Where were you in 1992? I was a freshman in college in San Francisco. The previous fall had brought the Oakland
fires. A different dark cloud surfaced
in the wake of the acquittal of the four LAPD officers accused of beating
Rodney King in April. The riots killed
fifty five people and injured nearly two thousand and billion dollars damaged
property over a six day period, which only stopped by bringing in the National
Guard and Marines. The LA riots didn’t
spread north to San Francisco but the discontent and fear certainly did. King’s famous question, “Why can’t we get
along?” resonated with ugly truth of institionalized racism that persists
today.
The opening moments of The People vs. OJ ran the real
footage Rodney King beating and the South Central riots. This was still the era when journalists
covered the news the recording of police brutality was extremely rare. The feeling of unease starts the rollercoaster
of narrative and depiction of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron
Goldman on the night of June 13th, 1994.
Flash forward two years to as neighborhood far from the
social and racial unrest of South Central. A white limo waits for his customer. O.J. approaches the car with several items of
luggage. He mutters apologies to the driver claiming, “I over-slept and had to
take a shower.” The driver apologizes for being a little “star-struck.” O.J.
tells him about the first celebrity he ever met, Giant’s baseball great Willie
Mayes. O.J. is headed to the airport to catch a plane to Chicago.
A man walks his dog in the posh Brentwood neighborhood. He encounters a second dog that approaches
him with bloody paws. The man follows
the dog until he finds a trail of blood and the body of a woman lying in front
of her walkway. Moments later, police
arrive to survey the crime scene. They
enter the house and find disturbing clues, candles are burning, ice cream has
melted in a bowl, the bathtub is still full of water and two children are
asleep in their beds. The cops notice
the pictures on the wall of O.J. Simpson and his family. They identify the female victim as his
ex-wife, Nicole Brown-Simpson. As soon
as the celebrity has been linked to the crime, the initial processing seems to
take a different turn. Several investigators
note they know and like O.J. and this case will be high profile. The frenzy that will culminate in the “trial
of the century” has begun.
Detective Mark Fuhrman meets with the uniformed officers and
surveys the scene. They have discovered two bodies, one glove an envelope and
bloody footprints. The detective looks
inside and notes it doesn’t appear to be a robbery. The case is moved to another precinct and
Detective Fuhrman offers to inform O.J. of his wife’s death personally as the
two are acquaintances. The detective
approaches O.J.’s house, the lights are one but not one is answering. A white Ford Bronco sits out in front of the
house with blood visible on near the driver’s side handle and inside. Fuhrman climbs over the gate and other
detectives follow and knock on the home’s front door. A larger then life bronze statue of O.J.
stares down at the detectives in the front yard.
O.J.’s spacy houseguest, Kato Kaelin, answers the door. The
blonde surfer dude tells detectives he’s “Not an official person, I just kind
of live back here.” Eventually he reveals O.J. had caught a flight to Chicago. Detective Tom Lange calls the O’Hare airport
and intercepts Mr. Simpson. He informs
him of Nicole’s death and Simpson replies, “Oh my God, is she dead?” The other detectives grill Kato who states he
heard some “large bangs.” He leads the
men towards the side of the mansion. In
Chicago, O.J. tells Det. Lange he’ll fly back to L.A. first thing in the
morning. He’s seen half naked, alone in
his hotel room crying.
Lange relates his conversation to the other detectives,
noting, “He didn’t ask how she died.” (Odd, but maybe due to shock.) Mark Fuhrman
finds a glove on the ground where Kato had led the men. Fuhrman notes, “This is a crime scene.” This is the first connection between O.J. and
the murders in Brentwood.
The next morning, prosecutor Marsha Clark struggles with her
two young children before school. She
receives a phone call asking her opinion on a double homicide involving the
ex-wife of O.J. Simpson. She doesn’t
know Mr. Simpson, as she is not a football fan. They inform her blood was found at Simpson’s
home and the crime scene. Clark asks
what they were doing at Simpson’s home, and is told they were attempting to
inform him of his ex’s murder. She
decides they need to “Go and get him.”
The crime lab technicians process the scene. The bodies of Nicole and Ron remain on the
premises. The answering machine records
a message from the couple’s daughter; she leaves a heartbreaking message asking
her mother, “Where are you, call me!” The
kids have obviously not been informed of their mother’s death. The media trucks swarm the streets near the
house.
Marsha Clark(Sarah Paulsen) arrives at the prosecutor’s office. She is flustered by a baby shower she was
supposed to be hosting that day and cancels the engagement. It appears she doesn’t have time for a social
life. She reviews the time line leading
up to the murders, speculating the murders happened between ten and
eleven. Ron Goldman has been identified
as a “friend” who worked at a local restaurant.
He went to Nicole’s house to return a pair of glasses let at the venue
by Nicole’s mother. It is speculated
that Ron may have been more then a friend.
Marsha looks at the black and white crime scene photos. Nicole was stabbed so viscously she was
nearly decapitated. The men in the room
don’t believe O.J. could have committed such a heinous crime; after all, they
had played golf with the man!
Clark notes that O.J. had a history of domestic abuse against
Nicole but was never served time in what she deems as the “celebrity treatment.” A colleague notes instead of performing
community service, O.J. raised money for the Ronald McDonald House.
At O.J.’s house, Robert Kardashian (David Swimmer appearing
in “olive face”?!) arrives stating he’s a lawyer and a long time friend of the
former football star. He shakes his head in disbelief regarding the news and
states his ex-wife Kris was supposed to meet Nicole for lunch that very day. O.J. returns to his home, swarmed by
reporters. Immediately agitated he asks
investigators, “What’s going on?” They
tell him about finding a “trail of blood.” Paparazzi film the exchange through the bushes.
The detectives handcuff him momentarily
until his lawyer Howard protests and the cuffs are removed. They ask him to come downtown to answer some
questions. O.J. agrees to go, without a lawyer stating, “I have nothing to
hide.” The detectives note O.J. has a
bandage on his hand. As O.J. leaves with
officers, the media deduce O.J. is a suspect in his ex-wife’s murder.
Johnnie Cochran scrolls through his closet trying to select
a shirt to wear for a television appearance. He mentions to his wife it’s hard being
Michael Jackson’s lawyer. Once he
arrives at work, he reviews a case with a colleague involving a police shooting
of an unarmed victim. (Nothing new!) The
young African-American lawyer Christopher Darden verbalizes his frustration
with the lack of justice in the case.
Cochran advises him to “chose a side.” He then proceeds to close the
door to offer the young man more advice, confiding the defense work is often
“endless bullshit.” Darden complains he
feels like quitting. Mr. Cochran approves,
“Onwards and upwards!” He states the
only way to get justice sometimes is by filing a civil lawsuit for “wrongful
death.” He then adds, “Money is the only
way to get justice.” (Ironically, the Brown family will eventually win against
O.J. in a civil lawsuit.)
Marsha Clark reviews the 911 calls Nicole made during her
marriage to Simpson. Clark is visibly upset, “This went on for years!” They listen to the tape of O.J.’s interview
with the police regarding the murders. O.J.
gives consistently vague accounting of his whereabouts, stating he went to his
daughter’s dance recital, out to eat with Kato and visited his girlfriend
Paula. The detectives inquire about his
hand injury and he is unable to state where or when it happened. He adds, “I bleed all the time!” Clark is
further enraged by the “kid glove” treatment they gave this celebrity. She
vows, “He’s not going to get away with killing her!”
The crime scene techs swarm around the Simpson
residence. Detective Fuhrman gives a
tech a vial of O.J.’s blood obtained while he was questioned to compare to what
has been found at the crime scene. Inside,
friends and relatives including his mother, girlfriend Paula, Robert Kardashian
and Kato, surround O.J. Kato opens up some fast food and O.J. asks him if he
“remembered” to tell the cops they went out for burgers the previous night. On the television, Simpson is outraged to see
the footage of him in handcuffs. O.J.’s
personal lawyer Howard is not there. Robert
feels uncomfortable advising his friend because he is a not a criminal
lawyer. O.J.’s children arrive and he
rushes to embrace them saying, “Daddy will take care of things!” (This seems
odd to say to children who have just lost their mother.)
At a swanky restaurant, high powered attorney Robert Shapiro
(John Travolta) is holding court. He
brags to his friends about helping Brando’s son receive only five years instead
of life for homicide. Shapiro is
summoned for an emergency call it’s O.J. Simpson. In the background, Enigma’s “Principles of
Lust” is heard, an epic twelve minute song about hunger and lust.
Clark wants Mr. Simpson arrested immediately and a grand
jury assembled to review the case. Her
supervisor advises her to get help with this case because it will be very high
profile. Bill Hodgeman agrees to be her
partner.
At his office, Darden speaks on his cell phone about how the
office is clamoring to get on the O.J. Simpson case.
O.J. waits in his home office surrounded by his football
trophies including the Heisman trophy and multiple M.V.P. awards. Robert Shapiro enters the Simpson living room
stating confidently, “Stay ahead, hire the best!” Shapiro proceeds to name drop another famous
client of his, Johnny Carson. Robert
Kardashian tells Shapiro his friend has many cop friends and adds, “There is
nothing I wouldn’t do to help him.” It is suggested he re-activate his license
and join the defense team. While this is
perfectly legal, it seems like a big ethical conflict of interest. Shapiro asks for a private moment with his
new client. He asks O.J., with the
promise of complete confidentiality, whether he killed his ex-wife. O.J.
responds, “No, I loved her!”
Marsha Clark waits for her divorce attorney. She is stressed and smokes throughout the
meeting. Her attorney advises her
against “Taking on too much.”
An African-American radio talk show discusses O.J.’s
treatment by the hated L.A.P.D. Johnnie Cochran listens to the program in his
chauffeured car. He arrives at the
television station for his appearance and chats with the make-up woman. He sees himself as a civil rights activist
like Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson. He had heard Robert Shapiro has been signed
up to defend O.J. He doubts Shapiro can
win the case, and states, “That case is a loser!”
Marsha Clark and her team begin to interview witnesses who
claim to have seen O.J. driving his Ford Bronco erratically the night of the
murders. Another man claims to have seen
the Bronco parked in front of Simpson’s residence by eleven that night.
Hodgeman and Clark add these details to their “timeline.” Clark mentions she is glad for Hodgeman’s help
on the case.
Mr. Simpson is prepared to take a polygraph test for his
defense team. (Shapiro and Kardashian.) Kardashian is worried, especially when
the technician reveals Simpson scored a negative twenty-four. (Lowest score
possible.) Kardashian is shocked but states, “There is no way he could have
done it!” Learning of his results, O.J.
becomes enraged at Shapiro. “Of course
I’m emotional, my wife is dead!” Shapiro
reassures him polygraphs are inadmissible in court. The question remains, why did Shapiro insist
O.J. complete the test? Did he really
care what the truth was?
The media swarms the funeral of Nicole. The Brown family arrives with the children.
Kris Kardashian (Selma Blair) speaks to her friend Kaye Resnick (Connie Britton)
, “I can’t believe she’s gone!” Kris then chides Kourtney and Khloe for running
around and eating candy. (Always klassy!) Kris continues, “It was right in
front of me, he always had that temper!” Kaye mentions Nicole hid pictures of
her after O.J.’s beatings just in case something ever happened to her.
(Chilling.)
Shapiro arrives at the funeral with O.J. and tries to clear the
paparazzi away so his client can enter the church. One photographer asks, “Who brings their
lawyer to a funeral?” (Fishy.) All eyes are on Nicole’s ex-husband as he makes
his way to her open casket. Nicole’s
sister mutters, “He has no shame!” O.J.
bends down to kiss the body, her head held in place by a neck brace. He stands lingering by her body surrounded by
floral tributes while a stunned crowd watches.
Clark phones her children to tell them she’ll be working
late at the office. It is learned that
the blood from the Bronco and glove match O.J.’s. Clark says, “Let’s put him behind bars!”
Robert Shapiro negotiates O.J.’s surrender to the police, he
doesn’t want a “perp walk” and asks to bring his client in personally in a few
hours. Annoyed, the prosecution agrees
but reminds Shapiro his client is going to be charged with homicide with
“special circumstances.” Shapiro calls
Kardashian who confirms O.J. is “at the hideout” which is Kardashian’s Encino
home.
Shapiro arrives at the home and is informed by Kardashian
that Simpson is “sedated and asleep.” Shapiro
goes to wake up O.J. who is sleeping like a baby next to his girlfriend Paula
in Kimmie’s room adorned with pre-'NSYNC Joey Fatone posters! Shapiro breaks the news to his client and adds,
“This is your last chance to confess.”
A medical team arrives at the mansion to examine and
photograph the defendant. O.J. doesn’t seem to grasp the severity of his
situation and complains, “I need to call my mama and take a shower!” A psychiatrist arrives and Shapiro quietly
mentions to Kardashian he’s there if they need a “incapacity defense.” (Or not
guilty by reason of insanity.)
The team awaits O.J.’s arrival and are livid he is late. Detective Lange phones Shapiro who assures him
Simpson will be on his way shortly. A
press conference has been scheduled for noon and Simpson was supposed to
surrender at eleven.
A grand jury has assembled to question Kaelin. He repeatedly invokes his Fifth Amendment right
against self incrimination. However,
Clark reminds him he doesn’t have that right as witness. Kaelin refuses to answer questions about his
whereabouts the night of the murders. Hodgeman
interrupts the proceedings to inform Clark Simpson has not turned himself in
yet.
In Robert Kardashian’s home office, O.J. writes a letter to
his mother. Kardashian comes in and O.J.
asks that he call the Brown’s to ask them to be guardians of his children. Simpson says he’s written the following
letters: his will, a statement to his fans, a letter to his mother and a letter
to his children. Robert questions what
O.J. is up to and Simpson pulls out a pistol and presses it to his temple. O.J. says, “This is easier for everybody.” Robert pleads with O.J. to come towards him,
he attempts to grab his wrist but O.J. runs into Kimmie’s room.
Downstairs, Clark phones Shapiro, livid at Simpson’s failure
to surrender. Shapiro attempts to calm
her down reporting that doctors are assessing Mr. Simpson and they need more
time. Clark threatens to charge them with
“aiding and abetting a fugitive.”
Robert follows O.J. into his daughter’s bedroom. He pleads with his friend not to kill himself
in her room and tells him “God loves you!”
Robert mentions his friend A.C. is there as well as Paula. Paula sees the gun, cries and runs downstairs
to get help. A.C. heads upstairs.
The police arrive at the front door. Slick as ever, Shapiro opens the door and
mentions to the uniformed officers he knows their chief. The men go upstairs to get O.J. and learn he’s
gone. Paula smiles and looks out the
window, she says he went out the back. Kardashian sees the Ford Bronco is gone.
An A.P.B. is placed on the Ford Bronco. Downtown, Marsha Clark is furious, “We are
going to look like morons!” The Ford
Bronco slowly weaves down the L.A. freeways. The most epic slow speed chase in
history has begun.
The premiere episode did a fantastic job in laying the
background of the era and the first explosive days of the investigation. From the first moments it is clear there was a
difference in the way the case was handled because of the celebrity of Mr.
Simpson. Cuba Gooding Jr. has stated he suspects O.J. probably suffers from
C.T.E. and that informs many aspects of O.J.’s seemingly erratic behavior. It certainly would explain a lot. The other key to understanding the case is
noting the public’s suspicion regarding the L.A.P.D. and its treatment of
minorities. These are the issues the
defense will seize on as they dismantle what initially seemed and “open and
shut” case against O.J. Whatever your
belief on who committed the murders, it is clear that the circumstances
surrounding the trial made the presumption of innocence or fairness
possible. American Crime Story has the
potential to continue the discussion of the criminal justice system in America
much like “Making a Murderer.” Its all
star cast will hopefully deliver a great season.
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