the people are represented
by two separate yet equally important groups:
The police, who investigate crime
and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders.
These are their stories.
We got you.
I got you.
What is it?
Ooh, that's a globe thistle pod
from a globe thistle tree.
Oh, okay.
Oh, get real.
I can't just leave for lunch.
Who says you got to leave?
I'm sure you've got a peanut butter sandwich for me.
What have you got to trade?
Dinner in Soho, tonight?
Okay, but I get to keep my Twinkies.
Hey, Tisha!
Tisha, stay away from the dog.
That's not a stray.
It has a collar.
( screaming )
Are you okay?
Did he bite you?
( sobs )
( gasps )
She's real cold.
They say she's been out here for hours.
What is it-- a rape, or a mugging?
Don't know. She's in bad shape.
Skull's fractured.
Looks like she's been choked.
They think she'll make it?
I don't know.
They can barely find blood pressure.
Hey, guys, move.
Where to?
Saint Teresa's.
Found this...
on the path.
coming through! Coming through, PARAMEDIC:
CERRETA: Has she been conscious? Has she said anything?
She's in a coma, Detective;
that tends to prevent speech.
Go to the park, get your head crushed?
Makes you want to move someplace safe.
Didn't know there were any left.
Is she gonna get out of this?
Cerebral hemorrhage, skull fractures,
damage to the vocal chords--
add the exposure, it's a miracle she's alive.
She survives this,
she's in for a long recovery.
You the cops who sent us the Jane Doe?
Yup.
Lucy Neven. 568 Central Park West.
You're kidding.
No, I made it up. Why?
Major soap star.
Delia Mason on World Without End.
My mother watches it.
She follows the stories like it happened to the neighbors.
Tell your mom,
she's in for a plot twist.
You believe this?
They already got her buried.
She's not in great shape.
We don't crack this quick, we won't be either.
Whatever's on your plate, clean it.
This comes first.
Well, it ain't a mugging,
'cause she still had cash with her.
Could have been interrupted-- caught in the act.
She's recognizable.
This woman is on a soap opera every day.
LOGAN: John Lennon theory.
It's not possible heard of her?e never
The fact of the matter is,
these people get accosted in the supermarket,
for crying out loud.
Phil, nobody's saying no. Okay?
It's a possibility.
Now, what about the girl?
Is she in any shape to talk to us?
Barely breathing.
Get what you can without her then, okay?
I'm on double shifts.
These days, you got to take all the work you can get.
Do you have people hanging around for her?
Fans? Autograph hounds?
Five, six a year.
Miss Neven-- she keeps her address a secret.
MAN: Thank you.
She was almost killed on the show.
Do you believe in destiny, karma,
that kind of thing?
She was mugged not on TV.k,
Does she walk her dog on a schedule?
10:00, every night. I give Roxy a biscuit as they go out.
Does Miss Neven have a busy social life?
A good-looking lady like that?
My aunt gets more action; she's 60.
They had to write her out of the show.
My mother thinks Lucy is so glamorous.
I've got it easy being her secretary.
She has to work 12 hours a day.
She have time to make enemies?
She's up at 5:30; she's at the studio by 7:00.
She gets home,
she's too tired to brush her teeth.
That's hardly time for friends,
let alone enemies.
Could you tell us if anything
she'd have with her is missing?
A ring, her... grandmother's wedding band,
and a medal-- her father gave it to her.
St. Genesius.
St. Genesius. That's..?
WOMAN: The patron saint of actors.
But why take that?
They didn't take the money; that's crazy.
Do you get requests from people who ask for things like that?
I sort them--
weird, weirder, weirdest.
These are just the past three months.
"I cannot live with the idea that you are angry with me."
"I know you would love my daughter."
"I didn't like it when you wouldn't talk to us."
A woman broke Lucy's skull? No.
Pardon me, Dr. Freud.
Women don't get angry and violent?
I hope her mail is more interesting than mine.
No contest. These should be postmarked "Bellevue."
We have three solid cuckoos in town-- one in Atlanta,
two in St. Louis, three in L.A.,
and one in Denver.
Had to be local.
Stalked her, knew when she walked the dog.
Still, I'll check the out-of-town alibis.
You guys knock on doors.
First we get fettuccini, then knock on doors.
( knocking )
Hello?
Mr. Wadsworth?
MAN: Who's asking?
Police.
We're looking for nominations for Citizen of the Week, sir.
I'm Mr. Wadsworth.
And there's not a person on this damn block worth nominating.
Yes, and you're not the first one to say so, sir.
I wrote her letters.
She said in lots of interviews that she likes to get them.
If you could tell us
where you were at 10:00 or 11:00?
My girlfriend's apartment,
and then I got home...
um, I don't know... Dad?
Oh, I got home from the office at 9:00.
Jesse got home...
What, Jesse? 10:00?
Yeah, I think so.
Ah, Olivia, our housekeeper, she'd remember.
Olivia?
Olivia, Thursday night--
what time did Jesse get home?
Around 10:30.
I was watching the news-- channel nine.
Thank you.
The biggest soap convention of the year.
I wouldn't miss that.
I was there Thursday morning
to be there before the good stuff got sold.
That's dedication for you.
That comb-- only $60.
Delia was using it
when she told Joel she wouldn't marry him.
She's too good for him.
All the people there--
maybe some dealers or somebody might remember you?
Oh, I don't know.
There were 6,000 people.
Oh, I took the shuttle back.
I threw out the ticket.
I think it's right here.
Was he taller than you?
Or the same height?
LOGAN: Taller.
You got a good look at him?
ARTIST: He was dark?
He had a dark complexion?
CERRETA: Is this the best you can do?
With a woman who can't talk?
She's good for 15 minutes at a stretch.
Thanks anyway.
You got the staff list of the soap? Yeah.
Maybe someone was hanging around that door bothering her.
It's worth a shot.
To me, they all look the same--
autograph pads, sparkly pens with big white balls on top.
They line up outside.
They can be difficult.
Maybe Miss Neven made one of her fans angry?
She was very gracious.
More than me.
The end of a day, I want to get home.
I got a two-year-old kid.
Did Lucy get close to anybody on the crew?
I guess Sara was the closest.
CERRETA: "Was"?
Lucy had her fired.
Something about stuff missing.
You mean, she was stealing?
Sara said no.
I like her,
but she didn't file a union grievance
when she got canned.
Did she have the right to file one?
Lucy was probably right.
I got her another job-- costume house.
They supply us, other shows.
I'd heard of Lucy turning on people,
but I thought we got along.
Must have done wonders for your reputation.
I'm happy to have a job.
CERRETA: Why didn't you tell your union?
I did.
You think we didn't check?
I'll put you on the phone with your shop steward.
You know what they do with old costumes?
Actors take them home.
A guy corners me outside the studio,
hands me 200-- anything of Lucy's.
Who would it hurt?
What the hell's that?
Thou shalt not steal, except when nobody gets hurt?
I needed the money.
But then he started wanting slips, bras...
that stuff doesn't belong to wardrobe.
That's a fine distinction.
Who was your source of income?
Mitchell Burkitt-- down on the Lower Eastside somewhere.
What'd he do with Lucy's underwear?
I really didn't want to know.
Burkitt, Michael W.--
criminal trespass two, burglary three.
What does he like?
Soap opera studios, movie locations.
Also assaulted a guard who tried to stop him.
His supplier gets canned,
no more underwear to sell.
A ring and a medal-- bigger bucks.
Draw some arrest papers.
Phil, we're not even pregnant yet.
Assault record?
I want to be prepared.
( loud music playing )
( whispering: ) The stereo's on.
He's at home.
MAN: Who is it?
Con Ed-- checking for a gas leak!
Drop it!
Don't even think about it, Mitch!
Now!
You are under arrest for the attempted murder
of Lucy Neven.
Why didn't you say you were cops?
You have the right to remain silent...
You didn't say you were cops!
In my neighborhood, man,
you wouldn't answer my door without a gun.
Next time, get one that's licensed.
I didn't do the lady.
What, do you think I'm crazy?
Actually, you're about the sanest person
we've met all week.
Why would I do her, huh?
She's a cash cow.
I survive on her stuff.
Not since you lost your source.
So, Mr. Burkitt, where were you Thursday night?
I was alone.
Prove I wasn't.
Prove you were!
Your Lucy stuff-- who buys it?
Kleinman, down on 15th Street.
I want a lawyer.
You'll get a lawyer.
I'll even pay for the call.
Don't ever say cops aren't generous.
You want stills from South Pacific?
Mitzi Gaynor's shoes? Fine.
LOGAN: Not Lucy Neven's underwear?
Do I look like a pervert?
Who buys Lucy's clothes?
Customer's names-- it's private.
Did you give Burkitt an order
to steal Lucy's jewelry?
I sell memorabilia.
You think this is a hot car business?
Give me an order, I get it stolen?
Suppose we get a warrant, Mr. Kleinman,
and we do an inventory?
Think we'll find stolen goods?
From a soap opera studio maybe?
I'd never accept...
You want us to start checking?
You're starting to make me a little impatient.
Voorman.
Tim Voorman.
He works at the Club Vivant.
ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, Tim Voorman.
CERRETA: Mr. Voorman?
Sergeant Cerreta, Detective Logan.
Very impressive.
Louie Kleinman says you ordered Lucy Neven's intimate apparel.
You think I was involved with...
Yeah, well, I also ordered Joan Collins's costumes.
They help me get into character.
And they fit you?
Well, I'm very petite.
Mr. Voorman, Thursday night, did you take a walk in the park?
I don't believe this.
I was here.
Two shows-- 8:00 and 10:00.
You happen to leave between shows?
Do you have any idea how long it takes
to put on this face?
And contrary to what you might think,
I don't go out in public in drag.
I do this for a living.
CERRETA: This isn't your stage act,
so you can pack in the attitude.
Do you have any witnesses who saw you here?
What's the mystery?
I got a guy from Jersey
who sees my Lucy act six nights a week.
One guy, he wants to talk with Lucy
about the plot on the show.
Another one, a real weirdo,
buys my Lucy dress.
Who attacked her?
One of them.
Who bought the dress?
Out of his mind.
He loved Lucy.
He wanted to be with her.
Offers 250.
I thought he was kidding.
500-- I said no.
1,000...
I didn't want to sell it, but...
he scared me a little.
You got the name?
He didn't ask for a receipt.
Mr. Webster? Hi.
This is Joe Harris from the Club Vivant.
Mr. Nichols?
Sam Jones, the Club Vivant.
Mr. Voorman... he'd like to buy back
that dress he sold you.
The dress you bought from Tim Voorman...
Okay. Sorry.
Thank you.
Sorry to bother you.
We thought the letters were bad.
They're worse
in person.
Hello? Jesse Unger, please.
Could you give me his work number then?
Thank you.
Mr. Markson? Hi.
This is Sam Jones from the Club Vivant.
Mr. Unger? Yeah, I'll wait.
That Lucy Neven dress you bought from Tim Voorman?
Well, he would like...
Sorry to bother you.
Mr. Unger?
Yeah, this is Joe Harris, Club Vivant.
You know, Mr. Voorman would like to buy back
his Lucy Neven dress.
Uh-huh.
Oh. Yeah.
Well, certainly.
Well, thank you.
Mr. Unger wants to keep his dress.
Really?
I can't stop.
This has to be done by tonight.
LOGAN: Did you buy the dress?
Yes, I did-- for my collection.
I needed something special.
Terrible, Lucy dying, hmm?
Oh, Lucy didn't die, Jesse.
No. On the show.
They had to get rid of her.
Thursday night, at your girlfriend's--
what time did you leave?
I already told you.
About 10:00.
Is your girlfriend Sandy at home today?
No, she's not.
She's working.
You've got the wrong idea.
Jesse is Lucy's scrapbook.
It's a hobby.
LOGAN: Does that include buying her dress?
You don't understand.
Well, you'll think I'm crazy.
We went to a Tina Turner concert--
Jess and me--
I wanted her autograph.
We waited in the cold two hours.
But an autograph is not a dress.
Lucy, to me she's boring.
So what?
Jesse doesn't like Tina Turner.
I mean, didn't you ever collect anybody?
My wife has a lot of Rosemary Clooney records.
Who?
LOGAN: Miss Reynolds,
Mr. Unger left at 10:00 p.m.?
What you're thinking about Jesse, it couldn't be.
Look, are you sure about the time?
It might have been earlier.
Maybe a quarter of.
Um, we had an argument.
He wanted me to try the dress on.
I didn't think it was right.
Quarter to 10:00? 10:00? Come on.
15 minutes makes a difference?
15 minutes gives him more time to get to Lucy's.
Sandy's on 97th Street.
Jesse's home, 57th Street, 30 to 45 minutes later.
And Lucy lives in between at 65th Street.
It's enough time, barely, if he knew when Lucy walked the dog.
He stopped at Lucy's on his way home to what?
Talk to her?
Hey, you're the one who talked to him.
He look goofy to you?
Seemed fine, but who can tell anymore?
31 years old, he still lives at Daddy's.
Also, he sprang
for 1,000 bucks to buy Lucy's dress.
What about his arrival time at home?
How solid is that alibi?
I have friends in the fashion world.
Is something wrong with that?
You got your son his job.
I arranged an interview, they offered him the job.
The woman's dress.
That's $1,000.
Your son can afford that on the job he has?
Jesse's interests--
he doesn't have to be like everybody else.
Following an actress's career-- it's harmless.
Up to a point.
Mr. Unger,
when Jesse arrived home,
your housekeeper said it was 10:30.
You said 10:00.
My son has problems.
Violence is not one of them.
Sandy was upset.
The dress--
I wanted to see, if she has such a good figure,
how she'd look in it.
CERRETA: We can clear this up.
You left Sandy's apartment at 10:00?
Mm-hmm.
How'd you get home?
I walked.
40 blocks in a half an hour?
You must be a marathon walker.
Maybe I took a cab.
Well, you know what we ought to do?
We ought to go down to the precinct.
We'll talk the whole thing over.
We'll call the cab company, get the whole thing settled.
Um...
Okay, fine.
Sure.
Good.
Look, I'm sorry about Lucy.
But hurting her?
No. I loved watching her.
I have a little television at work.
We want to remind you that you're entitled to a lawyer.
Sandy will tell you.
Olivia, she said that I came home at 10:30.
I would never hurt Lucy.
Will you excuse me?
He's in tooth fairy land and he's scared.
The hospital says Lucy has some paralysis.
She still has blurred vision,
but they will bring her over.
Do you think you can get this guy
to volunteer for a lineup?
I don't know.
What if he won't?
Heck if I know.
Okay.
Jesse, would you like to be in a lineup?
If nobody identifies you, you go back to work.
A lineup?
For who?
Lucy Neven.
Take your time.
There's no hurry.
( Neven gasping )
Oh, my God!
That's... that's him.
He stopped me on the street a couple of times.
Which one is he?
Hmm?
It's number four.
He said that he needed me.
Let's get the video camera.
One more shot at him and he's going to talk.
Yeah.
Your dad will be here soon.
You don't have to talk now.
Was Lucy here?
She says she saw you that night.
( knocking )
Had these on him when he was booked.
Lucy's ring, Jesse.
Her medal.
Where did you get these?
She wouldn't listen.
I just wanted to talk.
She told me to leave her alone.
I didn't want to hurt her.
God, her eyes!
If you saw her eyes.
She walked right by me.
She didn't say anything.
I tried to tell her how I need her.
I didn't want to hurt her.
She just got tangled up in her dog leash,
and I went to help her,
and she started hitting at me,
and the dog was barking,
and I just wanted to talk to her.
That's all.
I just wanted to talk to her.
OLIVET: How long have you been aware of Lucy Neven?
JESSE: Ever since I can remember.
Come on, Ben.
You saw that tape.
This guy's got toys in the attic.
Is he competent enough to help you with his case?
I guarantee you, he didn't know what he was doing.
That's not the issue here.
Can he help you defend him?
Maybe, but he's still bonkers.
He didn't know what he was doing when he attacked her.
You don't know that, and neither do I.
Let's first see if he can stand trial.
I've seen trials on TV.
Lucy was in one.
OLIVET: What happens at a trial?
Why are you asking me that?
We both know they decide if you're guilty.
What does your lawyer do?
He tries to defend me from...
He keeps me from going to jail.
Why would you go to jail, Jesse?
Sorry, Dr. Olivet. Off-limits.
I'm not asking about the crime, Dr. Mandel.
I'm asking if he understands why people go to jail.
Because they break the law.
Hurting somebody, is that breaking the law?
These are stupid questions.
Jesse, please...
Is it wrong to hurt somebody?
I just wanted to talk to her.
That's all.
STONE: what is the argument?
Mr. Unger understands the legal process.
He babbled a confession.
That doesn't give you a problem?
He was frightened; that does not mean
he's not competent to stand trial.
He does not understand the criminal justice system.
He knows what a trial is.
Hey, hey, this isn't a free-for-all.
I ask the questions.
You honestly contend,
he can't give you pertinent facts?
Judge, he is suffering a neurotic denial,
and it's hard to get any information
out of him at all.
I'll read the doctors' reports again.
Meantime, Mr. Unger stays at Rikers.
MAN: Come on, Lucy, you can do it.
Right to the end.
Keep walking.
It's a piece of cake.
STONE: They say if we go to trial,
that you'll be able to testify.
It's your choice.
Don't force yourself, honey.
( raspy-voiced: ) I'll testify if I have to crawl into the courtroom.
He came after me before.
He called the house several times.
Somehow, he got the number.
If he doesn't go to jail...
( violent coughing )
Lucy...
I'll do everything I can to make sure that never happens.
Schreiber says we can indict him.
He's competent to stand trial.
Does that serve justice?
Jesse Unger on trial? In prison?
If he's responsible for his actions,
yes, I think justice is served.
Mr. Stone, my son,
after he lost his mother...
you can't imagine.
I tried to help him.
Why didn't you seek professional help?
He's not like other people.
He never seemed dangerous.
Jack, it's your meeting.
Reconsider going to trial, Ben.
Work out some kind of treatment for him.
If they can protect Lucy Neven from him...
You know that they can't.
A jury can.
All I've got to do
is prove he was insane at the moment he attacked her.
Not a second before, not a second after.
I've tried a lot of these cases, Ben; you haven't.
I'm a quick study.
Why is Gaffney so confident?
Insanity defenses are not easy to win.
Olivet will testify he's not delusional.
What more can we do?
"Delusional"-- fancy word.
You might as well say "subordinated debenture."
A jury knows crazy and not crazy, Paul.
They don't know legally crazy.
You know what really worries me--
I make my best case to prove he's sane.
We lose.
He goes to a hospital.
I have to turn 180°
and argue he is not sane so they keep him there.
It's no-win.
Maybe we make a deal-- assault.
for a couple of years-- Bad risk-- he goes away
as soon as he gets out, he could kill that woman.
( phone buzzing )
Mm-hmm.
Lucy Neven.
Better talk to her.
How could they let him mail it?
Why didn't somebody stop him?
"I never wanted to hurt you.
"I had to bring you close.
"We're the same person.
We'll always be close."
I'm sorry. This shouldn't have happened.
They put a watch
on his mail today.
He said we're the same person.
He sounds crazier than ever.
He's shrewder than ever.
He wants to sound crazy.
Do we have to turn this over to Gaffney?
STONE: We don't turn it over, he'll get a subpoena.
Jesse will tell him he sent the letter.
They're going to use it to show how crazy he is.
That's what he wants.
And after reading a report
of his personal history?
I examined Mr. Unger.
Did you reach any conclusions about his mental condition?
Yes, I have.
Mr. Unger has personality and character disorders.
He's obsessive-compulsive,
with signs of extreme depression.
Does this mean he is incapable of understanding
the consequences of his actions?
No. It means he's unhappy, and in some ways dysfunctional.
In your expert opinion,
does Mr. Unger suffer from any condition that would impair
his ability to know right from wrong?
Despite his emotional problems,
in my opinion, Mr. Unger has a complete understanding
of the consequences of his actions.
Thank you. No further questions.
Dr. Olivet,
you spent three hours talking to Mr. Unger.
Do you think that's sufficient time
to make a judgment on his mental health?
Yes, I do.
Admirable.
So, you are telling this court with absolute assurance
that Mr. Unger did not have an episode
in which he did not know
the consequences of his behavior.
In my opinion, Mr. Unger knows right from wrong.
He told me he'd been watching me
because he knew I would...
I would love him if only I met him.
He was very excited,
so I tried to keep him calm,
and then I tried to get away.
He told me to stop,
and when I didn't,
he attacked me.
Miss Neven, prior to this attack,
had you ever seen the defendant before?
He accosted me on the street several times.
I don't remember how many.
He told me that he had called me on the phone.
What is your profession?
I... I was an actress.
You were an actress?
You don't expect to be able to continue your career?
Objection-- relevance.
The extent of her injuries
is relevant to the attempted murder charge.
Overruled.
The witness will answer.
I'll be happy if I'm able to walk.
Thank you. No further questions.
Mr. Gaffney?
I have no questions of this witness.
Olivet was convincing.
Convincing isn't the point.
Did they understand?
Crazy versus legally crazy.
Voices, delusions...
Convenient.
The one illness that wins insanity defense.
You read Mandel's transcript.
Did Jesse talk about voices then?
Mandel interviewed him again.
Yeah, I wonder why.
Gaffney-- would he coach his client?
It's hard to believe.
It's not his style.
I'll tell you one voice Jesse Unger is hearing--
the voice telling him how not to get convicted.
Listen to this:
"Mandel: Why didn't you tell me you heard voices?
"Jesse: The voice said not to.
My father said I should."
"My father said I should."
Your interviews-- no voices?
Is he delusional?
Am I 100% sure?
99.
I'd prefer 100.
Never happens.
Somebody told dad what would get Jesse off.
Dad told Jesse.
Voices are a very specific symptom.
Mandel.
Intentionally?
I doubt it. What about Gaffney?
Paul read the transcripts of his other cases.
But not all of them.
Well, dig up the ones you haven't read,
and find out how crazy his other clients really were.
After Jesse's mother died,
he couldn't concentrate.
He used to say he was going crazy.
What was he most concerned about?
He thought the world was going to blow up.
What were some of his other problems?
He said he heard voices in his head.
Like a radio.
Thank you.
Mr. Unger,
when exactly
did Jesse tell you he heard voices?
I think maybe in his sophomore year
in high school.
It could have been earlier, maybe later.
I can't remember.
What did he say these voices told him?
I can't remember.
You remember he heard voices.
I do. Yes, I do.
Did you seek
psychiatric care for your son
at this time?
No.
Why not?
Well...
I'm not sure why I didn't.
That's odd.
Thank you.
Mr. Unger suffers from processive disintegration.
One of the symptoms is "command" hallucinations--
voices telling him to do things.
Now, Dr. Mandel,
Jesse Unger told you that he heard voices
telling him to kill Lucy Neven.
Would that mean
he was out of control of his actions?
In my opinion, yes.
Mr. Unger is often guided
by an overpowering voice
he believes to be real.
Thank you, Doctor.
"Processive disintegration."
Is that a recognized medical diagnosis?
It's my language for a combination of disorders.
So it does not exist in standard reference works?
Yes, that's right.
Now, you testified you interviewed Jesse twice.
Did he mention hearing voices in the first interview?
No, he was afraid to.
So he never mentioned voices until you brought it up?
Yes.
Thank you.
But...
Thank you, Doctor.
They're playing with the system.
Lying? All of them?
You think the shrink coached them?
Maybe.
Gaffney.
You don't think a lawyer would do it.
Olivet doesn't think a shrink would do it.
We're right back where we started.
He goes to a hospital.
He says he's cured.
He doesn't hear voices anymore.
He's back on the street,
faster than Lucy Neven can change her phone number.
( knock at door )
Finished Gaffney's cases
all the way back to '79.
13 insanity defenses, seven acquittals.
Three of them, the defendants were delusional
after they started trial.
It's not a clear pattern,
but I grant you, it's questionable.
STONE: Call Mr. Unger.
Say if he agrees,
we'd like to meet with him alone.
That's absurd.
Do you think I would lie under oath?
As a parent, yes, I think you would.
You want my son in jail.
You want me in jail too?
Do you have children, Mr. Stone?
Are they healthy?
Happy?
We all want our children to be happy.
If not so, at least protected.
My son is sick.
There is no dispute.
Good night.
He had no right
to drag Bill Unger down here.
Mr. Unger was invited.
You wanted him to implicate me in perjury.
Three cases, your clients
never heard voices until trial.
Mandel was your shrink on two of them.
If I wanted to discuss Jesse's symptoms with his father,
that's my job.
Jack, you're overplaying your hand.
There's an appearance of impropriety.
File a complaint with the disciplinary committee.
The ghost of John Hinckley.
That the problem?
Shoots the President
of the United States and gets off?
You're desperate, aren't you?
You want out of this?
I'll plead it.
Assault one.
Gentlemen,
think about it.
I don't know, Adam.
Jesse Unger could walk.
Gaffney's bluffing with assault.
He'll take manslaughter one, attempt.
I should talk with Lucy Neven.
What does it mean?
How long?
A minimum of five years, a maximum of 15.
What do you think?
It's your life,
but honestly, I don't know what that jury will do.
Is there any way we can make sure it's 15?
The parole board?
We can recommend.
We have no control over them,
and they're just as unpredictable as juries.
Why me?
I can't give him anything.
I'll take my chances with the jury
if it's all right with you.
Lucy, the jury...
it may not give you what you want.
What I want is what I had.
How often do you hear this voice, Jesse?
She talks to me when I get confused.
It's a woman's voice?
Mm-hmm.
Does the voice have a name?
No, she's.... she's just there.
What does she tell you?
I can't talk about that.
( clears throat )
GAFFNEY: Jesse...
did this voice tell you to hurt Lucy Neven?
She told me that if Lucy wouldn't love me,
that I had to kill her.
Is this your handwriting?
Mm-hmm.
Did you write this to Lucy and send it to her?
Yes, I did.
I'd like you to read from the top,
out loud to the court.
"Dear Lucy,
"I know you understand I never meant to hurt you.
I wanted to protect you..."
Louder, son.
So everyone can hear.
"I know you understand I never meant to hurt you.
"I wanted to protect you.
"I know that you care about me.
"I know we could be together.
"I would do anything for you.
"I didn't want to hit you.
I love you."
See, inside we're the same.
We're the same people.
GAFFNEY: Thank you, Jesse.
Mr. Unger, how old were you
when you first heard this woman's voice?
I don't remember.
She's always with me.
And aside from Lucy Neven,
did the voice ask you
to hurt other people?
I don't remember.
If you had the opportunity,
would you still want to talk with Lucy Neven?
Uh-huh.
Would you continue to write to her?
Yes, I'd have to.
STONE: If you had the opportunity,
would you pursue a relationship with her?
Well, I don't know.
Maybe.
Nothing's changed.
STONE: Nothing's changed?
No.
Nothing.
So, what are you to decide?
In our society,
we make exceptions for mental illness.
But should that exception be made
when it endangers the life of another human being?
And Jesse Unger
has made it perfectly clear that he will come after Lucy Neven
again and again until he gets what he wants from her,
and if he can't have her,
he'll make sure no one else does.
Now, is this obsession insane?
No one can completely know the mind of another human being.
We can't crawl inside his skin and see the world as he sees it.
However, we do know
that Jesse Unger had no documented history
of delusional episodes prior to this case.
In fact, he made no mention of delusions or hearing voices
until after his father
had asked for a second psychiatric evaluation.
Now, under the law, we human beings
are responsible for our actions except for one thing:
delusional mental illness.
Jesse Unger's convenient and last-minute reporting
of this condition
is a responsible act.
He knows, as clearly as you or I,
that he brutally attacked Lucy Neven,
and he knows, just as clearly,
what he has to do to escape punishment.
Now, he destroyed Lucy Neven's life.
Hold him responsible for it.
JUDGE: On the sole count of the indictment,
attempted murder in the second degree,
how do you find?
We find the defendant guilty.
JUDGE: I thank the jury for their service.
( gavel bangs ) Court is adjourned.
Sentencing hearing to be scheduled.
Thank you.
Now, you may not be happy.
Lucy Neven is.
You know as well as I do
that the law ought to be changed.
Juries are not psychiatrists.
He never got the help he needed, Ben,
and the jury followed the only law we've got.
We're not gods.
We're not even angels.
He should be in the hospital.
We put him in jail.
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