Murder One quotes

Teddy Hoffman

Do you think anyone in this bar believes you've got a full head of hair? We all know that's a comb-over. But till you get so obnoxious you forfeit your right to civil treatment, no one here points it out. Think of the trial system like that. We know accused people aren't always innocent. Maybe not even usually innocent.

Yeah, now start to twist things around.

Teddy Hoffman

And even though we know that, we treat people like they're innocent till they've had their shot in court. It makes us better people, it civilizes us to treat them that way. Civility is important. That's why no one in here called you a self-deceiving fool till you opened your drunken mouth.

Arnold Spivak

They won't be forgetting the name Arnold Spivak up there any time soon. I was awesome, and a lot more spontaneous than I had planned.

Annie Hoffman

I'm not naive, Teddy. But a case like this one, with all the theatrics and media hoopla, it's not about getting the truth. It's show business. Crime as entertainment. Everybody's a celebrity: lawyer, witness, jurors.

Teddy Hoffman

[looking around Dr. Lester's office] My God, the continent tilts. Every quack with a diploma rolls out here and gets an ocean view.

On the off chance that you are myopic, Mr. Hoffman, let me acquaint you with my wall hangings. I'm board certified by both the American Colleges of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry. I am a teaching clinical professor at the University of ...

Teddy Hoffman

And I can name five popes who killed people.

[to Teddy] When you look back, do you think you're going to be proud of what you did in that court? Making yourself a little richer by helping this kind of man get away with what he did and calling it justice? There was a time when you were judged by the way you lived and not by the words you could string together.

Teddy Hoffman

Make Richard pay, but don't destroy yourself in the process. Siegalstein, he'll turn you into a circus act.

Francesca Cross

Turn me into one? That's what I am.

Teddy Hoffman

[asking Francesca to change lawyers] I can give you a list with twenty names of honorable people.

Francesca Cross

Without limits?

Teddy Hoffman

Honorable without limits? That's a shorter list.

Teddy Hoffman

This town is like a bucket of crabs. You make it to the top of the pile, there's somebody underneath trying to pull you down.

Richard Cross

You know, Teddy, in a life not short on mistakes, one I promised myself I would never make was getting involved in the picture business.

Arnold Spivak

He acted in self-defense.

Why did he run?

Arnold Spivak

He panicked. He was a kid alone in a strange city.

He remained in a state of panic for 17 years?

Teddy Hoffman

Doctor, a note for you. Under 'symptoms' for Julie Costello, put the name Graham Lester.

Ignore him.

Teddy Hoffman

No, pay very close attention. You allow him access and you threaten not only her emotional well-being, but very likely her life.

But he's her primary physician.

Teddy Hoffman

He's her enemy.

Teddy Hoffman

I'll make this real simple, Neil. I am your only friend. Anything you say to anyone else can be used against you in court. For your own sake you trust me, and me alone. Until we're past this, you consider everyone else an enemy.

Teddy Hoffman

Who told you the results of our jury survey?

You know I can't answer that.

Teddy Hoffman

If I've got a traitor working for me, I'd like to know.

And speaking hypothetically, what do I get in return?

Teddy Hoffman

I'd say the pleasure of knowing you did the right thing, but I know better.

Teddy Hoffman

This case needs your honesty, Miriam.

Miriam Grasso

Blow any more smoke up my bustle and you'll set the sprinklers off.

Teddy Hoffman

Listen to me, Neil. There's a perception in your business that any ink is good ink. That's not the case in a murder trial. We're at war for the hearts and minds of the jury.