"Courts Building" " Los Angeles" "Where is he?" "I took him back to my place, put him to bed at ten." "watched the news until eleven and then went to bed myself." "Then you woke up this morning and he was gone." "Sorry" "This punk." "Will you ask for a continuance?" "And hope the judge is in a good mood." "There was a murder in Hollywood last night you could be interested in." "Why?" "Fifteen-year-old blond named Jessica Costello." "Richard Cross had us represent her older sister on a solicitation charge a couple of years ago" "We beat it on entrapment." "How do we know the sister got murdered?" "The cleaning lady found her." "Naked, tied up, strangled." "Drugs all over the place." "Come with me" " Teddy" "Uh, excuse me, guys." "I gotta talk to my Doberman." "Ted" "I'm gonna need a minute" "Where the hell have you been?" " The gym." "You wanna go to Miami?" "I'll make the call" "Are you high?" " Ted, I'm fine." "Listen to me, Neil." "I worked my ass off getting you this deal." "And we still have to sell it to the judge." " Otherwise you go to jail." "Hey, Ted." "That's not gonna happen" "I don't care if it happens or not." "A couple of Christmases in jail." "Teddy, watch this." "Your honor, I'm embarrassed and sorry for this whole incident." "Let's go." "I want to get a clear mental picture of this" "You're at the Bel Air Hotel for a wedding." "Yes." "Yes, your honor, my manager's." "And you decide to feed one of the hotel swans a canape of gravlax and capers." "I guess that's right, your honor." "The swan bites you." "You wade into the pond and break its neck with your bare hands." "At which point a security guard tries to restrain you and you punch him in the face." "Have I misstated anywhere?" "Your honor, I'm embarrassed and sorry for this whole incident." "Mr. Avedon and the security guard, Mr. Velasquez, have reached a civil settlement" "As your honor is also aware, we've had discussions with the People concerning a plea agreement" "At this time Mr. Avedon is willing to enter a no contest plea to the included misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals." "Hoffman, given the Defendant's history of destructive and irresponsible behavior as documented in the probation report, is there a compelling reason why I should accept his plea?" "Judge, as he has in court, Mr. Avedon has expressed his remorse and apologies as well as making as making restitution to both Mr. Velasquez and to the management of the hotel." "I'm sure that's a great consolation to the swan." "Subsequently he has, uh, completed a drug and alcohol rehabilitation and counseling program under the supervision of Dr. Graham Lester." "documentation for which has been submitted to the court" "In light of my client's willingness to plea to the lesser charge the People's interests will not be served by engaging him in a protracted and costly trial." "A hung jury would probably be a turn-on for this broad." "What did you say?" "Your honor, I asked my lawyer a question." "your honor, may I approach the bench." "I apologize on behalf of my client for any perceived rudeness to either these proceedings or to you personally" "If the court can find its way to show compassion and understanding here, I am confident" "Mr. Avedon will have learned a very valuable lesson that hopefully will inspire him to attain the maturity." "Don't you sometimes make yourself sick?" "Sometimes, your honor" "I'm through cleaning up after you, you ungrateful little jerk." "You're fired." " Hey, man, Miami." "I don't want to go to Miami with you." "I don't want to go to Oxnard with you." "The next time you trash your hotel room or you punch your photographer or you push some girl out of your car on Sunset you know what, you call somebody else" "Morning, Lila." " Good morning, Mr. Hoffman." "Excuse me, Ted." " Bill." "Sorry I'm late." "Maybe I don't have 400 million bucks but I don't like waiting an hour and then getting bumped by Richard Cross." "Bill, give me two minutes, I'll find out what's going on" "How did we do?" "Tell Me whats going on with Richard Cross." "Cross is in your office." "I thought you want to see him." "Hello, Teddy." " Hello, Richard." "Thanks for seeing me." " What's the problem?" "There was a murder in Hollywood last night." "Fifteen-year-old girl." " Yeah." "I heard about it." "I own the apartment building that she died in." "Anything else?" "I have a relationship with her older sister, Julie Costello." "Do you know anything about what happened to the younger sister?" "No, She'd been staying with Julie a month" "We had a couple of casual conversations." "Where's Julie now?" "She's on a modeling assignment in Costa Rica." "I sent down my plane to bring her back." "Does your wife know about Julie?" "She has a general sense of things." "I have apprised her of the current situation, that I own the building." "I would be relieved and grateful if you would represent me on this, Teddy" "Police have been calling my office all morning." "Have you spoken to them?" " No" "I suppose I'll have to sooner or later because I own the building." "Who called you?" " Detective Polson." "He asked me to go down there." "If your interests or theirs become adversarial, I wouldn't let you go." "No, It shouldn't become adversarial" "Louis." " Yes?" "Get me,Arthur Polson, Robbery/Homicide." "Do you know him?" " Yes" "Really appreciate you coming down here, Mr. Cross." "I'm happy to cooperate." " My wife and daughter go to the Philharmonic." "Have a seat." "I know you're the main supporter of that." "I'm glad they enjoy it." "How is it Mr. Cross can help you?" "We would like some info about that homicide at your building." "What kind of info?" " In connection with the ownership" "That is your building, am I correct?" "It's owned by a company that I control." "Would that give you occasion to be in the building?" "Not particularly." " Because several tenants... have seen you in the building." "Do you have any friends in there?" "I have a relationship with the older sister of the girl who was killed." "I see." " We've been involved with each... other for almost two years now." "Would this involvement be an intimate nature?" "Come on, Polson." " We all understand romance." "How else can Mr. Cross help you?" " So this Julie Costello... any idea where we could reach her?" "She's out of the country." "She'll be back tomorrow." "She's a model?" " Yes." "And you've been in touch with her since the homicide?" "Yes, I told her what happened." "When she returns she will make contact" "She will?" " Yes." "Jessica, how much contact did you have with her?" "Not much, She'd been visiting Julie for about six weeks" "I might have had four or five casual conversations with her." "This girl didn't look to you for guidance." "You've no idea who might have done this?" "No" "No idea why it might have happened?" "No." "Have you been in the building recently?" "Not for several days." "We appreciate your cooperation, Mr. Cross." "You're a busy man but if anything comes to mind... we could sure use the help." "Here's my card." "If you think of anything, just give me a call." "If you have any further need for my client, contact me." "Why, certainly counselor" "Thank you." "I got a good feeling for you on this one, Hoffman." "Your guy's in this up to his hips." "You get to soak him plenty." "If he's in it, he's lucky you caught the case." "Kiss my ass, pal." "Well." "That seemed to go fine." "Richard Cross has met with police investigators as a courtesy." "He is not a suspect." "He is cooperating fully with... the LAPD to help solve this murder." "Mr. Cross is acquainted with the... victim's family and would like to express his heart-felt sympathy over this senseless tragedy." "Thanks guys." "Your calls." "The one from Sidney Wellman's urgent and Dave Blalock is in your office." "Everyone in the conference room in ten minutes." "What's this?" "From Gary Blondo for keeping Neil Avedon out of jail." "They're sweet." "Take it home if you want." " I think not." "Hey, Dave." "I always hope those news copters will crash into each other." "Does that make me a bad person?" "Are they over that dead girl's building in Hollywood?" "Probably." "How come Polson's sniffing around Richard Cross?" "He owns that building." "He's been having an affair with the sister." "Polson like him for the murder?" " He said that Cross was very deep in it." "If they've got anything it'd be too early to be from the autopsy." "Well let me call around, see what I can find out." "Look at the mistress too." "We beat a prostitution beef for her two years ago." "You wouldn't think she'd be going out the back door on a guy like Richard Cross." "Course maybe that's not on her job description, her needing to be bright." "How come Belchimer recused himself from Molina?" "Prosecution found out one of his clerks brought harassment charges against him." "It doesn't ring a bell." "I probably haven't seen her paperwork." "But you couldn't have missed her though." "Great ass." "Killer boobs." " They're fake You're jealous." "She works out at my gym." "Busy day, folks." "For the record, we no longer represent Neil Avedon." "I just closed out the file and sent the final bill to his business manager." "Lisa, what's the story with Sidney Wellman?" "His daughter shoplifted a raincoat at Nordstrom." " A raincoat?" "It was raining." "I have a call in to Jack Ryan at the city's attorney's office." "Who took Bill Weingart for me this morning?" "I practiced my posture for him." "He'll be all right." "Arnold, how's it going on Schaffer?" "Motions to suppress luggage search are almost done." "It better work." "They found three kilos in his underpants." "Case law's with us." "They didn't have a warrant... and the guy doesn't fit the courier profile." "Ted, are you going to tell us abou Richard Cross or do we have to beg?" "It's more sizzle than steak." "Plenty of sizzle though." "You got your naked fifteen-year-old victim." "You got your presence of drugs." "Your rumors of sexual depravity." "And your gorgeous older sister and former alleged prostitute linked romantically to the rich, powerful and married, Richard Cross which could all just be sizzle." "The press'll beat it to death for three days and move on." "Anything else?" "We're out of here." "Ted, Ted?" " Yeah?" "I get the feeling there's more to come of this Richard Cross situation." "Well, I'm not expecting it though." "Okay, point being if there should be further developments," "I would like you to consider me for the second chair" "Because I think I've more than earned my shot." "I'd be surprised if any more were to come of it." "Excuse me, Arnold." " Life's full of surprises." "Mr. Cross." "Richard." "Detective Polson called me, he needs to ask me more questions." "We're not going back down there." "I told him to meet me here." "Real fast, detective." "We need to firm up a couple of things you told us in your last visit to that building." "When was that again?" " Saturday." "You sure on the day?" " He answered you." "Do you know a Paul McGalion, Mr. Cross?" " No, I don't" "He manages your building." "A real estate company oversees the property." "They hire those people." "Your garage has a camera in it and when we opened it the tape was missing" "Little while ago the manager admitted he lifted it" "Can I put this in?" " We don't need visual aids." "What'd ya got?" "We got one of these." "Not as expensive." "This was taken last night in the parking garage of your building." "The manager was going to blackmail you with this." "Is Mr. Cross under arrest?" "What were you doing in that building, Mr. Cross?" "That's it." "If you're not arresting him, you're through here." "If you can make us understand this tape, Mr. Cross." "Not a word, Richard." "Mr. Hoffman's my attorney and I'm going to follow his advice." "There's the door." "Use it." "A lawyer always wants you to think it's us against you, Mr. Cross." "Doesn't have to be that way." "I'm not your confessor and I'm not your judge." "But if you withhold the facts I need to deal with as your lawyer." "I'm not going to represent you." "Facts are I was in that apartment for less than a minute and... she was dead when I walked in." "Why were you there if your girlfriend was out of town?" "When Julie went out of town she asked me if she'd give Jessica... my phone number and I said of course." "Jessica called me last night on my cell phone, very frightened... and asked me to come over to the apartment." "Why was she frightened?" " She wouldn't say" "I got there about forty-five minutes later." "When I walked in, she was dead." "Where were you when she called?" " I was out clubbing with a friend." "I dropped her off at her place before I went to see Jessica." "Who was the friend?" " Beverly." "She's a model." "Did you touch the body, Richard?" " No" "They're going to do every kind of test on that girl's body." "Listen to me, Teddy." "I did not touch her!" "And I never had sex with her!" "So, where do I stand with the police?" " You're a suspect." "Well, can they arrest me?" " Of course they can." "Please help me." "It's hard for me to help you when I'm being handled." "I'm sorry I didn't tell you the whole truth before, Ted." "The whole truth's a pretty ambitious goal, Richard." "But do tell me the truth I need to know." "Hi honey." " Hey." "Daddy, look, you're on tv." "Son of a bitch leaked the videotape." " Daddy, you owe me a quarter for swearing." "Honey, here's a quarter and a kiss." "why don't you take the puppy upstairs." "I'll call you when dinner's ready." "Did he kill that girl?" "He says no." "Do you believe him?" "I think so." "He had a reason to be in that building." "Everyone who knows him knows him, Ted." "The cocaine." "The hookers he cheats on her with, while Francesca makes a life out of looking the other way." "It's a long way from cheating on your wife to killing a fifteen-year-old." "Are they going to arrest him?" "Not off what they have now." "And he says there's nothing else." "I hope it's true." "'Cause if it's not, it's going to turn into a circus around here." "I'm sorry we're meeting again under these circumstances, Julie." "Where's Richard?" "He wanted to be here but I didn't think it was a good idea." "The media's all over this." " I'll bet." "He asked me to tell you his car and driver will pick up your parents at LAX later today and he's gotten a suite for you at the Bel Air Hotel under the name Mary Abbot." "All right." "Do you want to go there now?" "You look exhausted." "No." "What do I have to do with the police?" "A family member needs to identify Jessica." "Do I have to look at her body?" "It's a photo ID." "Then, when you're ready, the police will interview you." "Let's get it all over with." "It's her." "That's my sister." " I'm sorry for your loss" "Appreciate you letting her make the ID here." "No problem." "I want to ask you some questions, Ms. Costello." "Do you need to take a minute?" " No" "Can you help us out with who might have done this, Ms. Costello?" "You don't think it was a prowler, somebody from the street?" "We don't." "There's no indication of forced entry." "Maybe someone from the clubs." "She went to a lot of them." "Was she involved with drugs?" " She was trying to stop" "She would go to meetings But she still used." "My parents sent her out her because she kept in trouble in Minneapolis." "Maybe I should have been more involved in her life." "I guess I thought she'd just figure it out on her own like I had to." "You had some difficulties yourself a few years ago." "And?" "Any chance your sister was involved in that regard?" "In prostitution?" "No." "Neither was I" "Ms. Costello, there were some sexual aspects to your sister's murder I can't say exactly what." "Then why mention it?" "What's your point?" "Ms. Costello, what kind of relationship did Richard Cross have with your little sister?" "He was like a second father to her" "I told Jessica to call him if she had any problems while" "I was out of town." "If he was over there that must have been why." "So you're a big Richard Cross supporter?" "And of course he's a big supporter of yours." "We're done here." "Let's go." "Teddy." "Good to see you." "Come on in." "You know Miriam Grasso?" " A long unrequited love." "It never would have worked." "He'd have kept me barefoot... and pregnant." "You're doing a hell of a job on that Keller trial, Miriam." "Isn't she?" "Old Mike Swainey's gonna need an ego transplant by the time she's through with him." " Aw, come on, guys" "Hey, Teddy, that client of yours is very photogenic in that garage film." "Miriam, you know they can do wonderful things with videotape these days." "Off to dismember Swainey." "Toodles" "Teddy, I'm as mad about that tape getting out as you are." "Richard Cross is my friend and one of my most generous supporters." "The cops just heard from Cross' mistress about why he was in the apartment that night." "Very innocuous." "Keep embarrassing this man and you're gonna stink all over." "I hear you, Ted." "I'll make a call and try to put a leash on Polson." "I can't imagine there's anything substantive that will link Richard to this mess." "Whatever you imagine, Roger, let's just keep things civil." "No surprises." "No surprises, Teddy." "I promise." "Ted, could we just have a quick chat?" " I'm stacked up, Justine." "I know." "If I could just talk to you over here for one second." "Look, I'm not going to be shy about this." "I want to be part of this case so bad I can taste it." "There is no case." " So far, But when there is you're never going to go with Arnold for obvious reasons." "So it's either Chris, me or Lisa." "I'm as good as Chris is." "I know you well enough." "you're going to want a woman on this one." "Between me and Lisa, I'm the better attorney" "And when it comes to courtroom experience we both know it's my ass you're going to want in that second seat." "I'll take it under advisement." "Gary Blondo wants you to call ASAP with regards to Neil Avedon and Richard Cross is in reception." "He seems distraught." " Richard." "Neil Avedon was busted two hours ago." " For what?" "He was popped in a drug buy." "Ted, this kid could hurt me." "How?" " Well, one of my sources... told me right after he was arrested, Polson went in to talk to him." "In here." "Mr. Hoffman?" "Hello there, counselor." "I have a warrant for Mr. Cross' arrest." "What the hell for?" " Murder." "I have to take you into custody, sir." "It's okay, Richard." "Stay calm." "How the hell am I supposed to find a judge at a quarter to five on a Friday afternoon?" "Not my problem, counselor." "Put the cuffs on him." "Hold it." "You want to tell me how your case got... so compelling all of a sudden?" " Unless you want to get arrested too, counselor, back off." "Turn around for me please." "You can come down with me, Teddy?" "`Teddy' can meet you downtown after you've been booked and fingerprinted." "Let's take a ride, Mr. Cross." "Teddy?" "Stay calm, Richard." "Don't say anything." "Up to his hips, counselor." "Find Francesca Cross and bring her down to Parker Center." "Francesca." " Did he do it, Teddy?" "Richard's adamant he wasn't involved." "He's going to need all your understanding and support to get through this." "With all of his ass-kissing cronies' understanding and support?" "And all the understanding and support of his girlfriends." "Now he has yours." "What does he need mine for?" "Francesca, you have every reason to be hurt and upset." "But right now... things are very delicate and very public." "I'd like you to wait with Ms. Appleton." "In a little while I'm going to be giving a statement to the press... and I'd like you by my side." "Can I count on you for that?" "Yes." " Good." "Would you give Richard a message for me?" " Ofcourse." "Tell him this is going to be very expensive." "No surprises, huh?" " I honestly didn't know about this." "Miriam Grasso signed off on the warrant." "I wasn't notified of the arrest until after they'd already picked him up." " At a quarter to five on a Friday... so Polson can keep him inside over the weekend." "Teddy, if I'd been in the loop I'd have called you myself to arrange his surrender." "And it wouldn't have been on a Friday." "This afternoon all you had was a videotape." "Now we've got more." "Other than what I've already told you I can't comment... on an ongoing investigation." "I'm going to a judge tonight to get my client out on a writ." "I hope you're not going to oppose me." "I've known Richard Cross for fifteen years." "As a personal matter I hope to God he's innocent." "So cutting through all your feelings of guilt and remorse... you're going to oppose the writ?" " I'm sorry, Ted." "My hands are tied." "Mr. Hoffman?" "You can talk to your client now" "Get me out of here." "I'm gonna try to get a writ but the DA's gonna fight me." "And no judge is gonna want to look like he's caving in to your influence." "Get me out!" "What's Neil Avedon telling the cops?" "I have no idea." "When Jessica called me she said that she and Avedon... had done a lot of coke and they'd gotten into some kind of argument." "Things got violent." "Then she went into the bathroom... and locked herself in." "How did she know him?" " How did she know him?" "They met at a club." "She became one of his groupies." "And you went over to the apartment after she called." "The door was open." "There was only light from some candles" "When I called her name she didn't answer." "I walked up to her bedroom." "She was lying there." "She was naked" "Her wrists were tied to the bedpost." "Her eyes were open." "It was like she was staring right at me." "I didn't know what to do so I got the hell out of there." "That's it, Teddy." "Were you having a sexual relationship with the girl?" "She was fifteen years old." " That's a plus for some people." "Not for me." "What was your relationship to Neil Avedon?" "Did you take drugs with him?" "Understand this, Richard." "What you're involved in now, facts are weapons." "I can be the best lawyer in the world... but if I go in unarmed I'm going to get my ass kicked." "I'll get over that." "But you'll get executed." "I understand." " I'm not sure you do." "But at some point it's going to sink in." "Can I get out of here?" " Not tonight." "I'll see you in the morning." "Try to get some rest." "There is no foundation whatsoever for the outrageous charges made against Richard Cross." "he precipitous action of the LAPD and the District Attorney's office... shows a reckless disregard for the rights of one of this community's most distinguished citizens." "Mr. Cross has every confidence justice will prevail and that he... will be cleared of any wrongdoing." "Thank you very much." "I am here tonight to be with my husband." "I know the kind of man that he is." "I stand by him." "And I'm confident that... he'll be home soon." "Thank you." "No judge would touch the writ so we're looking at... a Monday morning arraignment." "The prosecution's going to oppose bail because it's a death penalty case." "By noon tomorrow I want case law on the... possibility of bail for murder one." "Arnold's in charge." "Any questions?" "the DA's making it murder one as a deliberate premeditated act?" "Also homicide during the commission of a rape." "Can sex with a fifteen- year-old be consensual?" "Doesn't matter, it's illegal." "Besides to raise a consensual... defense we'd have to admit the act and we've got a client... that says he didn't do it" "All right, everybody, work with Arnold." "Arnold, can I talk to you?" "Does this mean I'm you're guy?" " You're my guy for tonight." "What about Monday morning?" "Who's going to be the second chair?" "Arnold, I know how badly you want it." "But I need you for motions." "You're the best legal writer I know." "And I'm not exactly commanding courtroom presence." "Chris Dochnovich is and I'm not going with him either." "Oh yeah, female victim, allegations of sexual assault." "`Arnold, you know we're gonna need the added credibility... a woman brings to the team.' Yep." "I appreciate your understanding in that spirit, Arnold." "There's no one in the firm I value more." "Lisa, have a drink with me." "I want every one of those jurors to trust you like a sister." "To feel like you've heard Cross' story and you believe it... and they should too because you wouldn't invest your integrity in a guilty man." "How many business suits do you own?" "Four." " Buy three more." "I'll shoot you an advance if you need it." "I don't want you in the same outfit twice in a week." "Okay, I can go shopping tomorrow." "Ted, could I have a moment" " What's up?" "We dug up some promising cases on the bail issue" "Is she second chair?" " Yes." "You're going to be working on motions with Spivak." "I'm sorry Lisa." "Teddy, don't make that decision now." "You were out of line with the press and you're out of line now." "Teddy, come on." "Turn around, keep a smile on your face as you walk out... of here and go back to work with Arnold." "Ready?" " If you think I am" "I know you're ready for the case." "I meant are you ready to go?" "Can I have a word with you?" " Call my office." "Here's, eh, fifty bucks." "Jump up on the bar and dance." "A local wit." "Come on, Hoffman." "You know this guy's guilty." "I'm not interested in talking with you." "You know what I think?" "I think hookers on Sunset got more scruples than you got." "Do you think anyone in this bar believes you've got a head of hair?" "We all know that's a comb-over." "But till you get so obnoxious you forfeit your right to civil treatment, no one in here points it out." "Think of the trial system like that." "We know accused people aren't always innocent." "Maybe not even usually innocent." "Now start to twist things around, huh." "And even though we know that, we treat people like they're innocent until they've had their shot in court because it makes us better people." "It civilizes us to treat them that way." "Civility's important." "That's why no one in here called you a self-deceiving fool until you opened your drunken mouth." "I'm not gonna dance for you but..." "I'll put up fifty bucks of my own, you put up yours and the bartender'll hold the stakes." "Are you betting your guy didn't do it or you're gonna get him off?" "Never bet against me on that." "CNN and Hard Copy called five times." "Every local station, the wire services... and Nigel... somebody, from the London Times needs you to call him back ASAP" "Is the machine on?" " Yeah." "I'll have Louis change the number in the morning." "How's Elizabeth?" " Good." "You missed one of my better halibuts." " Sorry." "How's Richard Cross?" " Owh he loves it down there." "Now do you think he did it?" " I don't know, Annie." "Circus is in town, huh?" "Promise me, we'll keep Elizabeth as far away from this as we can." "I promise."