:20:00
Number four,
the killing was excusable.
:20:04
Where do I fit in
to this rosy picture?
:20:06
I'll tell you where you don't fit in.
You don't fit in any of the first three.
:20:10
Why? Why wouldn't I be legally justified
in killing the man who raped my wife?
:20:14
Time element.
:20:16
If you'd caught him in the act, the
shooting might have been justified...
:20:18
but you didn't catch him in the act,
and you had time to bring the police...
:20:21
and you didn't do that either.
:20:23
You're guilty of murder--
premeditated and with vengeance.
:20:26
That's first-degree murder
in any court of law.
:20:28
- Are you telling me to plead guilty?
- When I advise a cop out, you'll know.
:20:32
- Cop out?
- That's plead guilty and ask for mercy.
:20:34
If you're not telling me to cop out,
what are you telling me to do?
:20:38
I'm not telling you to do anything.
:20:39
I just want you to understand
the letter of the law.
:20:45
- Go on.
- Go on with what?
:20:50
Whatever it is you're getting at.
:20:56
You know, you're very bright,
Lieutenant.
:20:59
Now let's see how really bright
you can be.
:21:06
Well, I'm working at it.
:21:10
All right.
Now, because your wife was raped...
:21:13
you'll have a favorable atmosphere
in the courtroom.
:21:15
The sympathy will be with you
if all the facts are true.
:21:18
What you need is a legal peg so the jury
can hang their sympathy in your behalf.
:21:22
You follow me?
:21:25
What's your legal excuse, Lieutenant?
:21:29
What's your legal excuse
for killing Barney Quill?
:21:35
Not justification?
:21:37
Not justification.
:21:44
Excuse.
:21:48
Just excuse.