Chad Todhunter: Eddie Chessler

Quotes 

• A.D.A. Richard Bay : You try to agitate me, Ellenor. Why can't you just admit it?

  Ellenor Frutt : This is a case we should plead out, but you personalize everything because you need to beat me, so...

  A.D.A. Richard Bay : Your client, committed a murder. D.A.s should take that personally.

  Ellenor Frutt : Oh, go away.

  A.D.A. Richard Bay : Can I ask you something, Ellenor?

  [Ellenor turned back to Mr. Bay] 

  A.D.A. Richard Bay : Your guy picked up a board and clubbed an 8-year old to death. Does that even bother you? Or - Or what if you win and put the 17 going on 12 killer back out there. That thought didn't even give you a twinge?

  Ellenor Frutt : First of all, he said he didn't do it.

  A.D.A. Richard Bay : Oh, well, I didn't know that. Let's dismiss, then.

  [But guess who's here] 

  Eddie Chessler : Ms. Frutt? My name's Eddie Chessler. I'm kind of a friend of Darryl's.

  Ellenor Frutt : And?

  [Eddie is looking. Mr. Bay hears from Eddie Chessler] 

  Ellenor Frutt : What can I do for you?

  [They're going to talk about it in private] 

  Eddie Chessler : Darryl didn't kill that kid.

  [Ellenor is pause] 

  Eddie Chessler : Can we, like, go someplace, talk?

• Eddie Chessler : This kid Kenny -- Kenny Sutton -- he lives in the neighborhood, and he's trouble. I think he killed the boy.

  Ellenor Frutt : Why?

  Eddie Chessler : I was on my way over to meet him at that old house. We kind of use it as a place to hang since no one lives there anymore. I heard a scream from outside as I was on my way up. Then I seen Darryl come up, he goes in. Then I seen Kenny come out. I think Kenny killed that boy before Darryl went in.

  Ellenor Frutt : Why didn't you tell this to the police?

  Eddie Chessler : 'Cause I got to love in that neighborhood. You ever spent any time in Charleston? There's a code.

  Ellenor Frutt : Well, why come forward now?

  Eddie Chessler : Well, I guess because I also got to live with myself.

  Ellenor Frutt : [Ellenor was confused]  Are you prepared to testify to this?

  Eddie Chessler : If I have to.

  Ellenor Frutt : Eddie, you wouldn't happened to have a grudge against this Kenny Sutton kid, would you?

  Eddie Chessler : Hey, I'm just telling you what happened. All right? Now, do you want my help or not?

  [Ellenor will figure it out] 

• [Opening the door is Ellenor Frutt] 

  Ellenor Frutt : Okay, tomorrow morning you're up first. Are you ready?

  Eddie Chessler : Ready. I should just stick with the same story I told you, right?

  Ellenor Frutt : Which is the truth, right? You heard the boy scream before Darryl went in, and then you saw that Kenny kid come out?

  Eddie Chessler : Got it.

  Ellenor Frutt : Never mind "got it." Is that what happened or not? Look, I can only put you on the stand if what you testified to is the truth.

  Eddie Chessler : So what if I just tell you it's the truth? You don't know otherwise for a fact, and you got no case without me.

  Ellenor Frutt : This isn't a game, Eddie. The rest of Darryl's life is on the line here.

  Eddie Chessler : Which is why I'm here.

  [Ellenor was shock] 

  Ellenor Frutt : What happened? Tell me.

  Eddie Chessler : It all happened, Ms. Frutt. Darryl went in the house, Kenny went in the house, the boy screamed. I just changed the orders of things.

  [A.D.A. Richard Bay arrived and heard this] 

  Eddie Chessler : Just put me up there.

  Ellenor Frutt : You are not taking the stand. Go. Just get lost.

  Eddie Chessler : What about Darryl?

  Ellenor Frutt : You have not helped Darryl, Eddie. Now get out of here. You're not testifying.

  [Eddie Chessler is leaving. Mr. Bay heard about from Ms. Frutt talking with Eddie Chessler]