L.A. Law (TV Series)

Where There's a Will (1993)

Richard Dysart: Leland McKenzie

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Here in the police custody, Leland McKenzie, an ex-assistant D.A. returns again to see his client Frank Osgood and having some important to make an announcement] 

  Frank Osgood : When the guard said you were here, I thought he was yanking my chain.

  Leland McKenzie : Daniel Morales and I have found a witness. He'll testify that he saw Tice at the murder scene. Not you. The court's re-opening your case.

  Frank Osgood : I told you I was innocent.

  Leland McKenzie : I can't begin to express my regrets.

  Frank Osgood : You know how many time's I've dreamed of getting close enough to you so I could... In the time it would take that guard to walk through the door, I could snap your neck like a chicken bone.

  Leland McKenzie : You won't.

  Frank Osgood : How can you be so sure?

  Leland McKenzie : You're not a killer.

• Leland McKenzie : Well, the judge has thrown out your conviction.

  Frank Osgood : I'm free?

  Leland McKenzie : No, no, unfortunately, the D.A. refuses to drop the indictment.

  Frank Osgood : What is that mean?

  Daniel Morales : You're entitled to a new trial.

  Frank Osgood : How many trials do I have to win?

  Daniel Morales : Tice is dead, Manzo is a career criminal. And the D.A. is not totally convinced. So they offered a deal.

  Leland McKenzie : The D.A. will agree to time served. You could be on the street by tonight.

  Frank Osgood : I'm innocent but you want me to plead guilty?

  Leland McKenzie : That's up to you. You tell the court you're guilty, you walk out the door. Once you're free, you can tell the world the truth. That you're innocent.

  Frank Osgood : For 34 years, I've been telling the truth. I'm not about to start lying now. I'll take the trial.

  [Daniel and Leland will wait. But right now, Frank is sitting in the cell and wait til he's figuring out to take the trial] 

• Daniel Morales : How can you continue to doubt this man's innocence? The murderer confessed and Manzo backed him up.

  D.D.A. Susan Jenkins : They're crooks!

  Leland McKenzie : Well, if they'd been available when I have this case, it never would have gone to trial.

  D.D.A. Susan Jenkins : They were available. You didn't follow through.

  Leland McKenzie : So Frank Osgood should continue to pay the price?

  D.D.A. Susan Jenkins : If we drop the charges, the D.A. could be sued for Osgood's false imprisonment.

  Leland McKenzie : Would the District Attorney's office actually keep an innocent man locked up for fear of a civil suit? Miss Jenkins, as an officer of the court, I ask you to reconsider. Is this the justice you and I sought to obtain? I made a mistake, and Frank Osgood spent nearly half his life in jail. You must fight this because, believe me, it would become your nightmare, too. And I assure you, it will haunt you.

• Daniel Morales : This is only about setting a date.

  Bailiff #2 : All rise.

  [the Honorable Judge Myron Swaybill presiding] 

  Judge Myron Swaybill : Be seated.

  [the people seated] 

  Judge Myron Swaybill : Miss Jenkins, Mr. Morales, I am setting trial in this matter for April 3rd.

  D.D.A. Susan Jenkins : Your Honor, that won't be necessary. The people believe in light of Mr. Osgood's 34 years of incarceration and the difficulty of proving our case, it's no longer in the public's interest to re-try him.

  Judge Myron Swaybill : So ordered.

  [to Frank Osgood] 

  Judge Myron Swaybill : Mr. Osgood, you're a free man. Case dismissed. This court is adjourned.

  [Frank Osgood is now a free man and give thanks to Daniel Morales] 

  Frank Osgood : Thanks, Morales.

  [Leland McKenzie is in shock] 

  Daniel Morales : Congratulations, Frank.

  [Frank Osgood walks over to Leland McKenzie] 

  Frank Osgood : McKenzie.

  [Frank gives a shake hands with Leland McKenzie and thank everything for saving Frank Osgood] 

  Frank Osgood : Thanks.

  [Frank will be escorted by the bailiff and get his clothes change from jail as a free man. Leland give thanks to D.D.A. Susan Jenkins] 

  Leland McKenzie : Thank you. Thank you so much.

  [Leland and Daniel did it. They both laughing] 

• Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Oh, for heaven's sakes. What's wrong with Benny? No bagels, no bear claws.

  Arnie Becker : Blames L.A.'s finest, who have us surrounded.

  Gwen Taylor : Being under surveillance is no picnic, Arnie, but I'm trying to go about my daily routine, so... let's get on with business.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Couldn't put it better myself. First up, everybody's favorite innocent convict: People vs. Osgood.

  Leland McKenzie : Well, the bad news is Philip Tice who confessed to the Holiday murder recently died. On the upside, I have secured an address on the missing witness. Daniel and I plan on paying him a visit.

  Daniel Morales : Assuming the address is current.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Let's hope so, because this could be for Frank Osgood's last chance. Next, People vs. D'Arcy.

  Melina Paros : Anton D'Arcy is a longtime family friend. The grand jury indicted him for arranging his father's murder. I believe he's being framed.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : What do you know the grand jury doesn't?

  Melina Paros : Come on, Douglas, the grand jury would indict a bologna sandwich if the D.A. wanted it.

  Leland McKenzie : Doesn't the D.A. have a confession?

  Melina Paros : Not from our client. The police have another suspect in custody who's been offered a deal. Now he's pointing the finger at Anton to save himself.

  Jonathan Rollins : Because the trial's been expedited, I've been helping Melina. And I'll step in as needed.

  [Leland gives cheers to Jonathan while drinking his glass of orange juice] 

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Keep us posted.

• Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Bancroft vs. Bennett.

  Ann Kelsey : Camille Bancroft, a Shakespeare professor at Stanford is suing her colleague Simon Bennett for unfair competition.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Over Shakespeare?

  Ann Kelsey : Simon Bennett and Camille Bancroft have taught together for years. Not long ago, he published his own book based on their teaching methods.

  Stuart Markowitz : It's a great book: "Shakespeare in Love". Won the Bollingen prize.

  Ann Kelsey : Right, deposition start today, and I was hoping to reach a settlement, but Simon and Camille are like stubborn children. They always have been.

  Leland McKenzie : Do you know them?

  Ann Kelsey : My first year at Stanford, I majored in drama. Over time, I kept in touch with Camille.

  Arnie Becker : Shakespeare's so depressing. I mean, the lovers are always doomed.

  Gwen Taylor : Or dead.

  Melina Paros : That's why they call them tragedies.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : All's well that ends well.

  [Douglas closed his pocket watch that the time is up. The law meeting is adjourned] 

• Leland McKenzie : [Knocking the door]  Hey, Peter.

  Peter Manzo : Yeah?

  [Answering and opening the door in his apartment is the witness, a career criminal Peter Manzo] 

  Peter Manzo : Yeah?

  Leland McKenzie : Mr. Manzo?

  Peter Manzo : Who are you?

  [Handing over their card] 

  Leland McKenzie : We're attorneys. We'd like to ask you a few questions about a client. A man named Frank Osgood.

  Daniel Morales : Is the name familiar?

  Peter Manzo : Could be.

  Daniel Morales : What about the name Felicia Holiday?

  Peter Manzo : What about it?

  Daniel Morales : In 1959, you allegedly told your probation officer you saw someone leaving the scene of Felicia Holiday's murder.

  Peter Manzo : 1959's a long time ago. Maybe I forgot.

  Leland McKenzie : It's possible Frank Osgood has spent the last 34 years wrongly imprisoned. I put him there. If you saw anything that night that supports his innocence, we'd very much like to hear it.

  Peter Manzo : What's in it for me?

  Daniel Morales : You have the power to free an innocent man who's suffered a terrible justice.

  Peter Manzo : And what's in it for me?

  Daniel Morales : You'll be a hero, Mr. Manzo. Get your name in the papers. On TV.

  Peter Manzo : Yeah.

  Daniel Morales : The tabloids would probably even pay you some cash for your story.

  Peter Manzo : Oh, yeah?