January 2, 2003 Transcript
"She's The Best There Is"

Alexis sits in an empty courtroom working on Brenda's case. Gia walks in.

Gia: I've been researching like crazy. I spent hours at the P.C.U. law library. The good news is I found a couple of cases on point. I think they'll help with Brenda's defense.

Alexis: Can I look that over later?

Gia: There was a recent New York Supreme Court case where the defendant was pretty much in the same situation. And I figured, you know, since Scott's been doing a lot of questionable things --

Alexis: Case law isn't going to be able to help Brenda, and you can forget about procedure.

Gia: But Scott's been doing a lot --

Alexis: Gia, there's an eyewitness. A woman named Ida Warren picked Brenda out of a lineup, and no one's been able to shake her story. Now, either I discredit it or Scott gets a conviction, and I can't get anywhere near her because he's got her sequestered and he's jumping through hoops of fire to keep me from getting access.

Gia goes to the PCPD and searches Taggert's desk for Ida's location. She finds it.

After meeting with Jason and Brenda Sonny comes home to find Ric with Carly.

Carly: Will you hear Ric out? He is a lawyer, and what he knows may help Jason. That's what you want, isn't it?

Sonny: What's your idea?

Ric: Well, all of the evidence clearly points to Brenda as Alcazar's killer. Jason's an accessory after the fact at best. He could plead out in exchange for his testimony against Brenda. Now, any good attorney worth his salt can go to the D.A., cut a deal, and get the murder charge against Jason dropped. He'll walk with probation on a lesser offense.

Sonny: So that's your solution? Encourage Jason to testify against his own wife and send her to prison?

Ric: Well, they're represented by two totally separate attorneys, are they not?

Sonny: Brenda's got Alexis Davis. She's the best there is.

Ric: Mm-hmm. So why isn't she representing Jason?

Sonny: Because she hates him. She thinks that, you know -- she blames him for her sister's death.

Ric: Well, Alexis --

Sonny: There's no way she's going to represent him, too.

Ric: Alexis' sole professional interest is going to be the welfare of her client. Now, if you say she's such a great attorney, she's going to turn that case against Jason unless Jason's attorney can find a way to protect him.

Sonny: Well, I hired Thomas Cassidy.

Ric: Well, that's fine. I'm sure he'll tell you the very same thing, so --

Sonny: Yeah.

Ric: But Jason could help himself and possibly even help Brenda if he testifies against her.

Sonny: And how would that work?

Ric: Ahem. All right. If Jason and Brenda are no longer co-defendants, the D.A.'s conspiracy charge falls apart. Look, Brenda can plead temporary insanity. She can plead self-defense. Look, the battered woman's defense has worked very effectively in any number of cases in this jur--

Sonny: Enough. I don't want to hear what -- I -- Brenda and Jason will be tried together and they will be found not guilty. End of story.

Zander, in his new job as errand boy for Ned, waits outside a brownstone with a package. He's surprised to see Faith Rosco come alone with one of her goons. He's even more surprised to discover that Faith is the recipient of his delivery.

Faith: I assume that's for me? From Ned Ashton?

Zander: Yeah. Wait a second. Don't I know you? Yes. You're Rosco's wife.

Faith: My husband is dead, but thank you for your condolences.

Zander: Why would Ned be sending a package to you?

Court is now in session. All the players are there. Ric sits with Sonny and Rosco on the prosecution's side. A.J. and Skye sit in the back of the courtroom. Jason's attorney Thomas Cassidy sits next to Jason at the defendant's table alone with Brenda and Alexis.

Bailiff: All rise.

Everyone stands.

Judge: Call the case.

Bailiff: Be seated.

Judge: Go on.

Bailiff: The state of New York vs. Brenda Barrett Morgan and Jason Morgan, et al. Will counsel please note their appearance for the record?

Thomas: (Standing) Your honor, Thomas Cassidy for the defendant Jason Morgan.

Alexis: (Standing) Alexis Davis representing Brenda Barrett Morgan.

Scott: (Standing) Scott Baldwin for the state.

Judge: Very well. This is an arraignment, and as such, we'll keep the proceedings brief. Will the defendants please rise. Brenda Barrett Morgan and Jason Morgan, you stand accused of murder in the first degree in the death of Luis Alcazar. Brenda Barrett Morgan, how do you plead?

Brenda: Not guilty, your honor.

Judge: Jason Morgan, how do you plead, sir?

Thomas: Your honor, at this moment, Mr. Morgan would request a stay in these proceedings in order to confer with the District Attorney with an eye on negotiating a plea bargain in exchange for his testimony against his wife.

Brenda: What?

Jason: What the hell are you talking about?

Thomas: Your honor, may I have a moment to confer with my client?

Jason: No, no, we don't need a moment. Your honor, this man doesn't speak for me.

Scott: Sure, he does, your honor. Mr. Cassidy is Mr. Morgan's attorney on record.

Jason: Your honor, Mr. Cassidy is fired.

Camera switches to Ric and Sonny.

Ric: Would you like me to intervene? I might be able to salvage this.

Sonny: Do it.

Ric stands up.

Ric: Your honor, my name is Ric Lansing. I'm an attorney. May I approach?

Scott: Your honor, this is a delay tactic. This is an arraignment. Shall we get on with it?

Judge: All I need, Mr. Baldwin, is a plea from the defendant.

Ric: With all due respect, your honor, an arraignment is no less vital or substantial than any other part of the criminal proceeding. To deny Mr. Morgan here due process at this time would be reversible error. Now, you know it and I know it. Mr. Morgan here deserves representation, and I am substituting in as counsel of record. My client enters a plea of not guilty.

Judge: Mr. Morgan, is that your desire to substitute this gentleman in as your attorney?

Thomas: Now, listen, I have been retained to get you out of this, and I've been well compensated for it. Now, there is absolutely no evidence against you. It all points squarely to Ms. Barrett. So just let me do my job.

Jason: Your honor, this man, Ric Lansing, is my attorney. I plead not guilty. I'm innocent. So is my wife.

Zander: Ned has no idea who you are, does he?

Faith: You don't have very much faith in your boss.

Zander: Enough to know that he wouldn't have anything to do with you if he did.

Faith: Well, Ned was the one who came looking for me. He needed an associate with my connections. We're partners.

Zander: No way.

Faith: His idea. Why are you holding a package for me, then?

Zander: Ned hates everything you're about. His girlfriend died because of you people, and as you know -- wait a second. Ned's going after Sonny, isn't he? And he's using you to do it.

Faith: Obviously, you're a very bright man. And bright guys who keep their mouth shut get rich. Bright guys who don't get dead. So how about handing me that package? Thank you. Tell your boss I'll be waiting for his call.

Gia goes to Ida pretending to be an assistant D.A. She tells her she needs to go over testimony.

Judge: The defendants, having duly entered pleas of not guilty, are bound over for trial on the date previously set forth. This court is now in recess.

Judge pounds gavel.

Bailiff: All rise.

Everyone stands up and starts to file out. Sonny turns to Ric.

Sonny: You think you can get Jason acquitted?

Ric: Well, I'd be a fool to make any kind of guarantees, right?

Sonny: Good.

Ric: But I'm confident, yes.

Sonny: Because Jason's like a brother to me. If he goes away, so do you.

Sonny and Carly walk out leaving Ric a little nervous.