by two separate yet equally important groups:
The police, who investigate crime
and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders.
These are their stories.
So, I testify on a couple of RDO's.
What's the difference to him?
It's not out of their pocket.
Everybody gets one, Jack.
You'll get yours.
Hey, I need them.
She's dropping cash like it's on fire.
Every card's jacked full.
Ah-ha!
A horse is a horse, of course.
My kingdom for a horse!
Look at this.
The next De Niro.
Hey!
You guys want to get that stuff
back to costume, please?
Hey, Graham.
I think this is it.
Sorry. I didn't know you were waiting for them.
Priscilla?
You decent?
No need praying, prissy.
Reviews can't hurt us now.
( phone disconnect beeping rapidly over receiver )
What if David Merrick's trying to call?
( hangs up phone, beeping stops )
Oh, God!
( gasping )
OFFICER: Where are the damn paramedics?
I radioed.
They're coming.
Hold on, honey.
I didn't want to do it.
I didn't...
want to do...
All right.
Let 'em through.
report to the solarium. Dr. Kipper,
please. Dr. Kipper to the solarium,
This your run?
We got there first.
19. Her name was Priscilla Blaine.
Cause of death?
Narcon's response was positive.
She O.D.'d.
Who found her?
Classmates
at the Academy of Dramatic Arts.
No business like show business.
If she O.D.'d, what do you need us for?
Before she died, over and over:
"I didn't want to do it.
I didn't want to do it."
She didn't want to do what?
Hey, you're wearing the suits.
Ohh.
Oh, my God.
Amitriptyline.
Never heard of it.
Antidepressant.
How much she take of it?
About 200 milligrams.
Could probably do a small elephant.
Was there any physical trauma, any bruises,
anything suspicious?
She did have an Ace bandage on her right ankle.
Nothing wrong with it.
No visible bruising about the ligament.
An old injury?
No blood in the joint space.
Fashion statement?
Priscilla wasn't on drugs.
I would have known if she was on drugs.
Mrs. Blaine, would you happen to know
if Priscilla was seeing a psychiatrist?
See, the reason I'm asking is
the drug in her system was an antidepressant.
She wasn't depressed.
You mind if we take this?
We were going to have new head shots taken next week.
Patti, did your sister happen to mention to you
anything about seeing new people lately?
Um...
i wouldn't really know.
I remember the first day she got into the academy.
They took 50 out of 1,500.
Ever since she could talk,
she wanted to be a performer.
She didn't do drugs.
She was too focused.
They just would have slowed her down.
You think she was happy?
Yeah, she was.
I guess.
WOMAN: Anything for anyone.
It's just...
it's not her.
What do you mean-- the drugs?
Mm-hmm.
She didn't believe in them.
I thought she'd be hit by lightning
before she'd die like that.
The officer who was here last night said,
she kept repeating, "I didn't want to do it."
You know what that was about?
No.
Is it possible somebody pressured her
into taking the pills?
No one's really into that around here.
Yeah, there was a lot of drinking
because it was closing night.
I don't know.
Did she have a boyfriend?
We broke up a few months ago.
It was getting weird.
Yeah?
Was she depressed by the break?
Not quite.
She dumped me.
When you and Priscilla were together,
did she like to party a lot
you know?
No, Priscilla didn't do drugs.
The only pills she took were birth control.
God only knows why.
You mean the intimacy level was a little...
It was great at first,
but then five, six months ago, she weirded out.
Holding hands became a big deal.
Did you talk about it?
She said she was seeing someone about it.
A shrink?
She started seeing one before we broke up.
You know who he was?
Uh... Seliger. Up at P and S.
Unfortunately, it falls under the category of privilege.
Whose?
I mean, the girl's dead.
Privilege does survive the death of a patient, Detective.
Does that include prescription history?
Priscilla asked me for something a few weeks ago.
I told her I didn't think that it was necessary.
Her friends are telling us she didn't even like pain killers.
I'd say that was an accurate assessment.
Really,
I wish I could help.
Doctor, we understand that.
Now, bottom line,
we just want to know who can waive that privilege.
If the court appoints a personal representative,
they could sign a waiver on Priscilla's behalf.
Oh.
It would probably be...
her mother.
MRS. BLAINE: I just don't understand.
If Priscilla had problems, she knew she could come to me.
Mrs. Blaine,
as parents, we all want to feel that way
but they all have things they don't want to tell us.
I used to brush her hair every night.
She'd tell me about her day--
all the little details.
A hundred strokes.
She had hair like Rita Hayworth.
Did she cut it recently?
Sometimes children don't appreciate what they have.
Mrs. Blaine, Dr. Seliger may be the only person who can tell us
if Priscilla's death was accidental or not
but he can't tell us anything
unless the administrator of Priscilla's estate
waives the patient-doctor confidentiality.
Maybe it's not anybody's business what they talked about.
She didn't want me to know when she was alive.
I don't see any reason to change that now.
My mother got pregnant with me when she was 17.
I kind of put the brakes on her career.
She was an actress?
She was a pretty woman with a fair voice,
whose main claim to fame was Eliza Doolittle
at the Bloomfield Community Playhouse.
We haven't spoken in two years...
until this.
Why the rift?
Well, 12 years of dance class, three times a week,
and acting class twice a week is a bit wearing.
My mother couldn't decide if I was Martha Graham
or Helen Hayes.
And which were you?
I was Patti Blaine.
So I got out before I wasn't.
And Priscilla?
Since she was three-- lessons, agents.
Kind of like the last hope.
She never even knew she had a choice.
Your mother's a sales clerk, isn't that right?
This academy must be pretty expensive.
Priscilla helped with the tuition.
Oh?
Our father died when we were young
and he left us some money.
You and your sister stayed pretty close?
We talked a couple times a month.
Just, "Hi. How are you?"
Nothing big.
When was the last time?
About a week ago.
It never sounded like anything was wrong.
Not much of a big sister.
Who did she talk to, Patti?
Probably Jasmine.
They grew up together.
Maybe we never really knew her.
Some of the stuff she pulled was confusing.
Like what?
She faked hurting her ankle to get out of some big show.
Why?
Didn't she want to dance anymore?
I don't know.
She always thought everyone was better than she was.
LOGAN: Were they?
Priscilla was good.
She had to work at everything she got.
Now, her sister was the natural.
She did everything better than Priscilla
with half the effort, and she just shined it on.
She didn't want it.
Maybe, in a weird way,
she had more guts than Priscilla.
Did Priscilla ever give you
any indication that she was unhappy?
I don't think Priscilla knew
whether or not she was unhappy.
She was probably happiest
when she was pleasing her mother.
And lately?
Lately she just wasn't herself.
Pressured, absentminded.
She even left her backpack here a couple of times
and that's certainly not like her.
This one?
She spends her life trying to replace her sister.
She couldn't take the pressure, and checks out.
Why is she found kneeling by an unhooked phone
moaning, "I didn't want to do it"?
She changed her mind
or she's talking about show biz stuff.
But not about the drugs?
She'd do anything to please other people.
Are you saying she got talked into partying?
She's much too anti-drugs.
Maybe. Maybe not.
How anxious was she to please?
A kid, when I was growing up, in Little League--
his old man, every game, was yelling orders at him.
So?
A game before play-off,
the kid hits a dink to shortstop.
He dives headfirst into first base.
Dislocated his shoulder.
You're saying a ten-year-old intentionally hurt himself?
It's subconscious.
He couldn't take the pressure.
My mother hounded me to practice the piano.
I wish I had learned.
You'll make your kids do things they don't want to?
From the moment they're on earth.
Brush your teeth, do your homework, you're grounded...
That's different.
It's just a matter of degree.
What the hell's that?
Unlabeled.
Yeah.
Ohh.
Right here.
Ohh.
LOGAN: That's her.
Your girl had a shadow life.
Good bet on where the drugs came from, huh?
CRAGEN: Who knows about it?
Jasmine? Her boyfriend?
LOGAN: Maybe none of them.
See what you can find out about this company--
Candlelight Productions.
No one knows anybody anymore.
We may know one thing--
what "I didn't want to do it" means.
Candlelight Productions went out of business
six weeks ago.
What?
She's been meeting someone named J.Z.
Two or three times a week.
Could be a nickname for Jasmine.
I don't think so.
It only shows up six months ago.
Before that, nothing.
I never heard of anyone named J.Z.
LOGAN: She never mentioned anything?
Six months, two, three times a week
and you didn't know anything?
CERRETA: Jasmine...
Priscilla is dead.
Any secrets she had are no longer worth keeping.
( heavy sigh )
He owns a club in Chelsea--
flash dancers.
A strip joint?
It's not a dirt palace.
Just businessmen.
Yuppies out for a good time, that kind of thing.
I was the only one who knew.
Knew what-- that she worked there?
It was good money--
really good money.
She was trying to earn enough to move out.
Whatever she did,
I don't want to know about it.
She give you a lot of trouble?
They all do.
It's like baby-sitting.
Come on, girls.
Come on, come on.
This one though...
( sighs )
she could really shake it.
When did she stop working?
I haven't seen her in three months.
She was getting film interest.
The good ones-- they're tough to keep.
Suddenly, they don't show up.
And when they do, they're lit, right?
You got to figure
there's a lot of drugs in and out of here.
Whatever the girls do.
What kind of film interest was Priscilla getting?
Do you know the people?
We're not talking Cecil B. Demille.
They're around all the time.
I don't associate with them.
It's not my trade.
J.Z., help us out here.
You must know somebody we could talk to
who might know these people.
Yeah, there's a guy.
His name is Ed Zakaris.
He's a pig.
Candlelight Productions, uh...
never heard of them.
Maybe it went by a different name.
If I didn't hear...
Look, we saw the tape.
Yeah?
Wouldn't be surprised.
How did it get past you, Ed?
Look, these businesses are fly-by-night.
They grab some jerk.
He invests in their flick.
They make it.
They close.
They open up next week-- new name.
Candlelight.
Flashlight.
Whatever.
What about this director-- Franklin Fromm?
He was one of the great ones.
He won the Best Actor Award ina Group Scene-- 1975.
That's terrific.
Mr. Olivier's address.
Did she work in your films?
Oh, yeah, sure.
The one with the mother.
You know her mother?
Elizabeth.
Mrs. Blaine knew
that Priscilla worked for you?
She set it up.
I thought you found Priscilla at flash dancers?
Yeah, I gave her my card.
Next thing, her mom gives me a call.
Does she know what kind of films you make?
Dropped her off, watched us shoot.
Must have cooled off the set.
She kept her distance.
Didn't even want her kid talking
to the other actresses.
What about when Mom wasn't around?
It's just...
it's just so hard to believe.
I mean, I was the one that was supposed to die.
I tested positive last month.
( sighs )
It's a cost of business.
I made 1,000 bucks a day.
Priscilla make that kind of cash?
No.
She was just foreplay.
She never went all the way.
Her mom wouldn't let her.
Girl's in
a prestigious school.
Why do porno?
It wasn't her, it was her mom.
You believe that?
I mean, just pushing, pushing, you know?
Priscilla was shy.
It was hard for her.
I mean, a few times, she got so nervous she cried.
Would nervous actresses drop something?
Well, I did, when I was working.
It made me forget what I was doing.
What was it, amitripty...?
Amitriptyline.
Trips.
I couldn't go on without it.
Did Priscilla use this?
Well, I told her it would help her relax.
LOGAN: You gave her
the drugs?
I said never to take more than one.
She took eight.
Well, uh...
she must have been freaked.
I mean...
It was this new flick she was going to be starring in.
Starring, huh?
You mean no more foreplay?
Her mother knew what she would have to do?
Well, she'd been on sets.
I mean, she knew
people didn't pay to see the stars hold hands.
Angel admitted to giving Priscilla the drugs?
You want to charge her?
Let's cut her a deal.
She'll testify Mommy Dearest
forced her daughter into pornography.
You want to charge the mother with murder?
It was a suicide.
Brought on by doing porno
which the mother forced her into.
"I didn't want to do it..." over and over again.
Come on, Mike! That could mean a lot of things.
The most probable being she was freaked out by the porno.
Well, it's a dying utterance.
It's admissable, but only for what it's worth.
So, what do you think?
We could take a run at "depraved indifference to human life."
Suicide was the inevitable consequence.
You don't believe she's guilty, do you?
Of being a rotten mother, yes.
But if a kid robs a bank, you put the parents in jail?
Maybe, if there was cause and effect.
She was 19.
She could have left home.
She did not have
to kill herself.
Maybe she did.
( locks turning )
CERRETA: Mrs. Blaine, you are under arrest
for the murder of Priscilla Blaine.
What?
The charges are murder in the second degree,
manslaughter in the first and second degree,
and criminally negligent homicide.
How does the defendant plead?
Not guilty.
Your Honor, the People are asking $500,000.
Judge, my client is mourning the loss of her child.
JUDGE: Violins, Mr. Pollard?
Bail is set at $250,000.
( gavel pounds )
BAILIFF: Next case: docket #66273--
People v. Johnson.
Solicitation for purposes of prostitution...
SCHIFF: Even if you could prove
that the mother forced the girl
to make the films against her will,
you'll still have a hell of a time proving
that was the proximate cause of the girl's death.
Case in Indiana,
a girl is kidnapped, sodomized, sexually abused.
A year later, she took poison and died.
The court ruled the conduct of her assailant
was the proximate cause of her death.
This isn't Indiana.
In New York,
suicide is an independent intervening act.
Therefore, the mother's actions, no matter how despicable,
are not the cause-in-fact of the girl's death.
Unless we can prove that Mrs. Blaine knew the films
were making Priscilla suicidal.
Mr. Robinette, I'm sure you know
that I can't possibly...
I know the difference
between real patients
and hypothetical ones.
All right.
One could argue that such a hypothetical patient
might be an exhibitionist
and there was nothing anyone could have done
to prevent her death.
But if she were forced by someone--
a loved one, husband, parent...?
Being forced into the sordid life
by someone she loved
could be so deleterious to her mental health
that it had to be
a substantial and contributory cause of suicide.
And you've dealt with patients
or a patient
who's had similar pressure?
Yes... I have.
He's got a lot to say... only he can't say it.
Privilege can be waived.
By the administrator of the decedent's estate.
Mrs. Blaine already applied for letters.
Priscilla had money her father left her.
The bank won't release it without tax waivers.
Return date's next week.
Mrs. Blaine is charged with killing her daughter.
I'd say her interests
are adverse to that of the estate.
There's a sister, isn't there?
You know any good probate lawyers?
Would I have to go to court?
Surrogate court appoints the administrator of an estate
when there's no will.
And that would give you the authority
to waive the doctor-patient privilege.
If Dr. Seliger
takes the stand, it will be the closest thing
to Priscilla being there herself.
STONE: This is not easy, what we're asking.
You want me to testify against my mother.
It's not a criminal proceeding.
It's a civil hearing.
One thing I learned growing up
and that's you don't cross my mother.
Priscilla knew that too.
I can't help but wonder if I hadn't have left...
if I didn't quit...
Your leaving is not the cause of Priscilla's death.
I believe you know what caused your sister's death.
I'm just asking for the legal right
to get to the truth.
Petition for letters of administration
in the Estate of Priscilla Blaine.
Objections filed by Partricia Blaine.
Objections filed
on the grounds that the applicant's appointment
would not be in the best interest
of the estate.
You Honor, the D.A. is using the proceedings
to mount a witch hunt.
I'm here to represent Ms. Blaine, not the D.A.
Are the parties prepared?
Ready, Your Honor.
Ready.
Does the District Attorney's Office
have charges pending against the petitioner?
Yes, we do.
What are those charges?
She's been indicted for the murder of her daughter.
An indictment is not a conviction
and no evidence of my client's guilt.
The grand jury is nothing more than a D.A.'s puppet.
Enough, Mr. Pollard.
The court takes judicial notice of the indictment.
Patti: When we were little, she had us both taking lessons,
trying to get an agent.
How old were you?
Five.
And Priscilla?
She was three.
Was this something
you both enjoyed?
I didn't.
And your sister, Priscilla?
It was harder for her.
I left, and after that,
Priscilla was expected to fill that void.
I see. And what did these expectations entail?
Well, when she was five,
she had dance class three times a week after school
and Saturdays from 1:00 to 5:00.
Did Priscilla ever express to you
that she was unhappy?
Once she lost an audition for The Nutcracker Suite.
My mother was very upset.
It was always like that.
That night, when we got home,
Priscilla asked me
did I think Mom didn't love her anymore.
Objection. Hearsay.
Sustained.
MELNICK: Patti, tell the court
why you would like to be appointed administrator
of your sister's estate.
Because, in my opinion, my mother is unfit.
Do you believe your mother
was responsible for Priscilla's death?
Yes, I do.
Thank you.
No further questions.
Aside from when Priscilla was a five-year-old,
did she ever tell you
that your mother treated her badly?
No.
Did she tell you your mother forced her
to make pornographic films?
We didn't discuss...
Did she say your mother made her do anything she didn't want to?
Not in those words.
When you told her
that you thought your mother was pushing her too hard,
she got angry at you, isn't that true?
Yes, but she...
Patti...
who will receive Priscilla's money
if your mother is convicted?
I will.
I see.
And how long has it been since you've seen your sister?
Well, we talked every couple of weeks.
The last time you saw her?
It's been about two years.
So you were very devoted.
You came to her funeral
and to collect an inheritance.
Objection, Your Honor.
She wanted to be an actress.
I did too, when I was her age,
only I didn't have someone to encourage me.
I wanted it to be different for her.
But why these films?
She wanted to act for the cameras.
They weren't giving her that in school.
There's a difference between acting
and acting in a pornographic film.
All she did was take off her clothes.
Did Priscilla ever do anything more than undress
in front of the camera?
It never went further than that.
I made sure of that.
Thank you, Mrs. Blaine.
Ask her about the next starring part.
Mrs. Blaine, Priscilla was going to star
in an upcoming film, wasn't she?
Yes.
And as the star in that film,
she would have to do more than take off her clothes, true?
They told Marilyn Monroe
that nude calendar would ruin her career.
It made her a star.
Would you tell us, please, Mrs. Blaine
was Priscilla nervous
about starring in a pornographic film?
All actresses are nervous before a big part.
But when Priscilla told you she was nervous,
what did you say to her?
I told her she should talk to her friend, Angel.
She'd made a lot of films.
Did it occur to you
that a pornographic film
might not be in your daughter's best interest?
Priscilla was an adult.
She made her own decisions. I did nothing wrong!
You encouraged her to prostitute...
I encouraged her
to do exactly what she wanted to do!
Be seated.
The particulars of this case are repugnant to me.
Frankly, I don't think
either of the applicants
are fit administrators of Priscilla Blaine's estate.
It's also clear
the prosecutor's office is using this proceeding
to reach its own goals.
However, I cannot, in good conscience
ignore the criminal charges against the applicant.
I'm going to sign an order issuing letters
to the objectant,
Patricia Blaine.
This hearing is adjourned.
What are some of the effects of amitriptyline?
Alleviates nervous tension--
symptoms of depression.
And in larger dosages?
Reduced inhibitions.
May evoke a state of euphoria.
What is the prescribed dosage?
25 milligrams three times a day,
to a maximum of 150 milligrams as necessary.
There are 25 milligrams to each tablet?
Yes.
How much did Miss Blaine take the night she died?
Over 200 milligrams.
That's at least eight tablets.
Yes.
Was there evidence
to indicate if Miss Blaine
was an habitual user?
The corrosive appearance of the stomach lining
and partially digested tablets
suggests that her system didn't easily absorb the drug.
If I'm a vegetarian
and one night I eat a steak,
my body has a hard time digesting it, right?
Something like that.
So it's probable
that Miss Blaine was not an abuser?
Correct.
If she had wanted an extra kick,
50 milligrams would have sufficed?
That's correct.
So in your expert opinion, Doctor,
why would Miss Blaine have taken eight tablets?
To die.
I told her never to take more than one.
Had Priscilla asked for drugs before?
No, and I had never offered them.
Did she say why she wanted the drugs?
She was nervous about the new film.
The one she was going to star in?
Yes.
Why was she nervous?
She didn't think she could go through with it.
Go through with what, Miss Greer?
Having sex in front of a camera.
So she needed the drugs to help her do that?
Yes.
Thank you.
No further questions.
You and Priscilla were good friends?
We were friendly.
Just friendly?
Her mom didn't want us getting too close.
In fact, didn't Mrs. Blaine
discourage Priscilla
from spending any time with you at all?
Yes.
Why was that, Angel?
She knew that I took drugs.
And she didn't want Priscilla
associating with people who took drugs,
isn't that right?
Yes.
When did Priscilla start working for you?
It was late February.
How many of these films
did she appear in?
Four...
no, five.
Was she featured in any of these?
No.
Yet she was going to, I quote:
"star in your next film"
is that correct?
Yeah.
Did Mrs. Blaine know about that?
Did she know?
She wanted script approval.
In your new film,
was Priscilla Blaine expected to perform sex acts on screen?
Tastefully, yes.
Did Mrs. Blaine know that her daughter
was expected to perform sex on screen?
She watched us shoot for months-- she knew.
When did you go into production?
We were to start shooting June third.
The morning after Priscilla died.
Yes.
Thank you.
No further questions.
Mr. Fromm, did you approach Priscilla
about starring in this new film?
No, she came to me.
Priscilla came to you
and asked if she could star in the film?
Something like that.
Was her mother with her?
No, she was alone.
Do you have reason to believe
that Mrs. Blaine forced her daughter
to ask you for the part?
Objection, beyond the witness's knowledge.
Mr. Stone, I did permit you great latitude.
I'll allow it.
She was legally an adult.
If she didn't want to do pornography,
why didn't she just walk away?
Her mother had total control over her life.
Priscilla was powerless in that relationship.
She dated a boy her mother didn't like--
lied to get out of a performance
and saw you without her mother's permission.
She lied because she was afraid to confront her.
She was an actress.
Was it that difficult to express herself?
She was so used to subverting her emotions.
There were days she came to my office
and couldn't say a word.
She found other ways.
What other ways?
She had, uh...
long, lovely hair.
She knew her mother prized her hair.
A month ago, she cut it off.
Not styled-- shorn.
Doctor, this is a transcript
from the time you discussed that incident with Priscilla.
Would you please read the highlighted portions
out loud?
Priscilla: "I started and I just kept going."
Doctor: "Why did you do it?"
Priscilla: "Maybe... I don't know.
"Mom said my hair was what sold me or something.
"I thought, without the hair, whatever...
maybe she'd get it."
Would you characterize that incident
as self-destructive?
Cutting hair, cutting skin...
it's how some kids get their point across.
Did you believe it would lead to more serious forms
of self-destructive behavior?
It usually does.
Dr. Seliger, did Priscilla Blaine
ever talk to you about committing suicide?
Indirectly.
How so?
She taped a monologue from a play she did in class.
What did she plan to do with it?
She gave it to her mother.
She said she hoped she'd understand.
When did she give the tape to her mother?
A week before she died.
Your Honor, at this time, I'd like to play the tape.
Objection, Your Honor.
Mr. Stone is insisting the death was a suicide
and is attempting to introduce non-relevant facts.
Objection's noted, Mr. Pollard.
I'll allow the tape for what it's worth.
Mama... you awake?
I couldn't sleep.
I haven't slept in days.
I looked at myself in the mirror Last night, in the dark,
were the whites of my eyes... and all I could see
I really was. and I knew how scared
Are you dreaming, Mama?
Remember Abilene, Mama?
How the towns clicked by
to stop the train? and I begged you
Little Rock. Lexington, Nashville,
for a thousand miles... I was sick
and I hated you for it.
Well, Mama, you sleep.
Me, I'm getting off this train.
I'm tired now, Mama.
don't be angry that I'm gone. When you wake up,
It's my turn to sleep.
So they might believe the girl committed suicide
but defense will appeal.
Admission of the tape was reversible error.
Judge Hale didn't think the tape
was overly prejudicial.
Even if she did kill herself,
it's tough to prove that the mother's behavior
was the proximate cause of her death.
The tape went a long way to prove that.
Mrs. Blaine knew that acting in those films
was making her daughter suicidal.
But if she doesn't take the stand,
you can't prove what she knew or didn't know.
Pollard's no fool.
No way he's going to put her on the stand
and you won't make your case.
What if it wasn't suicide after all?
At the probate hearing
Mrs. Blaine said that when Priscilla was nervous
about starring in a film,
she told her to talk to Angel about it.
Angel said Mrs. Blaine didn't want Priscilla around her.
Because Angel took drugs to do films
so Mrs. Blaine sent Priscilla to Angel to get drugs
to help her have sex on camera.
So we change our theory?
Priscilla didn't commit suicide,
she O.D.'d?
Mrs. Blaine not only forced her daughter
to have sex on camera
but she gave her the drugs to help her do that...
ergo, she is guilty of her daughter's death.
And with her prior testimony,
we don't even need Mrs. Blaine on the stand.
Do you believe she committed suicide?
I believe Mrs. Blaine is guilty of her daughter's death.
I'll do anything to make it stick.
It's prejudicial!
It's inflammatory!
I am not deciding on decibel level, Lucas.
This transcript wouldn't prejudice a jury.
What about a right against self-incrimination?
Mrs. Blaine testified under oath.
She was represented by counsel.
Her rights were fully protected.
"What did you say to your daughter
"when she told you
she was nervous?"
Answer, Mrs. Blaine:
"I told her to talk to Angel.
She made a lot of films."
What's wrong with that?
He's manufacturing proximate cause.
A jury could infer
that the defendant sent her daughter to Angel
to get drugs.
Still, if she committed suicide...
Exactly.
What if she accidentally O.D.'d?
Your point being?
We're in agreement on one point--
nobody knows Priscilla's intentions.
We do know that her mother intended to get that film made,
no matter what the cost.
He's changing theories
because he has nothing to stand on.
Oh, I think not.
If you ask a jury, they'll tell you
her taped plea to her mother--
the most passionate performance of that girl's life.
I see no reason to overrule the motion.
I'll allow Mrs. Blaine's testimony
to be read into evidence.
I'll need ten minutes with my client.
So now you're telling me it was an accident...
and it's still my fault?
I'm not a psychiatrist.
I don't know what made you
push your own flesh and blood into pornography,
but I do think Priscilla's death was your fault--
both legally
and morally.
But I loved her.
She was my life.
No, she was your daughter.
She had a life of her own.
Criminally negligent homicide
with a sentencing recommendation.
An "E" felony?
She's not dangerous, Ben.
Man Two?
She does the max.
It's kind of like the fairy tale, isn't it?
Which one?
"Mirror, mirror on the wall..."
She looked at her daughter and saw herself.
Somehow, I don't think she'll ever understand
what she did wrong.
No, I suppose you're right, but it's scary.
What's that?
That an emotion like love can do so much damage.
Captioning sponsored by NBC/Universal
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGH access.wgbh.org
( wolf howling )