Bluff City Law

- My name is George Henry Bell,

and on the night of October 15th...

I killed Tess Androde.

I was her teacher, but we were also friends.

We'd argued earlier that day,

but that night when I ran into her at the diner,

things seemed better.

She said she needed a ride home,

so I told her I'd take her.

And once we were in the car,

we started fighting again,

and...

before I knew it, my hands were around her neck,

and...

I was just squeezing...

and squeezing and squeezing.

And...

when I finally let go, she was dead in my hands.

Coming!

Oh, good morning. Linda.

Elijah.

We haven't seen you around much,

and, well, I know you're busy,

so I thought neighbors help neighbors.

It's just a little something I whipped up.

Mac and cheese...

with brisket...

and Béchamel sauce

and andouille sausage.

Oh. Very kind of you.

You know, I would invite you in,

but I gotta get to the office.

- Oh, yeah. All work and no play.

Don't be a stranger.

And...

and if there's anything I can do...

Thank you, Linda.

Ellie Tomkins.

- Linda Holland. - Linda Holland?

Whoo!

Memphis wolves are on the prowl.

- Oh, Della, come on. It's a casserole.

- Sometimes a casserole is just a casserole.

Sometimes it's a whole other kind of dish.

Ooh.

Hey, thanks for this.

- You don't have to thank me, but if you want to pay me back,

I can take Connie Becker's

shrimp and grits off your hands.

Not a chance.

See you later.

See you later.

Pimento cheese and honey?

- I'm telling you, this is a Memphis tradition.

- I don't believe it. I don't believe it.

- Sydney, can I borrow you for a minute?

- No. Mm-mm.

Ugh!

When I finally let go,

she was dead in my hands.

I know that he's innocent,

and I would still vote to convict him.

Why did he confess, anyway?

- Well, he'd been in prison for a number of years.

All his appeals had failed,

his wife's life was falling apart.

so he lied...

so that she could move on.

- Well, unfortunately, he did a really good job of it.

Yes, he did.

- Jake, you have to get him released based on the DNA

because if you try for a retrial--

I'll lose,

and George will spend another 25 years in prison.

- Hey, I made that list of cases

where confessions given post-conviction

were thrown out.

Emerson, this is amazing.

You are amazing.

Isn't he amazing?

- Yes. Great. Amazing.

I have a client, so I'm just gonna

go and talk to him.

Oh, jeez. - Sorry.

- Nope, that's okay. Go ahead.

What? - Nothing.

That was a beautiful moment you just shared.

- Could you just cut me some slack, please?

Could you just do that, maybe?

- I think you should cut him some slack.

I mean, he is your brother.

He's not my brother.

- Okay, I'm sorry. He's your half-brother,

but all I'm saying is, he is new,

and you're you, so why don't you just...

you know, do something nice and prove everyone wrong.

- Wow--what did-- what does that mean?

That's--that's...

You know, if you just think that--

- Ah, the silver tongue of Sydney Strait.

Still as eloquent as ever.

Professor Marshall.

You are 10 minutes early.

- 10 minutes early is on time, of course,

assuming you remember anything from my legal theory seminar.

Yes, sir.

I see your classmate does.

Tell me, does that rivalry still exist

between the two of you? - No, no, we--

Good. I'm counting on it to bring out your best.

- Mm-hmm. - Shall we?

Yes, you go right in,

and I will be in in just one second.

Lunch.

- Sure. - Tomorrow?

- Great. - Great.

Good.

- So, Professor, how's your son?

He should be out of college by now.

- You think I'm here to socialize.

"Varnum v. Brien." "Loving v. Virginia."

It's possible this case may one day join those

in the pantheon of civil rights history.

- Well, we are honored that you thought of us.

Honored and humbled.

- Oh, please. False modesty is beneath you.

You're the best.

I know that because I taught you.

Separated in the end by, what...

3/10 of a grade point?

There has been an injustice,

a grievous injustice that must be addressed,

lest the fabric of our nation tear under the weight of it.

Are you two aware of online dating?

- Mm-hmm. - Yeah, of course.

I spent $5,000...

on a premiere site offering the very best of matching.

I'd like to sue them, because they insist

on listing my age as 62 instead of 42.

But you are 62.

Think for a moment.

If I'm forced to use my biological age,

I will be matched with candidates who do not suit me.

- So you want to sue so you can say

you're younger to meet younger women?

I run 30 miles a week.

I consume all organic foods. I treat my body like a temple.

Ask my doctor.

He'll tell you I'm as fit as a 40-year-old.

- Professor, this lawsuit feels like a bit of...

A reach.

Is this a reach?

I identify as 42,

because that way of labeling has gone the way of the dodo,

exposed as limiting and biased.

Well, socially, maybe,

but in terms of the law, we still have--

- In fact, it's still very difficult

to legally change gender.

A lawsuit claiming a different age is gonna be--

- If I knew it was gonna be easy,

I would've gone to my third and fourth best students.

Now do you want to see these,

or shall I go to them?

- Your Honor, the DA's office has reviewed

Mr. Reilly's request,

and after careful consideration,

we reject it entirely.

- What? - May not be Mr. Bell's DNA,

but we still have the unimpeached testimony

f multiple witnesses,

we have Mr. Bell's discredited attempt at an alibi,

and we have the videotape confession made

at Mr. Bell's request.

Therefore, his conviction should stand.

If I may?

- When George Bell was convicted,

their whole case was DNA.

There was no confession then.

He hadn't rotted in prison.

Hadn't lost his family. Hadn't lost his hope.

And now we know that that DNA, that DNA was flawed.

So everything, including his confession,

that can be explained by circumstance.

But the DNA, it tells all,

and it is not George Bell's.

We've taken 25 years of his life, Your Honor.

25 years.

Let's not take another day from him.

- I believe Mr. Reilly has established

that the most important piece

of the State's original case, the DNA,

is not that of his client.

I don't think that this piece alone exonerates Mr. Bell,

but I do believe it merits a new trial.

So Ms. Cain...

you think he did, you're gonna have to prove it.

All right.

- Wait, what? A new trial?

We got a new trial.