American Crime Story (TV Series)

Manna from Heaven (2016)

Nathan Lane: F. Lee Bailey

Quotes 

• F. Lee Bailey : [about Mark Fuhrman]  It's hard to be hated by both sides. It takes a man of certain character.

• F. Lee Bailey : [with Cochran in North Carolina, trying to get an appellate court to release the Fuhrman tapes]  Mr. Cochran, take a good look at where you're standing. We're in the South. Haven't you noticed the smell of mint julep and condescension in the air? Right behind you, there's a statue of a Confederate soldier with a rifle. With all due respect, I don't know if you play as well in Dixie.

• [after learning the Fuhrman tapes mention Peggy York, Judge Ito's wife] 

  Johnnie Cochran : We are in perilous waters. The prosecution can manipulate this situation. Marcia and Chris are in trouble, their case is dying. Suddenly, they get thrown a life preserver, "Peggy" on tape. So, they game it, Ito gets tossed for the conflict, they get a new trial.

  [slams hand down on table] 

  F. Lee Bailey : Jesus, a complete do-over.

  Robert Kardashian : W-Wait a minute, try the case again? We-we can't, we can't live through this again!

  Johnnie Cochran : And they could move the trial back to Santa Monica, get a white jury.

  F. Lee Bailey : And this time, they don't call Fuhrman, the LAPD doesn't get tarnished and the tapes never get played.

  Johnnie Cochran : The scenario is *unthinkable*. We are *this* close to them being admitted!

  [beat] 

  Johnnie Cochran : Does Ito even know yet?

• [Lee Bailey is speaking to the North Carolina court after Johnnie's unsuccessful attempt] 

  F. Lee Bailey : Your Honors, may I state first of all what a pleasure it is to be practicing law once again in the great state of North Carolina. My heart gladdens with the promise of justice when I stand in one of the original 13 colonies. From the great Smokey Mountains to the Pamlico Sound, I know that fair consideration will be offered to all who set foot in a Tar Heel tribunal. As the Bible tells us, "Seek, and ye shall find," and I thank the Lord for helping us to find these terribly troubling tapes.

• [Johnnie and Lee have just read the Fuhrman transcripts in North Carolina] 

  Johnnie Cochran : It's unbelievable. It's horrible.

  F. Lee Bailey : Horrible we can sell. Look, the bastard is nailed. Dead. He directly contradicts the trap I laid when he testified.

  Johnnie Cochran : Lee... it's more than that. It's evil. But this is what black people have always known. And now it's right here.

  [taps on binders] 

  Johnnie Cochran : For everyone to hear.