(male announcer) In the criminal justice system,
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.
You like the museum.
Mom, I hate the museum.
You like the dinosaurs, don't you?
No.
You do like Michelle.
Could we go to Ben & Jerry's before, please?
First we'll feed your head, then we'll feed your tummy.
How's that sound? Cherry Garcia?
Anything you want.
Hey, honey, where's Lucy?
There she is. I don't think she's hurt.
[cell phone rings] Be careful, honey.
Hey, it's me.
Jen!
(Green) What the hell?
No kidding. And the owner survived it.
Miles Schaffner.
Anyone else in the house?
Neighbors say it's just him living there,
but there's a little girl missing.
Fire Marshal's looking for you.
Was it a bomb? No.
Just a good old fashioned electrical burner.
Hit a gas leak and...boom.
The owner's a lucky bastard.
What caused it?
Gas pipe in the basement was punctured.
Electrical wire was cut.
Please tell me a rat did that.
Only if the little guy
had a very sharp steak knife in his claw.
This wasn't an accident.
Somebody definitely wanted this puppy to come tumbling down.
(man) We found her!
Jenna! Jenna!
We'll go to Ben & Jerry's like I promised.
The Cherry Garcia like you like, honey, okay?
[crying]
I should have been the one who died.
How old was she?
Eight.
Oh, my God.
I don't understand, I--I--
I had all new wiring put in.
If there's anything I can do
for those poor people.
When you say "all new wiring,"
do you mean within the last year?
Six months.
Don't you worry, Miles, I've already got an associate
writing up the complaint.
Are you his lawyer?
And his friend.
Roger Trent.
I wouldn't jump on that lawsuit just yet,
Mr. Trent.
Look, Mr. Schaffner, I'm sorry to break this to you,
but this doesn't look like an accident.
(Cassady) Any idea who might have done it?
(Trent) You've got to be mistaken.
We're talking to Mr. Schaffner.
I can't imagine anyone who'd do anything like this.
If you could give us the name of the electrician
who put in the new wiring.
I keep Mr. Schaffner's records. I'll get it for you.
(Schaffner) My house...
How could someone do this to my house?
(Emerson) We used BX350.
There's no better electrical wiring
for home use on the planet.
Rodent food? Not a chance.
Unless, of course, his name is Godzilla.
You get a lifetime guarantee on that stuff.
And you did the rewiring yourself?
It was a big job.
I had two or three of my guys on that.
My top guys.
I personally inspect all the work on a job.
Did any of your guys notice anything wrong
with the gas pipes?
Even the slightest problem with gas,
we would've been out of there before you could say
"Mrs. O'Leary's cow."
(Van Buren) I know this must be very hard for you, Mrs. Wechsler,
but if you can remember anyone leaving the building,
or anyone standing around watching.
Wait a minute.
You don't think this was an accident.
It's looking like arson.
You're saying some freak blew up a building
and our daughter was collateral damage?
I am so sorry.
(Kent) Where the hell were you?
Aren't you people supposed to protect us
from lunatics like this?
What the hell is going on in this city?
Come on, Dana.
(Dana) We have a panic room.
A $20,000 security system.
I take her to school every morning and pick her up.
But who can plan for a building blowing up?
I need to be with her.
I need to see her again.
We'll keep you in touch of the developments.
When I was a kid, I used to be afraid
of falling air conditioners.
When I was a little-- Can we, uh...
skip the existential anguish and try to figure out
who had a problem with Mr. Schaffner?
Yes, ma'am.
(Green) Anybody besides Mr. Schaffner
have access to the apartment?
No, I told you, Miles lives there alone.
No wife,
no kids?
He's been divorced for a while.
But he and Rosalie don't really speak.
How about a housekeeper?
Flor.
She's in the Dominican Republic visiting her family.
What does he do for work?
He doesn't.
(Green) Ever?
Family money.
The idle rich can make people jealous.
Miles is hardly what I'd call rich.
(Green) Are you kidding me?
He's got a four-story brownstone on the Upper East Side.
His monthly mortgage nut must be more
than a year of my salary.
It's paid off.
It's his parents' home.
Miles' dad made a little money in real estate,
which he left to his only son.
But between some very bad money management,
and some enormous divorce payments,
Miles can't afford to be frivolous.
We need to talk to that ex-wife.
Yeah.
Did Miles have any enemies? Maybe.
He definitely didn't have a friend in me.
Ugly divorce.
Over what?
Money. What else?
He was born a spoiled, selfish kid
and he stayed that way.
Just thinking of him makes me need a glass of wine.
Hmm. Selfish.
Looks like he gave back a little something.
The judge ruled I was entitled
to keep the same lifestyle I had
during the 20 years we spent together.
She awarded me 20 million.
It's been 10 years. He's paid maybe 5.
And we'd cry for you,
but we're more concerned with the dead little girl.
That's awful.
But I had nothing to do with it.
No? Financially how would you have made out if Miles died?
Terribly. I need him living.
His folks put his inheritance in a trust.
He lives on income.
Principal can only be distributed in dire emergencies.
He doesn't have anything that you get if he dies?
Anything left in that trust after Miles kicks
goes straight to charity.
Then you never get the rest of your cash?
He has acreage of undeveloped land in Brooklyn
he could sell and be done with me.
But no, Mr. Al-Gore-Save-the-Fishes
mortgaged his property for cash to cover his shortfalls,
and then let the Green People grow vegetables on it.
Doesn't charge them a penny.
But my lawyers went to court, and I'm forcing a sale.
You wanna see some pissed off people?
Go talk to them.
Pissed off at Miles?
At Miles, at me.
Scathing emails calling us greedy bastards.
Tree huggers.
Can you show us these emails?
"Take our land, you'll suffer."
"Expect trouble."
"Vengeance."
All signed by Michael Kaplan,
president of the Brooklyn Chapter of Green People.
Excuse me.
Is there a Michael Kaplan here?
I'm just doing my job. Now get out of my face!
Come on, big man. What are you gonna do, huh?
Hey, hey, break it up!
Break it up!
What the hell is wrong with you?
It's an offense against nature, that's why.
So is murder.
That depends on who's getting murdered.
Meaning?
Okay, I'm gonna use really simple sentences for you.
No earth, no people.
We are living in America
in the 21st century, and we have every right
to provide our children with unpolluted, affordable food.
We are talking about Brooklyn, right?
Sit down. Sit your ass down!
Wow.
I saw you assault someone.
He was trespassing on the people's property.
Shut up. I'm talking.
Should he "expect trouble?"
You're gonna "make him suffer"?
What was the other thing in the email, Nina?
"Vengeance"?
That's right. Vengeance.
Did you already get your vengeance
on Miles Schaffner, Michael?
What are you talking about?
Somebody tried to kill him.
You think that I--?
No, Miles has always been good to us.
He let us use the property.
He's always been one of the good guys.
Oh, come on, we know he's selling
your little Eden to developers.
You're looking at assault.
You threatened him.
You better say something.
I have nothing against Miles.
He didn't wanna sell the land.
The courts made him do it and that bitch ex-wife of his--
Do I need a lawyer?
We're doing the best we can, counselor.
I am sure you are.
But we've got the mayor breathing fire on this.
A building blows up in this town,
and people think terrorism.
And we're confident it's not.
And our concern is not the mayor.
It's who killed the little girl.
So is ours.
Where are we on this guy Kaplan?
He's still a candidate.
But I don't see him doing it. He's a conservationist.
Or it's a violent splinter group.
Schaffner's selling out from under them.
They want to keep their squat on his land.
(Cassady) Or Kaplan's telling the truth,
and he and Schaffner really are best pals.
Even if they weren't,
why wouldn't he just stab him or shoot him?
Why blow up his whole building?
Is there anything that says this guy
knows his way around a circuit board?
Gas pipes? Nothing so far.
Dig faster and harder.
Counselor,
no one is sitting on their hands.
Keep me apprised.
Look, I got word Miles Schaffner
is loitering around the crime scene.
See if you could get an idea if he's really
so buddy-buddy with this guy Kaplan.
All right.
Michael Kaplan?
With the group called Green People?
From my Brooklyn property.
He used to bring me fresh vegetables every now and again.
Did he ever threaten you? No.
Ever since they've spoken with Harvey Wallace.
He's the real estate developer
who I planned to sell the land to.
They've got no problem with the sale.
My father used to say,
"Home is where you're treated the best,
but complain the most."
If only it had been me who died,
instead of that poor little girl.
Come on, Mr. Schaffner.
Come on.
(Wallace) I tell Miles the Green People
got no problem with the sale.
It keeps him calm.
But I've got some letters from them, nasty emails.
Was there anything that made specific references
to the deal not going through?
Yeah, most of them.
Any mention Mr. Schaffner specifically?
Like threats? Veiled ones.
(Green) Like what?
"You have an obligation to the Earth."
"You will do the right thing."
Or what? They're gonna come and get him?
No, they never get that explicit.
They're smart.
Look, we were over at the Brooklyn site.
It wasn't exactly peaceful.
Hey, I take them seriously.
But I've been banking on the hoopla dying
once my contract with Miles was signed.
After they see they still have their vegetable patch,
just not as big.
That's their main concern, the mini farm?
The rest is just a show for the IdealMart people.
They've also shown interest in buying the property.
Miles would never sell to them,
but the protestors, they gotta be sure.
Look, anything more you need, here's my card.
Trade me?
[scoffs]
Heh.
IdealMart is one of the biggest corporations
in the country.
They don't lose bidding wars to a dude like Wallace.
Well, maybe Schaffner's just not a big business kind of guy.
Although, if he died, the executor of his estate
would be legally obligated to sell the property
to the highest bidder.
Wow, I'm impressed you know that.
My grandma had a place in Sheepshead Bay.
When she died, I was outbid
by a guy who writes birthday card poems.
How depressing is that?
Anyway, if Miles was dead,
IdealMart would definitely be in the driver's seat.
You're buying the hype, folks.
"IdealMart is big bad box store monster."
We're a company providing a service.
And we're police officers investigating a homicide.
Hold up, man. Correct me if I'm wrong.
You don't have a store in New York yet, right?
The one in Brooklyn would've been our first.
A lot of money to be made.
We projected 500 million a year.
And the roadblock to all that is nearly killed.
We made our play. He went with Wallace.
What'd you bid? 25 million.
Wallace only paid 10.
I mean, you seem like a company
that gets what it wants.
Except he went with Wallace.
Anybody lose a job over it?
We did 30 billion in sales last year.
If we wanted the land, it'd be ours.
But he went with Wallace.
End of story.
So...what am I reading?
It's IdealMart's withdrawal of its offer
to purchase the property.
Although, I suppose if Schaffner died,
they could always make another offer.
They have enough money that if they wanted him dead,
he'd be dead.
(Van Buren) When does that happen in the real world?
Not often. When a guy gets a divorce
and someone tries to whack him,
the first three people you talk to?
The ex, the ex, and the ex.
We did talk to her. She wouldn't shut up.
Well, talk to her again.
And see to it that she listens.
Would I want the SOB to sell to IdealMart?
Famous for no benefits, no unions, slave wages?
Damn straight.
Question is, how far would you go to see it happen?
I've got lawyers for that.
(Green) IdealMart was ready
to give Miles anything he asked for.
I mean, he could've been done with you forever.
But he decides to sell to Harvey Wallace in Queens
for less than half the asking price,
and we hear the deal doesn't give him
any principal payments for ten years.
Which once again means you have to wait
for your money.
He wakes up in the morning
thinking of different ways to screw me.
Well, let's just say, Miles gets blown up
before Harvey can close the deal.
Property goes to the highest bidder, which in this case,
would certainly be IdealMart.
More money for you.
How old are you, honey? 28?
Playing the field? Good for you.
But one day you're gonna give some lucky bastard
20-some odd years of your life.
And you know what happens then?
You end up like a leftover rump roast,
all gristle and fat, and nothing else.
I don't care if Miles dies.
I care about me and the 20 years that I gave him.
But I didn't kill him, and I wanna talk to my lawyer.
Man, this woman goes to the hairdresser a lot.
Check this out.
Bergdorf's, 3 grand.
Bergdorf's, 10. Barneys, 5.
(Green) And you're still on the Bs.
Yeah. Hermes, 2,500.
Damn, here's something new and different.
Kaskell Electrical. $15,000.
Is that what an arson-for-hire goes for these days?
They're open 'til 9:00.
(Kaskell) Yeah, I used to do electric
until the accident.
Then with the insurance money, I opened up this joint.
You work here alone?
I'm all there is now, since Judith passed.
So, I figure you aren't here for track lights.
No. Listen, Mr. Kaskell, about two weeks ago,
a woman named Rosalie Schaffner wrote you a check
for $15,000. Right.
Don't see anything in here worth that.
Since when is it against the law
for a kid to help out her old man?
Mrs. Schaffner is--?
Is a jerk for marrying that putz, Miles.
I know his old man out in Queens.
A real get-your-hands-dirty
kind of guy, but the kid, a real putz.
Everyone knew it, except for Rosalie.
She sees him and never picked up
another pair of stripping pliers again.
Wait a minute.
You're saying your daughter worked
as an electrician with you.
Yeah, she worked college summers with me.
Why didn't you tell us your ex used to be an electrician?
I didn't think it was relevant.
(Cassady) No disrespect, Mr. Schaffner,
but your house went boom,
because somebody messed with the wiring.
(Green) Look, man, you may not give a damn
if your ex-wife tried to kill you,
but the fact of the matter is,
she did kill an innocent eight-year-old girl.
Now, if she was near your house, I wanna know.
She still has a key.
(Cassady) When was the last time she used it?
I don't know.
(Green) The day before the explosion,
did you leave the house?
I had lunch with Roger, my lawyer.
(Rosalie) How many times do I have to tell you
that you have to fold these three ways?
Three ways! Nina, cuff her.
Rosalie Schaffner,
you're under arrest for the murder of Jenna Wechsler,
the attempted murder of Miles Schaffner, and arson.
What the hell are you talking about?
What are you doing?
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can be used against you
in a court of law.
You have the right to an attorney.
If you cannot afford one--
Docket Number 067823.
People v. Schaffner, Rosalie P.
Charges are murder in the second degree,
arson in the first degree,
and attempted murder in the second degree.
Do we have a plea?
Lisa Denton from Gault, Michaels & Gold
for the defense, Your Honor.
Actually, I--I won't be handling the case.
Um, what I mean is--
First time, Ms. Denton?
Yes, Your Honor.
(Judge) Hmm. It's weird, isn't it?
Hearing your own voice above the fray.
Okay, let's just take a deep breath,
and give it our best shot.
What I meant to say was that Alissa Goodwyn
will be council of record.
After I make a motion that she be admitted
to the court pro hoc vice, that is.
Very good, now where is the esteemed Ms. Goodwyn?
She's not here. Yet.
I mean, uh, her plane from Miami was delayed.
You know something?
I'll bet you can handle this on your own.
Let's give it a shot.
Not guilty.
Okay. Ms. Rubirosa.
People request bail in the amount of $1 million.
Ms. Denton.
I'll tell you what, we'll run with that.
If and when Ms. Goodwyn arrives,
and wants to oppose the People's request,
I don't think Ms. Rubirosa will oppose.
It's fine with me, Your Honor.
Welcome to the club, Ms. Denton.
God, I hope I was never that green.
I actually felt sorry for her.
My first time in court--
No offense, war stories bore me.
What I don't get is Gault, Michaels.
They're a top-notch firm.
Why bring in a ringer from out of state?
Does this ringer have a name?
Allison Goodwyn from Miami.
Alissa, and she's the Queen of Darkness.
She went from New York court street divorces,
to standard-bearer
for women's issues nationwide.
That a friend of yours?
Definitely not, and did I mention she was gorgeous?
How are you, Alissa?
(Alissa) Better than you, Jack.
I believe that's the same suit
you were wearing the last time I saw you.
I like gray.
Alissa Goodwyn, Connie Rubirosa.
Hi.
(Alissa) Thank you for showing mercy on that poor kid
Gault, Michaels sent to court this morning.
Sure, we've all been there.
Where is that, exactly?
This is a bunch of nonsense, Jack, and you know it.
(McCoy) But enough about me.
If I had a nickel for every time
a woman was falsely accused for trying to kill her husband
for something as mundane as money--
It's as good a motive as any.
Make my point, why don't you.
Greed is a guy thing.
So, I'm just projecting my own inadequacies
onto the poor misunderstood defendant.
Nobody said you were dumb.
Let me ask you, Alissa.
If I'm so greedy, if I'm so venal,
what am I doing still in the same job,
in the same bar in a variation of the same suit?
Excuse me.
Are you somehow saying there are women's issues
hidden somewhere in this case?
There's a women's issue in every case, honey.
Motion to dismiss.
I'd expect no less.
Actually, Ms. Goodwyn...
I'm glad you're planning to inject
women's rights into this case.
She's a quick study, Jack.
Because the victim here,
Jenna Wechsler,
she's never gonna get the chance to become one.
That's why I'll never get married again.
Whoa, she was your--?
Second wife's attorney.
(Alissa) Okay, let's assume
my name isn't Alissa, it's Alan.
And I have the physical equipment
that usually accompanies
said appellation.
Now, let's further assume
that I have a contract with Mr. McCoy
to sell him 100 widgets on Tuesday for $100.
Tuesday rolls around. I show up.
He's 50 bucks short. What happens?
That is an issue of contract law,
which in this criminal case is irrelevant,
notwithstanding council's newfound equipment.
We can either cancel the deal
or make a new agreement.
He'll pay me the $50 he has on hand.
He'll keep the widgets,
he'll pay me the remaining amount next Friday,
plus ten more for the inconvenience.
But somebody kills him on Thursday.
Now, do you actually believe
that I would be the first person the cops would suspect?
I don't recall her selling any widgets.
No, she sold her very being.
And her ex didn't live up to his end of the bargain.
So they made a new agreement,
which included ending the marriage,
and a payment of certain consideration.
$20 million is a little more substantial--
It's the principle, not the amount.
(McCoy) If Mrs. Schaffner's ex had in fact died,
she stood to collect a lot more money from the sale of land.
If she knew how much IdealMart
was willing to pay for the land.
That's a very big "if."
(Rubirosa) The defendant had the opportunity
to commit the crime, Your Honor.
When you blow the smoke away, Your Honor,
we're right back to Alan and his widgets.
But he's the least likely suspect on the block.
But Mrs. Schaffner is being charged with several
Class A felonies. Why the difference?
(McCoy) We have motive, opportunity, and the ability
to commit the particular crime.
A lot of cases go to trial
solely on circumstantial evidence.
And hopefully they're not a result
of latent sexist attitudes.
Do you have a problem?
I do, Your Honor.
The fact that you'd even
listen to this argument is a problem.
Mr. McCoy.
Fine. Motion to dismiss is granted.
You wanna go to trial Mr. McCoy?
Come back with some evidence.
I don't care what you think,
you don't insult the judge!
Milbank's had her mind made up
before we ever walked into chambers.
She and Goodwyn, both down for the sisterhood.
Facts and the law win cases.
Not personal politics. Really?
Why don't you tell that to your girlfriend "Alan"?
I'm sorry if I stepped over the line,
but I am the one who opens the case file every day
and looks at photos
of a mangled eight-year-old little girl.
Then I suggest you do something productive.
Lisa, right?
Oh, my God.
I'm so embarrassed.
I spent the entire day with my door locked.
Oh, no. Forget about it.
Do you mind if I...
Yeah, go ahead.
Um... I should thank you.
You could have totally humiliated me.
Oh, what would be the point of that?
Well, I owe you.
You know, actually there is something.
I don't know if you heard what Goodwyn
pulled today in chambers?
Yeah, she's a piece of work.
You know, there's a lot
of experienced litigators at your firm.
In New York City.
Why did Rosalie Schaffner reach out to Miami?
Oh, look. I--I appreciate what you did,
but my firm's name is still on the court papers.
Oh, I'm not trying to tip her defense.
Um, Rosalie got a freebie.
Goodwyn did this pro bono?
Her fees are being paid
by the East Coast Women's Defense League.
They track all cases that potentially involve
women's issues.
We just get her admitted on a case-by-case basis.
Kind of like her pimp.
We got her, Jack.
Board of Directors for the East Coast Women's Defense League.
Fifth name down from the top.
The honorable Edith Milbank.
So?
They're paying Goodwyn's fee.
Which means Judge Milbank should have recused herself.
23 years in the bench.
No one has ever questioned my integrity.
And I don't mean to do that now.
It's the appearance of impropriety
I'm talking about.
No way.
What you did is improper.
Maybe even unethical.
Don't you know you're supposed to house-break them
before you take them out in public, Jack?
(Rubirosa) The bottom line, Judge, is that not only
are you on the board of directors for the organization
paying the defense council's fees,
but you are on the committee who picks
which cases to take on.
I had nothing to do with selecting this case.
It doesn't matter.
It's a conflict of interest
that a first-year law student could spot.
(Alissa) The question is whether she was biased
in deciding the issue at bar.
And the answer to that is also obvious.
(Milbank) Well, it's not to me.
And I will not recuse myself,
and I will not reverse my decision.
One more word
and I will hold you in contempt, counselor.
That looks good.
Help yourself.
Thanks, I'm waiting for Maggie.
How's she doing?
Well, better than my A team's doing in your courtroom.
They were out of line.
In their choice of words, maybe.
So you think my decision was biased?
No, I don't think that. Thank you.
But I know you don't have a legal leg to stand on.
Since when did circumstantial evidence
become insufficient to send a case to the jury?
Legal sufficiency is always a judgment call.
Lucky for me, I'm the decider.
If you're ever in the position...
I'm a politician. I get to have opinions.
I have opinions too.
But I pride myself on leaving them at the door
when I put my robes on.
Widgets? Are you kidding me?
When you start playing politics,
you're playing in my ball park,
and I don't lose home games.
Is that a threat?
No.
But that Article 78 petition
I'm gonna file against you tomorrow is.
So you can make a damn fool out of yourself
before five appellate judges, or you can reinstate
the indictment and immediately recuse yourself.
Have a good night, Edie.
I thought you were waiting for Maggie.
No, no way. We like our fish fried.
She was just eight years old.
We had a party for her the week before.
Please tell us what happened on the morning of the 14th.
She died.
A building blew up, and now, for no reason whatsoever,
my little girl is dead.
(McCoy) I show you what was previously marked
People's 3.
You recognize this, Mrs. Wechsler?
Yes.
This was Jenna's favorite.
We gave it to her for her birthday.
She kept it with her all the time.
(McCoy) Meaning she had it with her that morning.
(Mrs. Wechsler) Yeah.
She dropped it.
I saw it on the sidewalk lying there,
and she went back to get it.
That's when it happened.
(McCoy) Did you see her actually pick it up?
Excuse me.
Yes. She picked it up...
and she held it up to show me that it was okay.
She smiled at me.
And...and then she disappeared.
Just for clarification, Mrs. Wechsler,
this doll was just a week old at the time of the explosion?
Objection. Please.
Sustained.
(McCoy) No further questions.
(Fire Marshal) On its own, the cut wire might have caused some damage.
But with the alarm system in the house,
plus the flame-retardant materials
used in the inner lining of the walls,
I doubt there would've been a major problem.
So, what happened?
Well, unfortunately,
in addition to the cut wire,
we've determined there was a leak in the gas line
in close proximity to the defective wire.
When the electric current hit the leaking gas,
there was a sudden, intense, hot blast of flame,
which then spread throughout the house
beneath the walls.
Flames filled the space
between the interior and exterior walls,
eating up all the oxygen, and the house exploded.
This was previously marked as People's 7.
Is this the faulty gas line that you found?
Yes.
You can see the puncture here.
Can you determine how this hole was made?
Just like the cut wire I testified about earlier,
it was sabotaged.
So, in your opinion,
this explosion was caused intentionally?
Definitely.
By someone who knew what he or she was doing.
Was there any evidence whatsoever--
a fingerprint, DNA, anything
that might help us determine
who cut that wire or punctured that gas line?
No.
Yes, I'd probably get more money for the land in Brooklyn
if I sold to IdealMart.
Which means, the defendant would get more money.
(Schaffner) That's correct.
But, this was my dad's property,
and I wanna do with it what I believe he would have done.
I owe his memory that much.
When you divorced the defendant,
how much money did the judge order you to pay?
It's misleading, I--
Just answer the question.
$20 million.
And over the past ten years,
how much do you think you've actually paid her?
(Schaffner) I couldn't say for sure.
(Alissa) Guess.
Nearly five million.
That's not bad.
You've lived up to a quarter of your legal responsibility.
Objection.
Withdrawn.
Did you ever share with your ex-wife
the precise numbers involved with the two competing offers?
She spoke to my attorney.
I can see why you live alone. Just answer the question.
No.
(Alissa) So you don't know
if she was actually aware
that she would make more money if you sold to IdealMart?
She certainly thought--
But she didn't know for sure, did she?
No.
[knock at door]
I was going through documents we subpoenaed
relating IdealMart's potential purchase
of the Brooklyn property.
Yeah.
I don't think she did it, Jack.
Why?
I don't know if I should show you.
What I mean is, I'm not sure that it would be ethical.
Neither is convicting an innocent woman.
I found a, uh, confidential memo.
Prepared by IdealMart's outside counsel,
Magilicutty Parks.
I've never heard of them.
Neither had I. They're out of Hartford.
You obviously know what's in there.
Well, I didn't see that it was marked "Attorney Work Product"
until after I'd read the contents.
I can put that stamp on a Chinese takeout menu.
The memo incriminates another party.
Does it implicate IdealMart
or any of its employees or agents?
No.
Then it's not a problem.
Come on, Jack.
IdealMart is not a defendant in our prosecution.
"The law firm's due diligence
on the Schaffner Brooklyn property."
I don't understand.
Here. Go to Section Six.
Down to Paragraph 16.
"During the week of September 8th,
"Miles Schaffner let the insurance policies
on his house lapse."
The house blew up on the 14th.
He kept that insurance policy alive for over 30 years,
and then killed it six days before the house was destroyed.
Looks like he knew what was gonna happen.
And I'm not sure that we can use
that memo to find out.
(Alissa) Why tell me?
Tell a jury and convict the SOB.
I'm not sure I can do that.
Why?
This Magilicutty firm didn't represent him.
They represented IdealMart.
Think about it, Alissa.
Why wouldn't IdealMart come forward
with this information about Schaffner on their own?
If Schaffner's imprisoned, it's just that much easier
for IdealMart to buy the property in Brooklyn.
The way Magilicutty uncovered the dirt wasn't kosher.
I'd be indirectly exposing their firm
to ethics violations.
Which, in turn, would put your butt
in an ethical ringer as well.
So, what about it, Alissa?
Are you in?
It's crazy.
Think about it this way.
Instead of making a giant step for womankind,
this time you'd actually be helping one of your clients.
(McCoy) Mrs. Schaffner has already expressed
her willingness to accept my offer of a plea bargain.
Against my advice.
I think she's gonna walk out of that courtroom a free woman.
As opposed to?
(McCoy) I drop the arson charge, and she pleads
to one count of second degree manslaughter.
What does that all mean?
(McCoy) A six-year prison sentence.
A jury is always a gamble.
What about the little girl's parents?
(McCoy) They've already agreed,
but you're a victim here too.
So it's no deal if you're not okay with it.
No problem, I'll notify the judge,
that we'll continue the trial this afternoon.
No.
Six years is better than nothing.
(McCoy) Good.
Thank you, Mr. Schaffner.
There's no need for you to wait around.
We're done here?
We've got a deal.
(McCoy) That's right.
$10 million
in a money market account for six years?
I can wait for that.
What are you talking about?
You're such a jerk, Miles.
Insurance.
There's gotta be a $10 million check
in the mail as we speak.
Don't try to cash it, though, sweetie.
Because I've already got an order of attachment.
You can't legally benefit from your own crime.
You blew the house up.
But part of the plea bargain
was that she wouldn't be charged with arson.
You just agreed to it, Miles.
Is that right?
I had no idea. Can you take the deal back?
I just gave my word, Mr. Schaffner.
[laughs]
And what if I told you
there is no money in the mail?
I let the insurance policy lapse.
Don't you think I know that?
Alissa knew you would probably
try to pull something like this.
She arranged for the insurance company
to notify me if you ever missed a payment.
They did, and I paid it for you.
Hold on!
How long have you been involved?
Going on three years.
I agreed not to charge your client with arson.
I didn't say anything about you, Alissa.
Oh, give it a rest, Jack.
I knew nothing about it.
But what I do know is human nature.
And I know how men like to mistreat their wives.
It's my job to make sure they're compensated for it.
(Rosalie) You know how I hate to gloat.
But I finally beat you, you prick.
I'm not gonna let you do it.
I'm not gonna let you
pick at the last piece of meat on my bones.
It's too late, Miles.
It wasn't arson, Mr. McCoy.
I blew the house up.
Why would you do that?
Because I had nothing left but the house!
And I knew it was next on her lawyer's hit list.
I wanted to die in those flames.
And now, I'd rather tell the truth and go to jail
than watch you pick at the last scrap of meat.
That means no insurance settlement, sweetie!
No proceeds for you to attach, and you know what?
It's all worth it to watch you clutching with your claws
and there is nothing, absolutely nothing for you to grab!
Is that good enough?
All charges dropped?
As promised.
Miles Schaffner, you're under arrest for arson,
and the murder of Jenna Wechsler.
Love and marriage.
How about steak and potatoes?
(Rubirosa) I just heard Schaffner
close negotiations with IdealMart
for the purchase of the garden spot in Brooklyn.
Had to cover his bills.
And to all a good night.
IdealMart should send you a "thank you" note, Connie.
If you hadn't found that confidential memo,
who knows, they might be looking for space
in Staten Island right now.
Actually, I've been meaning to call them
about their paralegal's miscue.
If it was a miscue.
Companies like IdealMart
don't end up in Staten Island, my friend.