Guilty as Sin

Jennifer Haines wins a major case in Chicago and is celebrated by her colleagues and loved ones. The triumph cements her reputation as a rising star in the legal world. She returns to the office to a hero's reception that marks her status as 'that good'.

David Greenhill, seated in the gallery, is accused of murdering his wealthy wife Rita and seeks Haines's representation. Haines declines at first, wary of his arrogance and manipulation. The doorway to a high-profile case opens, even as she resists.

Despite her initial rejection, Haines is intrigued by Greenhill and contemplates taking on the defense. She tells her firm's superiors that the case could be high-profile, and asserts her own competence as motivation. The decision marks the start of an internal struggle over ethics and ambition.

Haines assigns her longtime investigator Moe to uncover Greenhill's past. Moe's digging reveals a pattern of suspicious relationships with older women who later die. Greenhill's behavior grows more ominous as the investigation unfolds.

Greenhill starts showing up unannounced in Haines's social life, dropping hints that something is happening between them. Haines grows wary of his fixation, and Phil Garson becomes increasingly protective. The personal tension tightens as the case moves forward.

Phil demands that Haines drop Greenhill as a client, threatening to take action if she doesn't. Haines refuses, spurred by the unpaid fee Greenhill promised. The partners warn her about the risks, and an unsympathetic judge denies her the option to quit.

Moe reports Greenhill's pattern, heightening Haines's fear for others' safety. Bound by attorney-client privilege, she contemplates sabotaging her own case by planting evidence, hoping for a conviction. She wrestles with ethics and the potential consequences of exposure.

Greenhill learns of the planted-evidence plan and retaliates by viciously assaulting Phil, leaving him hospitalized. The attack brutalizes Haines's personal life and tests her resolve. She realizes that crossing Greenhill could cost more than her career.

Greenhill's trial ends in a mistrial as the jury cannot reach a verdict. He seems pleased, having never had a chance to take the stand. In a private moment, he confesses to the murder and reveals that he had been stalking Haines.

Greenhill tells Haines that he knows about the planted evidence and could use it to blackmail her, but says he has tired of her. Haines fears he will come after her and resolves to disclose everything, regardless of the cost to her career.

To prevent exposure, Greenhill murders Moe by knocking him out and setting fire to his office. The violent move removes a key witness and escalates the danger surrounding Haines. The killer's ruthlessness becomes undeniable.

Greenhill intercepts Haines at her apartment, taunting her about suicide. A fierce struggle ensues; Greenhill throws Haines over a railing, but she pulls him down with her. They fall several stories; Greenhill dies and Haines is severely injured.

Haines is carried to the hospital, battered but alive. She declares that she beat him, albeit in a hard-fought win, signaling a personal and professional victory despite enormous cost. The case ends with Greenhill's defeat and Haines's survival.