[music continues]
[music continues]
(Annie) 'All I did..'
'...was put him out of his misery.'
He was too dumb to live in the world.
He was better off out of it. I did him a favor.
It wasn't compassion. You did it for your own selfish aims--
He deserved to die.
He left me without a cent in the world
and came back to taunt me with it.
He came back because he loved you.
[sh*ts f*ring]
[applause]
[indistinct chatter]
Who sh*t who?
As long as you care, that's a good sign.
- Gotta love it, the mystery. - Hm.
If this does half the business
that it did in London, I won't complain.
Let's go outside where we can talk.
Thanks.
[indistinct chatter]
Annie!
There's plenty of time before curtain, Janet.
- 'It's just first call.' - Not until the play is over.
I wanna talk to her now.
Rule is no one's allowed backstage
until after the play.
I'm not just anyone.
Okay, okay. Maybe you better go, Brian.
When I'm ready.
We haven't finished our rehearsal yet.
Say goodnight, Brian.
Why don't you watch your mouth?
Say goodnight, Brian.
Ah, life upon the wicked stage.
[laughs] Is never what a girl supposes. Just ask me.
This where it happen?
Yeah, Sherry came out the door just like we did now
car came roaring down the alley and hit her.
- Your car? - Yes.
I wasn't driving it, Spenser. It was a setup.
Go on.
Well, it was common knowledge
Sherry and I were feuding
she wanted to dissolve the partnership.
So, I was the perfect patsy.
Someone, got in my car, wired it
and waited for Sherry to come out.
So why did you call me now?
You go to trial in a few days, and you got McVane.
Ha! Who wants me to plead guilty to manslaughter.
Spenser, I thought he was gonna fight for me.
- Get another lawyer. - Ha, ho..
Fire the most famous lawyer in Boston
because he think I'm guilty. How's that gonna look?
Confession of guilt. On all the front pages.
So who else wanted Sherry Belcher dead?
Well, Sherry got some money from unusual sources.
She had a friend who was connected.
The mob?
In the theater?
Great way to launder cash.
What loses more money than the theater?
Anyway, I think they found out about it and k*lled her.
I can't prove it but she did have a bookkeep
who kept her records. Only..
He disappeared.
Yeah. I think he's in hiding.
If you could find him, maybe he'll tell you the truth.
Yeah. Maybe I should talk to McVane.
Would you?
Maybe he'll listen to you.
Because if I take his advice, I'm going to jail.
Spenser. I know, your television's broken
VCR's dead, you're bored.
As a matter of fact, I'm working for the producer of this play.
How do you like it so far?
Gonna play Siskel and Ebert. I gotta review it for you?
- So what are you doin' here? - Guess.
You're the new critic for the Globe.
I'm the new computer date for Brian Lord
ne'er-do-well idiot of Boston's underworld.
(Spenser) Not to mention, patron of the arts.
On the nose, he invested in the play.
I could see why, with the little lady
he's hanging with backstage.
Plenty of ladies in his life.
This actress special?
As special as they get for him.
He does ramble.
I can't deal with this.
What, gangsters in the theater?
They are solid mainstream nowadays, babe.
and they're gonna make food, health spas, everything.
And then some, if, uh, you're his bodyguard.
It's all for show. Makes him seem mean.
He's happy, I get paid. Symbiosis complete.
Except for dragging me to these mystery plays.
Too many questions, not enough answers.
Hm.
I wonder what's on TV.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) I'd watched Janet Cole
when she was one of the better actresses
on the East Coast circuit.
I continued to enjoy her work as a producer of good theater.
I liked her. And now she was a client, accused of m*rder.
And at odds, with a very famous attorney
David McVane.
Ah, Spenser!
- Nice to see you again. - McVane, you're looking well.
Unfortunately, have to work at it these days.
- You still jogging? - Uh, whatever I can.
Good. Uh, Mrs. Cole is upstairs waiting outside the court.
You mind walking up? Good for the heart.
Want me to carry that for you, old man?
No, no, no, I don't need any valet yet.
So, when do you go to trial?
Won't be any trial.
If I can cut a deal with Sam Reynolds at the DA's office
the judge will clear this case from his docket.
Sam Reynolds. Yeah, I remember seeing his name in the paper.
Yeah. He's a very ambitious young man.
He thinks he has her dead to rights.
She pleads innocent
and he can convict her in open court
and he'd b*at me
and, uh, he'd be in better position
to get elected to a higher office. Mm?
Is that what this is all about?
Janet pleads guilty to derail
some hotshot lawyer who wants to be DA?
Look, I sweated an awful lot for this deal.
And for manslaughter, the lady gets five years
maybe less.
It's a lot better than years
for first-degree m*rder.
You're presuming she's guilty.
I can b*at the case against her
and whatever I do, it's not going to hold up.
Oh, hang on for a minute.
[exhales]
- Hey, are you alright? - Oh.
Spenser..
...don't ever get old.
[sighs] Look, I don't believe in innocent people
ever pleading guilty.
You're still looking for pure justice, Spenser.
Justice. Sounds to me like we're talking about
famous lawyers and wouldbe district attorneys.
You really believe justice is about
whether Janet Cole k*lled her partner?
Do you think that her innocence or guilt
has anything to do with justice?
Justice, my friend, is what the judge says it is.
Justice is what we can make the jury believe.
'Justice is how good a lawyer she can get.'
And how good a case he can argue for his client
whether she's innocent or guilty.
Janet.
Well, I'm glad to see you're here.
Have you, thought about my suggestion?
Yes. Uh..
I've asked Spenser to investigate some things
I feel haven't been done.
Well, I'm certain Spenser knows
I conduct a thorough investigation
for every case I handle.
Well, damn it, McVane, you're my attorney
and you're telling me I'm guilty
so I don't know whose side you're on.
How I feel or believe doesn't matter
it's what we can prove, Janet.
Well, I'd like Spenser in there.
I'd feel a whole lot better if I knew
one person was on my side.
Hm, it's fine with me.
Good.
Let's get this overwith.
Mr. McVane, Mr. Reynolds.
(male # ) 'Gentlemen, I take it we're ready to enter'
'a change of plea in this case.'
Mrs. Cole, your attorney has explained to you
the significance of this proceeding.
Yes, Your Honor.
Uh, you've made your own decision
free of any coercion or undue influence?
Yes, Your Honor.
Then how do you now plead?
Not guilty, Your Honor.
(male # ) 'The plea will remain as previously set'
'and the case will proceed to trial.'
[gavel bangs]
[gavel bangs]
[indistinct chatter]
What happened to our deal, McVane?
Well, it's obvious my client is disinclined
to accept your offer of prison.
You're never gonna get a better deal.
I promise you.
(Hawk) You wanna see Brian Lord, see Brian Lord.
(Spenser) Don't you even wanna know what about?
(Hawk) Negative.
(Spenser) See, I know you're dyin' of curiosity
Brian Lord invests in places.
Maybe one of those investments didn't go well
Maybe Brian got mad.
(Hawk) Maybe The Celtics gonna trade Larry Bird
for a future draft choice.
Lookie here, Lord Brian is a lover boy, not a k*ller man
all show, no go. You dig?
Well, he's got plenty of friends and neighbors
who got go, I hear.
Truly, truly.
So talk, the lover loves to talk
but problem is, you don't know what he talking about.
Now why are you out here ruinin' a perfectly fine day
layin' all this on me.
I'd say, courtesy call, I guess.
You're Brian Lord's bodyguard, right?
Steel trap man, my, my, my.
If our talk doesn't go well
who's he gonna nod to, to toss me out of the room?
Next frame, I throw you out.
Or you go down, valiantly trying.
In which case, I just want you to know
it's nothing personal.
[growls]
I'll catch you on the way to work.
I'm scared of you. Uh-huh.
[instrumental music]
[chuckles]
(Spenser) One way or the other, I'd see Brian Lord
before the night was through.
Meanwhile, it was time to start tracking
the frightened bookkeeper.
George Lynnwood.
Yeah. Yeah. Anchovies. Uh, onions, uh, peppers
you know, the whole schemang.
Yeah.
Yeah, Belson. B-E-L-S-O-N.
Sergeant Frank Belson.
Thank you.
- What are you doing? - I'm timing him.
If he don't get here in ten minutes
I get a free pizza.
You're timing the delivery boy
during lunch hour in Boston?
I mean, Frank, come on, that's hardly fair.
I know. Got a free one last month.
That, uh, that file do you any good?
[sighs] No.
I didn't think it would.
Your client's definitely, bleh..
You know, I always appreciate your unbiased observation.
Far be it for me to tell you how to do your job, Spenser
but Janet Cole is open-and-shut -to- .
Signed, sealed and delivered.
What do you got on this bookkeeper George Lynnwood?
Lynnwood? He's gone.
Gone?
Like "dead," "Moved to Florida?"
"Working as an astronaut," what, gone? Come on, Frank.
Hey, your guess is as good as mine.
You read the file.
He took off right after he made a statement.
That doesn't bother the police?
That a material witness just disappears?
Spenser, all we do is catch 'em.
They got judges, they got juries, they got lawyers.
The DA told us. He don't need the bookkeeper.
He's got his case.
Yeah, but that case is circumstantial.
That could change if you found George Lynnwood and talk to him.
Yeah. You're just all bent out of shape
because you're buying Janet Cole's story
that her partner's involved with the mob.
But we talked to Lynnwood and he said there was no mo--
- You talked to him. - We talked to him.
And he said there's no involvement.
What kind of investigative technique is that?
- Spense.. Look. - Come on.
You're buying the mob being involved in a play--
- Yeah, what's wrong with that? - It's a joke, right?
You know, I saw a lot of sharkskin suits there last night
When have you ever heard of the mob
passing up an opportunity
to invest a little bit of money
to get a lot of money back?
Or finding some hole to dump cash into.
Alright, alright, alright, maybe it's possible.
Yeah, well, so, find this George Lynnwood guy
and let me talk to him.
Find Geor..
Spenser, what do you think, I'm made out of time?
I got a lot of important things..
Couple more minutes, I'm getting a free pizza.
Yeah, well, the whole shmegagy.
Yeah, the whole shmegagy.
(female # ) 'Thank you for a lovely evening, Brian.'
[instrumental music]
[volume increases]
[intense music]
[sh*ts f*ring]
[grunts]
[instrumental music]
Look out! Hey!
[tires squealing]
Yeah, that's little old Brian's car.
[door crashes]
Hawk!
I think you're out of a job.
Who told you?
[sighs]
[knocking on door]
Come in.
Sorry it's so late but, uh, I had to touch base.
(McVane) 'You want something to drink?'
Some, uh..
Some exceptional Irish whiskey.
'My doctor's, uh, forbidden it to me but, uh'
perhaps you'll allow me the pleasure
of watching you drink it.
Perhaps you'll, even, uh
you'll even describe the experience for me.
Like other pleasures of the flesh
drinking is an experience that I relish
enjoy, even if only vicariously.
Ah.
Tingling.
- Sharp. - Mm-hm.
The peak bouquet.
Ah.
Thank you.
Mm-hm.
You heard about Brian Lord's m*rder.
I heard.
It appears you were almost an eyewitness.
Almost.
Which leads us to the obvious question
how's it gonna affect the trial?
The m*rder of Brian Lord won't be any part of it.
There are connections.
Brian Lord is a mobster's nephew.
Was.
He's now dead.
While he was alive, he dropped a bungle in the theater
and your client keeps insisting that it was the mob.
And what my client says is not evidence.
If I give even the slightest hint
in mentioning the Lord m*rder
the DA will see to it that the judge
hands me my head, Spenser.
Meanwhile, justice marches on blindly.
Justice? No. The law?
The law is very clear in these issues.
(Spenser) 'You stick to the issues.'
And I'll hang on to this mob theory.
The problem may be that you don't have
a great deal to work with.
You know, it would help if you tried
to believe your client's story.
Spenser..
do you have any idea how many criminal cases I've tried?
'You know, sometimes..'
it's to the attorney's advantage
not to look too closely.
You look too closely, you prove the client's guilt.
I have to make judgements when I take on clients too.
I haven't been doing it as long as you have
but it is part of my business.
And I've made enough mistakes
that I go damn slow now.
Well, maybe I've been around too long.
I don't get too close to the lives of my clients anymore
because I've been disappointed too often, Spenser.
Liars, thieves, murderers and worse.
Now, I'm going to deal in opinion.
I like to think that now, is worth something.
People pay me a lot for it.
I'm gonna give it to you for free, Spenser.
Janet Cole is guilty.
I'm sure of it.
But you swear she's innocent.
Can't your opinion be wrong?
Can't you put it aside this once?
You know, you could be right.
Janet Cole might be guilty.
But until we know, shouldn't we honestly try to prove it?
It's damn good whiskey.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) At the same time, I had a client
trying to b*at a m*rder rap
I also had a friend trying to avoid being a m*rder victim.
It's funny how cranky the mob can get
when you're bodyguarding one of their boys
and someone sh**t them.
- How's your fund level? - About a quart low.
- What you got? - Word's out.
Contract's to find and dispose of you.
They're welcome to try.
Why don't you take a little trip?
See if I can get a handle on this thing.
I'm duty bound.
Gotta find out who k*lled lover boy.
Somebody gets offed that I'm responsible for
they got to waltz with me.
(Spenser) 'Well, try this.'
Belson ran the g*n. . caliber.
Registered to Brian Lord.
(Hawk) 'Must be su1c1de.'
Guy sh**t himself three times from across the room.
I shall find the trigger finger
what about your wandering bookkeeper?
Nothing yet.
Lookie here.
You got a client about to be convicted of m*rder
I got a client that's dead
we might wanna think about changing occupations. Ha ha.
You may proceed, Mr. Reynolds.
[sighs]
Your Honor.
In the theater, actors and actresses
live or die on the whim of the defendant, Janet Cole.
Playwrights, directors, hang on her every word
knowing that her decisions determine their futures.
She has risen to the top of her world
and she rules it like a monarch.
And then one person threatened to take all that away.
'Janet Cole's partner, Sherry Belcher'
wanted to dissolve..
How's it going?
If you're going to find anything
sooner is better
I present our case tomorrow, when there isn't any case.
Sorry.
Now don't worry, Spenser, I've been doing your work for you.
This is George Lynnwood's telephone number.
You tryin' to make me look bad?
He called me this morning.
He wanted me to know that Janet is innocent
but he couldn't testify to that fact
because he was afraid that his whole life was in jeopardy.
I had it cold traced while we were talking.
(Sam Reynolds) 'She exercised that.'
'and m*rder*d her partner.';
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) Unfortunately, when I called the phone number McVane gave me
it was a corner newstand.
[indistinct chatter]
Eh, down the block.
(Spenser) Fortunately, the vendor
remembered the guy
who borrowed his phone.
He was holed up just down the street
in a fleabag hotel.
[instrumental music]
[door rattles]
I don't think so, Georgie. Come on, have a seat.
Look, don't k*ll me. I haven't, I haven't talked.
- I won't say anything. - I'm not gonna k*ll ya.
But you are gonna talk.
- Who are you? - My name is Spenser.
I'm a PI, I work for Janet Cole and she needs your help.
I can't. They'll blow me away.
I think that's a risk you're gonna have to take.
Now, George, look.
You were brave enough to call.
You wanna do the right thing, you wanna help Janet
you just need to be a little bit braver, that's all.
No, I.. I won't, I won't testify, Spense..
Look, you can deal with the mob later
or you can deal with me now
But you are going to testify.
[instrumental music]
[music continues]
[gasps]
I got you by the shotgun.
You be still or several of your body parts
gon' be missing, you understand?
Now, I know who you are and who sent you.
If I thump you off this planet
they'll just send more for me to thump.
You tell the man I wanna meet
after I find out who k*lled Brian Lord.
You understand?
[grunting]
[sighs]
(George Lynnwood) 'Ahem. George Arthur Lynnwood.'
May we approach the bench?
Your Honor, the state was not provided
with advance notice that this witness was to be called
and objects to the testimony to be offered.
The counsel for the defense suggest that this witness
may clarify the underlying substance
of the quarrel between his client
and her deceased partner.
I will allow testimony in that restricted area.
Proceed, Mr. McVane.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Uh, now, Mr. Lynnwood, again
what is your profession?
I work as a bookkeeper and personal assistant.
Mr. Lynnwood, you worked as, um, secretary and bookkeeper
for the late Sherry Belcher, is that right?
Yes.
(McVane) 'And in that capacity, you were familiar'
'with the deceased's financial affairs?'
Yes.
Was, um, Sherry Belcher, the chief fundraiser
for the partnership she'd formed with Ms. Cole?
(George Lynnwood) 'Yes.'
(McVane) 'And, uh, how did she..'
How did she raise the money for their production?
She had investors.
(McVane) 'Well, banks, investment houses'
'individuals, what sort of investors?'
Individuals.
Mmm-hm.
And, uh, did the books she kept
accurately reflect the amounts of money
that individuals invested in her productions?
No.
No?
The books would show that the investments
were for more than the money she actually got.
She was laundering money
isn't that what you're trying to say, Mr. Lynnwood?
Yes. You see, if, if someone invested a $ ,
we would show it as $ , .
The extra $ , ..
Well, they, they kept it
but they could claim it as a loss.
So Sherry Belcher made it very convenient
for money to disappear, isn't that right, Mr. Lynnwood?
Yes.
(McVane) 'Is that all that she did?'
No. She also..
...kept money for herself.
Oh, I see.
But what about the investors, didn't they complain about that?
Well, they couldn't complain about it.
(George Lynnwood) 'Organized crime.'
'They used the partnership'
'to launder their money.'
(McVane) 'And what did they do?'
What did they do about it
when they found out that Sherry Belcher
'was keeping their money for herself?'
I guess..
they k*lled her.
Objection.
(Sam Reynolds) 'Speculation.'
Sustained.
Did Janet Cole know where Sherry Belcher got the money?
- 'No. She didn't know.' - Objection.
The witness cannot testify to another party's knowledge.
Sustained.
Thank you, Your Honor. No further questions.
(male # ) 'You may step down.'
[instrumental music]
It does work.
Actress lady just returned
to the scene of the crime.
Are you with the police?
You see the police?
I'm just getting things that belonged to me.
Down in your automobile
I see other suitcases.
- You plannin' on a little trip? - No.
There must be some explanation.
Look, this is my stuff.
I'm just gettin' it outta here.
I'm not stealing anything.
I'm not here to talk about stealing.
Then what?
I wanna hear all about how you popped Brian.
[sighs] Me?
k*ll Bryan?
You're crazy.
Am I now?
I'm gonna give you a chance to get out of here.
Magnanimous.
- You don't think I'll use this? - Oh, I do.
It's a lot easier killnig a second time.
[g*n clicks]
Rather proves my point, doesn't it?
Little bigger than . though.
I didn't mean to.
He had another girl here.
Right in our bedroom.
When she left, I got the g*n. I only meant to scare him.
Scared him to death.
I wasn't thinking straight.
I just wanted to get even.
Well, I got a little evening out myself to do. Come on.
I'mma let you talk to the blue boys.
Look, Brian was a creep. He had it coming.
If you let me go, I promise, nobody will ever see me again.
Now, you wanna go out out on to the streets
Brian's family's there.
You understand what I'm saying?
Telephone's still working.
You make the call.
Talk to the man. Live, in prison.
Run? Dead in a week.
Wait.
Good choice.
Your Honor
we haven't been able to point the finger at someone
and say "This is the person who m*rder*d Sherry Belcher"
nor have we been able to show that Janet Cole did not
in fact, m*rder Sherry Belcher.
'But isn't there reasonable doubt about this issue?'
'Isn't it reasonable to suppose'
that someone else might have m*rder*d Sherry Belcher?
'Isn't it reasonable to suppose'
'that someone else might have motive'
'or opportunity?'
Your Honor, the prosecution set out to prove
with absolute certainty
that Sherry Belcher was m*rder*d by Janet Cole.
That, I respectfully submit, Your Honor
they have not done.
'Doubt hangs in this courtroom like a shroud.'
And doubt, reasonable intelligent doubt
requires in justice
that the accused must be found innocent.
[indistinct chatter]
(male # ) 'The court will now hear final closing statements'
'from the prosecution.'
So, you're off the hook for Brian's m*rder.
Not until Brian's uncle calls off the wolves.
- Jimmy call her. - Jimmy, the broker.
You have a past with him, let's ride.
Let's go.
Chapter two, the actress k*lled the boy of love
because she was jealous.
That does not connect with your hit-and-run job.
Unless Jimmy was the one
laundering the money through the theater.
Say he was
wasn't unhappy about the deal.
Then who ran down the lady in the alley and why?
I said about mystery's too many questions.
Too many questions.
I know.
I know.
[door unlocks]
- Spenser! - Jimmy.
Been too long. And Hawk.
Still alive and kicking.
No thanks to you.
Default advertising
it gives our other independent contractors
an incentive to perform.
We think it's wise to let them know
that we constantly evaluate our personnel.
Your job was to protect Brian from hits.
Did that. Couldn't protect him from himself.
Boy had a dangerous habit. Too many women.
'Girlfriend dropped the hammer on Romeo.'
The actress.
I see.
Are you planning to do anything about it?
Did that too. Put her in a cab.
Destination?
If she has any brains
BPD homicide division.
Very civic-minded of you.
Alright, women were always Brian's problem.
And they were his responsibility.
[sighs] I consider our accounts in balance.
Well, consider this.
If you point another g*n in my direction
you will eat that g*n with salt and pepper.
Hawk, I think you'll find your life will be relatively quiet.
Hm.
(Jimmy) 'Anything else, gentlemen?'
(Spenser) 'As a matter of fact, there is one thing.'
It's a guess, Jimmy but I'm guessing
you were the one who was laundering the money
in the theater.
And Brian was just one of your guys
who helped in that effort.
'And that Sherry Belcher was paid off'
'to handle that for you.'
Brian gets hit, Sherry gets hit.
'We thought there was a connection'
'now we know there wasn't.'
Spenser, you're right.
except in one small area.
We never did business with Sherry Belcher.
Our partner was Janet Cole.
Janet?
Apparently, Janet got greedy.
Jimmy..
...did you hit Sherry Belcher?
No. Why should we?
She got bumped off by her partner.
'And the state is sending her up.'
'Why don't we let the state handle it?'
We pay our taxes, not much.
But we pay some.
[indistinct chatter]
All rise please.
Mr. Reynolds. Mr. McVane.
Upon due consideration
of the evidence and the testimony
presented to me in this court
'I have concluded that the defendant, Janet Cole'
'is not guilty.'
'And she is hereby released from the custody of this court.'
[gavel banging]
McVane, you're a genius.
[chuckles]
k*ller her, didn't you?
Judge just told me I'm innocent.
You k*lled her, then you sent me off to get you off.
McVane knew it all the time.
He never believed you were innocent.
Well, thanks to you and George, he came around.
'Oh, he's a lawyer, happy he's won another victory.'
I needed you, Spenser, he wasn't defending me.
I needed your help.
'You did a great job.'
I'm very grateful.
You and George made quite a team.
But you're not gonna get away with it.
[chuckles] I already have.
You won't get away with it.
What can you do about it?
Spenser..
...you keep your mouth shut.
'Cause if you don't, I'l sue your ass off.
[instrumental music]
The only thing I want from you is a bill.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) It felt odd.
Just watching them.
But even that felt better than doing nothing.
It seemed that justice was stood on it's head
and the man who had spoken so eloquently about it
was as much a victim as I was.
Truthfully, I didn't wanna hear what else he would have to say.
The Fifth Amendment provides that no person
shall be subject for the same offense
to be twice tried in jeopardy of life or limb.
She can't be tried again, Spenser.
She can't be tried for perjury either.
She didn't testify.
And that was at her own insistence too.
Once she saw George back.
They plotted the drama rather well, didn't they?
She's gotten off with it, Spenser.
- Live with it. - And you?
Look
when I was a young lawyer
I lost a lot of cases I should have won.
Now that I'm old I win a lot of cases I should lose.
You know how I live with it?
I look back and I think..
On the whole, substantial justice has been done.
- You didn't wanna defend her. - 'No, I didn't.'
You were sure she was guilty.
No. No, I wasn't sure of anything, Spenser.
Look, I'm an old man now, right?
When I get hunches, I pay attention to them.
You know, it's getting harder for me
to get up in the courtroom anymore.
When I do it, I..
I like to think that I'm on the right side
but it, it really isn't important
if one guilty defendant gets off.
'And as horrible as it sounds'
'it really doesn't matter if one innocent person goes to jail.'
'You've got to look at the larger picture, Spenser.'
On the whole, the system works.
Again, on the whole, substantial justice is done.
I can't look at the larger picture.
I'm a detective, I'm not a lawyer.
I, I take it one case at a time.
I deal with lives one at a time.
I don't know whether the system works or not.
All I know is that woman is guilty
and she used you and me to get off.
No such thing as absolute justice, Spenser.
Another one of your famous opinion.
(McVane) 'No. No, it's reality.'
'Look, life's not fair. It's not even close.'
[chuckles] Most of the time, it's little better than a crapshoot.
You're crossing the street, you're hit by a car.
You buy a lottery ticket, you come into a million.
'Look, at best, all we can hope for'
'all that we can expect'
is that as time goes by
the system levels it all out.
Now come on, drink the rest of that Irish whiskey
and make me happy, huh?
Oh, boy, do I love the smell of this stuff.
So she just walks.
Spenser, listen.
You don't think the doctor would mind if I, uh
just took a little bit of this, do you?
Hey, who's gonna tell him?
Spenser..
...you won't let go, huh?
Is it too much for one guilty person to go free?
Okay. Okay.
We'll try her for..
...tax evasion, or tax fraud, or something.
You know, it's a hell of a thing for a lawyer
to go after his client like this.
She'll probably sue my butt off and she'll probably win.
But I don't mind.
What if we cr*ck George Lynnwood?
Now that would help.
[instrumental music]
I'll let you navigate her.
- You got an approach? - Oh, yeah.
- Simple or complicated. - Simple.
Separate George from Janet and convince him
that it's in his interest to turn on her.
It is in his interest.
Yeah, look.
We need him to testify, right?
- Shall I knock? - Allow me.
Bonsoir.
What the hell do you think you're doing?
Pointing this g*n at you.
g*ns, plural.
I'm gonna call the police.
Now, look who wants to call the police.
Alright, Spenser, it's over, why don't you just give it up?
George.
How do you want to die?
(Spenser) 'Oh, he's just kidding, George.'
I want you to get dressed so we can go have a little talk.
Uh-uh, He's not going anywhere.
Yeah, come on, George, we wanna talk about bookkeeping.
Don't kil me.
Where are you going?
You wanna stop me? k*ll me.
I aim to please.
She may be going for the police.
I don't think so.
She's gonna k*ll you, George.
Oh, not now.
Later, when you don't suspect.
She's gonna run over you too.
Or maybe there'll be something in your drink
that tastes like almonds.
She has to do it.
She doesn't have a choice
because you know she k*lled Sherry Belcher
because you know she took money from the mob
You stay here, you're dead.
He's telling you true.
She loves me.
Oh, don't even wish it.
I think we'll take a trip.
Paris sounds nice or the South of France.
You will tell me how the winter is in Boston, won't you?
Let's go, George.
George, you really don't wanna talk to them
because you'll end up in jail
and you really don't wanna do that
now let's go.
Alright, George, we'll talk about it later.
You boys have a nice party.
I'm gonna get the police.
Women. Stone cold.
I'll bet your clothes are neatly
hanging in the closet, aren't they?
[door closes]
[expl*si*n]
[expl*si*n]
Do you think Jimmy Culver has spoken.
To the face of justice.
[dramatic music]
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) George Lynnwood had just pleaded guilty
to embezzlment and fraud.
He would go to prison for his crimes.
Janet Cole had paid an even higher price.
Perhaps McVane was right.
For within the system or without
in this case at least
substantial justice had been done.
[instrumental music]
[music continues]