January 29, 2003 Transcript
"Vacate the Judgement"

Cameron gets off the elevator at the hospital. He his snagged by Bobbie at the desk before he can walk away.

Bobbie: Dr. Lewis? Zander Smith didn't show up for his appointment with Dr. Gail Baldwin, and I'm supposed to be tracking him down in between doing about eight other things. Do you have any suggestions?

Cameron: Give me a list of the places you've tried.

Bobbie: Ok. She's rescheduled him, but she said that if he doesn't show up this time, (hands him a piece of paper) it's going to become a police matter.

Cameron: Tell her he'll be there.

Alexis arrives at the PCPD.

Scott: Welcome back. How's your daughter?

Alexis: (Taking off her coat) Making excellent progress, thank you.

Scott: Good. Good to hear it. Now, are you back because you're going to handle Jason and Brenda's appeal? Because -- a little piece of advice from me to you -- waste of time.

Alexis: There isn't going to be an appeal.

Scott: Oh. Sonny's not going to give up his girlfriend or that goof Jason without a fight.

Alexis: There isn't going to be an appeal because this farce ends today, and I came back to make sure that happens.

Alexis: You're suppressing exculpatory evidence -- a bloodstained fabric, a new confession.

Scott: Oh, come on. A piece of fabric with some red substance on it -- red dye number 21.

Alexis: A new confession.

Scott: A confession? A whispering shadow out there? For crying out loud, we don't know whether it even exists.

Taggert steps up to them carrying an manila envelope..

Taggert: Really, it's a funny thing about that shadow. You know, the mystery woman knows more about the victim's stab wound than the D.A.

Alexis: Did you put that in your case file?

Taggert: Well, we did now. You see, the mystery woman -- she called the D.A.'s office last night. She told us that she stabbed Alcazar in the stomach before pushing him over the railing. Well, the information about that third stab wound we had sealed to help identify the killer. And, oh, yeah, that -- that little "patch," as you call it? (He shows Alexis the envelope) The forensics report came back, and guess what -- the blood matches Alcazar's D.N.A. (Hands Alexis the envelope)

Scott: Nothing that's going to tie that fabric to the murder, and this so-called evidence is too little too late. And if you don't believe me, meet me in court. You'll hear it from the horse's mouth.

Scotty walks away and Alexis pulls the D.N.A. report out of the envelope.

Luke arrives at his club to find Zander sitting at table arguing with the John. Zander's drug dealer friend John is hassling Zander.

Zander: Look, man, I'm telling you nothing's going on here, there's not a problem. You need to just back off, relax, and realize that nothing is going down, ok? That's what I'm trying to tell you.

John: He was just paying me back the 20 he owed me.

Bartender: Look, I know a drug deal when it's happening in front of me. We don't do that kind of business here. I want you both out, now.

John: You need your eyes checked.

John leaves.

Zander: As far as I can see, you're not a cop or a narc or much of anything, as far as I can tell, so why don't you shut up, back off, and go get me another drink.

Bartender: Let's go.

He grabs Zander and pulls him up off his chair.

Zander: Hey -- get off of me. (They struggle and then Zander pushes the bartender off) I'll leave when I'm good and ready.

Bartender: You're leaving with your friend.

Just as a fight is about to start Luke steps in and holds Zander back.

Luke: Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Chill. (To the bartender) Go back to work, I'll take care of this.

He turns back to Zander.

Luke: What the hell is up here? What are you trying to prove? And who are you trying to prove it to?

Cameron walks in the door without Zander seeing him.

Zander: Is this the part where I'm supposed to share?

Cameron walks up behind Zander.

Cameron: He's trying to prove he doesn't give a damn. He's trying to prove it to his father. That would be me.

Jason and Brenda arrive to court. Dara is already waiting for them at the defense table. Alexis walks up to them. Jason is surprised to see her.

Jason: What -- why are you showing up now?

Alexis: Kristina's making an excellent recovery, and it's possible that I can secure your release.

Jason: Well, Dara wrote up the motion, she can handle it.

Dara: Alexis did do all the prep work for this trial. I appreciate your loyalty, but she's better equipped to argue this motion.

Jason: Well, you know what? Then she can work for Brenda, because I can't really trust her right now, and I don't feel comfortable with you representing me.

Brenda: Can you give us a minute? Just a second?

Alexis: By all means.

Brenda: Come here.

Brenda takes Jason aside.

Jason: She bailed on us in the middle --

Brenda: Yeah, I know -- she had to go take care of her baby. She's back, she's likes to win.

Jason: Well, then she can represent you.

Brenda: Can you do me a favor just this one time?

Jason: Once? "One time"?

Brenda: Can you just do this the way I want to do it? Ok -- no, maybe not this one time, but, please, just say yes, just say ok. This is the right thing to do.

Jason: It's fine. That's it.

Brenda: Really?

Jason: Yeah. That's enough.

Jason walks back to his chair and Brenda follows.

Brenda: Fine.

Bailiff: All rise. This court is now in session, the honorable Judge Hudson presiding.

Judge: You may be seated. (Everyone sits down) Is it your desire to have Alexis Davis reinstated as your legal counsel?

Brenda: Yes, your honor.

Judge: Will the defense table please stand. (Brenda, Jason and Alexis stand) Mr. Jason Morgan and Mrs. Brenda Morgan, you've been found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Luis Alcazar. Does either of the defendants have anything to say before I make the sentence?

Brenda: (Looks at Alexis and then Jason) No.

Jason: (Shakes head) No.

Judge: Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, you've been found guilty by a jury of your peers for murder in the first degree. It is the order of this court that you spend a minimum of 22 years in prison - (gallery murmurs) to a life term in prison.

The gallery murmurs and the judge pounds the gavel.

Judge: I want order in this courtroom. I will have order in this courtroom. If not, I'll clear the courtroom out. Does the defense have a motion?

Alexis: Yes, your honor, a 440 motion.

Scott: (Slams his fist on the desk and stands up) Objection!

Judge: Mr. Baldwin, you'll have your chance. Sit down.

Alexis: Your honor, I move that the court vacate the judgment in this case on the basis of new evidence. This is a deposition by Richard Lansing, who is an officer of the court, to whom a verbal confession was made last night. A confession of guilt incorporating the details of this crime (hands copy of brief to Scott) previously sealed to all but the police. (Passes copies of the brief to the bailiff)

Scott: Your honor, I've seen this so-called evidence. It's circumstantial at best. It's a desperate attempt by someone to derail the judgment of this court!

Judge: I assure you, Mr. Baldwin, this court is not so easily derailed. I will read the report to determine the merit. At this point, I'll call a recess that'll allow me time to peruse this report. (Pounds gavel)

Bailiff: All rise.

Alexis goes back to the desk.

Sonny and Jason look at each other. Then Jason and Courtney look at each other.

Zander: So, what, is this your job now -- trailing me, explaining my life to everyone?

Cameron: Actually, I wasn't really looking for you, Alexander, but since you're here wreaking havoc, as usual, I felt obligated to offer an excuse and an apology.

Zander: You have no right to apologize for me. You know nothing about my life.

Cameron: I know that you missed your counseling appointment, and I know that the next step for you is a lockup facility if you don't get your act together.

Zander: Yep. Yep, and I missed my vitamin this morning, too. And a flu shot when I was in the hospital with a bullet wound and an eye appointment when I was in jail. I missed a lot of things. So did you. So don't show up now and try and start acting like you're a father. You were never really good at it when you had a son. You haven't had a son since Pete died.

Zander walks away.

Luke: Well -(door slams) This day just got a hell of a lot more interesting. Your piercing insights into the human condition don't seem to apply to your own son, huh?

Gia walks into the busy courtroom with some papers for Alexis.

Alexis: Thanks. I didn't get to peek at this. (Looks at the report) This works great. These precedents are great, thank you. (Hands her the report back)

Gia: Is there anything else you need me to do?

Alexis: Yeah. Will you do me a favor? (Hands Gia an envelope) Take these down to Kristina's doctor. He's expecting them.

Gia: No problem.

Alexis: Thanks.

Gia turns around to leave and Carly walks up to Alexis.

Carly: Nice timing. The case takes a turn for the better -- no thanks to you -- and all of a sudden you're back on the job. What did you do, hear we weren't going to lose, after all?

Alexis: My daughter's surgery went very well, thanks for asking.

Carly: Elective surgery, Alexis. You didn't fool anyone. But I'm real glad now that everyone knows you're a hypocrite.

Carly smirks and walks away. The camera switches to Ric and Courtney. Sonny comes up behind Ric.

Ric: Well, the sentencing may have been a formality. I mean, in order for the judge to consider the 440 motion, he has to enter a sentence into record.

Courtney: So -- but if he decides that the evidence is valid, I mean, the judge will declare a mistrial.

Ric: Yeah. That's one option, yeah.

Sonny: (Interrupting) Ok, you know what? I need a moment with Ric.

Courtney: Ok. (Walks away)

Sonny: I'm still trying to wrap my head around why the real killer would choose you to set the record straight. I mean, you've done nothing but jump through hoops of fire to make yourself useful to me. And now, all of a sudden, the evidence to free my best friend and his wife just kind of like jumps right on your lap. This couldn't have been a better time for you, even if you planned it yourself.

Ric: Yeah, you know what? I respect that you've achieved a certain status because you keep your trust very close to you. But maybe, just maybe, the killer used me as the go-between because I don't have an agenda or any ax to grind. I don't know how to make it any clearer -- I did not go looking for this, it came to me. As usual, that doesn't matter. Personally, I don't give a damn anymore.

Ric leaves and Sonny smiles to himself. Jax walks up to him.

Jax: Sonny, if the judge doesn't rule in Brenda's favor, I'm going to take over from there. You do whatever you want with Jason, but I'm going to work through the legal system to get Brenda released.

Sonny: Ok. You know what? Do what -- whatever you have to do, go ahead and do it. I don't -- it doesn't make a difference to me.

Jax: Fine.

Jax walks away.

Bailiff: All rise. The honorable judge Hudson presiding.

Judge: You may be seated. Let the record show that this court is now back in session. Ms. Davis, I have read your report, I'm ready to rule.

Zander arrives at the nurses' station at the hospital just as Gia gets off the elevator with Kristina's medical documents.

Zander: Can you page Dr. Baldwin? I need to reschedule an appointment.

Bobbie: I can't page Dr. Baldwin for that, but I'd be very happy to leave a message in her box.

Zander: Look, this is important.

Bobbie: Look, right now Gail is with another patient, and I'm not going to interrupt her session. But if you want to take a seat, I'm sure you can catch her between appointments. Be my guest.

Zander: Sure, I'll do that. Thanks for all your help.

Zander steps away and Gia walks up to the desk and hands Bobbie the envelope.

Gia: Alexis Davis asked me to drop this off for Dr. Navarro. He's expecting it.

Bobbie: I'll put it in his box.

Gia: Thank you.

Zander walks up behind her.

Zander: That's a step down, isn't it? Crusading almost-lawyer to errand girl?

Gia: Ok, it's obvious that you're mad at the world and you're not going to quit until the world gets mad back, so why don't you just -

Zander: You know how sick I am of psychological insights?

Gia: Well, then stop walking around like you're in desperate need of them. Why don't you deal with what's happening to you instead of taking it out on innocent people.

Luke pours a couple drinks at the bar and listens to Cameron as he speaks.

Cameron: Alexander was smart as a whip, but he refused to apply himself, and we couldn't motivate him. (Luke comes around the bar and they head for a table) He seemed to think that he could do whatever he wanted and nothing bad would ever touch him. (They sit) And if there ever were negative consequences, he'd figure out a way to duck them.

Cameron: As an extreme example, he shot his own brother out of recklessness, but, of course, it was his brother's fault for being in the wrong place. I was a somewhat unforgiving father, so Alexander disappeared just after the funeral. I didn't see him again until I walked into our interrogation room at the police station.

Luke: (Hands Cameron a shot) The first three are on me. Well, here's to paternal imperfection. (They raise glasses) To fathers who make unforgivable mistakes and the sons who have to live with them.

They touch glasses. Luke drinks but Cameron doesn't. He just looks at the glass in his hand.

Luke: You better drink up. You'll get a lot more comfort out of that than following Zander around.

Cameron: I wasn't really looking for comfort.

Luke: He'll come back -- come back to you when he's ready. Or he'll shut you out of his life forever. (Fills up his glass) The choice is his. I speak from cruel experience, doctor. This may shake you up a little, but I never won any fatherhood awards. (Drinks again)

Cameron: How's Laura? (He drinks)

Luke: (Hesitantly) Which one?

Cameron: Whichever one you want to talk about.

Luke: The doctors in London say that her condition is permanent.

He pauses and thinks.

Luke: She's gone so far inside herself that she can't seem to come out. They'd like to help her, but she doesn't seem to want to be helped.

Cameron notices Summer walk in.

Luke: She's not there in any way that I can touch or reach.

Luke sees that Cameron is distracted by something behind him. He turns around to see Summer.

Luke: Hi. (Stands up)

Summer: Hi. You said stop by. If this is a bad time, though, I can --

Cameron: (Standing up) No, no, no, no. I -- I was just leaving.

Cameron finishes off his glass and leaves.

Judge: After review of the newly discovered evidence, particularly the phone call made to the District Attorney last night, I agree that this new evidence be considered exculpatory. And had it been introduced and available at the trial, it would change the outcome. If there are no substantive objections from the District Attorney --

Scott: No, your honor.

Judge: Mr. Jason Morgan and Brenda Barrett Morgan, in the matter of the first-degree murder charge against Luis Alcazar, the court vacates its decision against you. You are released and all charges are dropped. (The gallery starts to clap) You are free to go. This court is adjourned.

Bailiff: All rise.

Brenda and Jason hug as Jax looks on gleefully. Skye dissolves into tears.

Zander and Gia walk toward the lounge.

Zander: He couldn't stand to look at me.

Gia: Your father?

Zander: Yeah. (They sit down) He wanted me gone. So I cooperated for once. I left the town, I left the state, I moved a thousand miles away. He could've gone anywhere in the world and he showed up here so that I wouldn't forget. So I would -- when I saw him, I would always be reminded of what I did to Pete, what I did to him. I killed my family's best and brightest. Future savior of the world -- that's what the town always used to say about him. He was the star of everything. My dad used to say that Pete got all the brains and personality and I got all the trouble. He used to always come up to me after that and say, "Don't listen to dad when he says those things. Ignore him."

Gia: Sounds like he loved you.

Zander: Yeah, he did. And I loved him back, and I killed him. Why can't my dad see that I lost Pete, too? Why is his loss the only one that matters? And my dad -- yeah, he lost his best son. I lost my big brother. (His voice cracks and he tries to hide his emotions with a smile) My best friend in the world's the only person that ever gave a damn about me.

Zander stand up. Gia stands up behind him and touches his arm.