HOLOGRAMMATICAL ERRORS:
Hologrammatical Error #1: Al reflects in the shiny table top in the courtroom. (MPB)
HISTORICAL NITS:
Historical Nit #1: Inventing towns is nothing new to TV. But here, QL invents an entire parish. Twelve Oaks Parish doesn’t exist in Louisiana. (JE)
GENERAL NITPICKING:
General Nit #1: After Sam interviews
Myrtle, Myrtle walks off with Sam’s hanky, but when the camera turns back
to Sam watching her leave, Sam is holding his handkerchief. (MPB)
PCR: Leonard, being an insecure guy (note
he wears both a belt and suspenders), always carries a spare. (MPB)
General Nit #2: How was Sam able to get a subpoena on such short notice? Either the wheels of justice ground more quickly in the 1950s, or he went to Federal Express Court ("when they absolutely, positively have to be subpoenaed overnight..."). (MPB)
General Nit #3: For all Sam’s all-night cramming session with Leonard’s briefs, he didn’t seem very prepared for that first courtroom session. (LW)
General Nit #4: It was awfully provident how the Bible just fell open to the right chapter. (IMZ) And Al gives the reference to Galatians with the handlink still in his pocket, except to check for the chapter and verse. He must have listened to those nuns at some stage. (LW)
General Nit #5: Sam gave Delilah a reader
as a farewell present. But how was she supposed to learn to read without
a teacher. (IMZ)
PCR: Sam knew Delilah would have to find
somebody to teach her to read. He probably figured that giving her the
book would be a better way to make sure Delilah remembered his message
than just saying "Learn to read." (MPB)
MATTER OVER MIND?
Interesting use of the glasses in this episode. Sam didn’t wear them at all when he was alone, and took them off a lot. Would that be an indication that he couldn’t see well with them, as it was Sam’s eyes, not Leonard’s, that he was seeing through? (MPB)
OH, BOYS:
No "Oh, boys" in this episode. Sam’s first words (or, rather word) after Leaping in and hearing the charges against Delilah is an astounded "Murder?"
TRIVIAL PURSUIT:
Trivial Item #1: This episode marks the first mention of Calla lilies, which appear to be a favorite of DPB’s and Deborah Pratt’s. They will appear again in "Future Boy" and "MIA." (LW, MPB, KIT, WY, PTP)
Trivial Item #2: Deborah Pratt’s
Louisiana lawyers seem to have a proclivity toward marrying women who enjoy
role playing games. Leonard Darcey has an awful lot in common with "Trilogy’s"
Larry Stanton. (LW & MPB)
DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS:
Detail #1: There’s a wonderful irony to the title. "So Help Me, God," of course, is the key phrase in the oath that Myrtle and Lilah refuse to take, because, although they claim to fear "no man," they do fear God, and take the sanctity of an oath sworn on a Bible very seriously. They’re in a Catch-22 situation: lie under oath and risk their souls, or tell the truth and incriminate Sadie Cotter. In the end, the very Bible that Lilah and Myrtle fear helps Sam convince Myrtle to tell him her story. "So help me, God," also seems to be Sam’s constant plea as he keeps running into walls in his attempt to prove Lilah’s innocence. At one point, he even prays, "Oh God, help me!" And, of course, (if you accept QL’s premise, that is) it is God (or Time, Fate, or Whoever) who helps Lilah by sending Sam to her aid. (MPB)
THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY:
The characters and the torrid atmosphere are reminiscent of Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner, while Sam’s clothing and glasses invoked the image of Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch from "To Kill a Mockingbird." The plot certainly worked like a gender-reversed version of that novel--except with a happy ending. (MH & MPB)
FAVORITE QUOTATIONS:
Al: "Now that’s a terrifying prospect: The first alien contact on Earth and it’s a lawyer."
Sugar: "If Papa were alive, he’d die!"