Episode 136 scene 5. Press conference in John Fowler's office, room B. Randy has a speed graphic® camera. He tests the flash. Elliot enters. Mr. Sanford, John Fowler, Elliot Carson, Jim Fogarty, Randy, Mitch EC: Oh, I'm sorry. R: Hi. EC: Hello, Randy. How are you? [Elliot and Randy shake hands.] R: Fine. Thank you. I was sorry to hear about your daughter. EC: Thank you. [Fowler enters.] JF: Gentlemen. We're all here. You must be Mr. Sanford? S: Yes. [Shake.] JF: How are you? JF: Well, you were all calling with pretty much the same questions. It seemed a good idea to meet with you all at once. JF: I assume you have been given the routine information from the court that awarded bail, so as far as I'm concerned you can just fire when ready. Yes, sir? M: What's going on, John? I mean, we all know there is no precedent for awarding bail on a capital case. JF: Well, it is due process, Mitch. An appeal was made and it was granted. M: On what grounds? JF: Two. The Harrington boy has no previous criminal record, and there were extenuating circumstances. Frankly, personally, I think that this whole matter is tangential to the case proper. S: Is it? JF: Mr. Sanford. [John Fowler sits. Sanford stands.] S: Let's look at the facts, Mr. Fowler. Bail in a capital case is unprecedented. Yet it is awarded. The amount demanded is in six figures. It is met. And yet you say the whole matter is tangential. I think you'll find the entire Atlantic seaboard in disagreement. And I hope the whole country. We have seen enough legal favoritism based on wealth and position. JF: You may be a bit premature in your judgment. S: Maybe. But that is not the point. We came here to get your version of something that is highly irregular. Frankly, I find you exasperating indirect. Couldn't you be a little less diplomatic? JF: Well, as I understand my job, Mr. Sanford, what I'm being is legal. S: Do you think that if the situation had been reversed and the young Chernak boy had appealed to higher court, he would be now out walking around? JF: Perhaps, if there had been extenuating circumstances. S: There wouldn't have been. Fog: It wasn't so much that they allowed bail but that the figure they set was clearly tailored to a bank account that the average man will never see. M: Come on. Level with us John, was it a power play? JF: I have no way of knowing that. S: Well, what's your guess? JF: I'm not in a guessing mood. S: Well, quite frankly, my paper sent me down here to get your guess. Too bad. [Sanford stands.] S: We'll have catch a train back to Boston. [Sanford retrieves his hat.] S: Thank you, Mr. Fowler, you have been amazingly helpful. [Fowler laughs uncomfortably.] S: Good day, Gentlemen. [Sanford leaves.] JF: Well, have we touched all the bases? Fog: Have we touched any of them? R: Okay. How about a couple of shots, Mr. Fowler. JF: I'm not very photogenic. R: Oh, no, no, no. This won't take a few minutes. My paper needs it, and if I don't get it, I'm out of a job. And you don't want that on your conscience, do you? Okay. Hold it. Good let's get one over here. Fog: You're Elliot Carson, aren't you. EC: Yes. Fog: Jim Fogarty, Hastings Sun. EC: Oh, yes. How do you do? Fog: I covered your trial. I didn't know you were a newspaper man. EC: Well, I have had a little experience, but I still consider myself a neophyte. Fog: Matt Swain thought you were the man to succeed him. You are. EC: Thank you. Fog: I'll say this, (indicating Fowler) He's got his father's charm. EC: . . . And his acumen. Fog: We'll have to talk some time. EC: I'd like that. R: Hold it. Okay, now let's get one serious one over here. JF: I think that's enough, Randy. R: Okay, I'll send you a couple in the mail. R: [To Mitch] Ready? M: And waiting. M: How about a beer, Mr. Fogarty. Mr. Carson. Fog: I'm sorry, I've got to meet a deadline. EC: Some other time. M: All right. See you soon. Fog: Remember me to Matt. EC: All right. I will. [All leave, with the exception of John Fowler and Elliot Carson.] JF: Elliot, you were awfully quiet. EC: So were you. Since when did a press conference start without an opening statement? JF: Well, didn't I follow Robert's rules? EC: You didn't even follow the Marquis of Queensbury's rules. JF: Are you accusing me of hitting below the belt? EC: Let's just say that you presented some very fast foot work. EC: You were also very nice about letting other people voice your opinions for you, so that you don't have to go out on a limb yourself. JF: And as a newspaper man, you object to that? EC: As a man I object to it. EC: If you feel awarding Rodney Harrington bail, is an instance of favoritism, why don't you say so. EC: Why trade an innuendo? JF: Maybe we should define our terms, Elliot. You call it innuendo. I call it discretion. The same discretion that you used in your open letter to the driver that hit Allison. Well, I noticed you were very careful not to do any branding yourself, but you put a red hot iron in the hands of everyone else in town. Maybe I took a page out of your book. [Dramatic music] JF: We both live in glass houses, don't we? [Elliot leaves as the scene ends.] Episode 136, scene 5