Episode Report Card Kim: C+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Pilot
By Kim | Season 1 | Episode 1 | Aired on 09.27.2003
Riley talks to Larry, brother of the defendant in the rape/murder case. And he's not just Sam's brother; he's Sam's identical twin brother. Wow, I wonder if that will be relevant later. Larry insists that Sam is innocent. Sam says that he did it, and provides a pretty detailed explanation of how he accomplished it, albeit in a very Lenny-from- Of-Mice- and-Men fashion. Larry insists that Sam doesn't know what he's talking about, and that Sam always tells exactly the same story about all women. Sam's alibi is that he was home with Larry, watching the Redskins play the Eagles. Riley asks Sam whether that's true. Sam looks at his brother and then nods. Riley speaks to Larry privately and explains that he's not a credible witness, and that the evidence is stacked against them. Larry asks about that, and Riley says that Sam's confession, plus the neighbor's testimony that he was always hanging around the victim's apartment, won't help. Larry asks about a DNA test. Riley doesn't like them, because once it's done, they can't undo it if they don't like the results. ["Huh? Don't investigators do DNA tests as a matter of course? And if Sam had been arrested, wouldn't the prosecution have supoenaed his DNA already? Have C.S.I. and Law & Order lied to me?" -- Wing Chun] Larry wants one anyway, because Sam won't make it in jail. Riley agrees to order a DNA test in the morning.
Jack meets with the Nigerian ambassador. Jack insists that Chinyere will be executed if she is forced to return to Nigeria. The ambassador disagrees, because Nigeria is one of the oldest democracies in Africa. Jack says that, even so, "women are routinely executed in a barbaric fashion for questionable offenses." Hey, you know how to get on someone's good side and win favors? Insult his country! Good one, Jack. The ambassador says that no one in the U.S. can judge another country's methods of execution. Point to the ambassador. Jack spouts some legal mumbo jumbo about what he'll do. You all don't expect me to look that up, do you? The ambassador says that Chinyere isn't eligible for asylum since she's an illegal immigrant and a convicted felon. Jack says that Chinyere isn't a felon. The ambassador has her conviction papers. Jack says the conviction was obtained without due process and by the government that is persecuting her. The ambassador points out that Nigeria is not on the U.N.'s list of oppressive regimes. Jack disagrees, as he gathers his things to leave. The ambassador tells Jack to give his best to the Senator. Jack looks back sharply.