All language subtitles for Law & Order Special Victims Unit - S18E10 (1999) WEB.eng

In the criminal justice
system,

sexually based offenses

are considered
especially heinous.

In New York City,
the dedicated detectives

who investigate
these vicious felonies

are members of an elite squad

known as
the Special Victims Unit.

These are their stories.

Hi. You've reached Nicole.

Please leave a message
after the tone. Thanks.

Mom, it's me again.

Where are you?

I keep calling and calling.

Dad and I got in a fight.

I'm almost home.

Why aren't you picking up?

Thank you.

Mom?

*

*

Help! He's raping me!

- Detective Perry, Homicide?
- Yeah.

Lieutenant Benson, SVU.

Thanks for getting here
so fast.

So, what we looking at?

DOA is Trey Franklin, 15.

Rifle shot to the head,
close range.

You said the shooter
interrupted a rape?

Yeah. Luke Keller, also 15.

Saw Franklin assaulting
his mother, Nicole Keller...

Dr. Nicole Keller, 45.

Did you keep them separated?

Yep. We secured the scene
and the weapon,

took the kid's
initial statements.

He's upstairs.
The mother's in the living room.

Okay, so we'll take
the disclosure.

That's why I called you guys.

- All right.
- Rollins, you're with me.

Fin, Carisi.

We'll take the son.

- Luke, I'm Detective Carisi.
- This is Detective Tutuola.

I already told
the other police.

I had to do it.
He was raping my mom.

Okay, just breathe. We just
want to know what happened.

I was supposed
to spend the night at my dad's,

but we got in a fight,
so I came home.

- What time did you leave?
- I left my dad's about 9:00.

I really wanted
to talk to my mom.

I tried calling.
She wasn't answering.

Luke, now, did your mother
have plans tonight?

Staying home, doing paperwork.

She's a psychiatrist.

What time did you get home?

About 10:00. It was dark.

I heard a noise downstairs,
thought someone was breaking in,

so I called 911, and then went
to the closet to get my rifle.

Your rifle?

- Yeah.
- My dad gave it to me.

He likes to go hunting.

- Then what happened?
- I walked into the kitchen,

and he was attacking my mom.

- What did you see?
- She was staring at me.

She was so scared. Then she
screamed "Help! He's raping me!"

So I pulled the trigger.

I didn't think I was
actually gonna hit him.

I have to see my son.

He can't handle this stress.

He's got a lot
of generalized anxiety.

And I understand that,
but right now we need

to speak to both of you
separately.

Right. Okay.

- Okay.
- I understand.

So, Dr. Keller,
I need to know

exactly what happened

from your perspective.

Okay. Um, right.

I was in the kitchen.

I was... I was getting some wine.

And he... I was there,
and I turn around,

and... and he was right there.

And I tried to get away.

I did. I tried.
And he... he overpowered me.

- Was this a break-in?
- Or maybe he followed you home?

No. No. I let him in.

You let him in?

So you knew him?

Yes.

He was my son's best friend.

*

The mother let him in
voluntarily.

She said he was
the son's best friend.

Explains why there's no signs
of forced entry.

Okay, if Luke wasn't home,
why did she let him in?

[sighs] He asked to come in
to do his homework.

Apparently he's been having
a rough time at home.

So, he just hung out
in the house

while she was upstairs working?

That's what she said.

Okay, so, Luke walks in
unexpectedly,

hears his mother screaming
that she's being raped,

and he fires.

We're not thinking
premeditation at all?

He called 911.

The rifle was locked up.
Registered to his father,

so technically not legal,

but the shooting still sounds
justifiable to me.

But I'm a cop, not a prosecutor.

- Okay, what about the DOA?
- I mean, Trey Franklin's parents.

On their way
to the ME's office.

How about if I meet
one of your guys over there?

- Good idea.
- Thanks.

Is it okay if we pick up
where we left off?

Yeah. Sure.

Dr. Keller,
you said that you knew

that you shouldn't have
let Trey in.

- I had an instinct.
- Something was wrong.

The way he looked at me,
you know? Made me uneasy.

But you were okay with him
being friends with your son?

Yes. I didn't want
to shut Trey out.

I felt badly for him.

His family life was
very unstable.

So, Trey came to your door
at what time?

Uh, it was around 9:00.

Nine o'clock.

Uh, I put my work away
for the night.

And he asked where Luke was,

said they were supposed
to study.

And I said,
"There must be a mix-up,

'cause Luke's at his father's
house in Westport."

Okay. Go on.

- Then he asked if he could...
- If he could come in anyway,

do his homework.

And...[sighs]

I said yes.

And then I went upstairs
to get ready for bed.

So, that's when you changed
into your nightgown?

No. I already had
my nightgown on,

and I'd already started
getting ready for bed

when he rang the doorbell.

Okay, so,
you answered the door

in your nightgown,
and then you went back upstairs.

Yes. I-I went upstairs
for about an hour.

It started getting late,

so I-I went back downstairs

and I told Trey... I told him
it was time to go home.

So, during that time,
your son was calling you.

Um, why didn't you pick up?

- No, I didn't get the message.
- I didn't get any messages.

I... when I work sometimes
I don't even look at my phone,

and Luke was with his dad.

Right, but you weren't
working then, right?

Because he started to call
I think at 9:30 to 10:00, right?

You had already put your work
down for the night?

Right. Yes, I had. I went
downstairs for a glass of wine.

Okay? To relax.

And that's when I felt him...
I felt his presence behind me,

and I turned around,
and it was Trey.

He was right there.

And he put his hands on me.

- So, what did you do?
- I tried to stop it.

I tried to tell him
I understood.

I understood sexual impulses
and urges.

Believe me.
I'm a psychiatrist.

I've dealt with this issue
many, many times.

But he...

put me up against
the kitchen counter, and...

he lifted up my nightgown.

- Okay.
- Take your time.

I, uh...

He forced himself inside me,

and, um,

I-I tried to scream,

and he put his hand on my mouth.

And I... [sobs]
There was a kitchen knife,

and I tried to reach it,
but it was too far away.

So I just closed my eyes,
and I tried to survive.

And I thought about my son.

I thought about Luke,

and I needed to stay alive
for him.

And then... and then I looked up,
and he was there,

and I yelled help: "Help!"

And then I heard the gunshot.

So, Mrs. Keller,
did you know that your son

had a rifle in the house?

Yes. In a locked safe. Yes.

It was a gift... it was a gift
from his father.

He's a hunter.

Okay. Is Luke a hunter, too?

No. He... he's so sensitive.

He actually hated the idea
of having a gun in the house.

Hated it.

He went hunting, and there was
a deer in his sight,

and he couldn't even
pull the trigger.

I...

It doesn't...

It doesn't make sense.

It... it doesn't make sense.

That's why it's so...

I want to see him.

Is my mom gonna be okay?

- Yeah.
- Yeah, she's at the hospital.

She's... she's getting
checked out now. Come on.

I know what you went through.

I know it's tough,
all right?

Have a seat.

But we need to go over it again,
step by step.

Can you do that?

Think so.

Okay.

So, you said you walked
into your house,

you heard noises,
you called 911,

you grabbed your rifle,

walked down to the kitchen,
right?

Okay, Luke.

Before you fired, did you say
"stop" or "get off of her,"

or anything like that?

I don't think so.

I just reacted.

When did you realize
it was Trey?

Not until after.

I thought it was just some man
who broke in, not Trey.

How well did you guys
know each other?

We're best friends.

We were.

I killed my best friend.

- Okay.
- We're gonna take a break.

We'll get you some water.

Luke's dad is here.

Luke, you all right?

[crying] Dad!

- Hey, hey, hey.
- He was hurting Mom. I swear.

- It's okay. It's okay.
- I'm here now.

Uh, do I need a lawyer?

We're still investigating,
but it seems like Luke fired

to save his mother
from a sexual assault.

That being said,
these cases can get tricky.

- Appreciate your honesty.
- We're done talking.

- It's all right, buddy.
- Come here.

It's all right.

Everything's gonna be okay,
all right?

Yeah, that's his bracelet.

And the scar.
He burnt his hand

on a camping trip
when he was ten.

- [crying] I want to see him.
- I want to see my son's body.

Mrs. Franklin, ma'am.

It's better that you don't.

I still don't understand
what happened.

A classmate of his,
Luke Keller,

he fired a weapon.

The bullet struck
and killed him.

- Luke?
- That doesn't make any sense.

- They're... they're friends.
- Was it an accident?

We're still looking into it.

But Luke's mother says your son
was sexually assaulting her.

What?

And that's why Luke shot him?

It's possible.

No. No. It's not possible!

Trey would never assault anyone.
Ever.

- You may be right.
- It's obviously very early

in the investigation.

Is Luke under arrest?

- Not yet.
- Oh, I see.

White kid shoots black kid,
got to be the black kid's fault.

That's what you're saying?

No. Not even close.

We're just trying to figure out
what happened.

Yeah, well, me too,

'cause my son was a good kid.

No. A great kid.

I want to see my son. Now.

Okay.

*

*

What do we know
about Trey Franklin?

Only son of Charles
and Regina Franklin.

Father's an English professor.
Mother is an oncology nurse.

No priors. Good student.

He started high school
at Manor Hill in September.

- Rape kit?
- There's no semen.

Just a few minor abrasions.

How long did the mother
know Trey?

- A few months.
- She said she didn't mind

her son being friends with Trey,

but she had a bad feeling
about him from the beginning,

whatever that means.

Because he's black?

No. I didn't get a sense
that it was racial.

- And Luke.
- Do you believe his story?

- I do.
- He's taking this hard.

He had no clue the alleged
rapist was his friend.

But firing the rifle was the
only way to stop the assault?

- He panicked.
- He was trying to scare

whoever he thought it was away.

- Okay, so they were friends.
- Any recent problems?

Not that we can find.

So, Trey came over
to study with Luke,

but Luke wasn't there.

If Trey knew
that Luke wasn't gonna be home,

that would help to establish
his mindset.

Then he went to Nicole's house
knowing she was gonna be alone.

But we already checked
Luke's phone.

There's no texts or emails
between him and Trey.

Okay, so let's dig in
to their social media account,

talk to the friends,
see if we can find anything out.

We should search his locker
and his bedroom, too.

I'll get some warrants.

Thanks.

- You want Trey's computer?
- All electronic devices.

- And what about Luke?
- Have you arrested him yet?

We're still investigating,
Mr. Franklin.

That's why we're here.

We're also gonna need
to search Trey's room.

You're acting
like my son's the killer.

This is outrageous!

Just let them go.

They're not gonna find anything.

Fifteen's a crazy age.

Testosterone, impulses.

Yeah, but you don't just wake
up one morning out of the blue

and decide
to rape your buddy's mom.

I don't know.
There's...

There's something else
going on here.

I don't know. Everything here,
though, looks good.

There's no weed. No booze.

The only thing wrong is maybe
a couple of dirty socks.

Check this out.

That's the mother?

Dr. Keller?

Imagine our surprise.

Imagine my surprise.

I had a sense Trey was
stalking me, but now I know.

You had a sense
Trey was stalking you?

Well, that's very different
from having a bad feeling.

I wasn't sure, but I am now.

That's you in the photo,
correct?

Yes! Eyes closed. Asleep.

Unaware this adult teenager was
taking pictures.

You mind if we take a look
around?

Of course not.

So, just to be clear,

you're saying that Trey walked
up these stairs,

he hopped onto your bed
while you were sleeping,

and he took these photos.

Well, that's the only thing
that makes sense.

No. There are other
plausible explanations.

Do you always sleep naked?

Sometimes.

Sometimes I sleep
in a nightgown.

Sometimes I sleep
in a Rolling Stones t-shirt.

Are you suggesting I had sex
with that boy?

Oh, I'm not suggesting
anything.

I'm simply asking why you
and Trey were in bed together,

naked.

Because he was
obsessed with me

and snuck into my bed.

And you didn't wake up?

You must be a sound sleeper.

- I am.
- Last few months, anyway.

I've been on sleep medication.

You said you thought
Trey was stalking you.

If that's true,
why did you give him

so much access to your house,
invite him in at 9:00 p.m.?

Like I said,
I was trying to help him.

Because of his troubled
home life?

Well, we talked to his parents.
There's no evidence of that.

Some of my patients are
victims of rape,

and the first thing I tell them
is, "Don't blame yourself."

Well, that's a lot easier said
than done.

You didn't answer
her question.

- I'm sorry.
- What question was that?

Okay. Dr. Keller,
the night of the shooting,

you were upstairs here
in your bedroom,

in your nightgown.

Trey was downstairs
in the family room,

and nobody else was
in the house?

That's correct.

And he didn't try and sneak
up here into your room?

- I'm sorry, lieutenant.
- I think it's best

if you and your colleague here
leave.

I'm sensing some
underlying hostility,

and it's making me
very uncomfortable.

Yeah? And the naked selfies
of you and Trey

are making me
very uncomfortable.

*

Trey was cool.

He was only here
since September,

but we were friends.

Were you friends
with Luke Keller, too?

Yeah. Luke and I have known
each other since kindergarten.

He's a good guy.
A little...

- You can say it.
- He's a bit of a nerd.

Yeah. But he's okay.

But Luke and Trey were close?

Yeah. Tight.

Trey kind of looked out
for him.

And Luke liked Trey?

He idolized Trey.

Thought he was a god.

I don't know... it's sort of
crazy, if you think about it,

that Luke ended up killing
his god.

- Thank you, Ethan.
- Yeah.

I never heard rumors
about Trey and Luke's mother.

Is that really
what you think happened?

We're not thinking
anything yet.

- Right.
- Well, the answer is no.

I never heard anyone suggest

that Trey and Dr. Keller were...

Okay. Anything else about Trey
you can tell us?

No. He's a good kid.

For the most part.

- For the most part?
- What do you mean by that?

My son has already told
the police everything he knows.

Okay, well, we just need
to follow up on a few things

about his relationship
with Trey Franklin.

Now, Ethan, you told me
that Trey was cool.

Here, have a seat.

- That's right.
- So, there's been no issues

or problems
between the two of you?

- None.
- None?

Okay, well, here's the thing,
Ethan.

We just found out
that you and Trey got suspended

for getting into a fight
a week ago.

Wait. What's going on here?

Lying to the police
in a homicide investigation

is a very serious matter.

Serious enough to derail

that lacrosse scholarship
I heard about.

Okay, okay. Just...

Tell them what happened.

Can you leave?

I don't want to talk about this
with you here.

No. I'm not going anywhere.

Okay. But what I did...

The reason we fought...

I can't tell you.

- Ethan.
- You don't understand.

Just tell the truth. Now.

Your father's right.

Just tell us why you and Trey
got into a fight.

We need to talk to you
down at the station.

I already told you
everything I know.

Yeah? Well,
we talked to Ethan Miller.

- You know him, right?
- Sure. He's a friend of Luke's.

He said that you sexually
assaulted him

10 times, maybe 11.

That's preposterous.

Then you moved onto Trey.

Ethan got upset, punched him.

They both got suspended
from school.

They're kids. They fantasize
about older women.

It's a natural,
healthy fantasy.

Nope. There's nothing natural
or healthy about statutory rape.

Let's go.
You're coming with us.

*

Were you having a sexual
relationship with Trey Franklin

prior to the night
he was shot and killed?

Like I've been trying
to tell you,

he was obsessed with me.

That's a yes?

It's an absolute,
unequivocal no.

- What about Ethan?
- That's an absolute,

unequivocal no, too?

Correct.

So, Ethan was lying?

Of course he's lying!

Okay. Well, when he told me
what happened,

he started to cry.

And then he turned
to his father,

and he begged him
not to hate him.

We have a believable
15-year-old boy in there

who is claiming that you
sexually assaulted him

and Trey Franklin.

Making things worse,
Trey is dead.

Because you told your son
that he was raping you,

when, in fact,
you were raping him.

- You're making this up.
- The sooner you tell us

the truth, the better this is
gonna be for you.

And more importantly, Luke.

Don't you presume to tell me
what's best for my son.

- I'm not presuming anything.
- I'm just stating facts.

My understanding of the law is

unless I'm under arrest,
I'm free to go.

I'll be calling my lawyer.

- That's your right.
- We'll be in touch.

I'm sure we'll have a lot
to talk about.

*

She's a stone-cold liar.

A psychiatrist...

who's abusing teenage boys,

emotionally damaging
her own son.

That is deeper than lying, man.
That is pathological.

And we just let her
walk out of here?

Look. I want to track
her phone.

I need to vet Ethan's story.

She's smart. And a liar like
that... she covers her tracks.

That's why we need
hard evidence

that she cannot lie
her way out of.

But first we need
to make absolutely sure

that Luke had no prior knowledge

of what was going on
with his mother and Trey.

- That's crazy.
- No way would my mom and Ethan...

He's a liar... he's lying.

- Listen.
- I know this is hard to hear...

Because it's not true.

My mom told me
you were gonna say this.

Just listen to what they say,
Luke.

I'm sorry
to have to tell you this.

But it's not just Ethan.
We also believe

Trey and your mom were having...

She said you were gonna
say that, too!

There's no way that... that...

It's just not true.

My mom would never do that.

Okay.

I think Luke is being
completely honest.

- Well, of course he is.
- He's a good kid.

His mother,
on the other hand, is...

Is what?

Complicated.

Dr. Keller,
is there anything

in Nicole's past
or your relationship

that might help explain this...
This type of behavior?

She is a malignant narcissist,

probably borderline.

I'm a psychiatrist as well.

So, this lying, manipulating,

abusive pattern of behavior's

been going on for a long time?

Since the day I met her.

Nicole is like the best
and worst woman you've ever met

wrapped in one.

Yeah, we've been getting that.

Well, when we first met,
she's... she's charming.

She's brilliant.

But gradually, her sickness
began to reveal itself.

How do you mean?

Look, with Nicole...

This woman truly believes
that she's special,

that she deserves this unique
and constant admiration.

She lacks compassion, empathy.

Yet, at the same time,
she is remarkably fragile.

She has no true sense of self,

and I... I just...
I couldn't take it.

- So you left her.
- Yes.

Yes. Look, but I tried
to make it work.

I-I couldn't.

You just let Luke stay there,
live with her,

knowing Nicole has
all these issues?

No. I fought like hell
for custody,

but the judge sided with her,
because, I'm telling you,

this woman... she is incredibly
charming and persuasive.

I never thought
she'd destroy her own son.

Just tell me you're not gonna
charge Luke with a crime.

Your ex-wife is
the criminal here.

We're gonna speak with the ADA.

*

I don't think that Luke
intentionally shot Trey.

He truly believes that his
mother was being assaulted.

- I agree.
- Council, look.

Luke had no clue that his mother
was using his friends sexually.

He just happened to walk in.
I mean, if he hadn't

gotten into an argument
with his father that night,

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

Nicole is the one who's lying,
not Luke.

And this proves it.

Lab results are back.
Traces of fresh semen were found

on a towel in Nicole's bedroom
upstairs.

DNA matches Trey's.

She said Trey was upstairs
that night?

We asked her point blank,
and she denied it.

- Arrest her.
- Statutory rape?

Oh, I'm thinking a lot more
than that.

- Let's talk about that.
- Okay, time's up.

- What?
- I'm sorry, sir.

NYPD. We're gonna need the room.

- Are you kidding me?
- Nope.

Look,
just get out of here, man. Go.

First, you lie to my son.

Now you harass me
in my place of business?

- Stop talking.
- You're under arrest.

On what charges?

Third degree rape
of a minor.

- I'm the victim here.
- And murder.

- Murder?
- I didn't murder anyone.

- Look, lady. Turn around.
- Come on.

Get her out of here.

Okay, look, look, look.

Our only goal was
to follow the evidence

and bring the person responsible
for Trey Franklin's death

to justice, and that person is
Nicole Keller.

To cry rape while she herself

was sexually assaulting
a teenage boy

with her son ten feet away,
holding a rifle,

shows such depraved indifference
to Trey Franklin's life

that the DA's office feels
compelled to punish this woman

to the fullest extent
of the law.

Thank you.

We applaud Mr. Barba's courage
in taking on this case.

Our 15-year-old son, Trey,
was abused by a manipulative

and remorseless 45-year-old
psychiatrist.

Because of her, he's dead.

Let's go.

Last Tuesday night,
Dr. Nicole Keller

was the victim
of a sexual assault,

and if it weren't for
the actions of her son, Luke,

she might have been killed.

Dr. Keller is a respected
and empathetic psychiatrist

who was simply trying
to help Trey Franklin,

and despite the fact
that he sexually assaulted her,

she is devastated
by his tragic death.

And to suggest that she had
anything to do with this

is absolutely outrageous.

Lieutenant Benson, this towel,
marked exhibit D,

was taken from the home
of the defendant.

- Are you familiar with this item?
- Yes.

Can you tell us which part
of the house it was taken from?

- The master bedroom.
- Where is that located?

On the top floor
of the brownstone.

Did you receive a report from
the crime lab about this towel?

Yes. Trace evidence of fresh
semen was found on the towel.

The DNA was a match
to Trey Franklin.

When you questioned
the defendant

in the aftermath
of the shooting,

did she mention
that Trey had been

in the top floor
of the brownstone?

No. She specifically stated

that he was downstairs
the entire time,

and then, in a subsequent
interview, restated it.

Thank you. Nothing further.

No questions, Your Honor.

Prosecution calls Luke Keller.

When you walked
into the downstairs kitchen,

what did you see?

My mother bent over

with a man behind her,
on top of her.

Did you know it was Trey?

- No!
- Then what happened?

My mother looked at me
and screamed,

"Help! He's raping me."

Did she make eye contact
with you?

- Yes.
- Did she see the rifle?

Objection. Speculation.

- Sustained.
- Rephrase:

Did she ever look down
at your hands?

Yes.

I think so.

After your mother looked down
at your hands and yelled,

"Help! He's raping me,"
what did you do?

I pulled the trigger.

But I was just trying
to scare him away.

I just wanted to save my mom
from what was happening.

Nothing further.

That must have been traumatic,

walking in on your mother
like that.

- Yes.
- And you're young.

You don't know a lot about sex.

Must have looked to you
like she was very frightened.

Right?

Yeah. I mean, it looked bad.

So, when she yelled,
"Help! He's raping me,"

you believed her.

Yes. At the time.

But Lieutenant Benson told me
about what they found.

Yes, but at the time,
in your mind,

Trey was sexually assaulting
your mother?

Yes, but it was all happening
so fast.

I... I just reacted.

Right. You reacted
to what you saw:

A man attacking your mother.

As for the rifle, you have
no idea if your mother saw it.

I mean, you have no way
of knowing

what her eyes were
actually focused on.

Yeah. I... I guess.

Especially
since she was being raped.

- Objection.
- Withdrawn.

One other thing, Luke.

The prosecutor, Mr. Barba,

made a deal with you

including no jail time

for testifying
against your mother...

Even though you're the one

who killed Trey Franklin,
correct?

Yes.

Nothing further.

You may step down.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Come on.
Let's get you out of here.

*

I tried my best,
but this is all my fault.

I didn't have
to pull the trigger.

It took a lot of courage
to get up on that stand.

Come on, Luke. Let's go.

I'll walk you out.

- Luke. Luke.
- Mom.

*

Poor kid doesn't know
whether to hate her or love her.

It's hard to give up
on your mother,

no matter how sick she may be.

So, what happened?

I was in the kitchen,
pouring a glass of wine.

Then I saw Trey walking
toward me.

He grabbed me and kissed me,
hard, aggressive.

I told him to stop,
but he pulled up my nightgown

and put his penis inside me.

- Then what happened?
- I started to scream.

He put his hand over my mouth,
told me to shut up

or he'd kill me.

A few minutes later, I saw Luke.

What did you say to him?

Well, I screamed, "Help!"

I screamed, "I'm being raped!"

Did you know he had a gun
in his hand?

No. I was in shock.

I was being attacked.

What happened
after you yelled "rape"?

I heard a loud,

horrible gunshot,

and then it was over.

Nothing further.

Trey showed up at your house
at 9:00 at night.

Your son wasn't home,
but you let him in anyway?

I felt empathy
for his turbulent home life.

You kept telling the police
that... "his turbulent home life,"

even though his parents are
happily married

and he's a straight-A student.

Grades are not indicative
of psychological

or emotional problems.

We're not interested in your
psycho-babble for the moment,

but thank you so much
for sharing.

Um, you also told the police

that Trey stayed downstairs
all night,

and yet his semen was found
on a towel in your bedroom,

on the top floor
of your brownstone.

Is there a question here,
Your Honor?

Yes. How did it get there?

- I have no idea.
- Maybe he snuck up to my room

and masturbated that night.

Or maybe you had an initial
sexual encounter with Trey

in your room, then brought him
down to the kitchen

- to have more sex.
- Objection.

I'll allow.

That's not what happened.

That's exactly what happened.

You let him into your home
late at night

while wearing lingerie.

- It was a nightgown.
- We're not gonna argue

about semantics.

This is what you were wearing.

Yes. But I was ready for bed.

Or maybe you were ready
to sexually assault

a 15-year-old boy.

You let him into your house
while wearing only a nightgown.

An hour later,
your son interrupted

you and Trey in the kitchen.

Even though you saw a rifle
in his hand, you cried "rape"

to cover up the fact that you
were abusing his friend.

- Trey raped me.
- No. You raped him.

- Objection.
- Withdrawn.

*

Your Honor,
I'd like to testify again.

I need to change my defense.

What?

I've been lying.

I just want to tell the truth.

The real truth.

Uh, Your Honor, we should
discuss this matter in private.

Agreed.

She's had a change of heart,
Your Honor.

She wants to tell the truth.

What the hell
does that even mean?

You don't get
to suddenly tell the truth

because the jury isn't
buying your lies.

I have the right to redirect
the testimony of my witness,

and in the course
of that redirection,

my client will offer
a new defense.

What are you talking about,
Mr. Buchanan?

Dr. Keller's new testimony
will contradict

her prior testimony.

So, she's willing to admit
to the jury, to the judge,

that she perjured herself?

She is. She just wants
to clear her conscience,

and let the chips fall
where they may.

I agree in concept,
but first I'd like to know

what this new defense is.

Tell the jury
exactly what happened.

Trey Franklin and I were
in the kitchen having sex.

Then Luke walked in on us

and shot his friend in the head.

So, you didn't yell,
"Help! He's raping me"?

- No.
- Did you make eye contact

with Luke prior to him
pulling the trigger?

No, I did not.

Then what happened?

What happened was
I realized

I didn't want my son
to go to prison,

so I told the police
that Trey had raped me,

and Luke killed him
to protect me.

Oh, my God.

- But that was a lie?
- Yes.

And Luke knew
that you and Trey were involved

- in a sexual relationship?
- Yes.

How?

One time, I saw him
watching us having sex.

- Okay, that's enough, honey.
- We're gonna go. Let's go.

No. I want to hear.

What was your son doing?

He was... he was in the doorway,
masturbating.

You don't need to hear this,
sweetheart.

Dr. Keller, are you saying

your son has a romantic
attraction for you?

Yes.

It's not as unusual
as you might think.

- Yes, that's enough, honey.
- I'm taking you out.

Right now. Let's go.

Luke, it's my fault.

I should've taken better care
of you.

I should never have
gotten involved with Trey.

I take full responsibility
for this.

- Come on, honey.
- Even though my son shot

- and killed Trey.
- Luke, enough.

Objection, Your Honor.

Sustained. Mr. Buchanan,
any more questions?

Um, nothing else,
Your Honor.

- We are adjourned.
- Your Honor, I want

to cross-examine
this defendant now,

today, while the jury is still...

That's enough for today.

We will resume tomorrow morning
at 9:00 a.m.

*

She's burying her own son
to create reasonable doubt.

Yeah, and she just might
get away with it.

The jury's got to see
what she's doing,

hate her as much as we do.

- Maybe.
- But a few skeptical jurors,

and she walks
on a murder charge.

Excuse me, Mr. Barba?

- Oh, it's all right.
- Show him in.

- I'm sorry to come down here.
- I didn't know where else to go.

- What is it?
- Luke wants to plead guilty.

- Guilty? Guilty of what?
- Murder.

But he can't even do that,
right? You gave him immunity.

Qualified immunity.

Listen,
if he changes his story now,

he starts lying
to protect his mother,

that deal...
That goes away.

The judge may very well
accept his plea.

Dr. Keller,
this makes no sense.

What exactly is Luke saying?

He now believes
he deliberately shot Trey,

that deep down he knew his
mother was screwing his friend.

She's spinning him
upside down.

She wants him to go to prison?

In her deluded mind, Luke is
responsible for what happened,

for her shame.

He is the enemy,

so taking him down...

That's gonna make her
feel whole again.

Even if it means convincing
her son he's responsible

for a murder he didn't commit?

Well,
we can't let her do that,

so, Mr. Keller,

where is Luke now?

I'd like to talk to him.

Hi, Luke.
Thanks for meeting me.

My dad said I had to.

You hanging in there?

How about maybe we could
take a drive?

- Yeah.
- Okay.

My car's right there.

How about we go
get something to eat?

Actually, I'm not hungry.

And I don't want people
staring at me.

We can talk here,
if that's okay.

Sure.

Okay.

So, Luke, I know that you want
to help your mother,

but you can't plead guilty.

Why?

I'm the one who shot Trey.

Because she begged
for your help.

You told that to me
and Detective Carisi

a dozen times, Luke.

You were trying
to save her life.

Yeah, I know,
but I knew she liked Trey,

and she was always real
talkative when he was around.

Did you ever see
the two of them together,

physically?

- No.
- Okay.

What my mother said about me...

You know, watching...
That's a lie.

I know that.

But I did hear her say that
Trey was really handsome once,

so maybe I did know,

and I just didn't know
that I knew.

Luke, listen to me:

What your mother did to Trey

and what she did to Ethan...

That's a crime.

It's called statutory rape.

I was trying to save her.

I know that.

You are a good son.

And you are a very brave person.

I shot Trey.

That makes me a killer.

Look at me.

You didn't intend to kill Trey.

You know that.
I know that.

And your mother knows that.

Your mother told me
the hunting story.

That... that you had a deer
right in your sights,

and you couldn't
pull the trigger,

because you couldn't kill
a living, breathing animal.

That's who you are.

And it's not your job
to sacrifice your life for hers.

*

Mr. Barba,
are you ready to begin

your cross-examination
of the defendant?

No, Your Honor.

I'd like to recall a witness:

Luke Keller.

Luke, did you intentionally
shoot Trey Franklin

because you were angry at him

for being
in a sexual relationship

with your mother?

No.

That's not true.

I shot him because I thought
he was raping her.

And why did you think that?

Because she looked me
in the eye and yelled,

"Help. He's raping me."

*

Members of the jury,
have you reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What say you?

On the charge
of second degree murder,

we find the defendant guilty.

On the charge of third degree
rape of a minor,

we find the defendant guilty.

The state of New York
thanks you for your service.

Court is adjourned.

- Luke! I love you.
- Nicole, no.

And I forgive you!

I do! Do you hear me?
Do you hear me?

I'm still your mother!

I'll always be your mother,
no matter what you've done!

I will always be your mother!

- Let's go.
- Congratulations, Lieutenant.

You've convinced my son
I'm the devil.

No, Nicole.

You did that all by yourself.

You okay?

Look.

He's a strong kid.
He'll be fine.

You really believe that?

Can I buy you a drink?

- No, thanks.
- I got to go home to see Noah.

I got to...

I just want to be with my boy.

*