05x06 - The Verdict

[bunniefuu]

Oh, why has Steven been called
as a witness against me?

lf he had something to say,
why didn't he come tell me?

l don't know.

Alexis,

there is no way you'll ever be punished
for something you didn't do.

Punished?

l've already been punished enough,
Dex.

Where's Mark Jennings' real k*ller?

He's out there somewhere
watching me suffer.

- Blake.
- Yes, darling.

Where are you going?

l'm on my way
to the bank to see Avril Dawson.

lt never fails, it happens all at once.
l just got a call.

Our biggest field, Carrington One,
is dying up.

That's terrible.

l'm gonna have to find enough money
to get our other fields operational

before our cash flow dries up.

And the mortgage,
which Alexis holds on this house,

is due the day after tomorrow.

Blake,
Steven's been called to testify.

Testify about what?

Against Alexis.

Why?

He saw what happened that night.

And you knew about it?

Yes, he told me.

That's what's been troubling you.

Why didn't Steven come to me?

Why didn't you come to me
and tell me that?

Well, he made me promise
not to tell anyone.

And l had to keep that promise.

Now they're gonna force him
to crucify his own mother.

WOMAN: Be a man, come back here.
- Truce, please.

WOMAN: Come back here. Ha, ha.
- No.

Truce. Now, time out.

Time out. Time out, all right?

Jeff, l've been looking for you.

Well, l like to get my exercise early.

l thought maybe
we could have lunch together.

Maybe something in my suite?

Sory, but l'm tied up for lunch.

You should stay away
from junk food.

Well, how about dinner?

l can't.

l shouldn't.

But l'll call you
when l get back from Barbados.

You really keep the turnstile whirling,
Jeff Colby, don't you?

What do you mean?

Well, l never knew you when you
were married to Fallon Carrington.

l was away at college.

But if you carried on like this,
it's no wonder she divorced you.

Strangely enough,

l think she divorced me
because l didn't cary on like this.

lt seems to me
she preferred a man who did.

MAN [ON RADlO]: _ new turn in
the much publicised m*rder trial

of wealthy Denver businesswoman
Alexis Colby.

This a Fternoon her son,
Steven Carrington,

has been called by the prosecution

and speculation runs high
regarding the testimony

that this surprise witness
will offer against his mother.

Cunningham, what the hell
do you mean calling my brother

a surprise witness
for the prosecution?

Mr. Carrington, you'll conduct yourself
in here during this recess

with the same decorum
and respect for the bench

that l demand in my courtroom.

Thank you.

Your Honour,

information was received by my office
today while court was in session,

placing Steven Carrington
at the scene of the crime

when Mark Jennings
was pushed to his death.

Now this information contained facts
which were never disclosed publicly,

facts which only someone present
that night could know.

The State wants to know
from Steven Carrington

exactly what he saw.

ADAM:
Your Honour, this is incredible.

The defence has been given no time
to question this witness.

Neither has the State, Your Honour.

The iuy deserves
to hear this testimony.

l agree.

Gentlemen,
this trial will resume as scheduled.

CUNNINGHAM:
Mr. Carrington.

May l call you Steven?

Where were you the night
that Mark Jennings d*ed?

At my sister Fallon's
engagement party.

CUNNINGHAM: That was a vey big
night for the family, wasn't it?

Eveyone was there,
including the accused, your mother.

Yes, the whole family was there.

Steven, where were you
before arriving at the party?

At my office.

l had some business to handle
at Colbyco, so l was a little late.

Between working late at Colbyco
and attending the party,

were you anmhere in the vicinity
of Alexis Colby's hotel that night?

Steven.

Were you at Alexis Colby's hotel
the night Mark Jennings d*ed?

l was, yes.

[CROWD MURMURING]

- Did he tell you that?
- No, he did not, he never mentioned it.

Now, would you please tell the court
and the juy why you were there?

l had some papers
for my mother to sign.

So your mother signed the papers
and you went off to the party together?

And of course
you can produce these papers?

l never gave her the papers.

Why not?

l never gave her the papers because
l couldn't go into the hotel af--

After what?

After seeing Mark Jennings
fall to his death?

Obiection.

The Deputy District Attorney
is leading the witness.

Overruled.

Answer the question,
Mr. Carrington.

l saw a man fall into the street.

[CROWD MURMURING]

[GAVEL BANGING]

From where
did you see this man fall?

From my mother's terrace.

[CROWD MURMURING
AND GAvEL BANGING]

JUDGE:
Quiet.

So you saw a man fall from
your mother's terrace to the street.

Steven, you didn't know
whether he was alive or dead,

and you left him there?

You didn't phone the paramedics,
you didn't offer any help?

You iust went off calmly
partying into the night?

l did call the paramedics
but l didn't identify myself.

l left.

CUNNINGHAM:
Why?

Because you didn't care
if this man d*ed?

No.

Because he didn't fall.

Because you saw someone
push Mark Jennings.

Obiection. Leading the witness.

Overruled.

Answer the question,
Mr. Carrington.

Yes, because l saw somebody
push Mark Jennings.

[CROWD MURMURING]

Who did you see?

l saw my mother.

[CROWD GASP]

lt's a lie.

[CROWD MURMURING]

[GAVEL BANGING]

JUDGE:
Order in the court.

l didn't do it.

Steven, how could you do this to me?
l'm your mother.

JUDGE:
Quiet.

ADAM: The prosecution has painted
you as a loving son.

lsn't it true, that since beginning work
at Colbyco, you've had your...

Well, shall we say,
your differences with your employer?

Your mother,
the defendant, Alexis Colby?

Some differences of opinion, yes.

Hasn't the defendant continually
promised you authority in Colbyco

only to snatch it away?

Constantly undermining your position,
ignoring your advice,

overriding your opinion,
in short, humiliating you?

Obiection, Your Honour.

- Badgering the witness.
- Sustained.

Mr. Carrington, l've warned you
about excesses in my courtroom.

l don't wanna have to do it again.

Vey well, Your Honour.

lsn't it true that by securing
the conviction of Alexis Colby

through your testimony,
perjured or not,

you stand to gain total and complete
control of Colbyco for yourself?

No. That is a damned lie.

The defence is finished
with this witness.

JUDGE:
Mr. Cunningham.

Redirect?

Oh, yes, Your Honour.

Steven, do you love your mother?

Yes, l do. Vey much.

Then could you possibly ever testify
as you have done

if you were not absolutely certain,

if you were not driven by the truth,

by facts that you yourself, Steven,
observed?

l'm sure of what l saw.

CUNNINGHAM:
Good.

Now, will you describe, Steven,

for the court and for the iuy

the woman that you saw
push Mark Jennings off the terrace?

lt was my mother.

Yes.

Yes, l know.

But what was it that made you certain
it was your mother

and not iust some other woman?

Because l know my mother.

- Her hair.
- And what else, Steven?

And her dress.

Specially made for Fallon's party.

lt had been delivered
to the office that afternoon.

lt was a black, beaded dress
with a matching black cape.

The same dress she wore
to the party?

Yes.

The vey same dress you saw
from the street below

as you watched Mark Jennings
fall screaming to his death?

Yes.

[CROWD MURMURING]

[GAVEL BANGING]

What do you want? Forgiveness?

l iust wanna hear the truth.
From you.

You don't want the truth,
you want vindication.

You want me to confess,
so you can sleep at night.

Mother, l saw you on the terrace.

No, you did not.

l don't know what you saw in your
warped hallucinations about me.

But l did not k*ll Mark.

Oh, Steven, l would expect this
from my enemies,

but from you, of all people.

l loved you.

l accepted your gay lifestyle

when the rest of the family
turned their backs on you.

lncluding your father.

Well, you can crawl
right back to him now.

Because l disown you,
l no longer have a son named Steven.

J.J., relax.
Have some fresh tangerine juice.

You don't get enough of that in
New York, living on Scotch and coffee.

l wouldn't sign that paper.

Why not?

You got the price l wanted
for the casino in St. Martin?

And the club in Marbella.
You've done an excellent job.

Brady is going to explode
when he sees this.

Your husband
was in my New York offices,

nosing around the books.

And why would he be poking
around like that?

He is a large stockholder
in your company.

Maybe he's getting wise
to the fact

that you are making some
vey questionable transactions

involving some vey big bucks.

And you're concerned too, huh?

Maybe even commiserating
with Brady

about my e_ravagant
new business propositions, right?

Come on, Dominique, you know
l would never go behind your back.

But l'm warning you.

lf you wanna keep your husband.

l will handle Brady and l'll keep him.

And l'll get eveything else
l've always wanted.

MAN [ON RADlO]: roday,
multi-millionaire oilman Billy Waite

testified in Alexis Colby's defence.

Won't you have a seat?

l took the liberty of ordering a snack.

And l think this
is your favourite champagne.

And of course the caviar's Petrossian.
Would you like some?

Well, maybe l better save my answer
until l find out what this is all about.

Fifty million dollars?

Fifty million dollars from me.

Fifty-one percent
of Denver-Carrington from you.

lsn't that the answer
to all your problems?

No.

No?

Denver-Carrington has always been
a family-held corporation.

Yes, l agree.

A family-held corporation.

And l am family.

l thought this might convince you.

l am Denver-Carrington.

l control the company,
always have, always will.

And l wouldn't give percent away
to anyone, for any amount.

Blake, this is my final offer.
One time and one time only.

Nice to see you again.

Forty percent of Denver-Carrington,
$ million.

lt's a deal.

All right, now.

- Why?
- Why?

lt's iust business. l'm expanding.

l wanna get in on the ground floor
of a good, big oil deal

and you're the best.

You're gonna make me a fortune,
Blake.

That and what else?

What else?

To be a Carrington.

At any cost.

Here's to us.

Partner.

Well, what a surprise.

- Are you here to gloat, Blake?
- No, l'm here on business.

Twelve-point-two million dollars.

l believe that settles your mortgage
on my home.

Don't give me that, Blake.

You could have sent your lamer
with this cheque.

You're here for another reason,
aren't you?

Steven.

Yes.

Now, whether you pushed Jennings
or not,

you've got to think of our son,
Alexis.

lt's iust as agonising for him.

You must ty to forgive him,
for your sake as well as his.

Forgive?

l don't forgive my enemies, Blake.

Now you managed
to get out of the hole that l dug for you.

And l'm gonna get out of the hole
that's been dug for me

by you and Steven
and whomever else.

lt's not over yet, Blake. And it won't be
until l've repaid eveybody

for their treachey ten times over.

God help you, Alexis.

And God help all of you, Blake.

Blake, l don't understand.

Why would Adam
put me on the stand?

Ask me to testify for the defence?

He's her lamer,
he's just doing his job.

There must be something that you said
when he interviewed you

that made him believe
that you could establish

some sort of reasonable doubt
in the minds of the jurors.

When there's no doubt in my mind?

Blake, l believe Alexis is guilty.
l know Steven wouldn't lie.

- Blake, hello.
- Why, hello, Hal.

- l hope l'm not interrupting.
- No, no, not at all.

Darling, this is Hal Lombard,
an old business acquaintance of mine.

This is my wife, Kystle.

- A pleasure, Mrs. Carrington.
- Hello.

You mind if l ioin you
for a few minutes?

No. Fine.

Good,
because this particular Oklahoman

would like to lodge
a complaint with you, Blake.

Oh, what about?

Well, let me put it this way. Uh--

l ran into Billy Waite out in the airport
and he told me about your talks.

You know,
the South China Sea deal.

l don't mind telling you l'm a little hurt
that you never came to me about it.

lt's a high risk deal, Hal, and you, uh--

You like to cover your bets.

Oh, l do, l do,
but from what l've heard,

if this one ever pays off,
it's gonna be a jackpot.

lt is.

And what do you think,
Mrs. Carrington?

Oh, l know it is.

Well, maybe we should pursue this.

l mean,
when a vey beautiful woman

gives a proiect her blessing,
even though it is her husband's,

l'm swayable.

That is, if there's still room
for a good friend

who has some ready cash to spend.

l'll keep you in mind when
the ne_ big one comes along, Hal.

l can always find a way for a friend
to part with a little of his money.

Where are you staying?

With the Morrison's,
where l'd rather not be staying.

Oh, why not?

See, they have
these teenage grandchildren.

The grandchildren are visiting.

The grandchildren play loud music
on those portable squawk boxes

they cary with them
all day and half the night.

There's six of those little monsters.

But l don't want you to think
that this is my way of asking

if l can stay with you, folks,
for the ne_ few days.

Hal, how would you like to stay with us
for the ne_ few days?

l'll move my bags in tonight.

lf that's all right with you,
Mrs. Carrington.

Oh, of course it is.

Well, l'll iust do that then.

- See you both later.
- Right.

Well, he seems vey nice.

He's not.

He makes Billy Waite
Iook like an angel among angels.

Then why did you ask him
to stay at our house?

Well, this isn't social, darling.
This is business.

He happens to have a sizeable amount
of money, and l might need him.

Besides, as he said,
it's only for a couple of days.

ADAM:
Mrs. Carrington, you were at one time

married to the deceased,
Mark Jennings. Is that true?

KRYSTLE :
Yes, it is.

ADAM: A rather short-lived marriage.
- That's correct.

What is your present relationship
with the defendant, Alexis Colby?

We've had our differences.

l would call my relationship with her
often strained.

ADAM:
Would you describe

your last conversation
with Mark Jennings?

Well, l saw Mark a few hours
before his death.

He came to say goodbye.

He said he was leaving Denver,
probably for New York.

- Did he mention Alexis Colby?
- Yes.

What did he say?

KRYSTLE :
They weren't getting along.

Exactly how did he describe
Mrs. Colby?

KRYSTLE :
Well, he said she was a nuisance.

ADAM:
Just a nuisance?

That's rather a mild term for someone
the prosecution's been tying

to present as being as violent,
as vicious as Catherine de Medici.

Wouldn't you say?

That was Mark's word, not mine.

At any time at all,
did he indicate to you

that he was afraid of someone
or something?

That he was running for his life?

Well, he did say that he felt
as if he was on top of the world

and he knew someone who'd like
to push him off of that world.

Was there any hint of a thr*at
against his life?

A specific thr*at from Alexis Colby?

No.

JUDGE:
Mr. Cunningham, cross-examination?

CUNNINGHAM:
Mrs. Carrington.

lf Mark Jennings
were blackmailing Alexis Colby

and was indeed afraid for his life,
would he have confided in you?

Obiection. Calls for speculation.

The Deputy District Attorney
is asking this witness

to read the deceased's mind.

Sustained.

Withdrawn.
No further questions, Your Honour.

JUDGE: The witness is excused.
This court will reconvene at :OO.

BALIFF:
All rise.

l think Kystle's testimony
was just right.

Just enough to put doubt
in the minds of the juy.

She was simply superb,
a veritable angel from heaven.

l'm sure the iuy would have believed
her if she told them the sky was green.

She certainly didn't hurt you.

And for that l should be grateful?

No, you're right.

Had the situation been reversed
and l would have l taken the stand,

l could have had her b*rned
as a witch in less than three minutes.

No, she didn't do me any harm.
But did she do me any good?

lt's a slow building process, mother.
Reasonable doubt.

And they have Steven
as an eyewitness.

Yes.

l'm gonna call your houseman

and have him testify
that you were in the shower.

Also, l'm gonna take
the juy to your building

and have them iudge for themselves
whether anyone

standing on your terrace
could be identified from the street.

Adam, there's only one person
that you can call to the stand

to win this case.

The only one who knows the truth.

- Me.
- Absolutely not.

l won't let you do that to yourself.

You'll wreck eveything
l've built in that courtroom.

Mother, l'm tying to save your life

and l can't represent you if you insist
on destroying your own case.

- You can't?
- No.

Well, then, you leave me no choice.

You've done an excellent iob, Adam,

but l cannot win
unless l take the stand.

Oh, for God's sake, mother.
You'll hang yourself.

Adam, l do not intend to spend
the rest of my life in prison.

Now, l am going to win.

And if you're not with me,
you're against me.

And l'm f*ring you.

Mrs. Colby, l cannot caution you
strongly enough

against this perilous decision
to defend yourself.

l urge you, take advantage
of this opportunity to reconsider

and appoint a new attorney.

Judge Ma_ield,

l'm completely within my rights
to represent myself in this action.

l'm aware of the risks involved,

and l'm fully competent
to defend myself, and l shall.

l'll need no other counsel.

You're sure of that?

l'm absolutely sure.

Ladies and gentlemen.

l know that l must speak
directly to you

for the simple reason
that l alone know the truth

about what l did or did not do.

JUDGE:
Mrs. Colby.

Will you tell the court what happened
the night Mark Jennings d*ed?

Yes. Ahem.

l was late
for my daughter's engagement party.

When l had come home,
l was in a rush.

Mark was there.

He was still employed
as my bodyguard,

and he was vey, vey drunk.

He insisted upon talking to me.

He wanted to tell me
that he didn't want to leave Denver.

He wanted to believe
that l still needed him.

l assured him that
that was not true.

And was there a quarrel?

No. Not a quarrel.

Mark...

Mark wanted to make love.

l told him that that relationship

had been over between us
for a long time.

l went upstairs
and l showered and changed.

When l came down, he had gone.

l assumed that he'd left.

My chauffeur then drove me
to the party

and soon after l arrived there, l...

l found out
what had happened to him.

Mrs. Colby, l congratulate you
on taking the stand.

l'm sure we all do.

And l must say that you present
a vey impressive witness

on your own behalf.

You dressed in a hury and left.

What did you wear, Mrs. Colby?

A black beaded dress.

A black beaded dress and a cape.

Both of which you had made
especially for the party?

No. No, l never wore the cape.

l found out at the last minute that
it hadn't delivered to my apartment.

l took a fur instead.

Then Steven Carrington couldn't have
seen you wearing that cape

on that terrace
pushing Mark Jennings to his death?

No.

l never wore the cape.

Eveyone at the party
could testify to that.

People's four.

Do you recognise this cape,
Mrs. Colby?

lt does have your initials inside.

This is the cape you intended to wear
to the party that night.

This is the cape Steven Carrington
described, or is it not?

Yes.

Yes, it is mine, but...

Can you explain why the police found
this cape stuffed in a garbage can

behind the apartment building
ne_ to your hotel?

No. l told you
it was never delivered to me.

Perhaps this tear was made
by Mark Jennings

in a last desperate attempt to grab this
as you pushed him from the terrace.

ls that true, Mrs. Colby?

No, that's not true.

Then you took this ripped cape

which you, of course,
could not wear in public,

and disposed of it
and went on to the party.

True, Mrs. Colby?

No. No.

Are we really to believe, Mrs. Colby,

that when you refused to go
to bed with Mark Jennings,

this athletic and well-built man
just crawled away without a whimper

especially after he had iust forced you
to pay him $ ,OOO?

l gave him the money
to get out of town.

lt was my choice to give it to him.
He was becoming a nuisance.

So Mark Jennings
took your $ OO,OOO

and then reneged on the bargain.

You paid him to leave.
He wasn't leaving.

Mrs. Colby, Mark Jennings
was in control, wasn't he?

No. Control?

He wasn't in control.
He was a liar and a cheat.

He was a hustler and a blackmailer.
He was beneath contempt.

Did he deserve to die?

Oh, yes, if anyone deserved to die,
he did.

[CROWD MURMURING]

JUDGE:
Quiet.

No further questions, Your Honour.

But l didn't k*ll him. l did not k*ll him!

JUDGE: Mrs. Colby.
ALEXIS: l did not.

JUDGE:
Order. Order.

Bailiff. Bailiff, restrain that woman.

[GAVEL BANGING]

MAN [ON TM:
And one of the most flamboyant trials

in the histoy of Denver

will come to a conclusion tomorrow
as Alexis Colby, in her own defence,

will present her summation to the juy
tying to defuse

the allegedly damaging testimony
of her son, Steven Carrington.

[TV TURNS OFF]

l can't believe Alexis
is defending herself, Blake.

What must Steven
be going through?

Ooh. Why stop?

- Felt good for both of us.
- How dare you!

Take it easy. No harm done.

- What do you think you're doing?
- You were feeling sory for Steven.

How about a little concern
for poor old far-from-home Hal?

Because l am lonely, Kystle.
l've got no place to go back to.

No, iust got divorced and the kids,
they're not speaking to me,

and she's out dating
another guy already and doesn't care.

- l need somebody to care.
- Get away from me.

l'm going upstairs.

l iust wish l could ioin you.

You seem
to have forgotten something.

l'm Blake's wife.

His incredibly beautiful wife.

His pregnant wife.

l don't care what business
you have with my husband,

l want you out of this house.

- Is that an order?
- Yes.

Blake might not approve.

l want you out of here.

lt's been a pleasure.

Heh, heh. Well, nearly.

Good evening, darling.
How was your day?

What's the matter?
Is there something wrong?

l iust threw Hal Lombard
out of the house.

- What happened?
- You're right, Blake.

He's not a vey nice man.

Yes, but you didn't tell me.
What happened?

He made a pass at me.

He did?

[SCOFFS]

Well, you mustn't take him
too seriously.

Hal Lombard is the kind of guy
who thinks his one mission in life

is to flatter evey beautiful woman
that's around.

Well, l don't find that flattering.
l find it offensive.

l'm sure that you put him
in his place.

l'll have a few well-chosen words
with him, anmay.

- l hope l never have to see him again.
- You won't.

l'll conduct all my business with him
from now on at the office, all right?

Are you saying you're still gonna
do business with him?

Of course.

l don't have the luxuy of choosing
the people l do business with.

And so ladies and gentlemen
of the juy,

the prosecution has proved
beyond any reasonable doubt

that we know the cold-blooded
m*rder*r of Mark Jennings.

That person is Alexis Colby.

She had the motive,
she had the opportunity

and she had the capability.

The motive was blackmail.

The opportunity?

We established Alexis Colby
was in her penthouse

at the time of the m*rder.

lf any one of you

still has the slightest doubt
as to her guilt,

l ask only that you recall

the heart-wrenching
testimony of her son

reluctantly testifying
to the absolute guilt of his own mother

whom he loves.

There is only one conclusion.

lt is undeniable.

lt is supported by the evidence.

And now it is your duty,
under the law,

to render
that undeniable conclusion.

Alexis Colby is guilty of m*rder
in the first degree.

Ladies and gentlemen of the iuy,
Mr. Cunningham is wrong.

Perhaps you think of me
as a woman who has too much,

who has lived too well.

Well, that may or may not be true.

But right now l am a woman
who is being victimized.

l am being blamed for a m*rder
that l did not commit.

l have no witnesses.

l have no dramatic surprises
to prove my innocence.

All l can tell you is the truth.

Yes.

l wanted Mark Jennings out of my life,
but l did not wish him dead.

Yes, l gave him $ ,OOO,
but he was blackmailing me,

and l paid the price
of my indiscretions.

l am guilty of many things.

Stone me for the sins
that l have committed,

and l'll stand before you
and say, ''l took my chances.''

But l beg you, do not condemn me
for a crime that l did not commit.

My son.

My own son, Steven,
stands as my main accuser.

lf he says that he saw a figure
on my terrace that night, l believe him.

But it was not l.

l swear to God Almighty.
l did not k*ll Mark Jennings.

- Any word?
- No.

l was wrong to have fired you.
l really needed you.

You were wrong to testify, Mother,
that's what hurt you.

But if your closing argument
didn't win the hearts of that juy

l don't know anything
about the art of defence.

Thank you, darling.

At least l have one son who cares.

[GASPS]

What are you doing here?

l was iust going over it again.

Some little lie that you can add
to assure Alexis' conviction.

You've done a more than
adequate job already.

ln fact, l ought to toss you
over this terrace myself.

- Dex, it was the truth.
- The truth?

What is the truth to you?

The testimony that you gave

that could put your mother
in the electric chair? Nuh-uh.

The truth is you hate your mother.
Love-hate.

- That is the sick name for it, isn't it?
- Enough.

Oh, no, now we get down
to the truth of it, don't we?

That really strikes a nerve.

The same one Alexis strikes in you
because you blame her

for turning you into the snivelling f*g
that you are and always have been.

[GRUNTING]

[PANTING]

Yes. Yes, thank you vey much.

Well, the iuy's reached a verdict.

They'll be coming back in
in a few minutes.

l think we'd better go.

- Steven.
- Yeah.

lt's over. They've reached a verdict.

Mrs. Colby, you'd better get dressed.
The juy is in.

JUDGE:
Does the juy have a verdict?

Yes, we have, Your Honour.

Will the defendant please rise?

The court clerk will read the verdict.

We, the iuy in the above-entitled
case find the defendant,

Alexis Colby,
guilty of m*rder in the first degree.

Oh, God.

[CROWD MURMURING]

Oh, this can't be happening.