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ACT ONE
Monticello courtroom

Logan and Cliff are eyeing Draper, who is deep in conversation with Mike. Logan notes that Draper is usually a frowner, but has had a gleam in his eye all morning; he looks quite pleased. "It's just a nervous twitch," Cliff counters, "the last convulsion before rigor mortis sets in." Mike asks Draper if he's sure he wants to "handle it this way." Yes, Draper is adamant that the prosecution pulled the rug out from under them, not it's the defense's turn to do the same.

Winter enters with Nancy and Nicole. The three are astonished at the new turn of events. Winter says that she hasn't been able to believe it since Draper called the previous evening. Draper assures her, "Winter, this it. This is our day in court. I guarantee you."
DISSOLVE TO:
OPENING TITLE

ACT TWO
Courtroom scene continued.

The bailiff instructs all to rise, the criminal court of Monticello is in session with the Honorable Judge John Oliveri presiding. Judge Oliveri offers Draper the opportunity to re-direct. Draper calls Winter to the witness stand. He reminds her that a tape showing the body of Wade Meecham sprawled across his hotel bedroom was played yesterday in court. Draper asks if Winter knows where the video-camera was hidden. She reveals that Wade kept it behind a two-way mirror that faced his bed, but she was unaware of its existence until after Wade had recorded the two of them together in "intimate circumstances." Winter says that when Wade showed her a copy, she was horrified, sick to her stomach. She has a flashback to the incident.

BEGIN FLASHBACK
Winter is watching the tape, a look of disgust on her face.

WINTER
My, God. How could you, Wade? How could you!

WADE
Oh, it's easy, babe. The magic of videotape. C'mon, don't you wanna see the rest of it?

WINTER
No!

WADE
Hey, c'mon, Winter. Take a good look, huh. See yourself the way other people see you?or would like to? You know, I've gotta do something about the lighting in that room. This picture's very dim. I'll just adjust the brightness. Yeah?there we go. You know, I think this is a lot better than Lacey Lady. Maybe because it's the real thing?

END FLASHBACK

Draper suggests that Wade used the video-camera not for amusement but for blackmail, and that's the reason Winter broke off her engagement to Logan. Winter weakly replies, "Yes." Draper points out that Winter was tricked into being taped by Wade twice and was well aware of the camera's existence. Therefore, she wouldn't have gone to his hotel suite the night of March 2nd and shot him because she would have been too afraid of having the crime recorded on videotape. Draper plays the tape of the murder scene and asks Winter if she is the woman shown standing over his body. Winter cries that she is not the woman; she couldn't have been because she never entered Wade's bedroom again. Draper states that he has no further questions.

Cliff begins his cross-examination. Winter again denies being in Wade's bedroom the night of the murder, regardless of the image on the tape. Cliff points out that since Winter knew of the camera's existence, she could have easily killed Wade then removed the tape, destroyed it, or even erased it on the spot. Winter pleads that she didn't do it. Cliff creates further doubt with the supposition that Winter killed Wade, went to the hotel bar, and called Tank Jarvis -a man who had just as much reason to hate Wade than anybody else. A man who is a fugitive from the police and hasn't been seen since Wade's murder. Cliff theorizes that it was Tank who stole the incriminating videotapes then turned over furniture to make it appear a random robbery. Winter cries out that none of it is true, but Cliff continues to berate her finally suggesting that Tank himself sent the tape of Wade's murder to the prosecution because Winter rejected his affection, and if Tank couldn't have Winter, he'd rather see her rot in jail.
COMMERCIAL BREAK

ACT THREE
Courtroom scene continued.

Cliff asks if Tank was in love with Winter. She hesitates then is forced to answer that Tank said he was. Cliff reminds her and the court that Tank has attempted to contact her several times during the trial, and one attempt resulted in the District Attorney being assaulted at Winter's apartment. Cliff succeeds in creating the illusion that Tank had possessed the incriminating tape of Wade's murder and perhaps used it when he realized that Winter didn't want to see him and was ungrateful for his help the night of March 2nd. With his cross-examination concluded, the judge asks if the defense would like to call another witness. Draper replies, "No, Your Honor. At this time, the defense rests." Logan states that he would like to give the prosecution's summation.

LOGAN
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have chosen to make the closing remarks for the prosecution for a particular reason. Throughout the testimony that you heard in this trial, I have been something more than just the people's representative in this case. In fact, I have been a principle in the drama that has unfolded before you. It's because of this that I have refrained from taking more direct participation. In fact, my initial instinct was to disqualify myself from any participation in this trial whatsoever. But, then, I decided that the cause of justice would be better served by my presence. And make no doubt of that. It is the cause of justice which we are sworn to uphold at the district attorney's office. We are pledged to pursue that -not merely the accumulation of a large number of convictions. For instance, if during the course of the trial we found that we had cause to doubt our initial certainty of guilt? we would be obliged to come forward and express that doubt. If we found evidence which proved the defendant not guilty? well, we would be obliged to introduce that evidence on the part of the defendant. But, there is another factor in this case other than objective justice. As I told you, it's been very difficult for me to be objective about this case, and not merely because of my prior involvement with the defendant? but because of my deep, deep sympathy for her. And that is reason I have chosen to make these remarks. To demonstrate to you that sympathy and justice are not incompatible. They do not contradict one another. You may feel deeply for the plight of a person accused of a criminal act, but yet there must be a separation of emotion and judgment. I've been forced to make that separation during this trial; I'm sure you have, as well. I'm sure you all realize that defendant Miss Austen was driven to the choice she made -to the act that she committed. But lest there be any doubt in your mind that she did make that choice, that she did commit act, I ask you only to remember the testimony of the three prosecution witnesses you heard in this trial, and to remember (he walks to the TV monitor showing Wade's body) what you yourselves witnessed here on this screen.
COMMERCIAL BREAK

ACT FOUR
Courtroom scene continued.

LOGAN
Wade Meecham was a pornographer, an extortionist, a blackmailer? a man of such base character that the police -in their initial investigation- were hard pressed to find a single acquaintance of the man who could not be considered his enemy. But only one person killed him. Only one. And it is not the duty of the prosecution to ask you to understand, condone, or forgive the action that person took. If there's to be clemency in this case, that will be up to those whose duty it is to decide the punishment. The prosecution's responsibility is to present you with the facts as they are? and ask you to draw the only possible conclusion. Now, what are the facts in this case? First, we've clearly established a motive for the killing. To get rid of a blackmailer and to seize the incriminating evidence which he possessed. We have clearly established a time and the place in which the crime took place. And we have clearly established through eyewitness testimony the presence of Winter Austen in that place at that time. Finally, you have been presented with evidence the likes of which have not been seen since Jack Ruby shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald in the basement of the Dallas Police Department in front of the television cameras. Certainly no jury has ever seen evidence of this kind. Ladies and gentlemen, there's only one judgment possible in this case. Painful as that duty may be, you must return a verdict of guilty.

[Logan returns to his seat at the prosecuting table.]

JUDGE OLIVERI
Mr. Scott, do you wish to make your closing remarks?

DRAPER
Yes, Your Honor? I do. (Draper rises and moves to the jury) Ladies and gentlemen, I'm certainly glad that the prosecuting attorney used the word "sympathy" in his closing remarks. Because I'm sure that everyone of us -everybody in this courtroom- feels some amount of sympathy for the defendant regardless of your sentiments concerning her guilt?. or her innocence. Winter Austen was very young when she became involved with Wade Meecham. A child not yet out of her teens. And, alone and unprotected, she responded to his song. Oh, I know, it's an old story. So old that some of you may be tired of hearing it. Blasé. Indifferent. But it's an agony many young women face in this country today?on the streets of every major city. But Winter Austen was lucky. Lucky because she entered a profession which promised nothing but total degradation, yet she escaped. She got away from the influence of Wade Meecham. But then her fortunes changed. Wade Meecham came back into her life. He chose to live in the same city that Winter Austen was making her home, and this was a tragedy because Meecham could not accept the fact that Winter Austen was making a new life for herself. Because he was a spoiler, and he was determined to spoil her life forever. There's a question that has to be answered here. Why, if Winter Austen hated, despised Meecham as much as I say she did, did the blackmail tape exist? Why did she permit him the intimacies recorded on that videotape? Ladies and gentlemen, she didn't give in to Meecham for pleasure -or out of career advancement. She succumbed for love. Not for the love of this man, but for the love of the man she was going to marry. The man who stood in front of you several days ago and admitted that he accepted a bribe from Wade Meecham in order to spare the woman he loved any further pain. Miss Austen made her sacrifice for the very same reason? to spare the man she loved. But what she didn't realize was that Wade Meecham was totally incapable of making an honest deal. That he would continue to use that tape against her indefinitely. And that's exactly what he did. And that's why her engagement was broken. You may be saying to yourselves right now that I have given you the perfect motive for murder. (He moves to the TV) A murder which you presumably saw on this television screen. (PAUSE) Video is a remarkable medium. It's used in courts all across the country and by other agencies of justice?because it provides irrefutable proof of wrongdoing. It's a remarkable medium because video can so clearly tell the truth. Well, ladies and gentlemen, are you aware that videotape can also lie ? Video is an electronic process. An electronic wonder that can be made to perform tricks right before your very eyes. And I'm going to show you one of those tricks?

CLIFF
Your honor, your honor?we object! A demonstration in the middle of the defense's summation?

JUDGE OLIVERI
I'll over-rule, but I hope you can make a material connection, Mr. Scott.

DRAPER
Your honor, I'm sure that the court will see from this demonstration that this is both relevant and enlightening. (Draper puts a cassette in the VCR and hits the play button) Now ladies and gentlemen, I want you to pay very, very close attention. What I'm going to show you is a widely used and commonly accepted practice in video. It's called chroma-key. (the screen shows Margo's empty office) What you see here is an empty office. (suddenly Winter appears in the scene) There, the defendant Winter Austen appears out of nowhere. This is chromakey. It's a very simple process. All you need are two videotapes. One to record the background, and one to record the person you wish to place into that background?like that. Then with some judicious editing, you put the two together?

CLIFF
Your honor, there's no grounds for this conclusion! He's just trying to confuse the jury now with some technicalities!

JUDGE OLIVERI
Mr. Scott, you are not an expert witness. Now, if you have evidence that the tape that we've just seen?

DRAPER
(Removes the tape) Your honor, I have no intention of introducing this tape into evidence. It's simply a demonstration so that the court might understand what could have happened -in fact, what did happen.

CLIFF
You honor, objection?this is a trick of first year law school.

The courtroom erupts in chatter.

JUDGE OLIVERI
There must be silence in this courtroom. Mr. Scott?

DRAPER
Your honor, I am prepared to prove -right now- right in front of this entire courtroom, that the tape which ended up in possession of the prosecution?the so-called "scene of the murder" tape was a complete fraud and fabrication.

CLIFF
Your honor, we demand a ruling on our objection. This is a desperate grandstand play by the defense!

JUDGE OLIVERI
I'll over-rule and allow Mr. Scott to make good on his statement, if he can?

DRAPER
(inserts the tape of Wade's murder into the VCR) Ladies and gentlemen, I would like you to pay very close attention to this tape. That is the body of Wade Meecham. And the defense is prepared to admit at this time that the woman standing over the body of Wade Meecham is in fact the defendant Winter Austen. Now?I would like you to hear the most important testimony given in this trial. Your honor, if the court pleases, could I have the court stenographer please read back the testimony of Miss Amy Berry, recorded on April 12th?

JUDGE OLIVERI
The court stenographer will read back the testimony?

STENOGRAPHER
Mr. Nelson. Miss Berry, how long have you --

DRAPER
No, no. Please skip ahead to the testimony regarding the gun and the firing of the shot.

STENOGRAPHER
Ahhh, Mr Nelson. What time did you hear the shot? Miss Berry. Like I said it was just a minute after we got back to our room. Couldn't have been more than five past nine then. Mr. Nelson. Miss Berry, what did you do when you heard the sound of gunfire? Miss Berry. We didn't want to meddle, but we wanted to find out what was happening so we opened the door and looked out. Mr. Nelson. And you saw someone leaving Mr. Meecham's suite? Miss Berry. That's right. We saw this woman coming out of the place looking sort of scared. She was wearing a blue coat with a little white fur collar -

DRAPER
That's enough, thank you! She was wearing a blue coat with a little white fur collar. Ladies and gentlemen look very closely at this tape, because Winter Austen is wearing a coat... without a fur collar!

The courtroom erupts in shock.
FADEOUT
COMMERCIAL BREAK

ACT FIVE
Courtroom scene continued.

JUDGE OLIVERI
Silence, please! (bangs his gavel) Silence! If we can't have this courtroom in silence, I will have it cleared.

CLIFF
Your honor, please, please the prosecution needs time to --

JUDGE OLIVERI
Sit down, Mr. Nelson! Mr. Scott hasn't concluded his remarks.

CLIFF
Yes, sir...

DRAPER
Ladies and gentlemen, there's very little left to say. And only one conclusion that you can draw. All you need to do is take one good, hard look at this so-called incriminating videotape, and you will see something entirely different. You will see an attempt to frame a young woman for murder. An attempt that almost succeeded in convincing you -as it convinced me- that Winter Austen was the cold-blooded murderer of Wade Meecham. So, what we have here is not a murder on videotape? what we have here is a lie on videotape -a lie which could have led to a terrible injustice. And I can offer you technical proof that will give evidence that chromakey was used in this lie. And I'm sure that you are intelligent enough to realize that only the real killer of Wade Meecham could have made this tape. Only the real killer of Wade Meecham could have had the opportunity to photograph the body and then later add the lie of Winter Austen's presence. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm not here to condemn or accuse the guilty. (softly) I'm here to make sure that the innocent do not suffer. We ask that you do the same.

[The court erupts again. A joyful Winter hugs Mike while Logan looks on shaking his head in disbelief.]
FADE OUT
COMMERCIAL BREAK

CLOSING CREDITS