All language subtitles for Law & Order (1990) 21x08 - Severance (English)

In the criminal justice system,

the people are represented

by two separate,
yet equally important groups:

the police, who investigate crime,

and the district attorneys,
who prosecute the offenders.

These are their stories.

- Thank you, anything else?
- Should be okay.

Oh, Alexis?

I thought you were taking
the rest of the night off.

I was, but I saw that you emailed

the updated PowerPoint slides.

Just sending so you'd have
them to review in the morning.

I know, but you guys
should be done for the night.

Deal closes end of day Friday.

I understand that.

It's 10:00. Go to bed.

Is something wrong?

I'll explain everything tomorrow.

There are some difficult
conversations to be had,

but for tonight, everyone,
just stop what they're doing.

Copy that, boss.

What the hell are you doing here?

DOA is Alexis Morphew, 34,

owner of the house, lived alone.

Nice neighborhood.

Time of death's somewhere

between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.

Discoloration and bruising
around the neck,

and petechiae hemorrhage in the eyes.

Looks like she was strangled.

Any indication of sexual assault?

Mm-mm.

Looks like there was a struggle.

We're knocking on doors,
but no witnesses so far.

There's blood under her fingernails.

Looks like she scratched the attacker.

She's still wearing her jewelry,

and I assume that's her laptop there.

This alarm system,
they have cameras for it?

No, but according to the log,

the system was deactivated
from the keypad at 10:03 p.m.

Immediately after that,
the front door was opened.

It was turned off to let somebody in.

- It means she knew the killer.
- Who called the cops?

A colleague, got nervous

when she didn't show
for their 9:00 a.m. Zoom.

No escaping the rat race.

Until you do.

- Synced and corrected by synk -
- www.addic7ed.com -

Alexis and I had a touch-base

every morning at 9:00 on Skype.

I tried calling, emailing...

I knew something was wrong.

I just can't believe she's dead.

Were you two close?

As close as you can be

without having ever met in person.

But we're in virtual meetings
together 16 hours a day.

Was there anything unusual
happening with Alexis...

Any problems, issues?

She was really distracted yesterday,

which is unusual for her.

She's usually really focused,

and she logged off early around 7:30.

Oh, 7:30. That's early?

Yeah, if we're done before 10:00,

that's like a vacation day.

You know, they started
letting us turn off our cameras

around 9:00, as if
that really solves the problem.

- What do you do?
- I'm a consultant.

Alexis and I were
working together on a project.

- And what did Alexis do?
- She's the CFO of QuestArc.

The electric car company?

It's like a New York version
of Elon Musk.

Cars, rockets, robots,

and whatever else
Ethan Merritt found sexy

and unimaginable at the time.

M.E. was able to recover DNA

from under Morphew's fingernails,

but no match in the system.

Mm.

- Huh.
- What do you got?

Vic's phone records...

Dozens of texts and phone calls,

every hour, all hours of the day.

All the work contacts,

including Ethan Merritt himself.

Town houses in the West Village

aren't gonna pay for themselves.

Check this out, at 8:37 p.m.,

she texted Merritt, "There is a problem.

We need to talk."

But Merritt doesn't reply.
No call, no text.

Maybe he responded in person.

Alexis was the total package...

Smart, kind, brilliant.

Yeah, dedicated to her work
too, as far as we can tell.

Absolutely, and
she totally got me, you know...

Got what I wanted
this company to be about.

- Changing the world, right?
- Yeah, why stop there?

Let's terraform Mars, man.

Let's cure cancer.
Let's end world hunger.

Zero emission vehicles
are just the beginning.

I'm Batman. She was my Robin.

I don't know
what I'm gonna do without her.

It says here that
she sent you a text last night

saying that you have a problem.

I know. I feel terrible.

I was already asleep when she sent it.

I didn't see it till this morning.

You were asleep at 8:30?

I start my day at 3:45,
work out for 90 minutes,

and then I go to the office.

That's quite a regimen.

Positive change starts from within.

I figured whatever the problem was,

we could discuss it
when she got into the office.

Do you have idea what
that problem might have been?

Unfortunately, yes.

She was having problems
with a former employee.

I promoted Alexis to CFO six months ago.

Her predecessor didn't take well to it.

He's, you know,
accused her of sabotaging him.

Did he ever threaten her?

I'm not sure they were actual threats,

but he did send her
a few distasteful emails.

Emails weren't hard to find.

She saved them
under a tab labeled "Threats."

Huh, she's keeping receipts.

Or she's just really organized.

Regardless, this guy, Bellantoni,

he goes at her hard,

calls her a viper, a backstabbing bitch.

"Make no mistake. I will destroy you."

This guy has a legit temper too.

His ex-girlfriend
filed for a restraining order

three months ago,
said that he was stalking her,

claimed he got physical
on a few occasions.

Just found video
of Bellantoni and the victim

near her town house,
day before the murder.

Let's go find this bastard.

Okay, so I sent a few ill-advised emails

when I was drunk.

I would never actually
do anything like that,

especially to a woman.

Well, your ex-girlfriend
may beg to differ.

Please. She's a psycho.

I saw the video between you
and Alexis from three days ago.

If that guy hadn't stepped
in between you two...

Seems like you got a problem
with the ladies, Terry.

Yeah, and why direct
your anger towards Alexis?

Merritt's the one that fired you.

Because she convinced him to.

She made a big deal about the fact

that there weren't any women
in the C-suite.

C-suite?

CEO, CFO, COO.

Started complaining about the optics,

made some veiled threats.

Next thing I know,
she's decorating my office

with her eco-friendly furniture.

Why are you freaking out
about this severance deal?

It looks like you're doing
pretty well for yourself.

That's not the point.

I was employee number six
at that company.

I ruined two marriages

working nonstop
to get it off the ground,

and now I'm out because
Twitter says being a white man

is the moral equivalent
of being a serial killer.

Where were you two nights ago
around 10:00 p.m.?

Palo Alto.

I was pitching
a new start-up to investors,

took the red-eye back this morning.

Okay.

Do you know anybody else
who shares your feelings

about Alexis Morphew?

Lots of people.

She was civil and beautiful,
but she had sharp elbows.

You should talk to Kayla, her assistant.

She'll know where the bodies are buried.

Everyone loved Alexis.

She was so bright and confident,

a total queen, you know,
kicked ass at work,

but still treated everyone with respect.

So do you know of any specific problems

she was having or anyone
who may have want to hurt her?

No, sorry.

Was there anything unusual
going on in her life?

No, except for...

I don't like to gossip.

We're cops.
It's information, not gossip.

I think she might've been
seeing someone.

I'm guessing he was married too,

because she kept sneaking off
in the middle of the day

to these meetings
that weren't on her calendar.

It was nosy of me, but one time she said

she was going to the doctor.

I called his office.

Receptionist said she was never there.

Could be a lot of explanations for that.

I know, but about a week ago,

I overheard her on a phone call saying,

"We can't be seen together."

We went through her phone
and text messages.

We never saw anything like that.

Because she was using
a second, secret phone.

- Robert Fletcher.
- Yeah, that's me.

Detective Bernard, Detective Cosgrove,

NYPD Homicide.

We'd like to ask you a few
questions about Alexis Morphew.

- I don't know who that is.
- Ooh.

You're not a very good liar.

Mr. Fletcher, we found a burner phone

in Alexis Morphew's home

that exchanged numerous
text messages arranging meetups

with a phone number
registered in your name.

No comment.

Alexis Morphew was strangled to death

two nights ago in her home.

Alexis is dead?

Oh, I guess he does know her.

What was the nature of your
relationship with Ms. Morphew?

I'd rather not say.

What part of "We're homicide detectives"

do you not understand?

I don't give a damn

whether your wife finds out,
or not, or whatever.

Just... we need some answers.

My wife? No, I'm gay.

- Oh.
- I'm a journalist.

We were working together on an article,

and she was my main source.

What was the article about?

About the toxic workplace
environment at QuestArc,

in particular, the bad behavior

of QuestArc's CEO, Ethan Merritt.

She was trying to take down
Ethan Merritt?

He's like the richest guy in the world.

Seventh, to be exact...

And yeah, she was.

We were really close to doing it too.

Alexis Morphew was a whistleblower.

She was feeding a journalist

documents, recordings,
and firsthand accounts

for an expos� on Ethan Merritt.

Mr. Progressive and Enlightened?

Yeah, she claimed Merritt cultivated

an abusive and misogynistic workplace,

said he physically
intimidates employees,

you know, yells, screams,
gets in their faces.

He threw a chair
through a glass wall once.

He was just on the cover of "Forbes."

He was "The New Breed of CEO."

Spoiler alert:
it's a lot like the old breed.

Oh, a hit piece like that
could really destroy his brand.

That's what she was counting on.

Use this article to convince the board

to give Merritt the boot.

He's a jackass, no doubt,
but he is the boss.

Shouldn't he be allowed to get
pissed off once in a while?

I'm serious.

If it's sexual or physical in nature,

I get it, obviously, hashtag,

but should a guy get booted
from his own company

just because he's a dick?

It's a little more nuanced than that.

You don't have to like
the people you work with.

He sending us a message, Kate?

Probably, but luckily, I don't care.

Dig deeper into his alibi.

Let's see if he really is

an early-to-bed,
early-to-rise kind of guy.

So we have you on tape

sneaking out of the service entrance

of your apartment building at 9:17 p.m.

the night of the murder.

- So?
- So you lied to us.

Please. I didn't kill her.

Why would I blow up my life...

My very good life, I might add...

Just because Alexis Morphew
was bitter and disgruntled?

Because if the article gets published,

that very good life just disappears.

Like I said, I had no idea
she was trying to take me down.

Why'd you lie to us then

and say you went to bed at 8:30?

Because I have to worry
about appearances,

about people like Alexis who
are looking to destroy my life.

What do you mean?

I'm dating an employee.

I was with her that night,
didn't want anyone to find out.

Relax. It was totally consensual.

It's just the word gets out,
this day and age?

Please.

- This woman have a name?
- Shannon Dunshire.

I can give you her contact info.

You think you can give us a sample?

Would you consent to a DNA swab?

If it'll make this
go away quicker, absolutely.

Merritt's DNA is not a match.

Girlfriend verifies his alibi too,

says he showed up
to her place around 9:45.

As best as I can tell, we're nowhere.

- Not necessarily.
- What do you got?

We looked back over the
footage from the video canvass.

We found this from a bodega

six blocks from Morphew's town house

the night of the murder.

Facial recognition ID's
this guy as Gus Imelski.

Who's that?

He is the founder of a solar company

that QuestArc was about to acquire.

When we were collecting Merritt's DNA,

he said Morphew
abruptly called off the deal

the day she was murdered.

This guy, Imelski, was looking
at a $3 million payday too.

I don't know what to tell you.

Yes, I went to Alexis' house that night.

How come?

She called me earlier
in the afternoon freaking out,

said that she was
gonna terminate the deal,

that there had been a mistake,

and the company had been overvalued.

I wanted to fix things,

see if I could
resurrect the transaction,

so I begged her to have a drink with me.

I went to her house, knocked,
she never answered.

- What time was that?
- It was around 10:15 or so.

And you never saw her?
She never opened the door?

Correct, yeah.

I rang the bell a few times,

and then I left.

I just figured
that she changed her mind.

Look, I did not kill Alexis, okay?

That is ridiculous.

Alexis blew up a deal
that was gonna make you

a super-rich guy.

Hours later, you show up
at her town house,

never actually see her.

Yet, at the same time,
she ends up strangled to death.

Doesn't sound too ridiculous to me.

I am telling you the truth, okay?

Wait, you can ask Colin Baker,

the consultant that QuestArc hired.

I bumped into him about
a block away from her house.

Yeah, I asked him
if he'd heard from Alexis,

if he knew what was going on
with the deal,

but he just sort of
blew me off, kept walking.

Look, I already told you
everything I know.

We just have a few
follow-up questions, Mr. Baker.

Okay, look, I really
don't have a lot of time, okay?

Why, where's the fire?

I'm putting out several, actually.

I used to work for the State Department

before I became a consultant.

I took this job because
I thought it'd be less intense

than negotiating with hostile nations.

Do any of these fires

have to do with the acquisition
of Raystrux?

No, no. No, that deal's dead.

Alexis messed up the numbers.

Are you sure the mistake was hers?

Yes, I am.

Mr. Baker, you said

you had never met
Alexis Morphew in person.

That's right.

We have a witness
that says you were a block away

from her town house
the night of the murder.

I was out taking a walk.

I never went to her house.

- So you weren't there?
- No.

Look, that's ridiculous, okay?

How dare you accuse me
of doing something like...

Look, I didn't do anything, okay?

You need to calm down, Mr. Baker.

Okay, look, I am sorry.

I have had... I have been
awake for two days straight,

and I have... on top of everything else,

I have got a migraine, so...

Do you mind rolling up
your sleeve for me, please?

Yeah.

How'd you get
those scratches on your arms?

I'd rather not say.

Then we're gonna have
to continue this conversation

down at the precinct.

Docket number CR-230448-22,
People v. Colin Baker,

charge is Murder in the Second Degree.

How do you plead, Mr. Baker?

Not guilty.

Bail?

The defendant stands accused
of a brutal murder.

He choked a woman to death
with his bare hands.

We found his DNA under
the decedent's fingernails.

Mr. Baker has established ties
in multiple foreign countries

from his time working
in the State Department.

The People believe he's a flight risk,

and we're seeking remand.

Ms. Marcus?

My client has strong roots
in the community

and no criminal history.

As Ms. Maroun mentioned,

he worked for
the United States government

in a position that required him

to pass high-level security clearance.

I'd also point out
that Mr. Baker suffers

from a debilitating medical condition

that requires constant attention.

What type of condition?

He suffers from severe migraines.

I ask that a reasonable bail be set,

so he can be cared for at home
by his wife who is a physician.

I get headaches too, Ms. Marcus.

Defendant is remanded.

- Mr. Baker?
- I'm sorry.

I'm fine, I'm fine.

I heard Colin Baker
put on quite a performance

in the courtroom today.

It wasn't the full Harvey Weinstein

with the walker routine,
but it was close.

I have to admit
he was pretty convincing.

He's a consultant, a strategist.

He's setting up his defense.

He wants to appear too frail

to commit the violent,
physical act of strangulation.

They just filed a motion to suppress.

Suppress what?

The DNA sample the police
collected from Baker.

Didn't he voluntarily agree
to a swabbing?

Yeah, signed a consent form too.

We have it all on video tape.

As you can see, the defendant

is oriented and aware.

He made a knowing and voluntary
waiver of his rights.

My client was experiencing
a severe migraine.

He conveniently failed to mention that

at the time of the swabbing.

He told the detectives
when they first questioned him.

In addition to his migraine,

he'd also had been awake
for over 36 hours.

Again, he never mentioned
that to the detectives.

Yes, he did.

He was suffering from
severe emotional exhaustion

and sensory overload.

He would've signed over
the deed to his co-op

if someone had put it in front of him.

In addition, Mr. Baker is on
a heavy dose of sumatriptan

for his migraines.

It has a number of side
effects, including dizziness.

Your Honor, the defendant
never told the detectives...

Next time you want DNA, get a warrant.

Defendant's motion
to suppress is allowed.

The DNA is out.

This case is about a man

whose ambition knows no bounds.

The defendant was on the partner track

at one of the most prestigious

and cutthroat management
consulting firms in the world,

two months shy of a promotion,

a goal he had dedicated years
of his life to achieving.

Problem was he has a secret,

one that could end his career.

In preparing the valuation analysis

for a potential merger,
he made a serious mistake

in the projected cash flow
of the target company.

Long story short,
he overvalued the company

his client wanted to buy

by approximately $100 million.

When his client,

Alexis Morphew, found out,

she terminated the deal,

realized they would be
grossly overpaying.

The problem is Alexis knew

that he was the one
who made the mistake,

and if she told the defendant's boss

about this reckless error,

he'd be out of a job.

So he decided
to do something about that.

The evidence will show

that on April 6th,
approximately 10:00 p.m.,

Colin Baker entered Ms. Morphew's home,

wrapped his hands around her neck,

and squeezed the life out of her.

In doing so, he kept his secret safe

and his dream of making partner alive.

Mr. Imelski, do you know the defendant?

Yes, we worked together
on a transaction.

He's a consultant at KMG.

He was working with Alexis and QuestArc.

On the evening of April 6th,
did you see the defendant

near Alexis Morphew's home?

Yes, about a block away.

- What time was this?
- Around 10:00 p.m.

Can you describe his demeanor?

He was distracted.

I tried to engage him in a conversation,

but he just walked away.

- Was that typical?
- No.

On our video conferences,

he was always very friendly
and conversational.

Thank you.

You spoke with Ms. Morphew
earlier that day, correct?

Yes.

She told you she was

terminating the acquisition
of your company, right?

Correct.

Cost you about $1/4 billion dollars?

Something like that.

It's a hell of a reason to
kill someone, don't you think?

- Objection.
- Sustained.

Nothing else.

Mr. Imelski, did you
voluntarily submit your DNA

to the police
to be tested against the DNA

found under
Alexis Morphew's fingernails?

Yes.

Did the police inform you
of the outcome of that test?

They said it was not a match.

- Thank you.
- You may step down.

Why are you doing this?

- Yeah, I'm talking to you!
- Mr. Baker.

If you have something to say,
talk to your lawyer.

- No, he is lying!
- Ms. Marcus.

Control your client!

Look, I swear, I didn't do it, I...

Get off of me!

I didn't kill anybody!

I didn't kill anybody!

I didn't do this!

I didn't... get off of me!

I didn't kill anybody!

What the hell was that?

We're filing oral notice
that we plan to offer

an affirmative defense.

My client is pleading not guilty

by reason of mental disease or defect.

'Cause he gets migraines?

And why are we just learning this now?

Yeah, why the late notice, Ms. Marcus?

After what happened in court yesterday,

I had a medical expert
examine Mr. Baker.

He shed new light
on a preexisting condition.

What preexisting condition is that?

Havana Syndrome is very real,

but there's still a lot
we don't know about it.

It first manifested about five years ago

among U.S. government employees

who were stationed at our Cuban embassy.

That's how it got its name.

Colin Baker was stationed at
the embassy in Havana in 2017.

He was an early participant in my study

of Havana Syndrome patients.

Why did he seek medical help?

He reported hearing
a high-pitched noise.

Shortly after, he had bouts
of memory loss, vertigo,

and some auditory distortion.

An MRI showed concussion-like
trauma to his brain

despite the fact that there was
no physical impact to his head.

What causes the noise and the symptoms?

We really don't know.

The leading theory is that it's
pulsed electromagnetic energy,

like an infusion
of microwaves to the brain.

Who's behind it?

I'm a neurologist, not a CIA operative.

Mr. Baker says his symptoms

have increased over the past year...

Fugue states, lack of impulse control,

inability to behave
in a rational manner.

Is that possible?

I haven't heard
of anything that extreme,

but I suppose it's possible.

Colin Baker first
sought medical attention

for his condition back in 2017.

It makes his claim credible.

He reported having a few headaches.

Among other things.

You think Havana Syndrome
is a valid excuse

for killing someone?

I think the condition is real.

I don't dispute that it's real

or that Colin Baker has it,
but is there a nexus

between the syndrome and
him strangling Alexis Morphew?

I'm not sure.

All I'm saying is his defense is viable,

and he, himself, is actually
pretty damn sympathetic.

Oh, how so?

He was working for the State Department

serving our country, trying to do right.

Then one day,
he gets blasted with microwaves

or some such thing, and
suddenly can't think straight.

Has anyone else with this ailment

ever committed an act of violence?

Not that I could find.

So we're supposed
to believe that Colin Baker,

who is a brilliant strategist
accused of murder,

is also the first
and only person to kill

because of Havana Syndrome?

All I'm saying is his defense is viable.

He didn't just lash out or push her.

He held her in his hands,
squeezing her neck for minutes.

That's not an uncontrolled outburst.

That's violence. That's intent.

Defense just subpoenaed
the deputy director of the CIA.

Thanks for meeting with me, Jack.

Of course.

I haven't been subpoenaed in 15 years.

It means they're not trying hard enough.

You know, Jack,
for a variety of reasons,

me testifying at this trial
is a really bad idea.

What does the defense hope to elicit?

Oh, that the heartless CIA

ignored evidence
of Havana Syndrome for years,

we don't care about employees,

and if we'd just done our damn job

and pulled Colin Baker from his post

when we first learned of this,

he never would've been injured
in the first place.

And would they be correct?

So they want to put the agency on trial,

deflect blame away from Colin Baker.

Our lawyers are preparing
a motion to quash,

but there's a good chance we'll lose.

You want me to plead him out?

Avoid the possibility entirely?

I want you to consider it.

It was a brutal murder, Grant.

I understand.

Like I said,

just asking you to consider it.

Okay.

But no promises.

With all due respect, I have no interest

in considering a plea for Colin Baker

just to cover up the
federal government's blunders.

That's not what this is about.

The defense is gonna muddy the waters,

shift the blame away from Colin Baker

to the United States government,

a faceless, unsympathetic
enemy that is easy to hate.

It means you could lose.

Colin Baker is lying through his teeth.

There's no credible
scientific data that suggests

Havana Syndrome causes people
to irrationally commit murder.

We have a solid motive,

a solid and perfectly rational motive.

We have a witness that puts him
near the victim's home.

What I'm saying is the facts,
as well as the science,

are in our favor.

I don't dispute any of that.

But it's easier to hate the feds

than a handsome government worker

with a wife and two kids

who was unknowingly attacked
by a foreign agent.

If this is about the defense's subpoena,

you can tell your friend at the CIA...

You're missing the point, Nolan.

This isn't about politics.

It's about playing the hand you have,

not the hand you wish you had.

I get that.

But I'm very comfortable with my cards.

Okay, if you think
you can win, go ahead.

Finish the trial.

Dr. Grady, have you reviewed
Mr. Baker's medical records

from his time at the State Department?

I have, and I've also
conducted my own examination.

And what's your assessment
of his condition?

Mr. Baker's symptoms are consistent

with Havana Syndrome,
and those symptoms,

particularly the more recent ones,

bear a striking resemblance to CTE,

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

Like what football players get?

Correct.

Even though Mr. Baker

has never played football
or any other contact sport.

How is that possible?

When Mr. Baker first sought treatment

for his Havana Syndrome,

brain scans showed he suffered
multiple severe concussions

as a direct result of whatever
was causing the syndrome.

We know that CTE is caused

by that kind of trauma to the brain.

And sufferers of CTE
are known to be prone

to uncontrollable, violent outbursts.

- Isn't that correct?
- Yes.

The damage to the brain
affects the patient's ability

to control their emotions and impulses.

In your medical opinion,
did Mr. Baker's condition

prevent him from understanding
the nature and consequences

of his actions on April 6th?

I believe so, yes.

Thank you. No further questions.

Dr. Grady, it's impossible

to accurately diagnose CTE

in a living person, correct?

My diagnosis can be inferred
from symptoms and context...

But currently, the only
scientifically accepted way

to verify the presence of the disease

is by conducting
a postmortem dissection.

Correct.

How many people with Havana
Syndrome have you studied?

About a thousand.

And none of these other people claimed

their condition also gave them CTE?

Correct.

And none of them blamed their condition

for committing acts of violence?

Yes, I believe that's right.

None of them strangled the life

out of another human being?

- Objection.
- Sustained.

Nothing further.

When we left Havana, we went back to DC

so Colin could be treated
at Walter Reed.

What type of symptoms was
he experiencing at the time?

He lost vision in one eye,

and he had a lot of dizzy spells.

He had to wear a weighted vest

to keep his balance while walking.

Did his symptoms improve?

Yes, he was able to function,

and he regained his sight.

Did he go back to work?

He took the job at KMG,

and we moved to New York.

Did his symptoms start back up?

Yes, but they were different this time,

and to be honest, we didn't
even make the connection.

What do you mean?

Colin was always

really kind and gentle.

But over the past year or so,
he started getting angry,

having violent outbursts,

and the smallest thing
would set him off.

He was like a different person.

I even considered...

I even considered
leaving him at one point.

I feel terrible.

I didn't realize
it was the Havana Syndrome.

It had been years.

Thank you, Dr. Baker.

No further questions.

Dr. Baker.

What kind of medicine do you practice?

I'm a pediatrician.

You never suggested your husband seek

medical treatment
for these alleged symptoms?

We talked about it,
but he was worried about work,

didn't wanna take time off.

His job was obviously
very important to him.

Yes.

He wanted to protect his status.

He didn't want anything to interfere

with his desire to make partner.

No, that's not what I meant.

Regardless of what you meant,

the fact is that since
you've been living in New York,

your husband never
sought medical treatment

for these allegedly
debilitating symptoms, did he?

Correct.

Even though you're a medical doctor?

Like I said, I tried.

And you remained living
in the home with him

with your two children?

I didn't realize
how bad things had gotten.

Or, maybe, the symptoms
weren't that severe at all,

weren't significant enough
to merit your attention.

Maybe he was
just under a lot of pressure.

No, no, he had symptoms.
He became a different person.

Because he was desperate
to make partner,

because he wanted that brass
ring more than anything...

- Objection.
- Sustained.

Nothing further.

Mr. Baker, did you go
to Alexis Morphew's house

on April 6th because
you planned to kill her?

No.

I had made a mistake
in my financial projections.

So I went there to discuss
a new purchase price.

I wanted to try and find a way
to salvage the deal.

So you wanted to talk with her?

Yes.

And she opened the door
and invited you inside?

Yes.

And then I guess
we got into an argument.

You guess?

I don't remember.

I sort of blacked out.

I remember talking to her,

and then I remember
sitting on the stairs.

I saw scratches on my arms,
and then I...

saw Alexis on the floor...

dead.

- What did you do?
- I panicked.

I ran home.

I didn't understand
what was happening to me.

I didn't intend to hurt her.

She was my friend.

I am so sorry.

Thank you, Mr. Baker.

No further questions.

Mr. Baker, when

you realized

that your friend, Ms. Morphew, was dead,

did you call the police, an ambulance?

No, not in that moment.

I wish I had. I wasn't thinking clearly.

In truth, there was
no salvaging the deal,

was there, Mr. Baker?

Alexis had told the seller she
was terminating it, correct?

She did, but that didn't
mean the deal was dead.

Perhaps, but that's not why
you went there that night.

You went there to confront her

to stop her from reporting your
mistake and getting you fired.

No, no. I liked Alexis.

We were friends.

I would not have done that
if I didn't have this syndrome.

Oh, this syndrome,
which you claim caused you,

and you alone, to become violent

with symptoms no one else has,
and which you never sought

medical treatment for?

Because the government lied to me.

If they had told me how severe it was,

if they had just let me know,
I would've gotten help for it.

All I ever wanted was to work
for the State Department

to help my country,
and then they screwed me.

They lied to me.

They lied to you,
but they didn't force you

to lose your temper
and strangle an innocent woman

to protect your career.

He's right.

They didn't,

but it still happened.

And I honestly don't know why.

And I am sorry,
but I can't take it back.

I wish I could take it back,
but I can't,

and I don't know what to do.

I'm sorry!

I just... I will never forgive myself,

and I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Madame Foreperson,
have you reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

Accused and counsel, please rise.

Madame Foreperson, how do you find?

We find the defendant

not guilty by reason of mental disease.

I still think he's lying.

My old boss, he used to say,

"Lawyers who need to be right

lose more cases than those who don't."

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