LOS ANGELES COURTHOUSE - DAY

Amanda and Alex sit tentatively before Cameron, who is disconcerted with the task of preparing Amanda for the rapidly approaching opening arguments.

"Amanda, you definitely need a public profile." Cameron says monotonously, worried. "I think I can get my friend Brody to spotlight you in Flair Magazine."

"Really?" Amanda says, followed by the same eerie silence.

"God, I feel so unprepared," Cameron thinks to himself, concerned at the haste of representing Amanda. The only thing pushing him forward is the innocent, desperate look that Amanda has painted across her face.an expression that clearly expresses her loss of faith.

"I'm terrified," Amanda says suddenly, breaking the silence. "I'm scared to death and I have this awful feeling."

"Amanda, don't talk like that!" Alex says, his heart almost at shattering point.

"Alex is right," Cameron affirms, "You have to have a positive outlook on this situation or you're finished. Just remembr that you didn't murder anyone! It was an accident ... say it over and over and over again!"

Amanda hesitates, then obliges. "It was just an accident. I didn't mean to kill her!"

The aggravation in Cameron's eyes nearly jump out and smack Amanda.

"No! You didn't kill anybody. You accidentally pushed her and that ... the accident killed her, not you!"

Alex steps in. "Relax Cameron. She's under a lot of stress."

"I know. But you both need to know right now that if you want me to win, I'm gonna have to play rough! I'm going to be mean and I'll do whatever it takes to get you off. I'll pull out all my cards!"

Amanda gets a nervous look in her eye, as does Alex.

"What do you mean pull out all your cards?" Alex questions.

"We'll worry about that when and if we have to," Cameron says. "Hopefully, we won't have to."

ROLL OPENING CREDITS, "Say My Name" Destiny's Child

Starring:

Nicholas Brendon as Alex Harrison

Jonathon Taylor Thomas as Taylor Brookdale

Jennifer Love Hewitt as Lyndsay Schofield

Britney Spears as Candice Rogers

Gillian Anderson as Kortni Hope

Christina Aguilera as Amanda Friedman

Also in this Episode:

Sarah Michelle Gellar as Brandi Vandal

CANDICE’S DORM ROOM - DAY

Candice’s frustration and burden thrust her from the couch, and send her into a repetitive pacing.

Her thoughts are cluttered and desperate.

"I can’t believe what’s happening to me. I’m losing Alex...I’m losing him to my secrets...to my past. He’s in this horrible situation and I know he needs be but I can’t help but be selfish and want, want, want!"

Candice sits down again, burying her face in to her hands.

"And now, anyone might have discovered my secret. Alex lost the envelope in the car accident...it could be in anyone’s hands. If anyone finds out about...about what I’ve done..."

She stands up and starts pacing again.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY COURT ROOM - DAY

Lyndsay and Taylor sit side by side in the courtroom, holding hands, waiting for this mess of a trial to commence. Amanda and Cameron sit at a table a few rows in front of them. At a table adjacent to them, Lauren Shaffer, the District Attorney, sits poised with her colleague, calm and seemingly relaxed.

Lyndsay and Taylor are silent, as Alex finds a seat next to them and sits down. They are patient, until the anxiety dwelling in Lyndsay’s heart jumps from her throat.

"Where’s the Judge? Shouldn’t it have started by now?"

"I don’t know." Taylor says. "It probably won’t be much longer."

Lyndsay sighs, "God, what could they possibly be doing?"

Taylor looks at Lyndsay. "What’s you’re hurry? I thought you said you had changed your mind in wanting to get revenge against Amanda."

"I did," Lyndsay says, frustrated, "And that’s exactly it...I feel like we shouldn’t even be here, so I want to get it over with as soon as possible."

Taylor understands. From experience, he knows what Lyndsay is feeling almost exactly. Alex frowns, disconcerted.

The bailiff interrupts the conversation. "Please rise...Judge Stephen Hawthorne presiding."

The judge walks into the courtroom, takes a seat at his podium, then professionally exclaims, "You may be seated. Defendant has submitted a not guilty by reason of self-defense plea. Will the defense please give their opening arguments?"

Cameron takes a deep breath, then looks at Amanda and gives her a wink. He stands up and walks up to the jury.

"Good morning ... ladies and gentlemen. In a moment, the district attorney is going to stand up here and tell you that my client is a murderer. I would like to put that notion to rest before it is even said. My client, is no murderer ... Friedman is a survivor. For her, this would be a situation of kill or be killed. I'm going to show you that my client saw the lives of her friends in jeopardy and she did what she had to do to save them. However, in the process her own life was put at risk and she did what she had to do to save her own life! Amanda did what anyone of you would have done in a similar situation. She defended herself ... plain and simple. It's God's honest truth ... and I promise you that I'll prove it."

Cameron takes a seat. Lauren stands up. She is strong, cunning, powerful...almost vicious. She wants a guilty verdict, and she will do anything to get it.

Without hesitation, Lauren begins her opening argument. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to try a 19 year old girl for murder..." Lauren’s eyes burn into the jurors, "Murder. Don’t forget that word. As a result of Amanda’s reckless actions, an innocent girl is dead. Dead. Now, the defense may argue that it was in self-defense, that it all happened in the heat of the moment and Ms. Friedman didn’t know what she was doing. Tell me, ladies and gentlemen, how much control does it take to use both of your hands, and willingly and forcefully shove someone off the edge of a boat? Despite what the defense may argue here, what we are dealing with is a vicious, cruel, murder."

The courtroom is alive with controversy. The judge does not hesitate to pound his mallet repeatedly onto his slab. "ORDER! ORDER!"

Lauren sits down. The judge looks at her. "Will the prosecution please call their first witness?"

Lauren rises. "The prosecution would like to call Lyndsay Schofield to the stand."

ROLL CLOSING CREDITS

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