01x32 - The Judgment

[bunniefuu]

[waves crashing]

[music]

So I think we should get a divorce.

Divorce?

No, Dora. I'd neverconsent to such a thing.

I've worked too hardgetting where I am to

ruin my politicalcareer with a divorce.

Your political career?

So what about our career, ourmarriage, our home and our child?

Thing just don't meananything to you anymore.

Well you knowhow busy I've been.

That's right. Busy.

You are always too busy.

Too busy for your owndaughter. A little seven year

old girl who needs yourlove and your understanding.

Needs it as much as I do.

You better slow down.

Important men don'tlook any better in the

traffic court than theydo in the divorce court.

Dora, someday I'll be governor.

Watch where you're going, will you?

I know where I'm going.

I wonder if you do.

You seem to forgetthat I've done a great

deal of good for thecitizens of this state.

Oh, stop it, Phil. Stop it.

You always do that.

You always rationalizeyour own shortcomings.

By dangling the goodof the state in front of me.

Why aren't you honestwith yourself? It isn't

for the good of thestate anymore, Phil.

Fall for the good of Philip Whiting.

Oh, no, it isn't, Phil.

Dora, how many times do Ihave to tell you that's politics

It can't be.

Other men havepolitical careers.

They don't compromisetheir integrity.

Don't completely ignoretheir families or neglect them.

That's a pretty stupid thing to say.

Isn't it?

But it's true.

Don't know how you changedand that's the real tragedy.

[car sound]

Philip please slow down.

Don't be a fool. Can't you hearthat? Police sirens. Slow down.

There's a man in the front.

[tyre sound]

[music]

You stay here.

[music]

[closing the car door]

He's dead, Max.

Dead?

Is he dead?

This truck just run him down. I

caught up withhim a little too late.

Stick around, Mr. I'llneed a witness.

Road.

A witness?

I never even saw him. Honest,Mr. I never even saw him.

[crying]

[crying]

Top by to see if Icould be of any help.

There's my card.

Mr. Whiting I'm sorryI didn't recognize you.

Thank you for stopping.

More people withpublic spirited. Is you?

Yes, thank you.

Well, I see you'vegot the situation

well in hand, soI'll say good night.

Thank you, Mr. Whiting,and good night, sir.

[music]

-Is he all right?-He's dead. Get in.

But you can't just leave.

A drunk did it. Hepractically admitted it.

Let's go, get in.

[car door closing]

[car starting]

[music]

[door closing]

I was. Came hometo take you to lunch.

Able to take your lunch.

Come on dora.

You'll get all dressed up and we'llhave lunch and go shopping huh.

-Have you read it.-Yes.

What are you going to do about it?

I will except of course.

I wired Senator Foley thismorning that I'd be honored to run.

Well, it's a big editorial.Didn't you read it?

No, I didn't read it.

I read something elsethat wasn't important

enough for the editorialsection. Listen to this.

Joe Dervin is , south SecondStreet was arraigned late last

night on a charge of manslaughterand drunk driving. Dervin was held

without bail. He recently servedone year in the county jail for a

drunk drivingconviction. The victim's

name? Frank Bell. No relatives.

Philip, there's more.

Joe Dervin has a wifeand five small children.

Look, their picturesof them right there.

Mrs. Rose Dervin collapsed atthe news of her husband's arrest.

That's all very unfortunate,Dora, but it's no concern of ours.

This fellow Dervin seemsto be a pretty bad egg.

A drunk.

It's a pity though,about his wife and kids.

Dora.

We shouldn't get mixedup in this, my dear.

Aren't we all ready?

Dora.

[music]

Is the verdict of the coronerthat the deceased met his death

as a result of criminal neglecton the part of Joseph German

who be confined for aperiod of not more than six

weeks without bail pendingtrial for manslaughter.

Joe Joe.

[crying]

[music]

children.

All are quite small.

I could jail I guess.

Are you all right, Mrs. Dervin?

Yes.

He was trying so hard to get a job,

And so hard not to drink.

He didn't even see the man.

Oh God, what am theygoing to tell the kid now?

I'll get you some water.

Mrs. Dervin. Mrs.Dervin. Hi, Mrs. Leonard.

Please let me help you.

How but?

Yes, if I can.

[crying]

[music]

That's cute.

Look, Ms. Dervin,this is for your oldest

girl. You said shewas twelve, didn't you?

Yeah. Oh, she'll so loved that.

I hope so.

The kids will love all this stuff.

I'm glad.

Please sit down, Ms. Leonard.

Oh, yes, surely. Thank you.

Mr. Dervin, suppose your husbandis convicted but they sentence

into jail. How will you get alongwith the children and all? I mean

I Don't know.

I don't know, Mrs.Leonard. It wasn't

easy the lasttime he was in jail.

The kids asking questionsand all. Now it's going

to be worse becausethey're older and wiser.

Yes, I know.

You know, Mrs.Leonard, it's not as though

Joe's a bad guy.He's not. He's good.

He's good to the kids and me.

But that drink is a sicknesswith him. He needs help.

There was a chanceafter he spent a

year in the countyjail that he'd reform.

But now.

Not now.There's no chance now.

He'll be completelyseparated from the kids.

They'll never want tosee their father again.

-And you?-Me?

Oh, I'll wait if that'swhat you mean. Mrs. Leonard.

I loved joe.

I love him.

Think I better run along now andI'll be back in a couple of days.

All right. Oh, your basket.

Oh, yes. Julie once forgot it.

I don't know how tothank you, Ms. Dervin.

You're right. Youstand by your husband

here and youpray. You pray hard.

I want tissue.

-Bye.-Bye.

[music]

No good to you with the kids.

Why don't you make a clean cut now?

Get a divorce. Make the kidsforget they ever knew their father.

Joey, don't talk likethat. You'll get out

soon. Maybe a coupleof years kids won't be

too grown up by hishand. But we can go away

to a new town andget a fresh new start.

A fresh new start?

That's what I thoughtI was doing this

time. Only thebooze got me first.

Not Joey. The funny thing is, Idon't feel guilty.

About that guy.

Never saw him standing.

He was just layingon the road as though

he was waiting forme to run him down.

What does the lawyer say?

That guy, Jowett? Somepublic defender he is.

Wants me to plead guilty. Says itmight get me a break with the jury.

Maybe he's right, Joey.

What do they call that? Throwyourself on the mercy of the court?

I'll be thrown, all right.

Straight to the dogs.

What's the use Rose?

With my record, theycan pin anything on me.

I didn't k*ll him.

I didn't, Rose.

Only I can't prove it.

Don't do that to yourself.

What are you living on?

Can't be anythingleft of them. A few

bucks I had whenthey released me.

I got some sewing to do. Andthere's a very kind rich lady.

I get some so and to do and.Oh these are a very kind rich lady.

mrs. Leonard. Shetalked to me right after

the inquest and she'sbeen helping us out. She

brought clothes andfood and some toys. She's

very kind. She seemsvery interested in us.

Why should you be sointerested in the Joe Dervin's?

Well, like I said, Joey,she's a kind, rich lady.

People are nice to the likesof us. She must have a reason.

She's from some charityorganization or something.

-No.-What do you know about her?

Now, don't get huffy, Joe.

Mrs. Leonard is a very rich woman.

She seems like a realgreat lady and, well, she

likes to go around helpingpeople, especially kids.

What's the matter of choice? Whatare you thinking? Is that wrong?

Well, maybe itisn't, maybe it ain't.

She must have a reason.

Maybe she's paying off.

That's silly talk. Joe, ifyou could see Mrs. Leonard

there was a fine, rich car inthe road ahead of me that night.

There must be a reason.

[music]

Good evening, Mr. Whiting.

Would you like your cocktailsserved in the studies, sir?

Nothing now, Henry. Thanks.

Very good, sir.

Dora.

I understand you wentto that inquest yesterday.

Yes, that's right, I did.

After I ask you not to.

Dora, your concern for thesepeople will be misunderstood.

Misunderstood?

Philip, you havekilled a human being.

And you're content to let aninnocent man suffer for your crime.

What kind of a man are you?

How do you expect to live with thismonstrous thing on your conscience?

How do you expectme to live with it?

You have no choice, Dora.

Not anymore.

If your plans for divorce everwere feasible, they're not now.

You realize that, don't you, Dora?

[crying]

Dora.

Listen to me.

We've had our problemsand our conflicts,

mainly, I must admit,because I am what I am.

But if I fail you, it'sbecause destiny,

or whatever you want to call it.

Has placed me in aposition where our private

happiness has to take secondplace to a higher purpose.

I love you, Dora. I'venever ceased loving you.

But I can't escape the dutiesand responsibilities and the trust.

Extended I mean by someof our worthiest citizens.

And it does haveits compensations too.

We're honored andprivileged. We have power

and prestige in allof which you share.

-I know that.-No.

Someday maybe.

when I can retire from all this,

we'll be able tolive the kind of life

that you and I havealways dreamed about.

What's all this got to do withJoe Dervin and his family?

There's only one law Ihave to answer to in this case

the more a lawon which leadership rests.

And it's a different kindof law from that which

governs the lives of theJoe Dervin of this earth.

No.

No, they're not. Differentlaws for different people, Phil.

Don't you understand, Dora?

I am indispensable

oh, Phil.

My inability to continue my workand discharge my responsibilities.

Will be felt by thousands ofJoe Dervin in their families.

Now, on the otherhand, this man, Joe

Dervin, whosepitiful existence you

place above my own,is a weak and useless

individual. Morallydecayed, a drunk.

devoid of any value tosociety, even to his own family.

Now. Right now. As if bestchance the square himself.

By taking the blame for an actwhen he could easily have committed.

Which, except for a hair'sbreadth, he would have committed.

His first act ofusefulness to the society.

Will be to leave mefree to go on and work

and plan for countlessothers like Joe Durbin.

I believe you really mean that.

I've never been more serious.

Today,

There's just onething you're forgetting.

Maybe he is important too.

Desperately importantto his own family.

To his wife andhis five children.

Phil, listen to me.

They're People. They'rehuman beings with

feelings like you and Iand our own child feel.

Dora, you're overrought.

You want to be able tounderstand my attitude.

Look.

why don't you takea nice trip to Florida

or Bermuda till thisthing blows over?

Oh, no.

No, I can't run away from it, Phil.

Neither can you.

Neither can you.

[music]

Let me get to some more calls.Oh, yes, please. I'd like that.

-have you enough.-Thank you.

Mrs. lenoard, why areyou doing all this for

us? I mean, why are youso kind and generous?

After all, we're strangers to you.

I told you, Mrs. Dervin.

I read about you in the paper.

Your misfortune aboutyour children. Well, I

thought you needed help.And I like helping people

especially children.I love children.

And you don't have any of your own.

Hmm.

Yes, we have a seven year old girl.

-Oh.-Yes.

All kids are a greatblessing, aren't they?

Yes, they certainly are.

I wouldn't trademy five for nothing.

It's. No good. Chickenhave a real home for them.

You have a motherand a father to look after them.

That's the hard part no father.

And me away so much lookingfor jobs and things so high.

That's the real tough partof it, Mrs. Leonard. No father.

And they need so much watching.

Yes, certainly do, don't they?

Well, Mrs. I better go.And thanks for the coffee.

That's all right.Look, all you've done

-nothing.-Let me help you.

Thank you.

I seen Joe today.

yeah, he's got a funny notionthat he didn't run over that man.

That he ought to play not guilty.He says there was another car

what's the matter, Mrs.Leonard? Don't you feel good?

Yes, I feel fine.I'm just a little tired.

I gotta go home and rest.

Yeah, you do that.

Goodbye.

[Music]

Mrs. Dervin, I've been assignedby the court to defend your husband.

Now, there is certain information.

Mr. Jod, all I want to know is,was there another car besides

that big one there that night?A car belonging to Mr. Leonard?

The only other car besideyour husband was one

that directly precededhis. It was registered

to a Mr. Phillip Whiting,president of the Whiting

trust. Driver did notwitness the accident.

Then you're surethere wasn't no other

car belonging toMr. Or Mrs. Leonard?

I can only go on the documentedevidence. I possessed, Mrs. Dervin.

Thanks, Mr. Joy.It's Alright.

What was that name? Theman that owned the other car?

Philip waiting.

I want to talk to Mr. Whiting.

Where will I find him?

Well I can't do anythingas foolish as that,

Mrs. Dervin, he's a verybusy man and a very

know, but would you give mehis address, Mr. Joy, please?

I don't know that it'll doyou any good, but here it is.

[music]

I want to see Mr. Whiting.

You have an appointmentto see Mr. Whiting?

No, I just want tosee for a minute.

Mr. Whiting doesnot receive visitors

at home withoutprevious appointment.

Please Mr. I had to

Kids at home. I can'tget away all three.

Mrs.Dervin.

Mrs. Whiting, this ladywishes to speak to Mr. Whiting

yes. It's all right,Henry. Thank you.

Come in, Mrs. Dervin.

I guess you're wondering why I

introduced myself toyou as Mrs. Leonard.

Well, you see, Leonard is mymaiden name. And sometimes I use

that in my charity work when Idon't want people to know that.

Sit down. Sit on, Mrs. Dervin.

How did you find out where I live?

And why?

Why.

Your husband k*lled that man?

Really don't know what you'retalking about, Mrs. Dervin.

Yes, you do, Mrs. Whiting. You knowthat your husband k*lled that man.

No.

You said you were trying tohelp me, but you were paying me.

You were paying me so thatthe father of my children spends

years in jail while yourhusband stays on the outside.

No, believe me, I wasn'ttrying to. That was trying to help.

look Mrs. Whiting,Mrs. Whiting, my

husband's in jail forwhat your husband did.

Please don't say that.

Besides, you haven't anyproof. You haven't any proof at all.

No proof.

It's written all over you.

But you've got to admit it,Mrs. Whiting. I see. You're

going to tell him the truth.You're going to tell him.

I can't. There'snothing I can do about it,

Mrs. Dervin. There'snothing I can do about it.

Nothing?

Yeah.

Maybe he don't looklike much to you with

all you've got, buthe's all we've got.

And I'll tell yousomething else. He's kind

and he's honest andhe's good to those kids.

please don't.

Mrs. Whiting.Those kids need him.

They've got to havehim. You know that.

Please please stop it please.

Mrs. Whiting, whydon't you do what's right?

I don't know what's rightanymore. I don't know what's right.

Oh you do.

The truth, just tell them the truth.

Wait.

My wife's in no conditionto continue this discussion.

She's only trying to shield me.

Your husband will be released, Mrs.Durban. I can prove his innocence.

You well?

Henry.

See to it that Mrs. Dervingets home safely, will you?

Thanks. God bless you.

[music]

Never thought youcould stand a strain.

Why prolong the agony?

Well, this should considerablysimplify your plans for divorce.

I have no plans for divorce now.

You're not doing this just for me.

Not just because you'reworried about me. You do all

the truth. You do what'sright, don't you? Don't?

I don't know. I really don't know.

Must be something wrong withmy concept of social responsibility.

A woman. In herdesperate struggle

to save and holdher family together.

I find myself envious ofthat fellow Joe Dervin.

Funny isn't.

No, it isn't funny,funny at all.

So hard.

I don't feel like aman going to jail.

[music]

Hello, This is Philip waiting.

May I speak for the DA.

[music]