All language subtitles for The.Staircase.S01E01.1080p.WEBRip.x265-RARBG

(clock ticking)

(ticking continues)

(birds chirping)

(groans)

(groans)

(reporter on television,
indistinct)

(television continues)

Oh fuck.

(scoffs)

Donald Trump (on TV):
We want products
made by our own workers

in our factories,
stamped with those

four magnificent words...

(child giggling)

(running footsteps)

Trump (on TV):
...made in the USA.

Are the kids here?

Woman:
The kids? No, Michael.

Let's go!

(deep breath)

Alright, you fucker.

911 Operator: (on phone)
Durham 911,
what's your emergency?

Michael: (on phone)
1810 Cedar street.

-Please.
-Operator: What's wrong?

My wife, she had an accident.

She's still breathing

Operator:
What kind of accident?

Michael:
She fell down the stairs.

She's still breathing.
Please come.

-Operator: Is she conscious?
-Michael: What?

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

Operator:
How many stairs
did she fall down?

-Michael: What?
-Operator: How many stairs?

Michael:
15, 20, I don't know.

Please get somebody here
right away. Please.

Operator:
...dispatching the ambulance

while I ask you questions.

(dial tone)

911 operator: Durham 911,
what is your emergency?

Michael:
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?

(line disconnects)

(siren wailing)

Todd:
That party was lame.

Christina:
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.

-(chuckles)
-Okay.

(tense music playing)

Christina:
Todd?

Todd, wake up!

What the fuck?

The fuck!

(sirens wailing)

(firetruck honking)

Hey, wh-what's going on here?

Officer:
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.

-Christina: Todd? Todd?
-She family, too?

-Christina: 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, wha-what happened?
-(Michael mumbling)

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.

(sobbing)

(indistinct radio chatter)

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

(Michael sobbing)

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?

Officer:
No. She's gone.

(Michael sobbing)

Dad.

Kathleen's dead, Dad.

-No.
-Dad! Dad!

-Dad.
-No! No!

Officer:
Sir! Get him off her, now!

(shouting): No!

Officer:
Sir, you're gonna have to-- sir!

Okay, sir,
you need to let go.

Son, he's gonna have
to let go.

-(Michael sobbing)
-Officer: Sir, now!

Todd:
Dad. Dad, you have to let go.

Please, Dad.
You have to let go.

Officer:
Sit him down!

(Michael continues sobbing)

Todd:
I got you, I got you.

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

Officer:
Officer! Yeah, I need
some help in here.

Can I get some assistance,
please?

(Todd shushing)

Officer:
Is that your mother?

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

Officer:
Sarge, what's your ETA?

-(indistinct)
-Copy, I'm with the husband
and stepson

in the kitchen
standing by.

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

Officer: 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.

(dogs barking)

I'm really worried about him.
Jesus Christ!

Officer 2:
Can someone quiet
those dogs down?

Officer:
Were they arguing?

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

they were laughing.

(indistinct radio chatter)

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

Officer:
We can make a request.

If you don't think
he can control himself,

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

Officer:
...and get some air.

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

Come on.

I got you. I got you.

I got you.

(door closes)

What...
what happened, Dad? Huh?

Uh, we were outside...

we were...
(breathing heavily)

and then she came in...

and then I came in, uh...

and I found her,

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

Officer:
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 Borden:
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.

-Kathleen: 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.
-Martha: I love you.

Michael: 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.
-Todd: 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!

(laughter)

Kathleen: Alright.
Go upstairs already.

You're gonna make me cry.

And get your brother.

Margaret:
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 overshare with them
the way I do with you.

-They don't know my pain.
-(giggles)

(sighs)

Todd! Todd!

What? I'm on the phone!

Margaret:
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 (on phone):
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.

Michael:
I'll be in my office.

Nate-Nate, we got
this dinner for Martha.

Let me, let me
call you back later.

(classical music playing)

♪ ♪

(inaudible)

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

-(cork pops)
-All: Oh!

-How was that?
-That was...

(overlapping chatter)

You got to, you know...

(laughter)

Alright.

So to continue
the tradition

started by Uncle Bill
and my dear old papa,

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

-(all laughing)
-...but with a Peterson twist.

-Kathleen.
-Yes.

-You first.
-Oh god, okay.

(sighs)
Pass her down.

(clears throat)
Okay.

Um, I'd like
to make a toast

to... our beautiful
daughter Martha.

No matter what color
your hair is...

Michael:
How about blue?

-Kathleen:
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.
-All: To Martha.

-Okay, here.
-Margaret: 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.
-All: To Mom.

Kathleen!

I'll go.

-Got it?
-Yeah.

(clears throat)

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?

(laughing) 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.

(clears throat)

(sighs) Um...

to a wonderful
school year for Martha.

-(snickering)
-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.

-Todd: To Martha again.
-All: To Martha again.

Mike's turn.

(clears throat)

Hmm.

Kathleen:
Michael, what's going on?

Are you speechless?

No. No. Never.

-Yeah, never.
-Michael: 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.

-Clayton: The Petersons.
-(glasses clinking)

-To the Ratliffs.
-And the Atwater.

(glasses clinking)

Michael:
Mm.

(cell phone ringing)

(television, indistinct)

(ringing continues)

Hello?

Todd: (on phone)
Uncle Bill.

Kathleen's dead.

(phone clatters)

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.

Bill:
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.

Michael: Kathleen had
a meeting this morning.

We should let them know.

Todd: 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.

Bill:
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.

Bill:
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.

(Michael muttering)

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.

Officer:
Alright, we're good to go.

All teams move in.

(dog barking)

(phone ringing)

(ringing continues)

Man:
Hello.

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

That's okay.
What's up?

Art Holland:
Around 2:40,
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 Examiner: 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.

(car door slams)

Jim Hardin: (on phone)
How much blood?

Art:
Like the woman's
head exploded.

Jim:
Where is this?

Art:
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?

Art: 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.

♪ ♪

Jim:
Thanks for
the heads up, Art.

-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.

(sirens blaring)

(keypad beeping)

(line ringing)

(reporter on television,
indistinct)

(ringing continues)

-Woman (on phone): Hello.
-Candace?

Candace:
Hello?

Is Mark there?

No, he just left for work.

Michael: Uh, I need
his car phone then.

Is everything okay?

I just need,
need to speak with Mark.

Candace: 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!

(inhales deeply)

(exhales)

(dialing phone)

(line ringing)

-Mark (on phone): Hello.
-Mark, it's Mike.

Mark: 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.

Mark:
Jesus, Mike. What--

I need you
to tell Candace and Lori.

Mark:
Of course. Yeah, uh...

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

(hangs up)

(Michael sighs)

You let me know
if you need anything.

Todd: Thanks, Larry.

(door closes)

Dad, have some.

-What?
-Have some.

Uh, no.

Todd:
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.

(crying)

Kathleen: 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.

-(Kathleen sighs)
-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.

(sniffles)

The severance package
is okay.

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

Is Eric still at Glassco?

For now.

(Kathleen sighs)

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

And if anything
changes here--

Fuck it.

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

(vacuum whirring)

Michael: (on TV)
Well, I'm running very simply

because I'm sick of seeing

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

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

Michael:
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.

Reporter:
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.
-Reporter: 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 mayorship,

and you hadn't
in fact injured

your leg in combat,
as you claim.

Michael:
No, I-I-I had been injured

in a car accident
while on duty.

Reporter: 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!

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

-Papa needs practice.
-(reporter continues)

(phone ringing)

Reporter:
...before hitting the polls
November sixth.

(phone ringing)

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?

(chuckles)

Hmm.
Well, alright, then.

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

(soft rock music playing)

♪ You are the woman
that I've always dreamed of ♪

♪ I knew it
from the start... ♪

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.

(sighs)

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.

♪ ...that I've
always dreamed of ♪

♪ I knew it from the start ♪

(wine sloshing)

(somber music playing)

Medical Examiner:
We've got blood embedded
under the nails.

Assistant:
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 Examiner:
Looks like a pine needle.

Assistant:
Pine needle?

Bag it for evidence.

Assistant: Okay.

Medical Examiner:
Looks like this is her own hair.

Let's bag it and test it.

Feel this.

Feel this gently.

Gently.

Assistant: 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 Examiner:
Gentle.

(trimmer buzzing)

Todd:
Uncle Bill's here, Dad.

Clayton is pulling up now.

Bill:
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.

(stammers):
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.
-(phone ringing)

The cake.

I need you to go get
a cake for Margaret.

What do you mean?

(knocking)

It's the funeral home.

Bill: 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.

Clayton:
Alright, alright!

I've kept my shit together.

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

(Todd sighs)

(Bill sighs)

(Bill sniffles)

(Michael coughs)

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 Examiner:
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.

(chatter, music on speakers)

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.

(cell phone ringing)

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?
(clears throat)

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.

(door bell jingles)

-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.

-(crying)
-(indistinct chatter)

They're all in here.

-Michael: Margaret.
-Margaret: I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

My flight got canceled

'cause of some terror scare.

Michael:
Are you okay?

Margaret: Yeah,
yeah, I just wanted

to get to you guys.

(sobbing softly)

Ask him.

(sniffles)

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--
-Michael: 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.

Todd:
Yeah, around 10:00.

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.
(sniffles)

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.

Bill:
They've been awful.

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

(sighs)

(sniffles)

Clayton: Um, will you pass
the mashed potatoes, please.

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

Candace:
No, thank you.

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

(clicks tongue)

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.

Michael:
That's nice.

-What song?
-"You Always"--

Any really. She loved,
she loved them all.

Great idea.

(light clicks)

Lori:
What is going on?

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday,
dear Margaret ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

Michael:
Kathleen would have wanted
you to have some cake.

Even with everything
going on.

(sniffles)

♪ ♪

Margaret:
Let's just get
the photos and go.

(somber music playing)

Martha: Should we get
out of here?

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

(Lori humming)

(continues humming)

Candace:
What is that?

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

I almost blurted it out.

"You Always Hurt
the One You Love."

-(sighs) Lori...
-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.

(heavy sigh)

I mean, he's a mess.

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

(Candace sighs)

♪ You always hurt ♪

♪ The one you love ♪

♪ The one
you shouldn't hurt at all ♪

♪ You always take ♪

♪ The sweetest rose ♪

♪ And crush it ♪

♪ Till the petals fall ♪

(laughter)

Marylou:
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.

Kathleen:
Oh, come on.

We would party like this

with the kids upstairs too.

That must be
where they get it from.

(both laughing)

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

I think. Yes.

Thank you.

You're so polite.
Thank you.

Oh, man.

Okay. Come on.

Michael: ...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."

(laughter)

Hey, who wants
to go swimming?

What are you
talking about?

(indistinct chatter, laughter)

Michael:
Don't be ridiculous.

-(cheering and laughter)
-Kathleen Peterson, everyone!

Mike, something's wrong.

(inhales sharply)

(groans)

(reporter on television,
indistinct)

What's going on?

What happened?

Two planes just crashed
into the World Trade Center.

Reporter 1:
This was after the first
airplane made impact.

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

This is really bad.

Reporter 1:
...the White House
knows about this,

which appears
to be deliberate.

Reporter 2:
Do you know whether
or not officials

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

(door opens)

-Bill: 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.

(knocking)

Hey.

Todd:
There's cops downstairs.

Bill: Haven't you
already searched?

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

All very standard practice
in this kind of case.

(loud banging)

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.

♪ I can't stop ♪

♪ Loving you ♪

♪ Oh, I've made up ♪

♪ My mind ♪

♪ To live in memories ♪

♪ Of a lonesome time ♪

♪ I can't stop wanting you ♪

♪ It's useless to say ♪

♪ So I'll just live my life ♪

♪ In dreams of yesterday ♪

Oh, Ronnie.

(sobbing)

♪ That we once knew ♪

Bill:
Mike.

♪ Though long ago ♪

♪ Still make me blue ♪

♪ They say that time ♪

♪ Heals a broken heart ♪

(sniffles)

♪ But time has stood still ♪

♪ Since we've been apart ♪

(door creaking)

I'm going to grab a drink.

Can you grab the bags?

I shouldn't
hang out here long.

Michael:
Bill! Come here!

What?
What's going on?

Michael:
Just Bill.

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

Bill: 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.

-(phone ringing)
-(video game beeping)

David Rudolf:
The phone!

Charlene:
It's for you!

-No one calls me this late.
-David: Charlene!

Get the phone!

Ugh!
(ringing continues)

Hello?

Yes.

Yes, just a moment,
please.

It's for you.

Really?

Thanks.

Fuck.

(clattering)

Shit.

(news on television,
indistinct)

Dave Rudolf.

Michael: (on phone)
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.

♪ ♪

(phone ringing)

Hello.

David:
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.

David:
Um...

Uh... alright, um, Mike--

No.

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

David:
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.

David:
Okay? Alright.
And, Mike, Mike?

Bring some money,
like 50 bucks

for the commissary
and bring a Bible.

-Bible?
-David: If you've got one.

I'd rather bring
a fucking Quran.

David:
Well, um, (laughs)

it's optics at this point.

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

Okay. Okay,
whatever you say,

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

David:
Alright. See you here.

(hangs up phone)

Well... that's it.

(somber music playing)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(reporters clamoring)

(clamoring continues)

Over here, everybody.

(clamoring continues)

♪ ♪

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 Black:
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.

(reporters shouting)

Caitlin:
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.

(reporters clamoring)

(gasps)

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.

Candace: What?

Lori:
Oh my god...

Candace:
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.

(quietly): 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.

♪ ♪

(reporter on television,
indistinct)

Sophie:
Let me do it.

(chuckles)

I'm hopeless without you.

Mmm.
No, you're still young.

And you're starting
your life again today.

Hmm?

("You Always Hurt
the One You Love" playing)

♪ You always hurt ♪

♪ The one you love ♪

♪ The one ♪

♪ You shouldn't hurt at all ♪

♪ You always take ♪

♪ The sweetest rose ♪

♪ And crush it ♪

♪ Till the petals fall ♪

♪ If I broke ♪

♪ Your heart last night ♪

♪ It's because ♪

♪ I love you most of all ♪

♪ ♪

♪ You always hurt ♪

♪ The one you love ♪

♪ The one ♪

♪ You shouldn't hurt at all ♪

♪ You always take ♪

♪ The sweetest rose ♪

♪ And crush it ♪

♪ Till the petals fall ♪

♪ You always break ♪

♪ The kindest heart ♪

♪ With a hasty word
you can't recall ♪

♪ So ♪

♪ If I broke ♪

♪ Your heart last night... ♪