The following scene in this episode is somewhat unique in the LockUp (59'-61') Classic Black and White Crime Drama TV series as it sheds light on the history and motivations of the two main characters: Herb Maris and John Weston.
Setting: Philadelphia Corporate Lawyer Herb Maris enters into Police Lieutenant John Weston's office ... and sits down.
John: (sitting at his desk with a smile) What can I do for you Herb?
Herb: I'd like to talk to you about Duke Joyce.
John: (face suddenly turns sour ... ) Now just a minute Herb. I've checked it out and it all fits tight. Now look! I've stuck my neck out for you time and again and I've had it shoved it back a few times too. I'm not saying we haven't done some good but no thanks on Duke Joyce. The evidence is all there! The DA feels he'll get an indictment, period!
Herb: You got time for a story?
John: No!
Herb: It happened to a rookie patrolman twenty years ago, fresh out of the academy. He'd picked up a man for murder. The evidence was enough for a jury to convict. The man was executed.
John: Just a minute Herb. You're talking about two different cases.
Herb: Three years later, the rookie was a detective. He walked into a building alone to pick up an armed gunman. Though fatally wounded, the gunman confessed to the killing for which an innocent man had been executed. The detective was in no way responsible, but it affected his every move for 20 years. He'd rather quit his job than believe an innocent man might be convicted if he believed he could do something about it. Then worse, this detective met a lawyer.
John: (stands up) Now wait a minute Herb.
Herb: This lawyer had something in his craw too. The feeling that while thousands of dollars were being spent to convict people, not very much money was being spent to prove them innocent. So, the two of them started to work together. They spent long hours on cases, and there was never a buck in it. Any sticking out of their necks, any wasted shoe leather... or sweat... was a cheap price to pay for their inner satisfaction.
John: (picks up his hat and says with a smile) Let's go.
Setting: Philadelphia Corporate Lawyer Herb Maris enters into Police Lieutenant John Weston's office ... and sits down.
John: (sitting at his desk with a smile) What can I do for you Herb?
Herb: I'd like to talk to you about Duke Joyce.
John: (face suddenly turns sour ... ) Now just a minute Herb. I've checked it out and it all fits tight. Now look! I've stuck my neck out for you time and again and I've had it shoved it back a few times too. I'm not saying we haven't done some good but no thanks on Duke Joyce. The evidence is all there! The DA feels he'll get an indictment, period!
Herb: You got time for a story?
John: No!
Herb: It happened to a rookie patrolman twenty years ago, fresh out of the academy. He'd picked up a man for murder. The evidence was enough for a jury to convict. The man was executed.
John: Just a minute Herb. You're talking about two different cases.
Herb: Three years later, the rookie was a detective. He walked into a building alone to pick up an armed gunman. Though fatally wounded, the gunman confessed to the killing for which an innocent man had been executed. The detective was in no way responsible, but it affected his every move for 20 years. He'd rather quit his job than believe an innocent man might be convicted if he believed he could do something about it. Then worse, this detective met a lawyer.
John: (stands up) Now wait a minute Herb.
Herb: This lawyer had something in his craw too. The feeling that while thousands of dollars were being spent to convict people, not very much money was being spent to prove them innocent. So, the two of them started to work together. They spent long hours on cases, and there was never a buck in it. Any sticking out of their necks, any wasted shoe leather... or sweat... was a cheap price to pay for their inner satisfaction.
John: (picks up his hat and says with a smile) Let's go.