04x20 - The Fatal Blow

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

He put words in your mouth.

You were badgered

and your statement wasn't voluntary.

No, it wasn't.

Gary, you will let on, and you panicked.

- I knew what I was doing. - You confessed to a m*rder.

I didn't confess.

For all intents and purposes, not denying is a confession.

Gary, Mitch is trying to help you.

Look, Gary, it's just possible that

the testimony is inadmissible.

I don't know, we'll find a technicality.

And if that happens

then we can put together a proper defense.

Gary, you've got to do what he tells you to do.

I don't suppose it's occurred to either

one of you that I just might be guilty.

[Mitch] 'You are set to appear in arraignment court'

this afternoon, you will be charged with m*rder.

Fine. I'm going to plead guilty.

- Gary, you can't-- - It's not your choice.

Gary..

...more than anything, I want you home.

Abby..

...more than anything I want to drink.

[mellow music]

You must know Valene Ewing pretty well.

Yeah. She's my neighbor.

Have you seen her since Gary's arrest?

How's she taking it?

'Have you seen her at all?'

Do you have any comment to make?

[slams door]

Mama, would you please get away from there?

My Lord, look at all of them.

Oh, well, once again

Gary Ewing has turned your life

topsy turvy with his..

'God knows what.'

I don't know what we're going to do.

We can't stay in here forever.

They'll be leaving soon, sweet pea.

- No, they won't. - Chip.

Not until they get a story.

Chip. That's enough.

[telephone ringing]

Don't answer that.

- Well, it might be important. - No, mama.

Not after the last call.

Oh.

Valene, I-I don't know what to tell you to do.

This is all beyond me.

But you can't go back to hiding yourself away.

Val, Lilimae is right.

The longer you ignore them, the worse it's going to get.

That's not what I meant.

Chip, would you please just stay out of this?

Val, I can take care of it for you.

We'll give them a statement. We'll just

put together a few sentences.

I have nothing to say, and I am not going out there.

What are you doing?

I'm going to clean out Ciji's apartment.

- Why don't you let me do that? - No.

You okay?

I just can't believe it, you know?

When the world seems so quiet everything seems so muffled.

- She'll always be with you. - Oh, Richard, please.

When I was 15, My brother Philip was k*lled

in a motorcycle accident.

I know that.

[Richard] 'I don't think a day goes by'

'that I don't think about him.'

I remember something we did together or something he said.

And I imagine what our lives would be like

if he were still here.

'And sometimes I think..'

'Maybe at those times when I am thinking about him'

'that he is here.'

I feel his presence.

And somehow I think he knows I still love him.

That's all I meant.

Mack, Gary Ewing did not do it

because he's not a m*rder*r.

- What kind of circus is this? - Anybody could tell that.

Look, I know, Gary. I know what he's capable.

- What the hell is going on? - Some pretty awful things.

- but not m*rder. - Hey, guys.

Come on, you got to move the truck. We got

to get out of here.

Hey, there's Roberts. Come on.

[indistinct chatter]

Mrs. Ewing coming out.

Please. Please. Please, please.

Mrs. Ewing has no statement to make at the present time

nor will she have one in the immediate future.

She appreciates your understanding

and your consideration at this difficult time

of her life. Thank you.

Has she talked to Gary since he's been arrested?

I'm afraid I can't answer that.

Gary Ewing must have every chance to prove his innocence.

Does that mean he said something to her?

You don't really think he's innocent, do you?

No comment.

Is that Mrs. Ewing's comment as well?

What exactly did she say to you?

I'm very sorry. I cannot comment.

Well, he seems to be taking care of everything just fine.

You're an important, best selling author.

People care about what you think.

Well, I'm sure there's nobody

crowding around Abby Cunningham's door.

- Mack. - Karen.

Mack, just listen--

It's not my jurisdiction.

But you know people.

What do you care about Gary Ewing?

I care because he didn't do it.

Look, we'll talk about it later. I'll call you.

- We'll talk later. Watch out. - Mack.

- Later. Watch out! - Mack.

[car honks]

How long have you known the Ewings?

Have you been in touch with Gary Ewing

since he moved out of this cul-de-sac?

When is the last time you saw him?

Can't you find a better way to make a living?

[door closes]

Alright. Now that you've talked to Mitch, what did he tell you?

It's too early to know anything.

Jim, please. I want the truth.

As far as we know, they've only got

weak circumstantial evidence.

As far as you know.

We get the police report in the coroner's report

at arraignment.

What if..

What if he's found guilty?

Mitch is not gonna let Gary plead guilty.

What kind of sentence are we talking about?

He will be able to postpone the trial for as long as he has to.

Until he has a rock solid case.

- If it were first degree-- - Abby.

If it were?

[sighs] Twenty-five years to life.

You know, if she died from a blow to the head

what was she doing washed up on the beach?

Mack, you asked for the coroner's report

and you got it.

Thanks.

Off the record between friends.

Here. Half and half.

No, I drink a black man.

How does a blow to the head fit in?

The girl was k*lled in her apartment.

- The body was moved. - The evidence against Gary?

- 'He confessed.' - Wasn't he drunk?

Well, he doesn't remember anything that happened.

What kind of confession is that?

Mack, we have witnesses who place him

at the girl's apartment right before her death.

You're not sure, are you?

He woke up on the beach right where the body was found.

I want to see a copy of your report.

'Mack.'

You're not sure, are you?

I have a case against him.

Answer the question. You're not sure, are you?

But what do you care? You got a case against him anyway.

You either give me a copy of your report or I get one.

Please sit down.

People versus Gary Ewing.

Let the record reflect that the defendant

is present in custody

and is represented by his counsel, Mr. Mitchell Casey.

And that the people are represented by

Deputy District Attorney Andrew Gould.

You are charged.

And complaint number A-3-7-6-1-2-0

with the violation of Penal Code Section 187 m*rder.

And that you did unlawfully and with malice aforethought

take the life of Ciji Dunne.

How do you plead?

Not guilty.

[Judge] 'Alright, we'll set this down'

for preliminary hearing within two weeks.

Date do you want this?

Your Honor, I will need time to prepare.

Could we beg the court's indulgence for an extension?

Is that convenient with the people?

That's fine with the people.

Mr. Ewing, you understand that you have

the right to a speedy preliminary hearing

by having your attorney ask for a date

beyond the legal time period. You're waiving that, right?

- 'Do you understand that?' - Yes.

Do either of you wish to be heard on bail?

Uh, bail is presently set at $1 million.

A bail deviation has been filed.

We are requesting $10 million.

Your Honor, that's absolutely outrageous.

Bail is warranted by the grave charges against the defendant

and by his great resources to flee jurisdiction.

Your honor, I protest that this--

[gavel thuds]

Bail is set at $5 million.

[indistinct chatter]

Orange juice, bran muffins

spinach and mayonnaise.

Are you sure you don't want a shovel?

You can tunnel your way out.

[sighs]

Yeah. I'm really sorry all this is happening.

The inconvenience is the least of my problems.

Oh, he'll get off. We both know he's innocent.

He's got the best criminal lawyer there is.

He's being well taken care of.

You know the thing that haunts me more than anything else?

What?

The idea of her being dead.

I saw her that afternoon. She was very, very much alive

We had a fight.

That night she was dead.

Oh, people have fights.

I hit her.

I don't usually do that kind of thing.

She said some horrible things to me

and I pushed her and she fell and she hit her head.

Oh, my God.

Think she said they weren't so horrible.

They were just the truth.

I don't know why I did it.

Val, look, if, if none of these other things had happened

you wouldn't even think about it.

I mean, it wouldn't matter.

Yeah, but, Karen, they did happen.

And it does matter to me.

Val..

...whenever someone we know dies

w-we always look back and, and wonder

if we couldn't have been nicer to them.

We're human. I mean, sometimes we fight.

It doesn't mean anything.

Okay.

[indistinct chatter]

I used to think it would be exciting

to be followed by reporters.

W-when this settles down, I'll arrange a meeting.

You'll be the first.

At the present time, she's just not talking to anyone.

Right. You got it.

Sweetheart, what were you saying?

What about New York?

Oh, Diana, I can't desert my friends now

and they need me.

Now when I was planning to go..

I mean, it was an entirely different situation

you know that.

Well, I used to be able to throw myself

into my work to

to work through hard times, you know?

I guess I'm just not as strong as I thought.

You really like Ciji, didn't you?

I don't know how I'd get through this without you.

Firstly we have a bail reduction motion

and then we have a hearing.

But frankly, I'm not very optimistic.

It's ridiculous.

I know it's ridiculous, but it's just

something we're going to have to live with.

Now, how long would it take you

to liquefy enough of those funds?

- Five million dollars? - Abby doesn't have access--

Gary Ewing?

Look, his inheritance is in trust.

He can't touch the principal.

What's the principal?

Ten million.

Well, there must be an emergency provision in the will

for a life threatening situations.

'Who's the trustee?'

Why don't we just go to the Ewings?

I'm sure they'd be more than happy to help.

Either way, it's alright with me.

Certainly, the Ewings can better absorb the risk.

What risk? There's no risk.

- No, that's not true. - What you mean?

Well, as long as Gary Ewing shows up for trial

then the money is safe.

'Of course, if he unexpectedly disappears'

'then you lose $5 million.'

But you don't expect him to unexpectedly disappear now

do you?

[inhales and exhales]

Please.

[screams]

Get me out of here!

[gasps]

Please!

[gasps]

You know what Ciji used to call her?

- What? - Tessie the tart.

- Looks like trouble. - It was her alter ego.

Tessie could do or say all the things

that Ciji didn't dare do or say.

[knock on door]

Uh, excuse me. They told me

this is Ciji Dunne's apartment.

- Yeah. - I'm her mother.

I'm, uh, Richard Avery, Mrs. Dunne

and this is my wife, Laura.

We were friends of Ciji's.

Hello, Mrs. Dunne, I'm really sorry.

The police told us we could pack up her things.

I-I didn't know you were in town or..

She always was such a pretty girl.

When she was six years old. I enrolled her in

'in Carolyn Dewberry tap and ballet school'

'above the Odeon Theatre on the second floor'

'I guess she..'

...never told you about that.

It was Carolyn Dewberry, who changed Ciji's life.

She put her in the recital every year and..

...told her how pretty and talented she was

and filled her with all sorts of grand ideas.

And now this.

Well, Mrs. Dunne, it was a shock to everyone.

Not to me.

Never could tell Ciji anything.

Ran out to Hollywood getting pregnant like that

without any regard for morals

or decency or family's feelings.

Sorry to hear you say that.

Your daughter was an extraordinary person.

She dissipated her life away.

She made a lot of people very happy.

- She was a tr*mp. - Then why did you come here?

Get her belongings.

Take her body back home.

Her body is in the morgue.

You know, it seems to me that, uh, no matter

what mistakes your daughter might have made

and whatever heartache she might have caused you

that you might

find some compassion for her now.

Where I come from, we have values.

[Richard] 'So did she.'

She sang in my restaurant. I used to watch her rehearse.

She worked hard, long hours.

'Because she wanted to be the best.'

'The best for the people she sang for.'

'And it wasn't just ambition. She liked to see people happy.'

'One of your musicians had a fight with his wife'

'and she was the one who brought him back'

'together again.'

She wasn't just talented, she was kind and generous

and she touched us all in a very special way.

'It's a shame you never really knew her.'

I'll be back tomorrow for her thing.

It was very pleasant meeting you.

- Oh. - Sorry.

And I'm sorry about this morning.

- I lost my temper. - So what else is new?

- Come on back tomorrow. - What?

- We'll talk tomorrow. - Why?

- I'm on my own time. - So am I.

Still keep a bottle of Irish whiskey in your desk.

Mack, I hope you don't think

I'm ready to start something again.

I wouldn't treat you like that. Besides, I'm not in the market.

It's the other side.

Hey, you still seeing Jimmy?

That was five years ago.

Divorce became final last summer.

Mm.

Good. I never liked that guy anyway.

He never liked you either.

[chuckles]

He's not a bad sort, really.

He's the kind of guy you want to date about twice a month

Hardly the perfect set up for a marriage.

Perfect for divorce.

Anyway, he's in San Diego now, so it's just as well.

Makes sense.

Break the guy's heart and he moves out of town.

I moved back here.

You can have a lot of trouble beating

an inside straight, mister.

Oh, yeah.

That was a straight flush, right?

Oh, I don't know. All those reporters outside

not knowing what's going on downtown.

According to Mack

they don't have a very good case against Gary.

They wouldn't have charged him with m*rder

if they didn't have a good case against him.

Mack says they probably have other suspects as well.

- Who? - Well, I don't know.

Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Maybe not.

- Lilimae? - Mm?

'I need some advice?'

Oh.

I have some information.

And I don't know whether to go to the police with it.

What kind of information?

Well, it's about Ciji and me.

Oh.

I had an affair with her.

'Well, it didn't last very long.'

'I mean, once she set her eyes on Gary'

'she had no use for me.'

Well, I didn't say anything about it because

I didn't know she was pregnant. But now--

You have got to tell the police.

Well, I don't know if it makes a difference

to the investigation

and if it's going to hurt a lot of people--

Chip, it is your duty to come forward

with any information that might help them

them find her k*ller. You know that.

You're right.

Boy...you got nothing to hide.

Nothing criminal, that is.

So you have nothing to be afraid of.

[chuckles]

[scoffs]

Thank you, Lilimae.

It all seems so wrong.

I don't know.

A girl drowns and Gary happens to be at the wrong place

at the wrong time.

- Karen. - I was just saying that--

It's not as simple as all that.

I know.

What do you mean, not as simple?

[sighs] She didn't drown.

She didn't drown? Her body

happened to be washed up on shore.

She was k*lled at home and then dumped in the ocean.

She was k*lled from a blow to the head.

What?

- In our apartment. - When?

Like that afternoon.

Oh.

Now, do you think you can drop the subject and get some sleep?

Night.

Not bad.

- I'm glad you approved. - I don't.

Not bad isn't approved.

I'd sure feel better if we could figure out

how the body was moved to the vehicle

without anybody noticing.

Yeah.

Especially since Gary was so drunk

he doesn't remember what happened.

No matter who did it.

The apartment was cleaned and everything put in order.

Now, a drunk wouldn't have the coordination or the patience.

The apartment was a mess.

There was blood all over the place.

There was blood on the faucets.

- It was a sloppy job. - Why was the body moved?

- To dispose of it. - 'Great logic.'

They want to move the body to dispose of it

And then he hangs around the scene

where the body was washed up.

Didn't have much choice. He passed out.

It doesn't make sense.

The last couple of weeks, Ciji was Gary's lifeline.

Why would he k*ll her? No motive.

When we get the results of the blood test

we'll know if Gary was the father.

- Big deal. - Motive is a big deal.

[telephone beeps]

- Yes. - Chip Roberts to see you.

- Send him in. - Damn it!

Janet--

- How you doing, Chip? - Fine.

- Hi. - Hi.

I'm thinking of closing the restaurant for a while.

maybe go someplace with Laura.

This whole thing has hit her pretty hard.

Well, a vacation might not be a bad idea.

I'm thinking about Mexico.

- Mm. - Mm.

Um, Richard, I need some legal information.

Sure.

Well, if, if someone hit someone

or caused someone to get hit.

You mean like a car?

No, I mean hit.

And that kills the person.

But the person didn't mean to k*ll

or maybe doesn't even know they k*lled them.

'That's manslaughter, isn't it?'

- 'T-that's not m*rder.' - Talking about Ciji?

No.

- Ciji drowned. - Okay, I know.

And who are you talking about?

I think you got my pickle.

- Karen? - Hey, boss.

- Hi. - Hey, Richard.

- Hi, how are you? - Hey, anything left for me?

Oh, yeah. Here, take my better half.

- No, sit down. - No, I got to run, really.

If there's anything else you want to know

Just give me a call. So long.

- Take it easy. - Okay, bye.

[Richard] Bye-bye.

[chuckles] Anything else you want to know?

[scoffs]

I just invited him for lunch.

Oh, wasn't that nice of him?

Hey, if you're up to something..

I guess I have a pretty big ego

and I didn't want people to know

that Ciji turned me down like that.

But then when I found out she'd been pregnant

well, I figured I should tell you.

[Valene] 'Well, when did you find out?'

In the newspapers.

[male #1] 'You were sleeping with the girl?'

No, no. I slept with her.

That part of it was over a long time ago.

And she didn't bother. To mention to you that--

Well, a few times, you know

she started to say something, but she stopped herself.

The last time she just cried.

See, so now I realize she needed to tell someone.

- Such as yourself. - 'Yes.'

I was probably her closest friend.

Didn't you say she turned you down, though?

I got over that. I love Cigi.

Lastly, after the brief affair was over we became friends

as well as business associates.

If you'd have known her, you'd understand what I mean.

She just wasn't the kind of person

you let out of your life.

Would you be willing to take a blood test

to help us determine the father?

Mm. I'd be glad.

Okay.

Mr. Ewing is in the early stages of withdrawal.

Have you ever seen him like this?

No.

Well, I think you ought to know what to expect.

Alright, I'm prepared.

- Are you alright? - Yeah.

Mr. Ewing's in bed four.

[whimpering]

It's alright.

[whimpering]

Mr. Ewing.

Mr. Ewing, you have a visitor.

Nurse, it's alright.

[Gary coughing]

Gary, honey, it's me.

[whimpers]

[breathing heavy]

Get me a drink.

You know I can't do that.

Listen to me. You're going to beat this.

- Get it?. - Honey, please.

You're gonna get clean and you're gonna get out of here.

You've got a wonderful life.

And we're going to go right back to the life we had.

God, get me a drink.

You'll be better than ever. I'm your partner, remember?

I'm not gonna leave you, no matter what.

- Get me out of here. - I will.

As soon as we can raise your bail

you could go. And I'm going to call Dallas.

And I'm going to talk to Miss Ellie.

[gasping]

[grunts]

[gasps]

[retching]

[coughing]

[car approaching]

[car door opens and closes]

[doorbell rings]

[doorbell rings]

[male #2] 'Come on.'

'Come on, give me a break, will you, fellas?'

'Hey, keep your hands off me.'

'I mean. I said I have nothing to say. Come on, man.'

[doorbell rings]

[male #2] 'I have no statement to at this time. I said back off.'

What kind of questions did they ask you?

Nothing I had any answers for.

Well, if you two will excuse me.

Oh, yeah.

[sniffles]

How you doing, kid?

I-I don't know.

I, uh, I feel like I'm in my own prison.

Right now you are.

- Listen to me. - What?

I'm going back to New York. I have to go.

Will you come with me?

Oh, I-I..

Right now with things the way they are, I just--

What can you do for him here?

Huh?

- No. - Nothing.

And as long as you're here

you're going to feel like you should be doing something.

No.

You remember what you said in New York about a new life.

Oh, don't, don't.

Things were different then.

Remember how good you felt about yourself?

Yeah.

Come with me.

Oh, Jeff.

I-I can't.

I just can't.

[instrumental music]

I'll always be there for you.

'If ever you need anything, any help'

even just to talk

whatever I can do for you

don't be afraid to ask.

[instrumental music]

Jeff.

I love you.

[indistinct chatter]

[crying]

Valene.

You are a fool to let him go.

Gary.

Your mother's going to be very angry if we don't call her.

[sobbing]

She'll be hurt if she doesn't think we'd want her to help.

Guess we'll just take him out.

What are you going to do?

A blood sample for the pregnancy determination.

Well, you're not going to do that now.

It isn't gonna hurt him.

But he isn't the father anyway.

We gotta do something.

Gary. Gary.

It may take weeks and months before we get the money.

I want to use my own money.

Gary, there's no reason to risk your inheritance.

No. My money.

Please, get me out of here.

[sobbing]

If I get the right card, I'll have Gin Rummy.

and I'll win the whole game

[chuckles]

You're not going to let me win, are you?

No, mama, we're not going to let you win.

- Val. - What?

When you saw Ciji that

- that last afternoon-- - Oh, Karen. Karen.

Let's just play Gin Rummy.

What time did you leave her apartment?

I don't know. About 6 o'clock, I guess.

But that's when you saw Gary.

I didn't see Gary, mama.

But when you came home so upset--

Mama, please, let's just play cards.

You said you see how upset she is.

Is this important, Lilimae?

Well, there have been enough important things today already.

Look, y-you said that you slapped her and she

fell and hit her head on the table.

- Yeah. - Valene.

[Karen] 'Then what happened?'

Well, she hit her head.

I heard it smack against the table.

'Then she sort of halfway sat up'

and I could tell that she wasn't alright.

But see, when I went to help her, she screamed at me

to get out of the apartment.

But when you last saw her..

She was okay?

[exhales] Yeah. She was.

I don't know. See, I was so upset that I..

Why are you asking me all this?

- Ciji didn't drown. She was-- - What?

She was taken to the beach.

But she was already dead.

She died from a blow to the head in her apartment.

I've looked into it. And since we can't

touch Gary's inheritance or go to the Ewings.

Well. There's no way to raise the bail money.

- But? - No buts.

Unless, of course you want to explore

the emergency provision of the will.

Great.

What do you want to do?

Nothing.

Look, you didn't see the condition that Gary is in.

I think the best thing that I could do for him right now

is let him dry out before he comes home.

That's a very good point.

I have to think about my children, you know

and myself as well as Gary.

You're not the one he's leaving jail

to come home and move in with.

For all I know, he could have gotten drunk and k*lled her.

And if he gets out now

he might very well go on another rampage.

It really hurts me to see Gary in this condition, but..

I think the detox program

is the very best thing for him right now.

And that's all I know. That's everything.

And I think that..

I think that I k*lled Ciji.

Well, you know as well as I do.

Try to talk some sense to her.

Valene, couldn't have done that.

I know, Lilimae. I know.

Val, she was sitting up when you left, is that right?

Yeah. She was half.. Yeah, she was sitting up.

You were talking with her, right?

She was shouting at me. She..

So what makes you think that you k*lled her?

I suppose you carried her body to the car

and dumped it in the ocean.

- Valene. - What?

- If you're the m*rder*r-- - Okay, Mac, just..

Take it easy.

What?

The night of Ciji's party.

When I was here alone, I had a call from Gary.

Oh, no, honey, I was there too.

Mama, please. This was after you left.

Oh.

I didn't understand it at the time

but later I realized that he must have been

trying to tell me about Ciji's pregnancy.

'Mack...I distinctly heard the ocean in the background'

'and all he said to me was, don't worry'

'it's going to be okay, I promise you.'

And then he hung up.

Now he must have found her and he wanted to protect me

so he moved her body to save me.

Well...t-that's not what happened.

Wait a second. Wait a second.

You're the first one with any information

that places Gary during the missing hours.

You've got to tell the police what you know.

You've got to call an attorney

and you don't go down there without him.

[sniffles]

We get away for a while.

- We can't go away. - Sure we can.

We'll go to, uh, Puerto Vallarta

for a couple of weeks, leave the kids with my mother.

'What do you say?'

Richard.

[Richard] 'Yeah.'

I just want to be alone.

Well, see, I think that would be a mistake.

I mean, particularly now.

I-I-I think we should be together.

We should go away together someplace.

I mean, someplace where we can start

to put things back together again.

I'll take you any place you want to go.

'Honey.'

[sniffles]

Valene.

You are acting on the barest assumptions.

I know what I have to do, mama.

What? Destroy yourself?

Destroy this new life you've worked so hard for?

- No, mama. - And for what?

So Gary can go back to Abby.

Are you listening to me?

Yes, mama. I am listening to you.

I'm just going to talk to them.

And I'm going to tell them what I know.

Then you call your lawyer. You heard what Mack said.

Give me that purse.

Valene, please.

- Give it to me. - Please.

Don't do this.

I know what I have to do, mama.

Valene, listen to me.

Valene. Valene.

Valene, please.

[indistinct chatter]

[male #3] Where are you going?

What's going on?

[indistinct chatter]

Valene..

Just this once.

I'll never asked another thing of you again.

Honey, please.

Please, Valene, I love you.

Don't do this to yourself.

[Lilimae] 'Don't do this.'

Oh, my God.

Karen.

- Karen, where are you going? - I can't just let her go.

- You let her go. - Do something.

[indistinct chatter]

[crying]

Why did you tell her that?

[crying] Why did you tell her that?

[crying]

That's great. That's great.

Now we're back to where we started from.

Not necessarily.

Not necessarily. Not necessarily.

What do you know something that I don't know?

Well, Gary could be the father.

Yeah, or could be this Chip character.

She must have had a thing for guys with type O blood.

[knock on door]

Come in.

[door opens]

Mrs. Ewing.

Is something wrong?

[door closes]

What is it?

I k*lled Cigi.

[dramatic music]

[theme music]