- 2 days ago
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00:00This is my 283th trial, and after 20 years, I've learned one thing.
00:00:04Justice is not emotion, it's reason.
00:00:07They say justice is blind, but that's a lie.
00:00:10She sees money, power, and fear, and she flinchers.
00:00:14Today, I remind her what a spine looks like.
00:00:21Mr. Cross never claimed to be a saint,
00:00:24but the man taught an entire generation that the law isn't a weapon for the powerful.
00:00:28It's a refuge for the damned.
00:00:43Justice doesn't forget.
00:00:45It just waits for someone brave enough to wake it up again.
00:01:01We're told this glove proves guilt.
00:01:06If it doesn't fit, you must acquit.
00:01:10This is my 283th trial, and after 20 years, I've learned one thing.
00:01:14Justice is not emotion, it's reason.
00:01:18The charge of murder in the first degree, not guilt.
00:01:23Mr. Cross, that's ring number 283.
00:01:25People say you could get the devil himself acquitted,
00:01:27because winning all that matters to you, they call you the devil's barrister.
00:01:29Only people who can't afford me call me that.
00:01:31Is there a difference between defending justice and defending evil?
00:01:34Sure, about $500 an hour.
00:01:36Sir, your acquittal killed a family.
00:01:38Explain.
00:01:38The client today, he's no saint, sir.
00:01:40He's got a record, and the press won't let it go.
00:01:41Why take him?
00:01:42Because guilt is an opinion, evidence is a fact.
00:01:44But shouldn't we defend the innocent?
00:01:46That's what the prosecutors tell themselves.
00:01:48We defend the process.
00:01:49Justice isn't about right or wrong, it's about rules.
00:01:51If the rules break, everything breaks.
00:01:53Then who protects the truth?
00:01:55Truth doesn't need protection, Lydia.
00:01:57It just needs representation.
00:01:59And representation doesn't come cheap.
00:02:01So you defend anyone?
00:02:02If the money's right?
00:02:04No.
00:02:04I stand for whoever hires me first.
00:02:07That's what keeps the scales balanced.
00:02:08Time's up.
00:02:09My father's ceremony starts in 20 minutes.
00:02:11Oh, right.
00:02:11The host, Mr. Kane, asked to meet you afterward.
00:02:14He's been calling for weeks.
00:02:15Warren Kane?
00:02:16The media kingmaker?
00:02:17This should be fun.
00:02:18This should be fun.
00:02:23The Nobel Lifetime Humanitarian Award goes to Mr. Harold Cross, former district attorney,
00:02:30honored for a lifetime of service to justice and the defense of the powerless.
00:02:36You're late again.
00:02:38Relax, Dad.
00:02:38Did I miss the standing ovation or just the part where you kissed the old man's ring?
00:02:42You're the reason I had to buy that saint in a wheelchair this damn award.
00:02:45Now get the hell home and stick it until the hearing.
00:02:47Whatever you say, Your Honor.
00:02:52Mr. Cross, what an honor to finally meet the man behind half this city's verdicts.
00:02:57The honor's mine, Mr. Kane, and thank you for what you did for my father.
00:03:00My son, Chase, he's a producer of old enough action.
00:03:03You've heard of it?
00:03:03He's being framed by a little actress.
00:03:05She's throwing about serious accusations just because she didn't get the part.
00:03:08You want me to clean up your mess?
00:03:09Name your fee.
00:03:11Even if it's outrageous enough to upset me, I'll pay it.
00:03:13When's the hearing?
00:03:15Today.
00:03:162 p.m.
00:03:18We have an hour.
00:03:18I'll be ready.
00:03:20Mr. Cross, you just saved my family.
00:03:26Zoe?
00:03:27Dad, Grandpa's hurt.
00:03:28He's bleeding.
00:03:29What?
00:03:29Where are you?
00:03:30Send me your location now.
00:03:31Sir, the hearing starts in less than an hour.
00:03:33Then buy me 10 minutes.
00:03:43Hey, Dad.
00:03:44I've met Ethan Cross.
00:03:46He's agreed to take your case.
00:03:48You're still out on bail, so don't even think about screwing this up before court.
00:03:52Wait.
00:03:53Seriously?
00:03:54You got Ethan Cross?
00:03:56I'm basically home free then.
00:03:58You're damn right.
00:03:59If Cross takes the case, even the judge starts second-guessing herself.
00:04:04But listen, Ethan plays for cash, not for friendship.
00:04:08So when you meet him, shut your mouth.
00:04:11Look grateful.
00:04:12And do not piss him off, or he'll bury both of us.
00:04:16Yeah, yeah, I got it.
00:04:17Chill.
00:04:17So Ethan Cross is really on board?
00:04:19Hell yeah, the guy's the closer.
00:04:21The devil in a three-piece suit.
00:04:22The devil himself.
00:04:23We're untouchable now.
00:04:25Untouchable?
00:04:26Please.
00:04:27With him on my side, I'll sue that lying bitch for defamation.
00:04:30Make her wish prison was the worst thing that ever happened.
00:04:32The really impressive boss, a minor supporting character that no one even looks at on any MB
00:04:36being noticed by Warren Pete's son, should have been the biggest opportunity of her life.
00:04:41You're really good at sucking up.
00:04:44Let's celebrate after the court session, boss.
00:04:52Grandpa, I sprinted here right after finals.
00:04:55Congrats again.
00:04:56Total legend move.
00:04:58Legend, please.
00:05:00This thing's just PR dressed up as virtue.
00:05:02If your dad weren't such a shark in court, they'd never give this to an old prosecutor like me.
00:05:08Still, it looks kind of cheap, like something you buy at a tourist shop in Vegas.
00:05:11Three bucks tops.
00:05:12That's still two more than it's worth.
00:05:17What's the holdup?
00:05:18Move, people!
00:05:22Yo, move it!
00:05:23Some of us got places to be.
00:05:25Sorry, folks.
00:05:26Wheel's stuck.
00:05:27Just a minute.
00:05:33Someone's hungover and entitled.
00:05:35Take a deep breath, dude.
00:05:36The world won't end if you wait 60 seconds.
00:05:38Watch your tone, sweetheart.
00:05:40Calm down.
00:05:40We're here to help.
00:05:45Zoe.
00:05:46Let's go.
00:05:46Now.
00:05:47Whoa, whoa.
00:05:48Leaving so soon?
00:05:48At least say thank you properly.
00:05:50How about dinner, pretty thing?
00:05:51I don't hate jerrymatchics or assholes in training.
00:05:54Come on.
00:05:54You hang with a grandpa, you can handle older men.
00:05:56Ten times the price.
00:05:57What do you say?
00:05:57A man's in a wheelchair and still paying for company.
00:06:00Wondering if the equipment still works.
00:06:04Watch your mouth!
00:06:07Or what?
00:06:09Get your dirty hands off her, you little bastard!
00:06:16You speak quite boldly while sitting.
00:06:19Do you want me to help you stand up?
00:06:23I've put away scum like you my whole life.
00:06:26Guess I missed one.
00:06:30You belong behind bars, you goddamn parasite!
00:06:37Oh, yeah?
00:06:39You're gonna prosecute me from your chair?
00:06:42You know what I hate most?
00:06:44Always thinking that prisons are made for others.
00:06:58Today, I will help you change this idea.
00:07:01Let him go, you bunch of lunatics!
00:07:08Let go of me!
00:07:10Don't touch me!
00:07:12Do you know who you are talking to?
00:07:14I don't care who you are.
00:07:16Even if you are the president's son.
00:07:19If you break the law, you still have to go to jail.
00:07:25What did I just say?
00:07:26Don't mention prison.
00:07:29No!
00:07:31Stop!
00:07:33Yo.
00:07:34Grandpa is your weak spot, right?
00:07:37How about changing to a 30-year-old dad?
00:07:52Lauren tried to settle privately, offering a seven-figure amount, but she still refused to drop the case.
00:07:57If Chase was really being framed, the money would have solved the problem long ago.
00:08:00But she just wants to send him to prison.
00:08:03Aren't we once in helping a rich person who thinks the law doesn't apply to them get off the hook?
00:08:06The law doesn't care what you think, Lydia.
00:08:09Only what you can prove.
00:08:10Morals don't win cases.
00:08:11Evidence does.
00:08:12Innocence isn't a feeling.
00:08:13It's a product.
00:08:14Something you build in court, brick by brick, until a jury buys it.
00:08:17Maybe.
00:08:17But this Chase kid, he's...
00:08:19We don't pick sides, Lydia.
00:08:20We pick strategies.
00:08:28You hit me?
00:08:30Split him up.
00:08:31Get that cripper offer.
00:08:42Hit him!
00:08:46Dad, help!
00:08:48Grandpa's being attacked!
00:08:52Who you calling, sweetheart?
00:08:59Never had me a little schoolgirl before.
00:09:02Get your slimy hands off me, you discount Harvey Weinstein.
00:09:05Faster!
00:09:06Leave her alone!
00:09:09This thing's still rolling?
00:09:14Yeah.
00:09:15That's the fight I like.
00:09:16Go to hell!
00:09:17Tell me something, sweetheart.
00:09:19How do you and this crippy get your kicks, huh?
00:09:21Maybe the same way your mom raised a freak.
00:09:35Wait a second.
00:09:36That metal.
00:09:39The crowd's getting ugly out here.
00:09:41If we don't move fast, this whole thing becomes a circus.
00:09:43They're trying to turn public opinion into a verdict.
00:09:45Handle the circus.
00:09:46I'll be there as soon as I can.
00:09:47Got it.
00:09:54That looks just like the one Dad handed out today.
00:09:58What the hell?
00:10:00When you meet him, keep your mouth shut, look grateful, and don't piss him off.
00:10:04Where'd you get this metal?
00:10:05Where I got it.
00:10:06Let's just say it didn't come from Daddy's PR firm.
00:10:08But hey, you've heard of the Nobel Prize, right?
00:10:10Or is that too many syllables for your kind?
00:10:12Noble?
00:10:13Three bucks at a souvenir shop.
00:10:15Guess Grandpa's into fake bling.
00:10:17Trying to play me with props?
00:10:18Fine.
00:10:18I'll give you a show.
00:10:20Right in front of your precious little schoolgirl.
00:10:21It'll turn you on, won't it?
00:10:22Back off, you creep!
00:10:24You sick bastard!
00:10:25Let her go!
00:10:26Oh, I'll let her go if you dive into that asphalt pit and fetch your phone.
00:10:30And maybe I'll calm down.
00:10:33Boss, let's forget it.
00:10:35Your father said, stay low-key before the hearing.
00:10:38And if that metal is real, get lost.
00:10:42You heard me, old man!
00:10:44Go on!
00:10:45You asshole!
00:10:46He's paralyzed, you're proud of bullying him?
00:10:48What, you get attached after wiping his drool every day?
00:10:51Cute.
00:10:52Let her go.
00:10:53I'll do it.
00:10:55But you'd better keep your word.
00:10:57Come on, old man, you call that crawling?
00:10:59My grandma moves faster than you.
00:11:01Grandpa, stop!
00:11:02Please!
00:11:05Look at him go, like a wounded puppy.
00:11:12Grandpa!
00:11:14Your hand!
00:11:15Oh, God!
00:11:16There.
00:11:17You happy?
00:11:18Can we go now?
00:11:19Who said you could go?
00:11:20You volunteered.
00:11:22I guess heroes are overrated.
00:11:24You monster!
00:11:27And what are you going to do, huh?
00:11:29Prosecute me?
00:11:31Oh, no.
00:11:32Not now.
00:11:34Grandpa!
00:11:41The old man pissed himself!
00:11:43Unreal!
00:11:44Aw, don't cry, sweetheart.
00:11:45Must be rough.
00:11:46Taking care of your sugar, daddy.
00:11:49Zoe, don't cry.
00:11:51Just get me to a hospital.
00:11:52Did I say you could leave?
00:11:54If anything happens to him, I swear I'll make you pay.
00:11:59Oh, I'd love to see how.
00:12:01I'll call the police.
00:12:02Let the law deal with you.
00:12:03The law?
00:12:04You know who my lawyer is?
00:12:05Ethan Cross, the closer!
00:12:07Yeah, so you tell me.
00:12:09How's that law going to deal with me?
00:12:10My dad?
00:12:12You're so dead.
00:12:14All of you.
00:12:14Ethan's your dad?
00:12:15The closer doesn't have a daughter out here playing sugar baby.
00:12:17Regret this.
00:12:17When Ethan finds out what you've done, he'll bury you himself.
00:12:20Boss, maybe we should stop.
00:12:21If he's Ethan Cross's dad, then I'm the goddamn president's grandfather.
00:12:24Give me a break.
00:12:25Hit him!
00:12:40Who are you, old man?
00:12:42Zoe, what the hell happened?
00:12:44Dad!
00:12:46It's them!
00:12:47They started it!
00:12:48They hit Grandpa and tried to put their hands on me!
00:12:52Easy there, tough guy.
00:12:53They came at us first.
00:12:54My daughter dresses however the hell she wants.
00:12:57That doesn't give anyone the right to touch her or blame her.
00:13:00And my father, he can barely move.
00:13:03You really expect me to believe this was their fault?
00:13:05Wait, this brat and that geezer, they're actually family?
00:13:08So what?
00:13:09You see our boss bleeding?
00:13:11Pay up and apologize or nobody walks out of here.
00:13:16You're out of your mind.
00:13:17You attacked us.
00:13:18You pay!
00:13:18Zoe, take Grandfather to the hospital.
00:13:21I'll handle this.
00:13:22There's 30 grand on it.
00:13:24Let him go first.
00:13:2730 grand?
00:13:29That's barely pocket change.
00:13:31What do you want then?
00:13:32How about this?
00:13:33You want to save your old man?
00:13:35Then get on your knees and call me daddy.
00:13:38Go to hell, asshole!
00:13:40You're a disgrace to humanity!
00:13:42Did I tell you to speak, old man?
00:13:44So what's it going to be?
00:13:45You play nice or you lose your crippled daddy right here?
00:13:47So that's it.
00:13:49You're not backing down.
00:13:51Damn right I'm not.
00:13:57You actually dare to hit me?
00:13:59That's called self-defense.
00:14:00What you've done?
00:14:01Assault, attempted bodily harm, each one's a felony.
00:14:04Stack them together and you're looking at a decade behind bars.
00:14:07You think you can read me my rights, huh?
00:14:09You know who the hell I am?
00:14:10I don't need to.
00:14:11You laid hands on my daughter and my father.
00:14:13There are witnesses, cameras, and the law on my side.
00:14:17You're not walking away from me.
00:14:18You have any idea who you're talking to?
00:14:19That's Warren Cain's son, Hollywood royalty.
00:14:22You're Warren's son, the accused rapist.
00:14:25The man I was hired to defend and I didn't even bother to ask if he was guilty.
00:14:28That's right.
00:14:29My dad's the goddamn media king.
00:14:31He got the closer, Ethan Cross, for me.
00:14:33And once we win, that little actress dies broke.
00:14:36Just like you.
00:14:37You think you can throw daddy's money at the law and play me like a damn puppet?
00:14:42You're bluffing!
00:14:44What if I told you I am Ethan Cross?
00:14:52Ethan Cross?
00:14:54Shit.
00:14:55People say Cross is the devil's lawyer.
00:14:56Everyone he goes up against ends up buried.
00:14:59We're screwed.
00:15:00Ethan Cross, huh?
00:15:06Nice fake, old man.
00:15:07Fake?
00:15:08You're saying he's a fraud?
00:15:09Exactly.
00:15:10The old cripple claims he's Cross's father.
00:15:12And five minutes later, a wannabe lawyer shows up?
00:15:15Please.
00:15:15Cross is at court prepping my case right now.
00:15:17No way he's here.
00:15:18They planned this scam together.
00:15:20You think we're idiots?
00:15:20Let's teach him a lesson.
00:15:22Touch them and I swear, I'll make sure the only thing you ever see again are iron bars.
00:15:27Let them go.
00:15:29Or what?
00:15:31Teach him a lesson.
00:15:39Hey!
00:15:40Somebody call 911!
00:15:41He's down!
00:15:41That's assault, man!
00:15:42You animals think you're in a movie?
00:15:44Stop it!
00:15:45My dad is Ethan Cross, you psychos!
00:15:47You're trending for murder right now!
00:15:49You don't even know that!
00:15:54What now, Ethan Cross?
00:15:56Still feel like a big man?
00:16:00Zoe, give me Grandpa's medal.
00:16:03Dad.
00:16:05That medal, Warren Cain handed to my father himself.
00:16:08Take it back to him.
00:16:09Tell him I'm off your case.
00:16:10You think I care about your old man's shiny souvenir?
00:16:14Fine!
00:16:14Let's call my father!
00:16:16See what he thinks about my lawyer's stunt double.
00:16:19Hey, Dad.
00:16:21Guess who I just ran into?
00:16:22Where the hell are you, Chase?
00:16:26You better not be in trouble again, Chase.
00:16:32Trouble?
00:16:33Come on, Dad.
00:16:33I'm just grabbing lunch with friends.
00:16:35Right.
00:16:35Last time you grabbed lunch, three people lawyered up.
00:16:38They came at me first, okay?
00:16:39Swear to God.
00:16:40Hey!
00:16:41Ethan Cross made it to court yet?
00:16:43Yeah.
00:16:44Been here a while.
00:16:45I just saw his assistant.
00:16:46Miss Hart, where's Mr. Cross?
00:16:47Restroom.
00:16:48The hearing starts in 30.
00:16:49You ready?
00:16:49Always.
00:16:50That's why you hired him.
00:16:51Got it, Dad.
00:16:52Talk soon.
00:16:53Don't make a scene, Chase.
00:16:55And don't touch Cross, you hear me?
00:16:57Yeah.
00:16:57Yeah.
00:17:00Oh, you're Ethan Cross, huh?
00:17:03That's rich.
00:17:04Hold him.
00:17:08You want to play my lawyer?
00:17:10Hell of an audition.
00:17:11Let's see you stay in character.
00:17:13Touch him again, and I swear I'll carve that smirk your face!
00:17:16Boss, what if he is New York?
00:17:18He's not.
00:17:19My dad just saw the real one inside the courthouse.
00:17:22You two are cute playing make-believe.
00:17:24Stay put.
00:17:24When I'm done winning my case, we'll finish our little game.
00:17:27What are you looking at?
00:17:28Show's over!
00:17:29Dad!
00:17:29Hey, stay with me!
00:17:30My hand!
00:17:32It's burning!
00:17:35Grandpa!
00:17:42Doctor, please, how is he?
00:17:45Third degree burns to his hand and forearm.
00:17:47We're trying to save what we can, but he may lose some function.
00:17:51Possibly the entire hand.
00:17:53Dad, they did this to Grandpa because of me.
00:17:57Make them pay.
00:17:58All right, Zoe.
00:17:59You have my word.
00:18:00Justice takes its time, but it never forgets.
00:18:03I've played nice long enough.
00:18:05Now they learn what real judgment looks like.
00:18:07Mrs. Reed, any comments before the appeal hearing?
00:18:09No cameras!
00:18:10Leave my daughter alone!
00:18:16Mr. Kane, you were convicted of sexual assault in the trial.
00:18:20Are you seeking acquittal today?
00:18:21Acquitto?
00:18:23I call it a correction.
00:18:25You can't lock a man up for being wanted.
00:18:27The victim maintains her testimony is true.
00:18:30Is a wannabe actress made up a story about an invasion?
00:18:32Pathetic.
00:18:33My lawyer's going to crush this case and send her back to obscurity.
00:18:35Stop!
00:18:36It's okay, baby.
00:18:37You did nothing wrong.
00:18:38You rich people think you own the world.
00:18:40She was just a kid who wanted a chance, and he destroyed her.
00:18:44Where's the damn justice in that?
00:18:45They say justice is blind, but that's a lie.
00:18:49She sees money, power, and fear, and she flinchers.
00:18:53Today, I remind her what a spine looks like.
00:18:56Mr. Crosscourt's in session.
00:19:09My lawyer's the devil himself, watching that.
00:19:30Mr. Cross!
00:19:32What on earth happened to you?
00:19:33Who had the nerve to lay a hand on you?
00:19:36I'll make sure he never shows his face in Chicago again.
00:19:39You mean, you don't know?
00:19:43Well, what matters is winning today.
00:19:45You get me a verdict, and anyone who crosses Ethan Cross crosses me.
00:19:49Cross never loses if he's defending that kid walks free.
00:19:52That monster ruined my daughter's life.
00:19:56And he gets to walk free?
00:19:58You don't get it.
00:19:59Cross defends the rich.
00:20:01He's ruthless.
00:20:02If Cain bought him, your girl's already lost.
00:20:07Justice isn't for sale.
00:20:09Not in my courtroom.
00:20:11Mr. Cross is absolutely right.
00:20:12My boy's innocent, and the truth will clear his name.
00:20:16Stand up.
00:20:17Show some respect.
00:20:21This way, Mr. Cross.
00:20:22Your seat.
00:20:33Mr. Cross, your seat's this way.
00:20:39No, Warren.
00:20:41I'm right where I belong.
00:20:45What did you just say?
00:20:47Isn't Ethan Cross the defense counsel?
00:20:49I heard he charges like seven figures.
00:20:52Mom, did you hire him?
00:20:54No, baby.
00:20:55We can't afford anyone like him.
00:20:56I'm here as special counsel to the state.
00:20:59I don't take a cent from victims.
00:21:01Don't take a cent?
00:21:03You cashed my checks.
00:21:05Millions.
00:21:05Don't forget I put that medal on your father's chest.
00:21:08You think you can walk away?
00:21:10You just want more, don't you?
00:21:13Mr. Cross, close this for us, and I'll double your fee.
00:21:17Five million.
00:21:18No questions asked.
00:21:19Justice has a price tag, Warren.
00:21:22It just isn't one you can afford.
00:21:24Come on, Mr. Cross.
00:21:25Everyone knows you're a man of your word.
00:21:27The hearing's about to start.
00:21:28What, did I step on your toes or something?
00:21:31You hurt me.
00:21:32You really don't know?
00:21:44You little idiot.
00:21:46What did you do?
00:21:49I didn't do anything, Dad.
00:21:50They started it.
00:21:50The old man tripped.
00:21:52The girl, come on.
00:21:53Don't lie to me.
00:21:54Ethan Cross isn't the kind of name you piss on for fun.
00:21:57There must be a reason.
00:21:58Okay, I got rough with them.
00:21:59We rumped them up.
00:22:02What?
00:22:03Do you know what I pulled to get him here?
00:22:05Do you know what that costs?
00:22:06I thought he was a fake.
00:22:08I didn't know he was really Ethan Cross.
00:22:11You should have stayed in custody.
00:22:13You'd have done less damage there.
00:22:15Mr. Cross, my son, he's just a kid.
00:22:18Deliver a win on this and whatever you want.
00:22:20Money, contracts, favors.
00:22:22It's yours.
00:22:23Hell, take him if you want.
00:22:27You're the defendant's father, Warren.
00:22:28We shouldn't be talking.
00:22:31The hearing's about to start.
00:22:32I suggest you take your seat.
00:22:35All rise.
00:22:37The Honorable Judge Delilah Dwan presiding.
00:22:45Be seated.
00:22:46The court is now in session for The State of Illinois v. Chase Kane.
00:22:55You really believe you can beat them?
00:22:57Law isn't a shield for the powerful.
00:22:59It's a sword for the truth.
00:23:02And today, I intend to use it.
00:23:14Counsel for the defense?
00:23:17We'll recess for five minutes before proceeding.
00:23:19If counsel fails to appear, the appeal will be dismissed and the prior conviction upheld.
00:23:23Dad, what do I do?
00:23:26Keep your damn voice down.
00:23:27Don't give them a show.
00:23:29If the defense doesn't show, it's over.
00:23:31Cross doesn't even need to speak.
00:23:33He's already won.
00:23:34Dad!
00:23:35I can't go to prison!
00:23:37Please!
00:23:38Do something!
00:23:40Mr. Cross!
00:23:41My son made a mistake!
00:23:44Don't throw his life away, over it!
00:23:47Mr. Kane, you're out of order.
00:23:49Sit down or I'll hold you in contempt.
00:23:55The law isn't a game, Warren.
00:23:59You play God long enough, eventually, the devil collects.
00:24:04Five minutes have passed.
00:24:06The defense having failed to appear, the court...
00:24:10Defense counsel, Leon Richter for Mr. Kane, Your Honor.
00:24:17Leon.
00:24:19What the hell are you doing here?
00:24:20He's with me.
00:24:21Before the hearing, Leon warned me you might flip.
00:24:24Didn't think you actually would.
00:24:32What?
00:24:33You're withdrawing from Chase Kane's defense?
00:24:37All right.
00:24:38I'll destroy anything tied to the defense prep.
00:24:43Lydia, wait!
00:24:45What are you doing here?
00:24:45Urgent work.
00:24:46Here, destroy this.
00:24:47Completely.
00:24:49Warren Kane's son.
00:24:51Win this case for them, and Chicago will know my name.
00:24:55What can I say?
00:24:56When a case pays seven figures, you'd be an idiot not to take it.
00:25:01By the time this trial's over, I'll be the new name on every courtroom wall.
00:25:04Big talk for a rookie.
00:25:05He's never even tried a case alone.
00:25:07No way he beats Cross.
00:25:10Cross was a constant nuisance, but he was lethal in court.
00:25:14This Richard dude?
00:25:15Who even is he?
00:25:16Is he like a TikTok lawyer or something?
00:25:20Relax, Chase.
00:25:21Before your former lawyer grew a conscience, he left me a gift.
00:25:23All his prep files, his notes, his evidence.
00:25:28I know every move he's going to make.
00:25:31He's going to use Cross' own playbook against Cross?
00:25:36Cross built his defense around proof the victim was lying.
00:25:39Then, he switched sides.
00:25:42Too late to rebuild from scratch.
00:25:44He knew he'd lose.
00:25:45So he pulled a stunt.
00:25:51Tried to stall the hearing.
00:25:53But I'm her now.
00:25:55Seven years, Leon.
00:25:56I trained you.
00:25:57I vouched for you.
00:25:58And you throw it away for a paycheck?
00:25:59You never let me stand on my own.
00:26:00Seven years, I carried your bags while you cashed million-dollar retainers.
00:26:03You never saw me as anything but help.
00:26:05You weren't ready.
00:26:05That's why I kept you close.
00:26:06The house, the car, the reputation.
00:26:08I gave you all of it.
00:26:10Enough!
00:26:13Today, I'll beat you.
00:26:16And when I do, the so-called devil in a suit dies right here.
00:26:26Appeal its counsel.
00:26:28Any new suggestions?
00:26:29Yes, Your Honor.
00:26:30We move to admit new digital evidence.
00:26:33CCTV footage from the hotel the night of the alleged assault.
00:26:38The video documents the interaction between the complainant and my client.
00:26:41We request to play it for the court.
00:26:42Proceed.
00:26:46Your Honor, what we see is the complainant entering the suite of her own accord.
00:26:50No visible force, no resistance.
00:26:52These are facts undeniable on tape.
00:26:58The hallway is not the bedroom.
00:27:00Entry does not prove consent to sex.
00:27:02Consent must be specific, ongoing, and revocable.
00:27:05This video cannot speak to what happened inside,
00:27:08which is precisely why we request Ms. Reed testify as to the sequence inside the suite.
00:27:13I... I can't...
00:27:14Barely holding it together, don't make her relive the damn nightmare!
00:27:17Ma'am, please be seated.
00:27:18You call it testimony?
00:27:20To her, it's torture.
00:27:21Every word cuts her open all over again.
00:27:23Mrs. Reed, I understand your concern.
00:27:26You must be seated.
00:27:27Your Honor, the alleged victim's testimony is the only account of what happened inside that room.
00:27:32If she won't state it under oath,
00:27:34we have reasonable crowns to question whether she's protecting the truth
00:27:36or simply hiding behind the word victim.
00:27:42Yeah, she made the whole thing up!
00:27:45Mr. Warren,
00:27:46one more outfast and you'll be removed from this courtroom.
00:27:54Mrs. Reed,
00:27:56no one here will compel you to speak.
00:27:58The court's purpose is not to break you, but to hear you.
00:28:01If you wish to be heard,
00:28:03you decide.
00:28:04I don't want to, I can't.
00:28:06You don't have to do this, baby.
00:28:07Emily, look at me.
00:28:09Mr. Cross, I can't...
00:28:11I can't stand them looking at me like that.
00:28:13You don't deserve their gaze.
00:28:15You're not an object to be picked apart.
00:28:17You're the one who was hurt.
00:28:18You stay silent.
00:28:19Every man who ever thought power gives them the right to look,
00:28:21to take, to decide who gets to speak, they win.
00:28:23And the ones who tell you that's just how Hollywood works,
00:28:25they win too.
00:28:26So speak.
00:28:27I mean, every woman who's told you has ever been told to keep quiet and move on.
00:28:30For yourself, you deserve to be heard.
00:28:32You deserve justice.
00:28:40That day, the audition had just ended.
00:28:44Chase Kane, the producer, said he had another project.
00:28:47Said a few people were coming.
00:28:49The director, another producer.
00:28:51He told me to meet them at his hotel to talk it through.
00:28:54But when I got there, there was no one else.
00:28:58He said they'd join us later.
00:28:59Then he said I've got to crick my shoulder.
00:29:01Could you give me a massage?
00:29:02Could you give me a massage?
00:29:04He went to the bathroom.
00:29:05I waited.
00:29:09And when he came out, he was barely covered with a towel.
00:29:12Then he pulled out his...
00:29:16That's what happened.
00:29:23Ms. Reed, according to the hotel's report,
00:29:25there were staff stationed just outside your suite.
00:29:27If this incident happened, as you claim,
00:29:29why didn't you call for help?
00:29:30I don't know.
00:29:35I see.
00:29:37And yet you didn't contact the police that night either, correct?
00:29:42It was only after Mr. Kane transferred money to your account
00:29:45that you decided to file a complaint.
00:29:48Isn't it fair to ask whether this accusation came
00:29:52after a disagreement over that payment?
00:29:55And the surveillance footage we just watched
00:29:57shows you arriving at the hotel dressed...
00:30:00Not for an ambush.
00:30:03Some might say your attire appeared...
00:30:06How should I put it?
00:30:07More personal than professional.
00:30:10Objection!
00:30:11Counsel is implying consent based on appearance
00:30:13completely irrelevant and appropriate.
00:30:17Sustained.
00:30:18Mr. Richter, stay within the scope of your questioning.
00:30:23Of course, Your Honor.
00:30:24I'm simply pointing out inconsistencies.
00:30:27So, Ms. Reed,
00:30:28if you truly didn't consent,
00:30:30why did you stay?
00:30:31Why wait?
00:30:32Or is it possible this was something
00:30:34you later reconsidered?
00:30:38Stop!
00:30:39Twisting it!
00:30:40I said no!
00:30:41I remember saying no!
00:30:45Objection!
00:30:46Counsel's badgering the witness
00:30:48and inviting the jury to draw
00:30:49an improper inference based on appearance.
00:30:53Sustained.
00:30:59With respect, Your Honor,
00:31:01casting doubt is the essence of defense.
00:31:04Your Honor,
00:31:05the footage shows the alleged complainant
00:31:07entering voluntarily.
00:31:09Her own testimony is fragmented contradictorily.
00:31:11What she claims as assault
00:31:12amounts to nothing more than a regretted choice.
00:31:15The defense asserts there was no assault,
00:31:17no coercion,
00:31:18only physical interaction with agreement.
00:31:20On those grounds,
00:31:22the charge of assault
00:31:23does not stand.
00:31:27Order!
00:31:27This courtroom will remain in order.
00:31:29The defense's evidence stands as valid.
00:31:31Unless the prosecution has additional proof,
00:31:32the court is prepared to render its decision.
00:31:34So that's it?
00:31:35I'm free?
00:31:36Seems so.
00:31:38The appeal overturns the prior conviction.
00:31:41I appreciate the help, Counselor.
00:31:43No!
00:31:44No!
00:31:45You said you'd get justice for my daughter, Mr. Cross!
00:31:51Sorry, Mom.
00:31:52Justice, Mr. Cross, requires evidence.
00:31:54And you've run out of it.
00:31:56You're right, Leon.
00:31:58Justice is built on evidence
00:32:00and logic.
00:32:03So let's test yours.
00:32:06Mr. Kane, walk us through that night.
00:32:08I had a drink in the VIP lounge downstairs at Lower Ray.
00:32:12After that,
00:32:12Emily and I went into my hotel room together.
00:32:14Do you deny having sexual relations with Ms. Reed?
00:32:17Of course not.
00:32:18We did.
00:32:18She wanted it.
00:32:19Kept flirting all night,
00:32:20talking about how she always had a thing for me.
00:32:22She said that to you?
00:32:23Are you sure those were her words?
00:32:25Yeah.
00:32:26She couldn't keep her hands off me.
00:32:28You should have seen her.
00:32:28She was into it.
00:32:32Funny.
00:32:33Because according to her phone records,
00:32:35she was texting someone else at that exact time.
00:32:39And that person
00:32:40was her girlfriend.
00:32:45Mom.
00:32:48I'm scared.
00:32:50He locked the door.
00:32:54No way.
00:32:56That bitch.
00:32:58Objection irrelevant.
00:33:00It's entirely relevant, Your Honor.
00:33:02Order.
00:33:03The defendant's argument hinges on the idea
00:33:05that Ms. Reed desired the defendant.
00:33:06But her private communications proves otherwise.
00:33:09You said she had a thing for you.
00:33:11The only thing she had was the courage
00:33:13to survive what you did to her.
00:33:19Order.
00:33:22Order at the point.
00:33:26Submitted, prosecutor.
00:33:46Your Honor, one more piece of evidence.
00:33:50The hotel's echo device was synced to Mr. Kane's account.
00:33:54At 10.14 p.m., it picked up two words,
00:33:56stop and no.
00:34:04The voice print matches Mrs. Reed's.
00:34:07Seconds later, the mic was cut off manually.
00:34:09Mom.
00:34:11Please.
00:34:11No.
00:34:12No.
00:34:13She said no.
00:34:16And he didn't stop.
00:34:19You called it consent.
00:34:21I call it what it is.
00:34:23Because when a woman says no,
00:34:28it's not a maybe.
00:34:29It's a no.
00:34:32Counsel for the defense.
00:34:34Do you offer anything further?
00:34:36Richard, say something.
00:34:38You told me you could fix this.
00:34:39You promised.
00:34:44If, under the theory Mr. Cross expanse is yes.
00:34:47But, Richard, you swore to me my son walks out of this.
00:34:53If anything happens to him, I'll make sure you regret it.
00:34:57Order.
00:35:00Counsel, any new evidence to present?
00:35:03Your Honor, I do.
00:35:05You've got to be kidding me.
00:35:06You have more?
00:35:08If he's still digging, is he trying to get the death penalty or something?
00:35:13Death penalty?
00:35:15No, no.
00:35:15No, do something.
00:35:19After his conviction, Mr. Kane was released on bail,
00:35:22then broke every condition of it.
00:35:24He organized brawls, assaulted multiple people.
00:35:27One victim now faces possible amputation of a hand.
00:35:30This is the hospital's trauma report.
00:35:32This defendant has shown blatant contempt for the law and for public safety.
00:35:35Given the totality, the state moves for the maximum principal sentence.
00:35:38I can't go to prison!
00:35:40I can't!
00:35:40Richard, tell them!
00:35:41It's not about prison anymore.
00:35:44Half an hour ago, he was salvageable.
00:35:46How did you pull this together so fast?
00:35:48Part of being counsel is moving faster than a man who thinks rules don't apply to him.
00:35:53The defense offers no further evidence.
00:35:56The court will now render judgment.
00:35:57All arise.
00:36:02On counts of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, intimidation, and disorderly conduct,
00:36:09multiple counts arising from the same incident, and subsequent conduct,
00:36:13the court finds the defendant guilty as charged.
00:36:18Sentence, 146 years imprisonment.
00:36:23Lifelong revocation of civil right.
00:36:26Proficient of personal assets to satisfy victim restoration.
00:36:30No.
00:36:30This can't be.
00:36:32Dad!
00:36:33Dad, help me!
00:36:34Don't let them!
00:36:34You promised me an acquittal!
00:36:36You told me!
00:36:39And you!
00:36:39This is on you!
00:36:40I swear I will make you pay!
00:36:48Dad, doctor says the grafts are taken beautifully.
00:36:51With rest and therapy, you'll regain full function.
00:36:54Grandpa, do you still feel any pain?
00:36:57Nothing I can't handle.
00:36:59Long as you're safe.
00:37:00Safe, yes.
00:37:02You nearly gave me a heart attack, old man.
00:37:03Next time you pull a stunt like that, I'm charging you emotional damages,
00:37:05and trust me, I bill by the hour.
00:37:07Oh, while you were out, Dad won this huge case for a girl that won against Chase Kane.
00:37:11The bastard got 146 years.
00:37:12Is that true?
00:37:13Every count upheld.
00:37:14He'll spend the rest of his life behind bars.
00:37:17Mr. Cross.
00:37:19Ms. Reed, what a surprise.
00:37:21Please come in quickly.
00:37:22We heard about your father.
00:37:24Manny's Soup.
00:37:25The only thing we still trust more than lawyers.
00:37:28Manny's?
00:37:29Then I'm not dying today.
00:37:31You didn't have to, but thank you.
00:37:34Mr. Cross, I wanted to thank you for everything.
00:37:38You didn't just win a case, you gave me my life back.
00:37:40In this town, people like me, new faces, not for money, it's impossible to be heard.
00:37:46And when you're a woman, and you happen to love women, Hollywood doesn't exactly roll out the red carpet.
00:37:51So if I made things harder for you with the case, I'm sorry.
00:37:54You don't owe me an apology.
00:37:55It's my job to fight for what's right.
00:37:57And as a father and son, I guess I had my own reasons, too.
00:38:01I'll take the soup, go make the town that tried to silence you listen.
00:38:04People say you only defended the rich, that you'd sell justice to whoever paid enough.
00:38:07That was never true.
00:38:08You fight for what's right.
00:38:09Did you just call my dad a good guy?
00:38:11Don't start, kiddo.
00:38:12He just learned sin pays better when you use it for good.
00:38:14Let's not ruin the myth.
00:38:15Most of my career, I've treated cases like strategic investments.
00:38:18Taking a lot of cases, I could win.
00:38:19This is the first one a long time that wasn't about winning.
00:38:22Mr. Ethan Cross?
00:38:25You're under investigation for alleged coerced confession.
00:38:28We need you to come with us.
00:38:32That's impossible.
00:38:33Then it shouldn't take long to clear up.
00:38:37No way!
00:38:38My dad doesn't even jaywalk!
00:38:39Officers, there must be a mistake.
00:38:41Mr. Cross worked my daughter's case.
00:38:43He never took a dollar from us.
00:38:44He's an honest man.
00:38:46Honest men are usually the first to say that.
00:38:51You should have known your stench would show up sooner or later.
00:38:54Always good to see you too, mentor.
00:38:57Shame it's under circumstances like these.
00:38:59Mr. Kane, every firm in Chicago turned us down.
00:39:02No one wants to touch this case.
00:39:03Especially not against Ethan Cross.
00:39:05Ethan Cross!
00:39:06Bastard thinks he can destroy my family?
00:39:09Sir, they all said it's ironclat.
00:39:15Mr. Kane.
00:39:16Leon Richter.
00:39:17You've got a hell of a nerve show on your face here.
00:39:20I come bearing opportunity.
00:39:22The king's only untouchable until he breaks his own crown.
00:39:26And as your former student, I owe you everything.
00:39:28But as a lawyer, I owe the law more.
00:39:31You wouldn't know the law if it served you papers.
00:39:34Believe what you want.
00:39:36The evidence speaks for itself.
00:39:39Call Lydia.
00:39:40Tell her to meet me.
00:39:41Got it.
00:39:44Tell him the truth, son.
00:39:51This can't be happening.
00:39:52Oh, it's happening.
00:39:53Cross coerced a suspect into a confession.
00:39:55Broke every rule in the book.
00:39:57His license is toast.
00:39:57And when his case is reopened, guess who comes down next?
00:40:00You two.
00:40:03They'll rewrite the whole story.
00:40:04The men with the power always do, don't they?
00:40:21I've checked everything.
00:40:24The chain of custody holds.
00:40:26The timestamps don't line up with their story.
00:40:30There's no obvious hole.
00:40:33And yet they've pinned this on you.
00:40:38They came prepared.
00:40:40Leon knows my playbook.
00:40:42Seven years of it.
00:40:43And Warren, he owns half the media in the city.
00:40:46If those two decide to build a narrative, it won't be a messy one.
00:40:49They can't usurp the truth just because they have influence.
00:40:52They know they can't beat you in court, so they manufacture a case to keep you out of court.
00:40:55They set you up like a scam ad.
00:40:57How to ruin a good man in three easy steps.
00:40:59Disgusting.
00:41:00I like the branding.
00:41:02Catchy.
00:41:04Tomorrow's the hearing.
00:41:06Most firms have already been paid off.
00:41:07The ones who aren't, they won't walk into this room against Warren.
00:41:10You're effectively isolated.
00:41:12It's called leverage.
00:41:13You either have it or you don't.
00:41:14Right now, they do.
00:41:16Mr. Cross will find something.
00:41:17There has to be...
00:41:18No!
00:41:19I've spent years walking the line.
00:41:21People I didn't believe in made enemies in every room that mattered.
00:41:24So now, the rich want me erased and the righteous want me punished.
00:41:28Seems balanced, doesn't it?
00:41:30No!
00:41:31Don't you dare turn this into some poetic karma speech.
00:41:35You built your name from nothing.
00:41:36They don't get to write your ending.
00:41:40You know how it goes.
00:41:41A survivor fights a powerful man and the system yawns.
00:41:44The only people who can move the needle are the ones who already sit at the table.
00:41:47People like you.
00:41:48You use that access to shield a witness, to stall a case long enough for the right eyes
00:41:51to see it.
00:41:51It wasn't pretty or clean.
00:41:52But it kept a lot of people from getting swallowed whole.
00:41:56Maybe.
00:41:57Maybe I thought being useful justified the method.
00:42:00Doesn't matter now.
00:42:01The machine's turned on me.
00:42:02No one's gonna volunteer to be the target.
00:42:04Mr. Cross!
00:42:05If I go in locked up, Chase walks.
00:42:07Truth dies in a footnote.
00:42:09There's money in my trust.
00:42:11Take Zoe and my father.
00:42:13Leave Chicago.
00:42:14Start over.
00:42:18You told me what a lawyer is.
00:42:20Someone who makes the law do the hard thing.
00:42:22I'm not leaving.
00:42:23If no one will fight for you, I will.
00:42:25You?
00:42:26You're just an associate.
00:42:28You don't have the bench strength.
00:42:29They'll chew you up.
00:42:30Then let them try.
00:42:38The conviction is vacated.
00:42:40Mr. Cole is exonerated.
00:42:42You're free to go.
00:42:57I'm not leaving.
00:43:07You're free to go.
00:43:28help somebody call 911 help i'm so sorry there was nothing we could do
00:43:44once dubbed the center park cole by media derrick cole was exonerated after 20 years in prison only
00:43:50to be found dead three days later his family is now suing former prosecutor ethan cross for alleged
00:43:55coercion three others have already pled guilty keep moving you stole my son's life give him back his
00:44:09years ethan cross all those rich men you walk now you wreck someone who had nothing how do you sleep
00:44:16cross female jogger center park raped and shot dead witness picked him jacket matches timeline holds we
00:44:25close tonight he was 18 just a kid you threw him in a cage till it killed him
00:44:39stop it don't crucify him just because it's good tv spoken like a true benefary of corruption the
00:44:45public petitioned for a live feed judge granted historic transparency and all that so smile for
00:44:50the cameras counselor your prime time now where are you lydia
00:44:59bailiff bring in the defendant
00:45:05never thought i'd see the day with the devil himself on the other side of the table
00:45:17no way cross got indicted chicago's been rotting for years he was the face of it
00:45:23about damn time man built a career defending monsters now he gets his own cage
00:45:35that son of a
00:45:36a man who stood up for the guy who killed my girl is counsel for the defense present
00:45:45come on lydia please don't do this
00:45:53mr cross i never thought i'd see you on that side of the aisle
00:45:58where's your attorney your honor council should arrive momentarily of course she should
00:46:04lydia was a paralegal two years ago i guess she realized she's out of her depth
00:46:10told you cross finally pushed too far even his team won't touch him word is his assistant begged
00:46:16every firm in chicago to take the case nobody would everyone wants to watch him burn
00:46:23you see that baby girl the devil finally paying for it no counsel no defense guess the great ethan cross
00:46:32finally ran out of loopholes dad stood by lydia all these years no way she ghosted him not now
00:46:43maybe this isn't punishment maybe it's the cost of never pretending to be a saint
00:46:49if defense counsel is not present in 10 seconds the court will proceed without representation 10 9
00:46:569 8 6 5 3 2 1
00:47:13defense counsel lydia hart
00:47:27i'm sorry how many of you are entering appearances for mr cross 23 council your honor and us
00:47:36for derrick that's half the defense bar 23 lawyers what is he the pope and who the hell are those
00:47:42punks
00:47:42please money talks he bought them not him that's professor whitmore in chicago law guy had a gun waved in
00:47:49his face during the anti-racism trials didn't flinch that lawyer there he defended my daughter once why would
00:47:56he stand with cross
00:48:01you brought them not exactly the lawyers given your history with them i didn't call they showed up on
00:48:08their own and those guys derrick's crew they said if this is about derrick they'll be here
00:48:18we appear pro bono by our own motion come on cross has been a wrecking ball you hated each other
00:48:28for
00:48:28years why the sudden halo we didn't come from mr cross we came for the record and for a court
00:48:35that
00:48:35can still tell the difference between a bad reputation and a bad case
00:48:41professor whitmore with all due respect how can you stand up for him ethan cross built his empire
00:48:48of blood money blood money you say you remember the hammond case wait hammond that was 30 years ago
00:48:56the dad who killed the loan shark right yeah borrowed for his kid's surgery the shark assaulted his
00:49:01wife in front of him he snapped stabbed him 22 times case split the city in half but hammond wasn't
00:49:07supposed to win the attacker was unarmed when it happened by the book that's murder and yet a young
00:49:15defense lawyer argued what new york and after gauss fear doesn't end when the fists stop flying the
00:49:22verdict redefined self-defense nationwide and changed the law you're saying that lawyer was cross he was 25
00:49:29the verdict made him a legend and a target he went underground for years after that until the
00:49:33streets were safe enough to come back if that man doesn't count as someone who's fought for justice
00:49:38then what are we even doing here
00:49:42no way cross isn't some crusader your honor when i was a kid we moved every few months
00:49:49i thought he was just restless i didn't know he was hiding from the people who wanted him dead
00:49:54zoe i wanted you to have a normal life i failed your honor mr cross never told his daughter the
00:50:02truth
00:50:02because he believed protecting her meant carrying the danger alone zoe's mom got sick i couldn't afford
00:50:08her care i kept running believing i could outsmart the darkness i was wrong before my mom passes away
00:50:14she always said she never regretted marrying my dad she said he'd fight always even when the world turned
00:50:20its back dad you didn't fight for glory you fought because no one else would mr cross never claimed to
00:50:28be
00:50:28a saint but the man taught an entire generation that the law isn't a weapon for the powerful it's a
00:50:34refuge
00:50:35for the damned justice doesn't forget it just waits for someone brave enough to wake it up again
00:50:47he risked everything for a nobody then does that mean he's innocent oh please that was 30 years ago
00:50:54people change heroes fall the cross sitting there now he's not the man you think he is he's a monster
00:51:00hiding behind old glory change kites both ways mr richter you don't get to weaponize redemption just
00:51:08because you've never had to earn it touching but saving one man 30 years ago doesn't grant you a
00:51:16lifetime pass he's got a point people can rot from the inside out the dragon slayer always turns into
00:51:24the dragon your honor enough theatrics defense council is wasting the court's time sustained keep
00:51:29this relevant counselor if 30 years ago isn't relevant maybe the last 20 are
00:51:41the chicago justive a mentorship network legal aid clinics pro bono defense for veterans inmates
00:51:47refugees 20 years thousands of cases not a dollar in return it's actually founded by mr cross
00:51:58he didn't buy absolution he built access that's what the law was meant to do
00:52:10your honor that organization provides free defense and legal education for those who can't afford either
00:52:16i interned there in law school i thought it was anonymous donors
00:52:24all these years you never said a word wait no way damn
00:52:32my house flooded last winter those justice lawyers took the city to court and won me the payout no way
00:52:39this collective helped me get into law school they even offered me a scholarship those lawyers helped my
00:52:44brother when no one else would pro bono start to finish dad i thought you were just tough i didn't
00:52:51know you were out here building an army your honor this isn't a man hiding from guilt it's a man
00:52:57who
00:52:57spent decades holding the system up while it tried to break him enough of this saneness nonsense
00:53:05he's not here for charity he's here because he finally ran out of people to fool
00:53:14this court runs on evidence not fairy tales you can't rewrite his reputation to wash away what he's
00:53:22done your honor we're ready to call our key witness let's see how righteous mr cross
00:53:31looks when the truth starts talking
00:53:47your honor
00:53:49you monster stole my life
00:53:58your honor this is our witness
00:54:01mrs martha cole
00:54:0320 years ago ethan cross served as a prosecutor in the center park case
00:54:08her son derrick cole was the accused mrs cole
00:54:12please state what you remember before they took him in my boy was fine but after he came out all
00:54:20beat up wouldn't say a word they said he'd confessed my poor baby 20 years behind bars
00:54:28finally cleared his name only to die three days later still covered in scars he was only 18 scored
00:54:37near perfect on his sat's had his whole damn life waiting on him you and those cops you took it
00:54:41all
00:54:41as the witness testified cross coerced a confession this is not justice it's rot and rot must be cut out
00:54:51guess all those good deeds were guilt money after all wait don't jump to conclusions the story's not over
00:55:01your honor the witness testimony establishes mr cross is misconducted clearly there's nothing left
00:55:05for him to rebut made mistakes you heard him he admits it still think there's a defense
00:55:11left his mistake wasn't crossing the line it was trusting the system to hold the line on its own
00:55:16that's a fine lecture professor but this isn't a classroom we don't grade on ideals we rule on
00:55:20proof got any proof that survived two decades of corruption and neglect that's not proof it's an act
00:55:26of god then maybe god should rest your case too your honor i move for immediate sentencing
00:55:33your honor i have new evidence to submit
00:55:54this contains footage from twenty years ago surveillance from the interrogation room we request
00:55:58it be entered into evidence and played for the court that footage came from my own office archives i've
00:56:03reviewed it a hundred times it proves cross shoved that boy case closed then you won't mind everyone
00:56:14seeing it again
00:56:20there that's your hero beating a child
00:56:26pause it there zoom in see the collar it's outside his jacket before the fall and tucked in after
00:56:32that's physically impossible unless the clip's been reversed this video isn't evidence it's been docked
00:56:38played backward to frame him
00:56:44he always wore it that way outside
00:56:49always
00:56:59you don't have to lie tell the truth and i'll make sure they hear it
00:57:03i don't confess they'll come after my family they said my mom's next she sold everything just to keep
00:57:07me in that school she doesn't know how dark it gets up there please mr cross i know what happens
00:57:12to people who fight them i'll take the blame if it keeps her safe
00:57:29no no that can't be it when they brought my boy back to me he was black and blue every
00:57:34inch of him
00:57:35you tell me what really happened to him what did you do to my son
00:57:42your honor the defense calls a new witness mr cole's former cellmate
00:57:51yeah i knew the kid smart polite quiet didn't talk much till one night he broke down
00:57:57said the cops beat him till he couldn't stand
00:58:14i called the whole system dirty said they're all the same but he said there was one guy the
00:58:18prosecutor who didn't touch him said that man told him to tell the truth that man was ethan cross
00:58:25he never told me that he carried it all alone
00:58:33baby mama miss you so much
00:58:42medical in here now
00:58:49so cross didn't lay a hand on him and he took 20 years of blame without
00:58:52leaking so much as a podcast interview guy could have sold his side of the story 10 times over
00:59:00even if he's clean on this one so what he's been practicing for almost 30 years you expect
00:59:05us to believe every other case is spotless
00:59:10is that your theory mr rickster one exoneration by hard evidence
00:59:14and you assume the rest must be evil to balance the books your honor the defense has additional
00:59:19evidence to submit so do i your honor me too
00:59:26no okay okay never mind
00:59:37your honor taken together this body of evidence shows that mr cross did not engage in any of the
00:59:44allegations he practiced aggressively yes but within the bounds of the law
00:59:49by contrast leon richter collude with outside parties to fabricate exhibits
00:59:54and weaponized false accusation to remove a rival that is an adversity that's corruption
01:00:11it's over it's all over order this is still a court of law not a stadium before i render a
01:00:19verdict
01:00:19i'm going to do something i rarely do mr cross you've argued in this courtroom longer than most of my
01:00:25clerks have been alive you closed hundreds of cases for others now it's your turn do you wish to make
01:00:28a
01:00:28statement
01:00:33i do your honor legally i didn't beat derrick cole but i also didn't trust what i felt that day
01:00:39i saw a kid who didn't fit the story we were selling and i buried that instinct under procedure
01:00:45so if there's blame to carry call it this i stayed safe when i should have looked closer i
01:00:49followed the rules and a boy still died that's not guilt by law but it's guilt i'll live with
01:00:56ethan we've both spent our lives believing the system bends toward justice if we just push hard
01:01:01enough but this case this tragedy proves otherwise there are no winners here only wounds that the law
01:01:07can't mend mr cross this court rules on facts not on the weight a man chooses to carry in his
01:01:12own
01:01:12conscience on the allegations of towards confession and professional misconduct this court finds you not
01:01:18guilty you are released from custody effective immediately as for leon richter on the charges of
01:01:26fabricating evidence and obstruction of justice this court finds you guilty your license to practice
01:01:31law is revoked permanently you are sentenced to 12 years in state prison
01:01:39good told you this case was dirty if a guy like cross goes down on a lie who the hell
01:01:43is left to
01:01:43fight the next bully in the line richard got what he was begging for cross didn't bury my girl he
01:01:49was
01:01:49protecting kids like her hell i took it out on the wrong man i don't know how many billable hours
01:01:56just
01:01:56walked out of perfectly good offices to stand here but thank you all of you don't flatter yourself
01:02:05some of us just really hate watching small men blow big holes in the system when i first dug into
01:02:10this
01:02:10the deeper i went the more i found people who were standing because of you in court you never shut
01:02:14up case law precedent latin no one asked for when it was your name on the indictment you barely said
01:02:18a word why because for 20 years i've told juries not to buy stories without evidence if i stood up
01:02:22there and asked for belief without proof of everything they said i was i'd rather let the record talk
01:02:26if you're still wrestling with the ghosts there's a simple cure keep doing the work take the hard cases
01:02:31stand where it's uncomfortable you don't owe this city perfection you owe it effort and the spine not to
01:02:37look away next time i'll see what i can do translation he's already planning his next terrible life
01:02:44choice as long as it involves filing notices of appearance instead of being our rated i'm in
01:02:47i'm still taking on hard cases but from here on out if the line between winning and doing the right
01:02:52thing gets blurry i know which side i'm falling on
01:03:06this leon richter i knew he'd choke mr richter lost the appeal
01:03:14your son's sentence it's not getting overturning
01:03:23what choice do i have
01:03:26idiot dug his own grave nearly took me down with him and cross he walks away from real money just
01:03:33to
01:03:33play hero for people who can't afford him waving his little flag of justice this won't be the end of
01:03:40it cross doesn't know when to quit get word out for people who know things they keep their mouths
01:03:47shut i don't want to leave him a single loose thread yes sir
01:04:00all right everyone happy 55th to mr cross dad happy birthday also congrats on you know surviving and not
01:04:06going to prison i'm too old for surprises you really didn't have to do all this you make it to
01:04:1155
01:04:11the rituals non-negotiable come on cut the cake okay okay mr cross
01:04:23mr cross please please help us
01:04:29mr cross please we need you
01:04:38whoa easy take a breath you don't have to storm the place to talk to me we asked everyone else
01:04:45nobody
01:04:45listened we're not leaving unless you hear us out i watched your hearing online you're the only one who
01:04:52didn't fold when it got ugly yeah he's all we've got you're literally our only shot
01:05:00look if you're asking for his help you have to tell us what's going on
01:05:04if there's something real here mr cross isn't going to walk away
01:05:08you're asking me to take a case fine who are we talking about
01:05:12chicago's richest man warren kane
01:05:17him again his son just got buried under more than a century of time what warren kane do to you
01:05:28you know lower a island resort the private resort top of every impossible to book list
01:05:33i've heard buy-in starts at six figures it's kane media's crown jewel printed his first billion
01:05:40the island it used to be public we grew up playing there then kane bought it put up fences they
01:05:47hired
01:05:47kids from our neighborhood promised them something better yeah promises lies warren didn't just buy the
01:05:53island he killed our friend what what do you mean he killed your friend warren kane's a lot of things
01:06:05chicago's media king ruthless careful he covers his tracks you're accusing him of murder that's not a
01:06:11small jump we're not making this up our friend guinea she got a job at loray then she disappeared
01:06:18a couple weeks later they put out a statement staff illness unexpected passing no body no funeral
01:06:25nothing did you report any of this file anything with the police the d.a
01:06:33we're orphans system kids every time we tried they wrote us off acting out grief behavior they
01:06:40gaslit us we grew up with janine all of us she went out there thinking it would change her life
01:06:47she had no parents to scream for her she only has us if she's watching from anywhere she'd want us
01:06:52to
01:06:52fight so she doesn't disappear twice yeah we're not letting them bury her and call it weather the lawyers
01:06:57costs more than we'll ever see this is everything we say busing tables cleaning rooms it's a joke
01:07:01paid to what you charge but if we have to owe you for the rest of our lives we will
01:07:04just don't walk
01:07:06away easy there kid you came to the right man hey breathe you're not alone in this anymore okay
01:07:21i thought his son was the family disaster turns out the rot goes straight to the top
01:07:26all right i'll walk it into the da's office myself and i'll stand with you every step if what you're
01:07:31saying is true i'll make sure it doesn't die on that island last quarter the resort cleared two
01:07:37billion forecast says we'll double that if bookings hold now that that's worth every senator i had to
01:07:44wine and dine what are you doing here i thought i said you were supposed to stay on the island
01:08:01keep quiet someone's digging into the resort that girl's case guinea they're reopening it oh for christ's
01:08:11sake still those damn kids i told you to clean that up ages ago what can a bunch of street
01:08:17pumpers
01:08:17possibly find it's not the kids this time it's ethan cross he's taken their side cross
01:08:28yes the kids went to him he's feeding evidence to the da's office the inquiry's already open
01:08:33son of a bitch anyone else i'd handle him if he's digging the whole island's gonna blow open
01:08:49we can't let that happen boss what do you want me to do whatever it takes make sure cross never
01:08:57sets
01:08:57his foot near that island you never fail to surprise me mr cross after all this time you can still
01:09:03dig
01:09:03up evidence from a buried case warren kane's family's been untouchable for decades guess it's time karma
01:09:08caught up people like warren always leave traces greed makes sloppy criminals still we need to watch our
01:09:14backs cornered cornered men don't stay rational got it i'll
01:09:36ethan
01:09:41mr kane what's this an ambush appealing your son's sentence or trying to make me serve it for him
01:09:51ethan's still in the spotlight cameras everywhere don't go head to head not yet
01:09:57you've got it wrong mr cross i came to make peace have dinner clear the air my son
01:10:04he made mistakes and paid the price no grudges here chicago should sleep better knowing its richest
01:10:11man is so forgiving but we've got work to do so if you'll excuse us
01:10:21wait let's be honest the resort case it's kids chasing ghosts don't waste your time playing hero
01:10:28as long as i'm involved i'll see it through
01:10:32whether it pays or not
01:10:34it's my job come on you're too smart to fight losing battles my resort is clean cross you could dig
01:10:43for
01:10:44years and find nothing but sand be practical walk away
01:10:49if there's really nothing to hide why so nervous about me looking
01:10:56nervous hardly but you know how it goes big operation too many hands in the pot
01:11:03some of them dirty sure but nothing fatal and those kids hate success they hate what they'll never have i've
01:11:10buried one son already
01:11:13i don't need another war tell you what forget the case let me make it worth your while
01:11:21what's that 40 million 40 percent of everything i own
01:11:29that's generous mr kane but you don't seem to understand i don't negotiate justice
01:11:38we're done here
01:11:44cross don't mistake principle for power you'll lose everything
01:11:49do it exactly as planned yes sir
01:11:54you made your choice cross now you live or die with it
01:12:02mr cross for real you're a legend no one else would touch this case that's because going after
01:12:07warren kane his career suicided the man owns half the city and the cops that guard it but with what
01:12:13we've
01:12:13built we can put these monsters in a cage you have my word we'll push this all the way and
01:12:20get you justice
01:12:21bet we trust you mr cross court's about to roll see you inside go on i'll be right behind you
01:12:30lydia this one's a maze reach out to everyone on that list they've all got pieces we need
01:12:40somebody gave me a lollipop and told me to give you this mister for me
01:12:53the legend himself credit where due you moved your family early smart but this is chicago cross me and
01:13:01you drown here we're minutes from trial you pull this stunt now you're adding kidnapping to your rap
01:13:06sheet if i lose i'm dead anyway you left me no choice
01:13:14zoe word is you and the girl are matched set
01:13:19what do you want warren my boy hurt your people you ruined his life cold move but you dropped the
01:13:26resort
01:13:27case and we call it even nothing happened say no and you can go fishing for your daughter's body
01:13:34really that's your move warren i met creepier guys during freshman orientation
01:13:40shut up dad don't worry about me we're not letting them win i said shut up ethan cross
01:13:45save chicago's lost kids or save your own tick tock
01:13:53warren kane you've been screwing people over for ages time to choke on your own karma you killed our
01:13:59friend you can't vend me your way out of that kids kids no proof no crime i'm a model citizen
01:14:09you should be thanking me my company funds your school you've been hiding behind your money long
01:14:15enough everyone's scared of you but not mr cross he's coming for you old creep cross please that
01:14:21man doesn't move without a seven figure retainer you think he's showing up for free he's not your
01:14:26savior he's your entertainment and with his daughter in my hands he knows better you're lying he gave us
01:14:33his word he will show up then where is he kids if he really cared he'd be here already
01:14:46court starting what if he bailed what if kane scared him off see even you don't believe it heroes
01:14:54don't show up when it costs them everything he's here mr cross came
01:15:13mr cross you really came that bastard tried to turn us against each other
01:15:17you actually dared to show up don't forget about your daughter backing down might buy a moment of
01:15:22peace but if men like you keep walking free then none of us my family this whole city will ever
01:15:29sleep again so this is it you're really picking a fight with me cross the law doesn't retreat mr
01:15:35kane but men like you always think it should bow he's right the law doesn't retreat no matter how rich
01:15:42you are you'll pay for what you did you relax let him grandstand everything from the island's been
01:15:50scrubbed no body no record no proof at worst he'll claim negligence that's manageable
01:15:56you're right he's got nothing let him talk
01:16:01court is now in session mr cross appearing as special counsel for the state you may present your
01:16:07case your honor mr kane chicago's media magnadale and owner of la doray island resort built an empire on
01:16:14luxury and lies behind the marble facade lies exploitation cover-ups and death a 17 year old
01:16:21employee virginia ruiz known to her friends as guinea vanished on his property her disappearance was
01:16:28written off as an accident the company moved on her community never did the state brings forward a
01:16:35charge of criminally negligent homicide the unwaffled death of a minor employee under his company's
01:16:41supervision
01:16:46told you he's bluffing no evidence so he downgrades it to negligence
01:16:53yeah so much for the legend of the closer guess even the devil runs out of tricks
01:17:00mr cross you're accusing my client of corporate homicide that's a stretch even for you not a
01:17:06stretch a 17 year old died while under his company's care that alone demands scrutiny
01:17:12scrutiny isn't guilt mrs ruiz's employment record it includes a signed waiver acknowledging workplace risk
01:17:21and a settlement check accepted by her legal guardian after the incident everything above board the risks her
01:17:27family was compensated there was no crime only tragedy she didn't even have parents no one signed
01:17:35anything for her your honor that waiver and settlement are inconsistent with the facts the document lists
01:17:41a guardian who doesn't exist and the payout came from a shell company under mr kane's name this isn't
01:17:48compensation it's hush money objection speculation resort provides hundreds of jobs millions in tourism the
01:17:56islands a symbol of progress not a crime scene my client's generosity built that place and even
01:18:02after being slandered he's still willing to extend compassion you can't buy your way out of a grave
01:18:09you killed her and think you can tip your way to heaven
01:18:16your honor as you can see the prosecution's witnesses are emotional baseless and reckless
01:18:22they deface my client without evidence such contempt for due condor should not be tolerated
01:18:31you twisted freak
01:18:35enough mr cross unless you have evidence this hearing ends now no proof no case
01:18:48some of us have real businesses to run i really think you cleaned everything up that perfectly
01:18:55your honor the state has new evidence to submit but before that we request to call a witness the
01:19:02forensic structural engineer
01:19:07what the hell does a builder have to do with any of this don't tell me they found keep your
01:19:12cool
01:19:12whatever he's planning it's still theory without
01:19:23based on public blueprints the resort lists no suburbanian level
01:19:27but the on-site inspection revealed inconsistencies so maybe the drawings are outdated that's hardly
01:19:34a crime outdated plans don't explain a power line feeding an area that doesn't exist
01:19:43you look like a dad on vacation trying to dodge family time
01:19:47and you look like someone who's about to get us thrown out of a five-star resort
01:19:50our resort has no underground parking geological limitations the soil is too unstable for any
01:19:56basement structure
01:20:00unstable ground but stable enough for a vip lounge
01:20:05if the resort has no basement then how did mr kane's son describe going there
01:20:12i had a drink in the vip lounge downstairs at laoray after that emily and i went into my hotel
01:20:18room
01:20:18together hey i had a drink in the vip lounge downstairs at laoray
01:20:28this section right here dead space power and drainage converge but no record exists someone
01:20:35deliberately removed the sub level from the official drawings
01:20:40that's ridiculous there's no watch your words
01:20:45your honor we have sworn testimony of a hidden sub-level beneath the resort
01:20:49we request an immediate search of the premises
01:21:04we found her
01:21:10dna confirms the remains belong to jenny ruess
01:21:13cause of death blunt force trauma consistent with a tactical bait on one issued exclusively to the
01:21:19resort's private security she was right under their damn ballroom they partied on her grave
01:21:27no no that's
01:21:31there's no proof i
01:21:34you built your empire on buried kid mr kane
01:21:37the foundation finally cracked
01:21:45you said there was no body you said it was impossible it was until someone dug through concrete
01:21:54your honor the state calls its final witness
01:21:59me and genie grew up together we were like sisters she was really excited about getting this masseuse job at
01:22:06the resort
01:22:07but after she started working there she changed quieter scared
01:22:24that's the last thing she sent me the next morning she was gone
01:22:29this video proves nothing it's blurry anonymous
01:22:33really then you won't mind if we discuss what the police just found at mr kane's mansion
01:22:41what the hell are you talking about
01:22:50mr kane we executed a search warrant on your residence
01:22:54recovered encrypted drives containing videos of minors physical restraints matching injuries on jenny ruez
01:23:00and a guest ledger listing senators ceos and so on
01:23:17you can't do this this is a courtroom not a damn police raid
01:23:24you thought today was about one case one girl the trial was the distraction
01:23:29while you were performing innocence the cops were tearing down your kingdom
01:23:34this isn't just a prosecution mr kane it's an extinction
01:23:38let's see you buy your way out of this monster
01:23:45you think this ends with me you don't know who you're dealing with
01:23:49you'll regret this cross i swear warren kane people and evidence both testify
01:23:59this time you won't outrun justice cross don't you dare gloat you think you've won
01:24:07your daughter's still in my hands if i go down you go down with me save it for the arraignment
01:24:19this hearing is adjourned
01:24:29mr cross police just pinged zoe's phone we've got a location
01:24:40what where is zoe not precise yet but with the trail you flagged we can say it she's on the
01:24:46island
01:24:46it's on the island then we go now
01:24:56zoe mr cross breathe we will find her
01:25:13zoe
01:25:15zoe
01:25:1618th birthday
01:25:19i had the coordinates engraved home she never ever took it off
01:25:26zoe
01:25:26zoe
01:25:27dad sorry
01:25:29this is on me i brought this to our door
01:25:53how did you even find
01:25:55are you hurt zoe look at me are you okay
01:26:00i'm okay they they pulled me out the island kids we've grown up messing around out here
01:26:07we know every trail and heady hole got to zoe before the cops
01:26:14they were pushing me toward a cliff
01:26:17like three more steps then these guys came screaming out of the brush and
01:26:22yeah not my favorite night
01:26:26thank you all of you you saved my daughter
01:26:30call it even you took our fight that put a target on your kid we were always going to show
01:26:36up
01:26:39bet it's like uh what's that sam guy's quote something about how you don't give up on good
01:26:46people there's some good in this world and it's worth fighting for
01:26:53sam weld gabble
01:26:55yes that exactly that
01:26:58figures none of you gen alpha kids have actually seen lord of the rings
01:27:08guardrails fail heroes bleed
01:27:13and sometimes the blade you forged to defend the innocent ends up at your throat
01:27:18but you just reminded me i'm not walking this road alone not now not ever
01:27:27get your hands off me while selling to urban health fantasies how long have you been running a
01:27:32legal prostitution channel i plead not guilty this is a smear mogul warren kane was convicted of
01:27:39running an underage sex trafficking network enabling his influential associates to exploit minors on
01:27:45private resort grounds investigators linked the operation to systematic child sexual abuse cover-ups
01:27:51across multiple states the court imposed the maximum pain sentence to death principal co-conspirators
01:28:04the
01:28:15funny thing about justice it never really ends you win a case lose some sleep and the world just keeps
01:28:22spinning
01:28:29oh sorry didn't know anyone was still using this room
01:28:34wait you're ethan cross the cane case we studied that in ethics i was always wondering did it change
01:28:41anything not the world but maybe a few people who are paying attention and that's how it starts
01:28:52you up next
01:28:55trial tomorrow scared as hell welcome to the job description
01:29:05mr cross what if i mess it up
01:29:10then get back up that's the job
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