The Practice (TV Series)
Checkmates (2000)
Steve Harris: Eugene Young
Quotes
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A.D.A. Helen Gamble : It was a courtesy. I've known Frank Lopes for 9 years.
Eugene Young : He's a friend?
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : Yes, he is.
Eugene Young : Known him to be an honest cop?
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : Very.
Eugene Young : Straight shooter?
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : He shoots straighter than his son, I guess.
Eugene Young : And if his son told him the truth, knowing Frank Lopes the way you do, what did you think he would do with the information?
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : I didn't think about it.
Eugene Young : You didn't think about it?
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : No, I didn't, Counsel. I was just letting a father visit his son.
Eugene Young : Well, you didn't let the father visit the son before the police questioned him. Only after the boy asked for his lawyer, only after you didn't get anywhere, then you called for the dad. You sent for the father to get a confession you couldn't get, didn't you?
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : No, I did not.
Eugene Young : You're under oath, Helen.
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : I know my oath, Eugene.
Eugene Young : It is your testimony that when you called for Scott Lopes' father, you did not do it for the purpose of facilitating a confession.
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : That's my testimony.
Eugene Young : 'Cause you would never take advantage of a friend that way, would you, Helen?
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : That seems argumentative. Am I allow to object from the chair, Your Honor?
Judge Emily Harrison : The objection is sustained. Ask questions, Counsel.
Eugene Young : Here's a question. As a friend, why didn't you have a lawyer present before getting a statement from Scott Lopes? Wouldn't a friend say, "Hey, you might want to wait for a lawyer"?
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : Objection - speculations.
Eugene Young : Truth is the Lopeses felt they were getting legal help, didn't they, Helen, from a friend?
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : Objection - argumentative.
Eugene Young : Tough having to be both witness and D.A. Here, isn't it? Tough playing a deal role, huh, Helen?
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : Objection - badgering.
Eugene Young : But you weren't playing a dual role the other day. You were just a D.A. You sent that man to get on a mission...
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : OBJECTION - BADGERING! ARE YOU GOING TO RULE OR NOT?
Judge Emily Harrison : Move along, Mr. Young.
Eugene Young : I think I'm done, Your Honor. I don't have any questions at all. Not anymore.
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Ellenor Frutt : I can either go to the D.A., turn over the new evidence, ask them to reopen the investigation...
Eugene Young : Richard Bay.
Ellenor Frutt : Exactly. He won't do anything.
Lindsay Dole : You have to add him to your witness list.
Ellenor Frutt : I'm doing that. My question is do I come clean with what I've got or do I just play the card at trial?
Bobby Donnell : Spring it at trial.
Lindsay Dole : Wait a second. If they investigate and this guy's story checks out, you might avoid a trial.
Bobby Donnell : Doesn't sound like he totally blows the prosecution's case, and if the trial goes forward, the less prepared Richard Bay is...
Jimmy Berluti : Unfair surprise.
Rebecca Washington : No, it isn't. The witness is on the list.
Jimmy Berluti : Are you telling them what the witness will say?
Ellenor Frutt : No, just that he was in the area, and that he went into the house with this Kenny person. Nothing about hearing screams. I don't have to tip that.
Jimmy Berluti : Unfair surprise.
Eugene Young : It is not.
Ellenor Frutt : It isn't.
Eugene Young : Look, put him on the witness list. Let him give his testimony. Let that be that. No way do you tip off Richard Bay.
Lucy Hatcher : [Door opens is Lucy Hatcher] Bobby, there's a detective here to see you.
Detective Frank Lopes : Bobby.
Bobby Donnell : Frank, what's up?
Detective Frank Lopes : It isn't good. Can I talk to you?
Bobby Donnell : Sure.
Detective Frank Lopes : Thanks. Hey, Eugene, could you sit in?
Eugene Young : Sure.
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Bobby Donnell : You let him talk?
Detective Frank Lopes : He's not a criminal.
Bobby Donnell : I understand, Frank, but he's facing criminal charges.
Detective Frank Lopes : Bobby, I know the way police think, okay? You don't talk, you're a suspect, automatic.
Eugene Young : Well, it seems he is anyway. They going to arraign him?
Detective Frank Lopes : I don't know on what. Helen Gamble promised me...
Bobby Donnell : Helen Gamble's the D.A.?
Detective Frank Lopes : Yeah. She said she might have to withdraw, since, you know, if she's going to help me, I guess she'd have to.
Bobby Donnell : Frank, she might want to help you, but this is a homicide.
Eugene Young : It is not going to slip by quietly, and D.A.'s rarely cut favors on murder cases. Trust me on that.
Lucy Hatcher : [Opening the door] Bobby, Helen Gamble's here.
[It's about time]
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A.D.A. Helen Gamble : We're charging him with second-degree murder.
Detective Frank Lopes : What did you say?
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : Unfortunately, they're all over this upstairs.
Bobby Donnell : Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down, Helen. Second-degree? That's life.
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : With the possibility of parole.
Detective Frank Lopes : You heard it. It was an accident, for God's sakes. He's going to go to prison because of what - politics?
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : It isn't politics, Frank.
Detective Frank Lopes : Helen, you and I go back pretty good. I mean... You look me in the eye, you said you'd do what could, and now...
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : And I am. Frank, when you brought us in there for his statement, I thought he was an accessory at best.
Eugene Young : It was an accident. Guy falls down a flight of stairs, you bring murder charges? How is that anything...
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : He fired the gun.
[Eugene didn't notice. Bobby is chagrined]
Detective Frank Lopes : What?
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : The gun had been discharged. We did a trace metal on Scott. He fired it. He then dug the bullet out of the wall to avoid us finding it. I'd like to help, but we've got an armed assault in a dwelling. We've got enough to make first-degree, in which case there's no chance of parole.
[Detective Lopes look weird]
A.D.A. Helen Gamble : Murder two's a break, believe it or not. I'm sorry.
[Ms. Gamble is leaving]
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Scott Lopes : I didn't shoot at him, just to the side to scare him.
Detective Frank Lopes : For God's sakes, why didn't you tell me?
Scott Lopes : I was afraid of how it would look.
Detective Frank Lopes : You aimed the gun...
Scott Lopes : I shot 6 ft. wide of him, dad, at 4 ft. away. There's no way...
Detective Frank Lopes : But you lied! Okay? You lied to me, you lied to them, and any chance of cooperation - God!
Bobby Donnell : All right, all right. Yelling's not going to solve anything. We need to think.
Scott Lopes : I didn't shoot at him, and I didn't push him. It was an accident.
Detective Frank Lopes : Well, now what?
Bobby Donnell : He's being arraigned tomorrow. After that, we dig in.
Detective Frank Lopes : He's going to go trial for murder.
Scott Lopes : I don't believe this.
Eugene Young : There may be another way to go.
Bobby Donnell : What?
Eugene Young : I don't want to speak too soon. I - I need to do a little research, but we may have an out.
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Bobby Donnell : What are you thinking?
Eugene Young : Their case is that confession, after he asked for his lawyer.
Bobby Donnell : He confessed to his father.
Eugene Young : Who's a cop.
Bobby Donnell : But he didn't confess to him as a cop. He was talking to his dad.
Eugene Young : That'll be Helen's argument. Doesn't have to be ours.
[Eugene Young leaving and walk away. Bobby is walking]