LOG LINE: A mob boss’s vengeance is a U.S. Attorney’s worst nightmare when the Attorney discovers his wife has been murdered and he has been brilliantly framed.
SYNOPSIS: On behalf of incarcerated mob boss, SALVO DeMATO, his soldiers have been scouring Las Vegas for a WOMAN in a photo. FRANK MILLER put DeMato in prison and as a result is now Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Twelve months later Miller and assistants SUZANNE and DAVID lose a high profile case. Miller’s furious. He cuts a meeting short to take a call from an INFORMANT, who insists they meet that day because he has something big for Miller. Suzanne fields an angry call from Miller’s wife, ANNA, and reports it to Miller. He rushes home to find his wife brutally murdered. When POLICE arrive to investigate, they find many clues pointing at… Miller!
Months later: In the thick of Miller’s murder trial, his lawyers GRISWOLD and ROBERTSON desperately try to prove that Miller was framed. A key witness, elderly neighbor JANKOWICZ, ID’s Miller as having come home at 2pm the day of the murder, eliminating any possible alibi. A flashback shows Vinnie and another mob soldier PAULI perpetrate the crime. They bring the look-alike woman to Miller’s house, kill her, and plant unreafutable evidence. Miller’s housekeeper, SVETLANA, reluctantly testifies concerning arguments she overheard over the phone between Miller and Anna. Hotel clerk JOHN REILLY testifies that Anna came to the hotel several months before her murder, and also that he saw Miller at the hotel arguing with Anna. Miller points out inconsistencies and his lawyers try to object, discredit, offer doubts, and otherwise mount a defense, but at every turn it seems like there’s no evidence to back his claim.
A flashback reveals Jankowicz agreeing to cooperate with the mob in exchange for his life, which includes relocating to Miller’s neighborhoods. The local MEDIA covers the trial, and an EX-GIRLFRIEND reports that she broke up with Miller because she was afraid of his temper. Miller begs his lawyers to dig up some evidence to support his innocence. Flashback: At their wedding, Miller’s AUNT, who is married to a senator, warns him that Anna’s trouble.
WAINWRIGHT (the prosecution), who married Miller’s ex-wife on the rebound, delivers his closing statements, which cite all the overwhelming evidence against Miller, and addresses Miller’s good deeds as a prosecutor – but admonishes the jury to treat him like anyone else in the eyes of the law. GRISWOLD delivers a heartfelt, passionate, closing statement basically admitting they don’t have evidence to back up the conspiracy, and urges the jury to vote not guilty if there’s a shred of doubt in their hearts. The jury finds Miller guilty. In prison, the PRISONERS and DeMato rejoice.
Twelve months later: A WOMAN in a veiled hat pays Miller a visit in prison. Miller has deteriorated and looks haggard. She explains all the details of how he was framed for the murder – and also introduces herself as Salvo DeMato’s niece. She rubs his face in each detail one by one as she reveals how all the evidence has been meticulously erased… the body’s cremated and other evidence defiled, etc. Miller panics as she leaves and begs a GUARD to hold her there. Miller’s dragged off kicking and screaming.
One month later, a Guard approaches DeMato’s jail cell with the evening paper. An article catches his attention about an FBI MANHUNT preparing to look for the missing daughter of a Texas Oil Baron, who was the slain victim. DeMato panics, yet receives reassurance from the Guard that everything will be taken care of.