Mannix (TV Series)

To Save a Dead Man (1971)

Brooke Bundy: Sister Meg Costello

Photos 

Quotes 

• Sister Meg Costello : [she and Father Vale are sitting in Joe's office, talking to him about the man who visited her before he died]  I told Father Fain that I had to do something. That poor dying man haunts me. He was trying to erase his sin against this other man- an innocent man that he had put in prison. With his last dying breath, he was trying to tell me the man's name.

  Father Vale : What do you think, Joe?

  Joe Mannix : I don't know. It's not going to to be easy to find the man. I mean, I've never talked to a convict who wasn't innocent.

  Sister Meg Costello : Mr. Mannix, Al Murphy was a dying man. He was pleading his guilt before God. He was saying that he had sinned, that he had borne false witness.

  Joe Mannix : I understand, Sister. I was only trying to warn you. The odds against finding that particular innocent man are a little frightening.

  Sister Meg Costello : But you will try?

  Joe Mannix : Uh, please don't expect a miracle.

  Father Vale : Joe, we're always expecting miracles. That's our bag.

  Joe Mannix : Yeah. You proved that on a golf course.

• Lyle Grandt : As a matter of fact, Sister, I remember Mr. Murphy very well.

  Sister Meg Costello : Then his testimony at the Kilgore trial was a decisive factor?

  Lyle Grandt : No. I'm sorry.

  Joe Mannix : What convinced you that Kilgore was guilty, Mr. Grandt?

  Lyle Grandt : Well, my client himself. He made a full confession to the police and refused to retract a word of it. I took all the delays I could reasonably ask of the court, hoping he'd change his mind, but he didn't. Believe me, it was a battle all the way. Even to convince him that he had to make an initial plea of innocence so that we could see the prosecution's case.

  Sister Meg Costello : Are you saying that you had doubts about Mr. Kilgore's confession?

  Lyle Grandt : No, Sister. I believed it. But an attorney has a special obligation to a client. Not to turn the guilty loose on society, but to be certain that the person standing trial has every opportunity to present mitigating circumstances.

  Joe Mannix : In other words, you were hoping that during the prosecution's presentation, something would want to make Kilgore fight for his life?

  Lyle Grandt : Yes, I was. However, that wasn't to be. Poor Kilgore. Imagine his temptation. Not only was Alyce Taggart a devastatingly beautiful woman, she was the wife of the world's wealthiest enigma - C.W. Taggart, man or myth? Kilgore's love affair was... a secret within a mystery. The danger alone... exciting.

  [sighs] 

  Lyle Grandt : I'm really sorry, Sister.

  Sister Meg Costello : That's all right. I... I think I understand.

  Lyle Grandt : Well, it comes down to this. Kilgore went into his trial wanting the gas chamber. At least I was able to talk him out of that.

  Joe Mannix : Well, I guess that about covers it. You agree, Sister?

  Sister Meg Costello : Yes, I suppose so.

  Joe Mannix : Thank you for your time, Mr. Grandt.

  Lyle Grandt : Not at all.

  Sister Meg Costello : Yes. You've been most considerate.

  Lyle Grandt : My pleasure.