All language subtitles for The.Staircase.S01E01.WEBRip.x264-ION10

Oh fuck.

Donald Trump We want products
made by our own workers

in our factories,
stamped with those

four magnificent words...

Trump ...made in the USA.

Are the kids here?

The kids? No, Michael.

Let's go!

Alright, you fucker.

911 Durham 911,
what's your emergency?

1810 Cedar street.

- Please.
- What's wrong?

My wife, she had an accident.

She's still breathing.

What kind of accident?

She fell down the stairs.

She's still breathing.
Please come.

- - Is she conscious?
- - What?

- Is she conscious?
- No, she's not conscious.

How many stairs
did she fall down?

- - What?
- - How many stairs?

15, 20, I don't know.

Please get somebody
here right away. Please.

Dispatching the ambulance

while I ask you questions.

911 operator: Durham 911,
what is your emergency?

Where are they?

This is 1810 Cedar Street.

She's not breathing. Please.
Please, will you hurry up.

911 operator: Sir, calm
down, they're on the way.

Can you tell me for sure
she's not breathing.

Sir. Sir?

That party was lame.

I hope no one saw us
walk out together.

Are your parents gonna be up?

Yeah. But they won't
even see us come in.

Okay.

Todd?

Todd, wake up!

What the fuck?

The fuck!

Hey, wh-what's going on here?

Do you live here?

No, my, my parents do.

Wh-what's going on?

- Have you been drinking?
- What?

No. I mean, yeah, we just came

from a Christmas
party down the street.

- Todd? Todd?
- She family, too?

- No, no, I'm...
- No, she's one of my friends.

Can you please just let me in.

Alright, but just you.

Thank you.

Dad! Kathleen!

Hey.

Hey, what's going on?

Hey, what's going on?

Is this your home, sir?

Yeah, what?-what happened?

Dad! Dad! Dad! Dad!

Dad, what happened?
What happened.

Are you okay? What
happened to Kathleen?

Kathleen...

- Something's wrong.
- Dad, what happened?

Something's wrong, god!

Oh my god.

- Is she dead?
- I'm afraid so, son.

What, what happened?

Your dad called 911,

said his wife fell
down the stairs.

She... she fell?

Ohh.

This is, um...

Is there a way to
bring her back?

No. She's gone.

Dad.

Kathleen's dead, Dad.

- No.
- Dad! Dad!

- Dad.
- No! No!

Sir! Get him off her, now!

No!

Sir, you're gonna
have to... sir!

Okay, sir, you need to let go.

Son, he's gonna have to let go.

Sir, now!

Dad. Dad, you have to let go.

Please, Dad. You have to let go.

Sit him down!

I got you, I got you.

I've got you, I've got you.

Officer! Yeah, I need
some help in here.

Can I get some
assistance, please?

Is that your mother?

It's, uh, it's my
stepmother, yeah.

Sarge, what's your ETA?

Copy, I'm with the
husband and stepson

in the kitchen standing by.

- Coroner's en route.
- What happens now?

We've got some more guys coming.

You and your dad
should just stay there.

When is the last time
you saw your mom?

I saw her tonight.

I'm really worried
about him. Jesus Christ!

Officer Can someone
quiet those dogs down?

Were they arguing?

No, they weren't arguing,
they were, they were drinking,

they were laughing.

Do you guys have, like, a
grief counselor or something?

We can make a request.

If you don't think he
can control himself,

- you can go outside...
- Can't control himself?

And get some air.

Here. Let's, let's
get you cleaned up.

Come on.

I got you. I got you.

I got you.

What... what happened, Dad? Huh?

Uh, we were outside

we were,

and then she came in,

and then I came in, uh,

and I found her,

Come on, Dad, let's, let's
get you cleaned up. Here.

Alright, Sarge, in here.

That's him by the sink, sir.

I'm Sergeant Borden.

I need you to stop
doing that right now.

Turn off the water, please.

Okay, fine, but I've asked
for a grief counselor.

Is there a grief
counselor coming or not?

Sergeant Mr. Peterson,

the house has now been
declared a crime scene.

We'll need to keep you all
here until further notice.

- Ahh!
- Oh!

Okay, come on.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

Okay.

Just a little for you.

Thank you!

A little more for me.
Just a little, yeah.

- You sure?
- Mm-hmm.

Okay. Now speech.

- Speech, speech, speech.
- No.

Well... thank you, Mom.

For... for everything

and for that,
like, amazing note.

I'm expecting you and Dad to
visit me in San Francisco.

Yes, of course.

- Of course.
- I love you.

Wait, you're, you're
starting without me?

There you are. Yes! And
we're about to eat too.

You'd think he'd get
home from the gym on time

at least once.

Dad, you still smell.
Go have a shower.

- I'll save you a glass.
- Hey, Dad?

Okay, Margaret, go get your,
uh, your mother's China

and grab the good linen
napkins from upstairs,

because this is a
special occasion.

Her baby girl is
going to college.

Oh!

- I love you!
- Oh, I want some!

Alright. Go upstairs already.

You're gonna make me cry.

And get your brother.

Todd!

Todd!

Don't give me that look.
And get the salad bowl.

You know, you never
wrote me a special note

when I went away.

Yeah. Well, it's
different, you know that.

Plus...

I don't over share with
them the way I do with you.

They don't know my pain.

Todd! Todd!

What? I'm on the phone!

Dinner's almost ready.

No, Nate, what I'm saying
is that we could be making

so much more on this
back-to-school stuff.

Nate We should just bully
them into buying stuff.

Right. Right, exactly.

I mean, it could
be funny, even like

a bag with wheels is for losers.

And then these are the
best backpacks to buy

and then links
where to buy them.

- Hey.
- Right.

Oh. Hey.

Hey, one sec, Nate. What's up?

Dinner's ready.

Alright, I'm just
finishing a call.

I'll be in my office.

Nate-Nate, we got this
dinner for Martha.

Let me, let me call
you back later.

- Todd, get the cup.
- Oh, okay.

Oh!

- How was that?
- That was...

You got to, you know...

Alright.

So to continue the tradition

started by Uncle Bill
and my dear old papa,

what the Brits call
"passin' the loving cup,"

but with a Peterson twist.

- Kathleen.
- Yes.

- You first.
- Oh god, okay.

Pass her down.

Okay.

Um, I'd like to make a toast

to... our beautiful
daughter Martha.

No matter what color
your hair is...

How about blue?

- Blue, green. Whatever.
- Good idea.

You are beautiful.

And you're my daughter.

Every day is going
to be an adventure.

So always stop and
think and appreciate

when you're having
a really good day.

You need to think to yourself,

"This is one of the
happiest days of my life,"

so you can retrieve it

and bring it to the
front of your mind.

And treasure it.

Lean on it when you're
having a bad time.

Because there are so
many better days ahead.

- To Martha.
- To Martha.

- Okay, here.
- Yep.

To... Mom.

I know we'll be gone,

but we're always here for you

the way that you've been for us.

Thank you.

- I love you.
- I love you.

- To Mom.
- To Mom.

Kathleen!

I'll go.

- Got it?
- Yeah.

To Dad.

Uh...

Thank you for always
being there for me.

May you succeed in politics

the way you
succeeded in writing.

- To Dad.
- Dad.

- To Michael.
- Thank you.

To my brother Clayton.

I know the last few years haven't
been the easiest for you...

Todd, Todd, we don't talk
about spring break, right?

Alright.

Um, I'm so proud of you.

Back to school and everything.

To Clayton.

- And to Becky. To Becky.
- And Becky.

- Clayton.
- Becky.

- Caitlin.
- Thank you.

Um

To a wonderful school
year for Martha.

That toast sucked.

Okay. 'Cause your
speech was amazing.

I hope somebody recorded
it for posterity.

Martha, I love you.

I hope you have
the best next year.

You'll be dancing on
a big stage someday.

- Love you, Caitlin.
- Love you.

- - To Martha again.
- - To Martha again.

Mike's turn.

Hmm.

Michael, what's going on?

Are you speechless?

No. No. Never.

- Yeah, never.
- Okay.

This toast is to all of us.

Now, I think there are
not many families...

Well, I know, I know there
are not many families

out there like us.

We're not perfect, god knows,

but we stick together.

And we love each other.

And so

to us.

- To us.
- To the Petersons.

The Petersons.

- To the Ratliffs.
- And the At water.

Mm.

Hello?

Uncle Bill.

Kathleen's dead.

Bill?

Bill, are you there?

What happened?

Dad was outside and, uh

when he, um

when he came in, he found her
at the bottom of the stairs.

I think she was pretty
shitfaced and fell.

Oh god.

And they've sequestered
us in Dad's office.

I mean, they won't even let
my friend go pee by herself.

They're, they're calling this
whole thing a crime scene.

Is this normal?

It's absolutely not normal.

Kathleen had a
meeting this morning.

We should let them know.

Dad's in there
talking to himself.

Tell Mike not to say anything.

Anybody wants to talk
to either of you guys,

tell 'em your attorney
is on the way.

Okay.

Don't-don't don't say a word.

Don't say a word.

Is there somewhere
you guys can go?

I mean, we could probably
go to Larry's next door.

If they let us.

I'm going to get on
the first flight I can.

I'll get you guys out of there.

Love you.

Okay. I love you too.

Who else is here?

Michael, the son,
and his friend.

Did anyone make a statement?

Nothing official, but
the son's friend said

she was here earlier.

I asked if she
witnessed any fighting

or anything like that.

She said everything seemed fine.

She didn't actually
see her, though.

Said she heard the wife
laughing in the other room,

but that's it.

Alright.

Mr. Peterson,

I'm Lieutenant
Investigator Art Holland.

This is a warrant granting
the Durham Police Department

and all related agencies the
right to search your home

and your premises
for any evidence

related to the death of
Mrs. Kathleen Peterson.

Do you understand?

Please instruct
everyone they're allowed

to re-enter the home
and commence the search.

We will need your car
keys for your vehicles,

and we'll need to collect your
clothing for evidence now.

Alright, we're good to go.

All teams move in.

Hello.

Uh, morning, Jim, I'm
sorry to call you so early.

That's okay. What's up?

Art - Around-40, a
husband calls 911,

saying his wife
fall down the stairs

but was still
breathing, hurry up.

Husband calls back
five minutes later

checking in on an ETA,

says she's not
breathing anymore.

Paramedics arrive a
few minutes after that.

They check her out. Report
she's six millimeters dilated.

EMT says she ain't had no life
in her heart at all for a while.

Medical Well, I don't
feel any fractures,

but there are
considerable wounds.

If this was a beating,

I'd say you're looking for
something long and hollow.

Sergeant Borden calls
me, wakes me up,

tells me I should
get down to the scene

because there's a lot of blood.

No sign of forced entry

and, and it don't
look like an accident.

Jim How much blood?

Like the woman's head exploded.

Where is this?

Uh, Forest Hills.

I imagine you're gonna be
getting calls about this

when you walk through the door.

The husband is Michael Peterson

and the deceased is
his wife Kathleen.

Michael Peterson,
Michael Peterson?

Oh yeah. That's why I wanted
to give you the heads up.

And you say there is
no sign of a break-in?

Big house, but
don't look like it.

Sounds like no one was here
except for him and his wife.

Thanks for the heads up, Art.

- Alright, Jim.
- Mm-hmm.

Bye now.

Officer, can I take my
car now, the Subaru?

Yup, you're all clear.

You sure you don't want
to make a statement?

I told you, no.

- Woman Hello.
- Candace?

Hello?

Is Mark there?

No, he just left for work.

Uh, I need his car phone then.

Is everything okay?

I just need, need
to speak with Mark.

Alright. It's, uh, 804-554-3212.

I'll call you back.
Okay? Is that okay?

Is everything okay?
This feels strange.

Please, I really can't talk.

I'll just... I'll call you back.

Fuck!

- Mark Hello.
- Mark, it's Mike.

Oh, hey, Mike.

How are you doing this morning?

I couldn't tell Candace.

Kathleen's dead. She fell
down the stairs. She's dead.

Jesus, Mike. What...

I need you to tell
Candace and Lori.

Of course. Yeah, uh...

- I'm so sorry...
- Okay, thanks, Mark.

You let me know if
you need anything.

Thanks, Larry.

Dad, have some.

- What?
- Have some.

Uh, no.

Give me those numbers.

I'm going to call
the girls for you.

Yeah.

But don't just call them.
Like, I want someone there

to tell them, you know.

Yeah, I'll call the
sorority house for Caitlin.

I'll try the dorms for Margaret.

Shit, Margaret.

Is today the ninth?

It's Margaret's
birthday tomorrow.

Oh god, I hate
this, I hate this.

You have no idea, Carol,

how much I hate this.

I mean, I come into the
office, and I don't know

if I'm going to find
an envelope on my desk.

And when I see it, my heart just

sinks.

Because inside is
this damn list.

And it's just names,
there's no reason.

I know.

I know.

I just don't understand.

Did I make a mistake?
Was my work not good?

No. God, no, it's not that.

It's just the merger hasn't
played out as planned.

And Nortel can't
afford the redundancy.

It's that simple.

The severance package is okay.

I mean, it'll give
you time to look.

Is Eric still at Glassco?

For now.

Look, it's going to
be okay. I promise.

And if anything changes here...

Fuck it.

- I'm sorry.
- No, it's okay.

Well, I'm running very simply

because I'm sick of seeing

what these bozos in City
Hall are doing to this town.

So does this mean we can't
expect any more books from you?

Oh no, I'll always be a writer.

I just finished my
latest column, uh, today,

as a matter of fact about
the Bozo DA Jim Hardin

going after bingo halls
instead of real criminals.

Prior to writing his weekly
column for "The Sun,"

Michael Peterson was
best known as a novelist,

- finding success writing war novels.
- Oh, and still is.

So I have to ask, because
it's going to come up.

You ran for mayor in '99.

- Oh god, here we go.
- Yes.

- Yeah. Motherfucker.
- You were in the lead

and then a story came
out that you had lied

about receiving a
Purple Heart in Vietnam.

It arguably cost
you the mayor ship,

and you hadn't in fact injured

your leg in combat,
as you claim.

No, I-I-I had been injured

in a car accident while on duty.

But your injury was not
sustained in combat.

Uh, no, no, it wasn't.

Look, I, I have faith

that the voters will see past
that hiccup in my character.

My opponent, Howard Clement,

is not going

to bring about change in Durham.

- I will.
- You... putz!

There will be several debates
in the coming months...

Papa needs practice.

Before hitting the
polls November sixth.

Hmm.

Hello.

Hey.

Uh, I'm, I'm good. You?

So are we, uh, we
set for the fifth?

Oh, well, you're coming
from, uh, from where again?

Yeah, well, uh,

either the, the hotel
by the airport there

or, or at my place.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Well, you ready to
get that ass pounded?

Hmm. Well, alright, then.

Hey, Mike? Can you give
me a hand with dinner?

I kept an eye on the
stock market today.

Nortel was holding steady.

That's a good sign.

Mm, it's positive. Yeah.

As long as the company
keeps its head above water.

I mean, you'd think with
all I've built there,

I'd be secure, but who knows.

We're fine,
Kathleen. We're fine.

Maybe we should let
Essy go for a while

and save some money. Hmm?

Shouldn't be too hard
to keep the house clean

- without the kids around.
- Hm.

Medical We've got blood
embedded under the nails.

There were no defensive
wounds on the husband.

- It could be her own.
- Hm.

We've got something
between the fingers.

Can I get the tweezers?

Here you go.

Medical Looks like
a pine needle.

Pine needle?

Bag it for evidence.

Okay.

Medical Looks like
this is her own hair.

Let's bag it and test it.

Feel this.

Feel this gently.

Gently.

This is the superior
cornu of the left thyroid.

Until I get in there I
can't say for sure but

I'm guessing she
didn't die right away.

She struggled.

Medical Gentle.

Uncle Bill's here, Dad.

Clayton is pulling up now.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

Okay.

Mike.

Uh, I'm gonna

ask you this question and

no matter what the answer
is, it stays in this room.

Jesus Christ.

- No.
- I'm sorry, I'm...

I mean, I don't
know why I even...

From what you've told me,

it sounds like
they think you did,

so we, we need to
get you a lawyer.

Can't you represent him?

No, I-I-I do estates.

I don't do criminal law.

I certainly can't do
criminal law in Durham.

How about Larry?

I don't think
Larry's tough enough.

What about, um, the guy

the one you considered

before Clay went away
for spring break.

- Oh, David Rudolf?
- Yeah.

Fuck, Bill.

He's the kind of guy you
get when you're guilty.

Well, he's, he's, he's smart.

He's really smart.

He, he, he's not one of those,

you know, good ol' boys,

like so many of
the guys down here.

Have you told the girls?

Todd called the school.
There's someone there.

Shit.

The cake.

I need you to go get
a cake for Margaret.

What do you mean?

It's the funeral home.

Thank you.

Hello?

I need you to get a
cake for Margaret.

I'm going to stay here with Dad.

No, seriously. Not right now.

You're my kid brother,
don't tell me what to do.

I'm not telling you
what to do, Clay.

I'm asking for some
help here. Please.

Yeah. Alright.

Don't fucking snap
at me like that.

I was the one that was there and
saw Kathleen all fucking dead

and fucking covered
in blood and shit.

Alright, alright!

I've kept my shit together.

Alright, I get it.
I'm sorry, man.

The, uh... funeral
home said that

the autopsy was more
thorough than expected.

Jesus Christ.

Just as soon as they
started working on her,

the police came back.

Apparently, the
cops found an, uh,

open condom in your bedroom.

And they decided to
perform a rape test.

A rape test?

What condom? We
didn't use condoms.

It's a witch hunt.

Kathleen said it.
She said, "Mike",

"stop going after City
Hall, the DA, and the cops.

It's gonna bite you in the ass."

Revenge, Bill,
that's what this is.

There were 35 total cuts,

wounds, and contusions
on her body.

Seven lacerations alone
on the posterior scalp.

The rape test came
back negative.

No bruising or contusions
around the vagina or anus.

Chief Medical What do you think
about the broken superior cornu

of the left thyroid?

Could indicate strangulation,
but it's not conclusive.

Now, what I can't explain is

why there are no
skull fractures.

That's what you would
normally see in a beating.

You didn't put in
the cause of death?

I did.

She bled out.

Without skull fracture,
blunt force trauma...

Someone holding something
caused the impact

to make these wounds.

That's not for me
to conclude in here.

You think the murder weapon
just flew through the air

held by no one?

I mean, you can leave as is

or make any changes you see fit

based on what I just said.

Hardin wants to get this
to SBI sooner than later.

Have you given a statement?

Uh, no. Nothing official.

Just, uh,

you know, I told them
I came in and, um,

I found her there.

You didn't hear or see anything?

I have to take this.
It's, uh, Todd.

Hey, Todd.

- So...
- I just found her there.

She, she was breathing.

And then she wasn't.

How long between
when she left you

- to when you found her?
- I don't know.

It couldn't be more
than half an hour.

You didn't hear her
scream, call your name or?

I, I didn't hear
a goddamn thing.

Alright.

You know Rae Carruth?

- The football player.
- Yeah, of course, I do.

I represented him last October.

- Yeah, I know.
- Hmm.

Case had a lot of moving parts,

multiple charges.

He-he shot his
pregnant girlfriend.

All I'm saying is, we
helped him quite a bit.

Got him a vastly
reduced sentence.

Though God willing, you
won't need any help.

But sometimes good people
get dragged into situations

that turn out bad.

Okay. So

how much is it going to cost?

A case like this,
you're going to need

jury consultants,
blood analysts.

Between four and five hundred K.

Half a million bucks.

I've got five kids to
worry about, you know.

Three still in college.

Good defense isn't cheap.

I shouldn't need a defense.
I shouldn't even be here.

Does Kathleen have
life insurance?

- Savings?
- Yes.

So...

When it comes to
staying out of prison,

anything's up for grabs.

Sorry about that.

Martha and Caitlin are here.

Candace and Lori too.

So we're going to
meet at Larry's.

Okay. Then maybe I
shouldn't keep you.

- Did you two...
- Yeah, yeah, we're, uh...

Well, um

regardless of whether
or not you, um,

end up hiring me,
one piece of advice:

Keep your family close.

You'll need them on your side.

- Thank you.
- Of course,

- Nice to meet you.
- You too.

- That was fast.
- Yeah.

What do you think?

I don't know.

My guy over at
the Durham station

says the crime scene photos
are a goddamn nightmare.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

But autopsy isn't
back yet, so...

- We'll see.
- 911 call?

Sounds like he's in shock.

It doesn't feel
like an act to me.

Pastrami any good here?

Hmm.

They're all in here.

- - Margaret.
- - I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

My flight got canceled

'cause of some terror scare.

Are you okay?

Yeah, yeah, I just wanted

to get to you guys.

Ask him.

Mike, what's goin' on?

Um...

Lori and I are feeling

a little in the dark over here.

About what?

Uh, what happened?

Well, she fell.

Yeah, but it was our
sister's last night.

Can we talk about this later?

We would really
like to do this now.

- Could you just say more...
- I just sold a book

to a producer in Hollywood.

With everything going
on at Nortel, it, it

was, uh, it was good
to have some good news.

Um...

I went, I went to
Blockbuster, got a movie.

"America's Sweethearts."
It was so dumb.

Kathleen was, was cracking up.

And, uh

it was a nice day.

And then Todd came by.

Yeah, around-00.

I was meeting a friend
there at the house,

and we were going to
this Christmas party.

Mom was pretty tipsy already.

When they left,
Kathleen got a, a call

about a work email.

She was, she was annoyed
that she'd have to,

you know, wake up early.

But it was a Saturday, and
we were having a nice night.

So we went out to the pool,

and, uh... we just
smoked and talked,

you know, about the
kids, about Christmas.

And then she said,
"I have to go up."

"I have that call
in the morning."

And that was it.

I went in later, and I
found her laying there.

But what are the
police looking for?

Oh, I have no idea.

You know, the cops around
here, they hated me

ever since I started
writing in the local paper.

You know, I tried to expose
what's going on in this town,

and that they... and now
they're torturing us.

They've been awful.

I've never seen anything like
it in my 30 years of law.

Um, will you pass the
mashed potatoes, please.

Candace, are you sure you
don't need a place to stay?

No, thank you.

We're good. Uh, I booked
us a room at the, uh

the inn there in
Chapel Hill, so...

Let us know if you
change your mind.

Thank you, Larry.

Should we, um...

Mike, have you thought
about the wake?

We're, we're all set
at the Howerton Bryan?

- It's a nice place.
- Okay.

Uh, how about music?

We could play The
Mills Brothers.

That's nice.

- What song?
- "You Always"...

Any really. She loved,
she loved them all.

Great idea.

What is going on?

Kathleen would have wanted
you to have some cake.

Even with everything going on.

Let's just get
the photos and go.

Should we get out of here?

It's kind of nice in here
with all of her stuff.

What is that?

It's a song I was going
to suggest to play.

I almost blurted it out.

"You Always Hurt
the One You Love."

- Lori...
- What?

It's a good song.

- Kathleen loved it.
- I know.

Why didn't he tell us himself?

Why call our husbands?

Imagine him having
to say that to us.

I mean, he's a mess.

We're just all going to
be a mess for a while.

It's a great idea, you know.

We've got all this time.
We can do what we want.

I told you that having
an empty nest was fun.

Oh, come on.

We would party like this

with the kids upstairs too.

That must be where
they get it from.

- Oh, you want a sip?
- I do.

I think. Yes.

Thank you.

You're so polite. Thank you.

Oh, man.

Okay. Come on.

Amazing, and good culture, too.

You know, we were at
this Italian restaurant

in, uh, in Miami,

and it was in, um...

What was the name of
that neighborhood?

Uh, it was Miami.

Uh, yes, dear, yes.
It, it was Miami.

- She's, uh...
- What? Shut up.

Uh, fuck it, doesn't matter.

So, uh, so anyway, we, I
was waiting for my Pino,

and, and she was waiting
for the Mexican Coke.

Which is just a
Coke with real sugar

and not that corn syrup.

- Yeah, it's better.
- Uh, okay, so anyhow.

And then, then the
boss comes over.

And he's holding
a bottle of Coke,

and I swear to
God he presents it

like, like it was
a bottle of wine.

And he says, no, very seriously,

"We did not have the
Coke from Mexico.

This Coke is from Atlanta."

Hey, who wants to go swimming?

What are you talking about?

Don't be ridiculous.

Kathleen Peterson, everyone!

Mike, something's wrong.

What's going on?

What happened?

Two planes just crashed
into the World Trade Center.

Reporter This was after the
first airplane made impact.

We'll be hearing from the
president in a little while...

This is really bad.

Reporter ...the White
House knows about this,

which appears to be deliberate.

Reporter Do you know
whether or not officials

there at the White House
have been made aware...

- Everybody's waiting.
- I can't see her like that.

Here.

You can't be

seen absent.

You know, Rudolf's smart,

but I don't want to
go down that road.

The last thing I want to do
now is bankrupt the family.

No.

I'm just saying if
there's a grand jury...

You know, this would be a
lot easier if you stood up.

I didn't do anything wrong.

Okay. Well, I will look for
an alternative tomorrow.

You know, if it comes to
it, we'll have somebody

who's ready, somebody
who's not going

to cost NFL player money.

Hey.

There's cops downstairs.

Haven't you already searched?

Yes, sir. This is just
a follow-up search.

All very standard practice
in this kind of case.

Mr. Peterson.

Mr. Peterson, -Do you mind?!

I'm getting dressed
to go see my dead wife

in a coffin!

Calm down. Take a breath.

Oh, Ronnie.

Mike.

I'm going to grab a drink.

Can you grab the bags?

I shouldn't hang out here long.

Bill! Come here!

What? What's going on?

Just Bill.

- What's going on?
- Shut the door.

Jesus Christ. Look at this mess.

- What are these guys looking for?
- They took the computer.

They must have printed
this out before they left.

Was there a lot of
this stuff on there?

I saved images from an article.

Michael.

This is a message.

"We got you."

I'm cooked.

No.

I'm home cooking.

David The phone!

It's for you!

- No one calls me this late.
- Charlene!

Get the phone!

Ugh!

Hello?

Yes.

Yes, just a moment, please.

It's for you.

Really?

Thanks.

Fuck.

Shit.

Dave Rudolf.

David, it's Michael Peterson.

I need your help.

Alright, lock and load.

Are we ready, boys?

Fred.

You want to join us
for the grand jury.

Freda, if the grand
jury goes our way,

I don't just want
you on the team.

You'll be my right hand.

We need a strong, fierce

feminine presence on this case.

And that's you.

Is that Kathleen's autopsy?

- Hmm.
- I've seen it.

You show it to the family?

No, I haven't made
that call yet.

Uh, but this isn't the autopsy.

This... no, this
is something else.

See that guy over
there? David Rudolf.

High-priced lawyer

from Chapel Hill
by way of New York.

What a fuckin' prick.

Good morning.

I'm Jim Hardin,

District Attorney
for Durham County.

And I'm here to present
the case of the people

against Michael Iver Peterson.

And when I'm done,

I'm going to ask
all of you to vote

on one count of murder

in the first degree.

Hello.

Hey, Mike. It's David.

I'm sorry, Mike,
they're going to indict.

You'll have to turn yourself
in to the police this evening.

Alright, David.

Um...

Uh... alright, um, Mike...

No.

Ask him if there's a chance
they can get you out on bail.

Tell, um, tell Bill we're
going to do what we can,

but, uh, it's the holidays.

It could take a little while.

I've, um, I've
alerted the media.

We need to be one step
ahead of the DA now.

You and your family need
to make a statement.

In order of importance,

it's, uh, Kathleen's
actual biological family

that they need to hear from.

We, um, really need
Caitlin to speak.

Okay, David.

Okay? Alright. And, Mike, Mike?

Bring some money, like 50 bucks

for the commissary
and bring a Bible.

- Bible?
- If you've got one.

I'd rather bring
a fucking Quran.

Well, um,

it's optics at this point.

It's, um, it's, it's important.

Okay. Okay, whatever you say,

- Alright. Alright.
- Okay, I'll see you there.

Alright. See you here.

Well... that's it.

Over here, everybody.

Kathleen was my life.

I've whispered her name in
my heart a thousand times.

She is there, but I
can't stop crying.

I would never have done
anything to hurt her.

I am innocent of these charges,

and we will prove it in court.

We do not want you
to say anything

against your family.

That's not our intent.

We just would like

the opportunity
to present to you

what we have learned

so that you, as
Kathleen's family,

aren't out of the
loop, so to speak.

We have some photos
we'd like to share.

Freda They're pretty shocking.

You can say, "No, uh-uh",

"we don't need to
see that, Freda.

Thank you very much."

But we just feel y'all deserve
the right to make that choice.

We, we'd like to see 'em.

My mother and Mike had

an absolutely
loving relationship,

and there is,
there's no way that

either of them would ever wish

any sort of harm
on the other one.

My mother would be
absolutely appalled.

Thank you. That's all.

There were 35 cuts and bruises.

And seven

of these

deep lacerations to the scalp.

How... I don't...

Our autopsy shows
the cause of death

was blunt force trauma.

A homicide.

And we believe Mr. Peterson

bludgeoned Kathleen to death
and may have strangled her.

Why would he do that?
It doesn't make sense.

Our officers found
countless images,

like these

on his computer and in his desk.

And we believe

your sister found these on
his computer that night.

And she confronted your
brother-in-law about it,

and a fight ensued.

What?

Oh my god...

It doesn't make sense.

I knew it.

I knew it.

I knew he was hiding something

when he didn't have the
nerve to call us himself.

I knew it.

Hey...

We couldn't sleep.

We've heard so many
wonderful stories

about our sister this past week.

I just can't imagine
she would have accepted

this in her home.

In her marriage.

Let me do it.

I'm hopeless without you.

Mmm. No, you're still young.

And you're starting
your life again today.

Hmm?