's an unproven, unknown voice and therefore it's inadmissible.
The little girl can verify the conversation, Your Honor.
Your Honor! I'll hear the tape.
This is set on record.
Your conduct in court was absolutely inexcusable.
This is hardly the first time you've testified in a court of law.
You know better than to bring unsubstantiated tapes to the witness stand.
Your Honor, you didn't hear what was on the rest of the tape.
I believe if you listen to - Hearsay Your Honor, I don't know how that happened.
I thought I was turning it off.
I mean, the buttons are so close together.
I'll tell you what was on the rest of the tape.
There's no foundation.
I'd think there'd be an exception made in this instance, given the fact that evidence has been destroyed.
Even if we had the tape, it'd be hard to establish a foundation for its accuracy.
But, Your Honor, if you I'm afraid I'm going to have to rule for the defense.
But I wanna make one thing perfectly clear.
There will be no more theatrics in my courtroom.
Now, we'll recess while I consider the ramification of the altered tape, and then we'll resume in an hour.
Looks like you outsmarted me after all.
Thomas Let's go for a walk.
Did you ever find yourself in a position where you decide to do the right thing, no matter how hard it is, and then you go and do it and something else happens, something entirely different than what you thought would happen, and it turns out that that, in an odd sort of way, is probably more right than what you had in mind in the first place? You wanna run that by me one more time? No, I think I better leave it alone.
What do you think the chances are of a conviction? If the judge doesn't declare a mistrial, real good.
The jury was very impressed with that tape.
Thomas, it's better if I don't ask what was on the rest of that tape? Let's take a walk down Queen Emma Street.
There's a great view of the courthouse from the corner.
Come on.
Not for murder.
Yes, for murder! He hurt Mommy.
Did you see him do that? I'm not supposed to tell.
Call off the hearing, Aldridge.
Mr.
Magnum, I really hope you have some other way of earning a living, because your days as a private investigator are over.
Well, you can't take these matters into your own hands.
It might be justice.
This is the only physical evidence that you bring into this courtroom to tie this man to a crime he did not commit.
I'm trying to answer the question you asked me.
Objection! Objection! Where are you going? You're not going out without me.
Greg, I'm talking to you.
A birthday poem for Nana from Beth.
Honey, wait for me.
I'll change my clothes.
Don't bother.
It won't take but a minute.
I said, don't bother.
Well, I am bothered.
And I wanna talk about it.
There's nothing to talk about.
I'll see you later.
Greg, where are you going? If you think I'm gonna sit home and wait for you, you're crazy! I don't care what you do.
You're not Come back here! You're not leaving! Watch me! Don't! Give me the keys.
I'm getting out of here.
No! You're not going anywhere.
You're staying right here.
That's right.
Keep pushing.
Don't! I'll call the police.
You leave and I'll call the police! You humiliate me one more time and I'll kill you! Big man.
Big, scary man! Oh, my God.
Ow.
Good morning, Higgins.
How nice of you to knock.
I was just making some breakfast.
Protein drink.
Goat's milk, brewer's yeast, raw eggs and desiccated liver.
Would you like some? You want something, Higgins? I've just been examining the grounds.
Have you any idea what you've done? The gate! Oh, I'm sorry about the lock.
See I'm not referring to the lock.
A breach of security could perhaps be overlooked, but how can one possibly overlook death and mutilation? Mutilation? Do you deny that you drove the car off the driveway, thereby destroying dozens of healthy, thriving flowers which Kenji and I had scheduled to plant this morning? Flowers? What flowers? The flowers.
Gee, I don't remember I The hours Kenji and I spent discussing, searching, seeking out the ideal plants for that section of the estate.
The joy we felt when the plants arrived.
The hope we shared as this year's Yard and Garden Show judging drew near.
All of that destroyed with one reckless turn of the steering wheel.
It was dark.
I mean, Higgins, don't you think you're overreacting just a little bit? They're just flowers.
I might have expected something like that from you.
This morning, I came to a startling and horrifying realization.
Since your arrival at Robin's Nest, you have insidiously eroded away my sense of diligence.
Security has fallen completely apart.
The grounds are in a terrible state of neglect.
This guesthouse should be condemned.
It doesn't look so bad! And the estate is completely overrun with your good-for-nothing friends, sleazy clients and unexpected guests.
That is not true! Hi, Thomas.
The gate was open, so I just came on in.
I am now going to call a locksmith before someone else arrives unannounced, and then I am going to put away the Ferrari for good.
Carol.
Jonathan.
- Higgins? We are going back to a strict regimen around here.
A military regimen.
Good day.
Higgins! Thomas Carol.
Come in, sit down, have some protein drink.
I'll be right back.
Where are you going? I'm Now, I made a special trip over here because you said you could talk to me about my case.
That's what you get when you go to your friends for free advice.
I knew this would happen I have to clear up this car thing with Higgins.
so I had the department give me an advance on your salary.
Cash! You're hiring me? What makes you think she's telling the truth? Why would she lie to me? That's what lawyers get paid to do.
Look, Thomas, if it were such an open-and-shut case, I mean, why would she hire you to go snooping around? It's an important trial.
There's gonna be a lot of press coverage.
She just wants to make sure the police didn't miss anything in their investigation.
Hey! What do you think of this one? Look, did she tell you that the girl that turned up dead had something of a reputation? $1,000 down, limited 30-day warranty? $1,000 would eat up the rest of my savings.
Thomas, those girls hung around the club a lot.
They were the drinking and partying set Will you forget about the case? I thought you were gonna get me a deal on a car.
Hey, Rick! Okay, okay.
Hey, bro! Hey, how you doing? Hey, bro! How you doing? All right, all right.
Thomas Magnum, I want you to meet Willie Kanati Kali He's Hawaiian.
Willie K.
, we'll say.
How are you? How's it? Willie here has got the most incredible talent for putting the right car with the right person.
Thomas here is looking for a good used car cheap, Willie.
Hey, today is your lucky day! I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong.
I could have bought something sensible, something with low maintenance.
But I realized that, as a professional private investigator, I needed something with speed, something that would help me out in an emergency.
Something I could depend on.
Not to mention the value it had as an investment.
You have to look at these things in terms of the long run.
You know, if it weren't for Elizabeth, I'd probably pull into a cocoon and hide away from this whole ugly mess.
But, for Beth's sake, I intend to see that justice is done.
Your granddaughter It's funny how families come together for weddings and funerals, isn't it? The happiest day of my life was when Debbie married Greg.
Her first husband died in an automobile accident, and she always seemed a little lost after that.
And Beth needed a full-time daddy around the house.
She loved Greg so much.
We all did.
To think, somehow, it has all deteriorated to this Those were taken several months ago.
Debbie decided she wanted to file for divorce, and she wanted proof that Greg was beating her.
Your granddaughter witnessed the murder? You know, it wasn't until after the funeral That I remembered I even had these photographs.
I hope they will do some good.
Do you have any idea what he might have done with the murder weapon? I didn't even know he had a gun.
He must've been at very close range.
I'm sorry.
I We can talk about this later.
No, no, it's all right.
Our neighbors heard the gunshot and they saw Greg drive out of here very fast.
After they found Debbie, the police picked him up at his At a lady friend's house.
But they never found the gun.
Mrs.
Carrington, I know that you don't want your granddaughter to testify.
No.
No.
She's been through enough.
But I wondered if she could talk to me.
She might remember something that would lead us to the weapon.
There is nothing she could tell you that I haven't already told the police.
This is where he went off the road in his hurry to get out of here.
But the police said these tracks don't prove anything.
I'm so glad you think they might be useful.
Has anyone moved that car since No, no, the police impounded it.
They still have it.
There's something else that has been bothering me.
For the last few months, I began to hear gossip that Greg had been married before, something he never mentioned to Debbie or me.
I tried to talk to her about it, but somehow Oh, I don't know.
She was always so insecure.
Perhaps she didn't want to know.
Anyway, I don't know whether this is any help to your investigation, but I wanted to make sure I told you everything.
Well, thank you.
I'm sure it's nothing serious.
T.
C.
Can take a look at it.
Carol! You just went through a red light! Are you trying to get me killed? You've come up with worse suggestions.
Okay, I am sorry my car died.
It's not like I did it on purpose.
The reason I hired you to investigate was because I didn't wanna go around spending my valuable time driving around gathering up evidence.
Look out! Nice Ford.
Let me out of here! You wanted to go to the Hall of Records, I'm taking you to the Hall of Records.
After that, you're on your own.
Fine! These photographs are incredible! This is just the kind of evidence we need to lock down the case.
I thought it was already locked down.
Well, it is, practically.
I mean, a lot of people have offered to testify that he had a violent temper.
But now, we have physical evidence that he hit her.
All you have are some photographs.
And if Mrs.
Carrington's hunch is right, if we do find an ex-wife somewhere in the woodwork, we may have one hell of a surprise witness.
I still wish we had a murder weapon.
Can you make me copies of these to send to the defense? And I'll need a couple copies of the tire tracks, too, because I want to introduce them into evidence to corroborate the neighbor's testimony.
Anything else? Yeah.
I'm sorry I yelled at you in the car.
Oh, forget it.
No, no.
There was no excuse.
No, no.
No, I'm sorry.
And you know what? When I get back to the office, I'm gonna call the disbursement clerk and I'm gonna tell him he was so wrong, 'cause you really are worth the money.
Very funny.
Thomas Magnum? Yes, that's us.
I've got that information you wanted on Greg Bowman.
Great! Now, I found only one marriage license application, but there's something else here I think you'll wanna take a look at.
Excuse me.
Ms Jones.
Ray, I'm busy.
I told you never to call me at the office.
What are you talking about? You can't do this to me, Ray, not on the phone.
Is it someone else? Would you stop it, please? I don't believe this! This is the same conversation she had two years ago.
Do you mind? You knew I was a career woman It was the same conversation she had two years ago when I was here on another case.
Could we just get the paperwork and get out of here? I don't see why we can't at least have dinner.
I Why can't we discuss this, you know, like two civilized human beings? Ray.
Don't you dare hang up on me, Ray, I Gee, I'm sorry.
Why don't you just mind your own business? I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to listen, I Thomas, look.
"Application to marry, Gregory Xavier Bowman, Deborah Ann Carrington.
"Certificate of live birth, Gregory Xavier Bowman, September 17, 1947.
"Certificate of death, "September 19, 1947.
" Greg Bowman died when he was two days old.
Who've they got in jail? This time, it is not going to work.
I know you.
First, you hook me in with some cockamamie story and then, after I'm in over my head, you yell, "Surprise!" Thomas, I am just as surprised as you are.
No, no, no, no.
Scout's honor.
This is how you operate.
First I find out the suspect isn't the guy you said he was, and now I find out you don't even have a case against the guy.
I do! You do not! Do you have a confession? No.
Do you have witnesses to the crime? Now, you listen here.
You're just cranky I am not cranky! Oh, all right, all right.
You are just out of sorts because your new car broke down.
But please don't take it out on the case.
You have been paid to investigate.
Well, Thomas, I think your little red wagon is running again.
I mean, that guy That guy must've spent hours looking through death certificate records to come up with a new identity.
So, all we had to do was synchronize the carburetor What I'm wondering is, why would he go to that trouble unless he had something to hide? He could have for any number of reasons.
replace the condenser Like trying to hide criminal activity, huh? intake manifold gaskets Nobody knows where he came from, he has no visible means of support the fan belt and yet he's able to afford the services of M.
Barry Aldridge, one of the most formidable criminal attorneys in the state.
Now, where does he get that kind of money? Yeah, then I tightened the fan belt and I changed the oil.
You know, if you warm this thing up properly, you shouldn't have any more trouble.
Oh, great, T.
C.
Thanks.
And that should come to $49.
88.
You're charging me? This is not a mechanic's shop.
I am doing you a favor.
So you should be willing to pay for your own parts.
Thomas, the man fled the scene of the crime.
His skin was found under his murdered wife's fingernails.
The bullet taken from her body matches the gun registered in his name.
Everyone that knew him said that he had a brutal, violent, possessive temper.
He terrorized his wife.
I think I can prove he killed her.
But I'm gonna need every single piece of evidence I can get to put him away.
Well, I can call his friends, see if they know his aliases.
Great! And check with Five-O for fingerprints and see what they turn up.
Oh, it's already taken care of.
I'm supposed to stop by there this afternoon to see what they've come up with, if anything.
T.
C.
, you have my change? What are you doing? Don't worry about it.
I'll take it off your fee.
Doesn't it feel good to be able to pay your debts? Yeah, well, it feels good to me.
Oh.
Island Hoppers.
Maybe we'll get lucky.
Maybe he'll just call us up and tell us his name.
You'll find it, super-sleuth.
I know you will.
Hey, Tom.
Some guy's been calling the club trying to find you.
Some lawyer named M.
Barry Aldridge? I understand you work for the city.
No, I'm a private investigator.
Oh, is that right? Make a pretty good living at it, do you? I get by.
Actually, I've heard a lot of good things about you.
You're a top-notch investigator, the kind of guy who'd do very well working in a firm like ours.
Well, I'm happy working for myself.
I like the hours.
We handle dozens of cases every year, big cases.
The kind that keep my daughters in private school.
As a matter of fact, we could use someone who knows when a case is worth investigating and when it isn't.
Mr.
Aldridge, what are you saying? Well, sometimes it works better for everyone not to spin your wheels, if you follow my drift.
Wait a minute.
You would pay me not to investigate? If it was to our benefit.
It's kind of like a government subsidy not to grow wheat.
Something like that, I guess.
So, in other words, let's say you had a case, insurance fraud.
Well, yes, that falls within our area of expertise.
Well, how much would that be worth to me? I mean, would I be paid on a commission basis or hourly? I could spend a lot of time not investigating.
That would be up to my discretion, Mr.
Magnum.
Well, would a murder be worth more than a burglary, for instance? I mean, I'd hate to waste my time not investigating the penny ante stuff.
I see we have nothing further to discuss.
No, no.
This is a fascinating concept.
I just need some time to think about it.
You know, maybe I could bring some cases to you.
There's this one case that I haven't been investigating for nearly five years.
Would this payment be retroactive? He should be reported.
I'm going straight to the Ethics Committee.
He didn't say anything.
We were alone and he didn't say anything incriminating.
He should be taken off the case! Will you calm down? You're getting all rattled.
That's exactly what he wants.
Now, come on, calm down.
All right, all right.
You're right.
I'm calm.
Good.
I just wish I would've been there, that's all.
I think we've got a match.
Oh, Thomas, look.
He's our guy! His name is Randy Lewis.
He was arrested as he reported to work.
Mr.
Lucky's Casino, Atlantic City.
Booking number 82015112.
Suspicion of murder.
His wife.
He was acquitted! Looks like he has a whole string of assault and battery arrests.
And no convictions.
Right.
Thomas Magnum.
Hi, Lieutenant.
Yeah, I heard you were in here.
Say, what's with you? You've been stepping on some toes again.
We just heard that some very important people are after your license.
Finding him at the girlfriend's house could be damaging.
Perhaps we could send her on a vacation? Someplace where the prosecution can't find her to make a deposition.
Call off the hearing, Aldridge.
Mr.
Aldridge, I tried to tell him you were busy.
Mr.
Magnum, we are preparing a case.
Now, we really don't have any more time for banter, as amusing as you are.
You got no grounds for trying to pull my license.
Well, let's see.
What about misrepresentation, conflict of interest, unethical conduct, just to name a few? You should have thought of the consequences before you barged into my office and tried to bully information out of me about my client.
I never talked about your client.
You called me.
I have no record of our calling him.
You're going to testify under oath at a court hearing that you didn't call me? Perhaps I won't have to testify at all.
It seems to me there are a number of witnesses that can attest to your abusive behavior.
It doesn't matter whether I investigate this case or someone else does.
You can't stop the process, Aldridge.
Your client is going on trial, and it'll be up to a jury to decide whether he's guilty or innocent, not you.
My client's guilt or innocence is not really any of my concern.
My only concern is to see that he's not convicted.
And by the way, the frosting on the cake is that I get to see your license revoked.
Now, I really hope you have some other way of earning a living, Mr.
Magnum, because your days as a private investigator are over.
Exactly what is the meaning of this? Well, it's a little hard to tell in the dark, but those look like the keys to my car, a car I bought with earnings from this very important case that I've been working on, because you, in a moment of petty and impulsive vindictiveness, a moment so unworthy of you, Higgins, you took away my rights to the Ferrari.
Well, you're going to have to do something about it.
It was belching exhaust fumes all over the Duchess of Wellington.
Was? You didn't turn it off? Of course I did.
If you turned it off, it won't start again! It was fouling the rose garden.
We're going back to a strict regimen, Magnum.
You may as well accept it.
My God.
What happened to that poor woman? Her husband.
He's being charged with her murder.
Do these photographs look funny to you, Higgins? I don't know whether it's the light or the pose.
I don't know.
Take a look at this.
The lower right-hand corner.
This is a photograph of a photograph.
They've been doctored.
That's a very distinct possibility.
I don't believe it.
How did she do it? Well, looks like she took an existing photograph, darkened it in areas to look like bruises, and then took a photograph of that so we couldn't tell it was tampered with.
But even the negatives are perfect.
Almost.
Take a look at it.
Here.
You can just see the corner of the original photograph right there, in here.
Ah! Oh, that poor woman.
Yeah.
That poor woman gave you false evidence.
Well, she's probably too scared to leave anything to chance.
I know how she feels.
Oh, Thomas, it's like I have opening-night jitters.
I keep having this recurring dream.
I dream that You promise you won't laugh? Not even a snicker.
In my dream, I get to court, I open my briefcase, and I have nothing in it except blank paper.
You promised you wouldn't laugh! I just keep thinking that there's something I haven't locked down, some loophole that Aldridge will pull his client through and it'll be all my fault.
I couldn't concentrate yesterday, so I went for a walk down to Queen Emma Street, and I'm just standing there, and I stood and I stared at that courthouse for the longest time.
Well, anyway, it made me feel better.
Carol, maybe we should talk to the little girl.
No.
She might remember something that would lead us to the weapon.
And then what do we do? We put her on the stand? Aldridge is gonna pull every trick in the book to get Bowman off.
And you wanna play by his rules? I don't want this guy walking away.
Well, neither do I.
Look, as a lawyer, I can tell you that she's not a reliable witness.
She's too young, she's too traumatized.
There's no telling what Aldridge would get her to say.
And the truth of it is that most lawyers would put her on the stand.
I can't, Thomas.
I just can't ask her to relive that night.
We have enough without her testimony.
And I am now going to go home and I'm gonna memorize it all one more time.
Thanks for supper.
And don't worry about it, Thomas.
We'll get him.
Yeah, I know.
Part of me knew that Carol was absolutely right.
But part of me couldn't put aside the price we'd pay if she was wrong.
I wasn't sure how I was going to get in to see the little girl or what I was going to say if I did see her.
But I knew I had to at least play it out.
Hi.
Nana isn't here.
She's inside.
Well, maybe I could talk to you.
Are you going to take my picture? Do you want me to? I saw you before.
Nana says you're going to make Greg go to jail for a long time.
Do you know why? He hurt Mommy.
Did you see him do that? I'm not supposed to tell.
Well, I think it would be all right to tell me.
No, it's all right.
You don't have to do that.
It's all right.
They were yelling and yelling, and he hit her, and all the books fell down, and then he left.
And I tried to hug her, but she pushed me away.
She told me to go to bed and she Then she She picked up the gun.
After he left? And it made a loud noise.
And my mommy died.
My mommy died! It's okay.
What have you done? She's sleeping.
My daughter was an only child, and she was spoiled.
She was used to having her own way.
And Lord knows, she had a lot of problems.
But she didn't deserve to die.
Railroading Bowman isn't gonna change that.
The fact that he didn't kill her is simply an accident of timing.
I wish to God I had pictures of every time he beat her up.
But you don't.
He tricked us, all of us, took us in and then betrayed us.
He robbed us of everything that was good about this family.
He belongs behind bars.
Not for murder.
Yes, for murder! He killed his first wife.
He was acquitted! He was guilty! You don't know that! This is a recording my granddaughter was making for my birthday.
I found it still in the tape recorder the next morning.
Don't! I'll call the police.
You leave and I'll call the police! You humiliate me one more time and I'll kill you.
Big man.
Big, scary man! I swear I'll kill you.
I got away with it before.
Don't push me.
I'll do it again! Oh, don't hurt me.
Big man.
Big, scary man! I swear I'll kill you.
I got away with it before.
Don't push me.
I'll do it again! He leaves right after that.
Then my daughter's suicide is also recorded, establishing, of course, that at least this time, he was not responsible.
When I found Debbie, I wiped her fingerprints off the gun, threw it into the trash compactor, and I called the police.
I didn't think, until much later, about fixing the photographs.
You take it with you, Mr.
Magnum.
Listen to it as many times as I have and then tell me if what I did was wrong.
How'd the hearing go? They gonna get your license? Aldridge withdrew the charges.
Hit-and-run tactic.
How you doing? Well, the jury selection went faster than I expected.
He's rushing me, hoping to push me off balance.
Well, you're too wily for that.
I was gonna call you later.
I've got you on the docket tomorrow.
I'm gonna be introducing the tire track pictures, so you'll have to explain how you went about taking them, how you know that they match the tires on the Rolls, all that stuff.
Okay? Is tomorrow all right? Carol, the tracks don't prove anything.
You don't need me to testify.
When you've built a case on overwhelming circumstantial evidence, you need to present every piece of that overwhelming circumstantial evidence.
I know the tire tracks aren't important by themselves, but they do corroborate the neighbor's testimony.
I I just don't know.
Oh, come on, Thomas.
Don't hang me up.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Private investigators often work right on the fringes of the law.
As a private citizen, I had no legal obligation to tell anyone that Bowman was innocent.
But what about the moral and ethical obligations? I wanted time to make the right decision, but it was clear I wasn't in control of how much time I'd have, or of anything else, for that matter.
These are superb specimens, Kenji.
They'll look absolutely magnificent once they're planted.
It will be comforting living once again in an ordered universe.
Hi, Thomas.
I'm sorry if I was kind of short with you today.
I guess I'm a little nervous about the case.
Will you call me back? I need to talk to you.
All right, Magnum, what is it that you want? Well, I was hoping I had butter, but I guess I'll just have to eat it plain.
Don't be flippant.
I'm referring to that collection of scrap metal and baling wire that you so whimsically call your car.
What do you want to get rid of it? I would love to get rid of it, Higgins, but I can't.
The guy who sold it to me won't take it back, and if I sell it as is, I'll lose money, so I guess I'll just have to take it to T.
C.
For another look.
Popcorn? No.
It's perfectly obvious what you're doing.
You're resisting my plan to go back to a military regimen.
This is all an elaborate trick to get the Ferrari back.
But it won't Aren't you going to answer your phone? No.
As I was saying, it won't work.
It's not a trick.
And don't answer my phone.
You can't just let it ring endlessly.
Don't answer my phone! Hey, Thomas, if you're worried about testifying, we can talk about what you're going to say.
But at least call me and let me know you're going to be there tomorrow.
Okay? Please? I don't know what else to say.
Call me.
You're worried about testifying tomorrow? I don't think I'm going to.
Trial by jury is one of the cornerstones of democracy.
I know that, Higgins.
And yet you would avoid your civic duty? Well, what would you do? I just found out this guy killed his first wife and was acquitted.
He can never be tried for that crime again.
Well, even so, I realize there are flaws in the system, but But, Higgins, he's about to go on trial for a second murder.
Then this time, surely, justice will prevail.
Will it? I have the proof that he didn't commit this crime.
Proof he doesn't even know about.
So what's my civic duty? Do I go forward and inform the court that he's innocent and let him walk away again? Or do I just keep quiet and let him go to jail for a crime he didn't commit? Well, you can't take these matters into your own hands.
That's vigilantism.
That's anathema to everything that is civilized and virtuous in human society.
It might also be justice.
Poetic justice, at least.
I'll call the police! You humiliate me one more time and I'll kill you! Big man.
Big, scary man! I swear I'll kill you.
I got away with it before.
Don't push me.
I'll do it again! Hello? Thomas, are you all right? Carol, if I take the stand, what do I have to testify to? Just the photographs.
That's all the physical evidence you have, unless you've come up with a signed confession.
That was a joke.
You will be there, won't you, Thomas? That's my car! And it is your expert opinion that these tracks were made by the tires which are on the Rolls-Royce driven by the defendant? Yes.
Thank you.
Mr.
Magnum, how long have you been a private investigator? Object.
Overruled.
The witness will answer the question.
About six years.
About six years.
And before that, you were in naval intelligence, is that correct? Your Honor, I Establishing the credibility of the witness, Your Honor.
Something the prosecution has already managed to do.
May I? These tire tracks, Mr.
Magnum, they're very impressive.
Is this the kind of work you did for your country? Your Honor, I object.
Withdraw the question.
Mr.
Magnum, you testified that these tracks match the tread on the tires of the Rolls-Royce driven by the defendant on the evening of July 18th of this year, is that correct? Yes.
I see.
Can you pinpoint for me the exact hour that those tracks were made? No.
I see.
Or, perhaps, who was driving the car the night the tracks were left in the mud? Can your photographs tell us that? No.
Your Honor, I object.
Yet this is the only physical evidence that you bring into this courtroom to tie this man to a crime he did not commit.
No.
What? No, it is not the only physical evidence I have of the events of that evening.
No further questions, Your Honor.
I'm trying to answer the question you asked me.
Your Honor, we request a brief recess.
The witness will be allowed to answer the question, Counselor.
I have a tape recording of the defendant and the victim No! You're not going anywhere! the night that she was killed.
Your Honor, there is no foundation laid for this evidence before anything can be played here.
I'll call the police.
You leave and I'll call the police! You humiliate me one more time and I'll kill you! Big man.
Big, scary man! Objection! Objection! Objection! I swear I'll kill you.
I got away with it before.
Don't push me.
I'll do it again! Your Honor Objection sustained.
Testimony will be struck from the record, and the jury is admonished to disregard it.
I will meet with counsel in my chambers.
You will join us, Mr.
Magnum.
Your conduct in court today was absolutely inexcusable.
This is hardly the first time you've testified in a court of law.
You know better than to bring unsubstantiated tapes to the witness stand.
Your Honor, you didn't hear what was on the rest of the tape.
I believe if you listen to Hearsay evidence, Your Honor.
There's no way of knowing whether that tape has been altered or manufactured.
It hasn't.
It's an unproven, unknown voice and therefore it's inadmissible.
The little girl can verify the conversation, Your Honor.
Your Honor! I'll hear the tape.
This is set on record.
Your conduct in court was absolutely inexcusable.
This is hardly the first time you've testified in a court of law.
You know better than to bring unsubstantiated tapes to the witness stand.
Your Honor, you didn't hear what was on the rest of the tape.
I believe if you listen to - Hearsay Your Honor, I don't know how that happened.
I thought I was turning it off.
I mean, the buttons are so close together.
I'll tell you what was on the rest of the tape.
There's no foundation.
I'd think there'd be an exception made in this instance, given the fact that evidence has been destroyed.
Even if we had the tape, it'd be hard to establish a foundation for its accuracy.
But, Your Honor, if you I'm afraid I'm going to have to rule for the defense.
But I wanna make one thing perfectly clear.
There will be no more theatrics in my courtroom.
Now, we'll recess while I consider the ramification of the altered tape, and then we'll resume in an hour.
Looks like you outsmarted me after all.
Thomas Let's go for a walk.
Did you ever find yourself in a position where you decide to do the right thing, no matter how hard it is, and then you go and do it and something else happens, something entirely different than what you thought would happen, and it turns out that that, in an odd sort of way, is probably more right than what you had in mind in the first place? You wanna run that by me one more time? No, I think I better leave it alone.
What do you think the chances are of a conviction? If the judge doesn't declare a mistrial, real good.
The jury was very impressed with that tape.
Thomas, it's better if I don't ask what was on the rest of that tape? Let's take a walk down Queen Emma Street.
There's a great view of the courthouse from the corner.
Come on.