Matlock

I tell you something, Carter.

If I didn't have white hair before this case, it's getting there now.

Every time we think we got something, it slips right through our fingers.

But I really don't think the boy did it.

I'll tell you one thing, if I was keeping a young, good-looking woman

and she started stepping out on me,

especially with a younger man, I'd be madder than hell.

I don't know if I'd be mad enough to kill her, but somebody was.

What do you think?

This is the lobby, Hobson speaking.

Get up to 1102 right away. There's a woman screaming for help.

Something terrible has happened. Hurry.

That's it. Charlene.

- Charlene. - What?

You've organised my desk again.

- Looking for these? - Yeah, yeah.

I guess when you get a certain age, that's it, huh?

Dad.

I've been going over our books.

- Good. - We're doing very well.

- Do you want a raise? - Nope.

- Vacation? - Nope.

Remember telling me about when you were a kid,

and that boy lost his overcoat?

- Yeah. - And you gave him yours?

- Yeah. - Why don't we do that again?

Charlene, it's summertime.

What I'm trying to say is that

I think we should take a case for nothing every now and then.

- We do. - When?

Every now and then.

Dad, you've heard about this boy, Kevin Meredith,

who was arrested for killing his girlfriend?

- Yeah. - I just had a long talk with his mother.

Charlene, the public defender's office will do a fine job.

I used to be one of them. I can speak for them.

He'll get a great defence.

His mom said he was advised against even trying to go to college.

They said he wouldn't make it.

Well, he's been holding down two jobs and he's an honour student.

She said she hoped it wasn't true,

but she heard the Matlock office only worked for money.

She said he never owned an overcoat.

So tell us what happened.

We'd been making love.

I went into the bathroom to take a shower.

When I came out, there was a knife.

I picked it up...

and Joanne was dead.

Did you see anybody? Hear anybody?

- Anybody hate her? - She was wonderful.

- Everybody liked her. - Somebody didn't like her.

And right now, the police and the DA think that's you.

I loved her.

I'm sorry, Kevin, but that's not a defence.

Then what the hell is?

Did Joanne have some money? I mean, judging from her address...

Her family was rich. Why?

Did she help you out now and then?

I never took anything from her.

She was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I loved her.

And if you think anything else, you can just get out of here.

Well, that's some temper you got there.

I hope it won't be the death of you.

Joanne believed in me.

She believed I was gonna make it.

Be somebody.

That's part of why I loved her so much.

She believed in me when nobody else did.

She believed in me.

Well, come on, son. Your arraignment's in half an hour.

Well, good morning, Lloyd. How's everything in your life?

Morning, Ben. You are always up, aren't you?

Well, I'm in a trade I like, and I got another winner.

- Are your clients ever guilty? - Not if I can help it.

Superior Court 3 is now in session.

The Honourable Judge Carter Addison presiding. All rise.

We'll start with the private counsel cases.

The State v. Meredith.

Benjamin Matlock for the defence, Your Honour.

Defendant has been advised of his rights,

waives reading of the indictment,

pleads not guilty, requests a jury trial. Time is waived.

How would September 28th, 9 a.m. be, counsellor?

Fine with me, Your Honour.

Agreed.

Oh, Mr. Matlock,

I'd like to see you in chambers when I'm finished here.

Of course.

Thank you so much for defending my son.

We'll give it our best shot.

I know.

Phil, I know, but the cat is now out of the bag.

Wha...? All right, look, so it's not a surprise.

I'll tell you what, I'll act surprised.

All evening, I promise. All right, I'll see you then.

I'm sorry, Ben. Some of the boys were gonna surprise me

with a party at the Windsor,

celebrating my tenth year on the bench.

My clerk just let it slip.

Ten years? Has it been that long?

As of tomorrow.

- Boy, the years go by. - Too fast.

I remember when we both had brown hair.

Oh, yes, right, well...

The old law society picture from school.

- I remember a lot of those guys. - You never did join, did you?

No, I never was much of a joiner.

I remember you were a hard worker.

Didn't you...? Weren't you holding down a couple of jobs?

Well, it was either hold down a couple of jobs or not go to school.

I always admired you, Ben.

- Yeah? I never knew that. - Sit down.

I wanted to talk to you...

- Off the record. - Yeah.

You know Paul Devereau's boy, Dale,

passed the bar last year, and naturally, Paul's gonna take him into the firm.

Oh, I'm a strong believer in nepotism. So is my daughter, Charlene.

Well, anyway, Dale doesn't have a lot of courtroom experience,

and it occurred to me this Meredith case might be good practise for him.

Well, he's very bright. I mean, he'll do a good job.

You're asking me to step aside?

Well, just to help Paul's boy out.

Well, Carter...

I feel I have an obligation here.

I know it would be good practise for Paul's boy,

but I've already accepted the case.

I know Paul's boy would do a good job, but I... I just...

I feel like I should stay on.

Well, it was just a thought.

Sure, sure.

Hey, listen, happy tenth.

Thank you.

It's strange. It's very strange.

I mean, if it had happened on the street it would be strange,

but in his chambers, it's very strange.

You're talking to yourself again.

Get this.

Carter Addison calls me into his office

and asks me to step aside on the Meredith case

and give it to Paul Devereau's boy.

- Dale. - Yeah.

- Dale? - Isn't that strange?

Never heard of a judge doing anything like that.

- Hello, people. - Hey, Tyler.

Tyler, I've been looking for you all morning.

Well, I've been busy getting my fall wardrobe together.

You just got a new wardrobe.

A man in my position cannot afford to be five minutes out of style.

What position is that?

I have been nominated Young Atlanta Businessman of the Year.

- Who nominated you? - Me.

- You? - Yeah.

And it's within the rules.

And if I win, the local financial community will open its doors

and its chequebooks to me.

- What's the case? - Kevin Meredith, pro bono.

There's no fee?

Well, look at the publicity.

Young Atlanta Businessman of the Year with a heart of gold.

Anyone ever tell you that you are one...

Absolutely.

- Coming? - Wouldn't miss it.

- Tyler. - Lieutenant.

- Hello, Ben. - Hello, Rupert.

- Charlene. We about done here, Ben. - Oh, good.

You wanna visit with the building manager?

Don't you trust our lab, Ben?

Well, they're good, they're just not looking to help Kevin Meredith.

Hey, Tyler.

There's no fingerprints in the bedroom to speak of.

- They're all smudged. - Look at that.

A burned spot.

Look at that ashtray.

Isn't that a pipe-smoker's ashtray?

Yeah, you can see where the bowl fits right in there and there.

Check that for prints, huh?

Look around and see if you can find some tobacco.

There's a cognac bottle in the kitchen, see if it's got any prints.

You got it.

Dad. Building manager was reasonably cooperative.

Now, he said Joanne Leigh lived here for six months.

Paid for the whole year in advance. Thirty-two thousand dollars.

Now, I'm wondering how a student could afford $32,000.

Kevin said her people have money.

Manager told me her mother's been calling in here.

Wanted to get Joanne's car so she could sell it.

- Sell it? - She lives over in Hastings.

She works as a chambermaid in a hotel.

He said she's the only family Joanne had.

He also told me that when Joanne first moved in here,

she got two sets of keys.

Then about two months ago,

about the same time she started seeing Kevin,

she asked for another set of keys.

So if Kevin Meredith didn't kill her,

then somebody came in while he was taking a shower and did.

It may be whoever got that other set of keys.

You know, I can't get over Carter Addison