"The Victim" is the seventeenth episode of Matlock's fourth season and its 84th episode overall. It aired on January 23, 1990.
Plot
Matlock has to take the case of Bret Howell (Guy Boyd), who is accused of killing his married lover, Cathy Gordon (Patrie Allen). When Michelle and Conrad both visited Cathy’s house, they meet her paraplegic husband, Alex (Alan Toy) (whose disability makes him appear absolutely innocent). Alex denies knowing of his wife’s affair with Bret; however, Ben proves Alex did know and killed Cathy out of jealousy, pulling himself up to the balcony via a makeshift elevator and entering the house through the balcony door. Just before the baliff carts Alex off to prison, Ben takes a final moment to sympathize with him, knowing Alex committed the crime because of the heartbreak Cathy caused him.
Quotes
Bret Howell: (about Cathy Gordon) I didn’t plan to fall in love with Cathy, nor she with me. For a long time, we were just friends. She was so beautiful, so intelligent. Who’d want to kill her?
Bret: Alex? I know I shouldn’t have come here, but please, you’ve got to believe me. I didn’t kill Cathy.
Alex Gordon: Believe you? You two-faced bastard.
Bret: Alex...
Alex: Sleeping with my wife, pretending to be my best friend.
Mrs. Estes: (walks in with some tea, sets it down on the table and sits down across from Michelle) So, what can I do for you, Miss Thomas?
Michelle Thomas: You and Cathy Gordon were friends for quite a while.
Mrs. Estes: Since high school.
Michelle: Did you and your husband spend a lot of time with the Gordons?
Mrs. Estes: I spent a lot of time with Cathy.
Michelle: And Alex?
Mrs. Estes: No, I avoided Alex as much as I could.
Michelle: Oh?
Mrs. Estes: Life’s too short to be around nasty people. He made Cathy miserable.
Michelle: Well, yesterday, he sounded like he loved her very much.
Mrs. Estes: (sighs) It’s an act.
Michelle: Well, did Cathy love him?
Mrs. Estes: She tried to be very loyal.
Michelle: Was there any... Well, I mean, could... could he?
Mrs. Estes: Yes, he could. And he wouldn’t.
Michelle: Why wouldn’t he?
Mrs. Estes: Uh... anger. Anger, I guess.
Michelle: How did it happen?
Mrs. Estes: One night, Cathy was driving them home from a party. She got cut off, lost control of the car, it rolled. Alex was thrown clear but Cathy got trapped. The car caught fire. Somehow, Alex managed to pull her out, but the car lurched, and Alex suffered a serious spinal injury. It put stress on a marriage that wasn’t good to begin with. Miss Thomas, this is only me talking. Before the accident, Alex Gordon was not a nice person. Being paralyzed did not improve his personality. He used Cathy’s guilt, and he would never ask for a divorce.
Michelle: Why wouldn’t he?
Mrs. Estes: He made six figures. She inherited $6 million. That’s the difference between comfort and luxury.
Michelle: Did Alex know about Cathy’s affair?
Mrs. Estes: I didn’t think so. Cathy told me. She... she felt so guilty. Miss Thomas, whatever happiness Cathy had, she had with Bret Howell. She loved him, and he loved her very much.