All language subtitles for The.Staircase.S01E07.1080p.WEBRip.x265-RARBG

(engine starts)

(Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance"
playing on car stereo)

♪ Roma-roma-ma ♪

♪ Gaga, ooh la-la ♪

♪ Want your bad romance ♪

♪ I want your ugly,
I want your disease ♪

(engine revving)

Come on.

Oh.

(glass shatters)

(vehicle approaching)

("Bad Romance" playing)

♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh,
oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ Caught in a bad romance ♪

(car door opens)

Man:
Fuck, I'm forgetting things.

♪ Caught in a bad romance ♪

♪ Ra-ra-ah-ah-ah ♪

♪ Roma-roma-ma ♪

♪ Gaga, "Ooh la-la" ♪

(keys jingling)

♪ I want your design ♪

♪ 'Cause you're a criminal ♪

♪ As long as you're mine ♪

♪ I want your love ♪

♪ Love, love, love,
I want your love, uh ♪

Tyrone?
What the...

Ow! (grunting)

♪ Want you in my rear window,
baby, you're sick ♪

♪ I want your love ♪

♪ Love, love, love,
I want your love ♪

♪ Love, love, love,
I want your love ♪

(theme music playing)

♪ ♪

It's horseshit.

I'm not taking
the goddamn plea.

So... what,

you want a retrial? Hmm?

It's not what I want.
It's what I need.

I am not going to say
I killed Kathleen.

(laughs)

Jesus, Michael.

Michael,
think of the money,

the years you'll waste
fighting for this.

I am not a moron.
I know the implications.

-If we say these words--
-If I say them--

If you say them,
no more prison.

You want me to get up
and say I'm responsible
for the worst night of my life,

that I'm responsible
for Kathleen's suffering?

Did you listen
to what I read?

We're saying you
didn't do anything wrong.

Not until the very end
where I say

I did everything wrong.

I'm not going
to say I'm guilty.

I can't.

I want to avoid anything

that puts your freedom
at risk.

I want your kids
to stop worrying.

They'll understand.
They, they'll support me.

Mike, look around.

This is all
the support you got.

I told them not to come!

Not to bother hearing
their father perjure himself!

David Rudolf:
You could be
found guilty. Again.

Michael Peterson:
Yeah, with what evidence?

Everything the DA had is
inadmissible or compromised.

Except for
your lies, Michael.

Your character.

Those are still in play.

You can't walk back
from deceit.

From how people see you.

I'm not taking the plea.

I won't do it.

Class is going well.

Um, the students seem
more attuned.

I'm sorry, Sophie.

My days don't provide
much inspiration.

I'm, uh, returning to Paris.

-Jean needs his muse.
-(Sophie chuckles)

We're having trouble
with the third act.

-Hmm.
-So...

So when do you come back?

I'm not, I'm not sure.

We're hoping to finish
the film soon,

but I don't know.

It's hard to say when.

Penny for your thoughts?

Thoughts about what?

Come on. About me.

-(snickers)
-Us.

This.

Well, I'll go back
to Paris,

and then I'll--
I come back

and then, uh...

That's all.

Right. You come home
to Durham.

I don't think Durham
will ever be home, Michael.

You-you-you're
the only reason I'm here.

Well, we'll figure it out.

It'll be okay.

Michael:
" Through her hand.
I feel the pulse of life,

"of passion.

"And I want all of her.

"Her lips, her hair,

"the skin I've yet to see.

"But the fates
have denied the carnal.

"Leaving me to be tempted
and contented by the spiritual,

"the ethereal,
the simple purity

"of her words and mind.

But is that enough?"

Came to me last night.

Thoughts?

(acoustic guitar playing)

To Margie, my sister.

I'm proud of you.

I am almost 30.
I'm divorced.

I'm using a cardboard box
as a table.

(both chuckle)

I'm proud of you
for leaving him.

I know Lucas was a,
he was a good guy.

He was the best guy.

I hope he's okay.

Yeah, see, you've got to

take all of that energy
that you're putting

on other people
and focus it on yourself.

What do you mean?

Well, when you finally start

paying attention to yourself,

you can't hide anymore.

Okay. So what am I
ignoring here?

Lucas used to say
the same shit.

We've been through a lot,

and you've never
really talked about it.

You know, we've never--

You can either let
the past haunt you

or you move on.

I can't change what happened.
You can't either.

True. But I can try
to understand it.

Why I felt like
something was wrong

even before that night.

And that's why,
you know, I'm going to,

I'm going to go back home.

What do you mean
go home?

Just tell me what
you're talking about.

I've saved up almost
enough money to go to Germany.

I've been talking to Patty,

and she still lives in
the same apartment complex

that we grew up in.

She says she can take me
to Mom's house

and bring Agnes
over to talk.

-You're going to Germany?
-Oh, Margie.

I knew you would be pissed.
I knew it.

And I don't want
to hide things from you.

Well, then, next time,
just keep quiet

about your bullshit
self-exploration.

You know, you're supposed
to be helping me.

And now I have to worry
about you again.

Fuck! I always have
to keep an eye on you,

and it's so fucking tiring

because I'm always,
for years, worrying

if you're high somewhere
or if you have a job

or if you're going
to do something to yourself.

Germany's going to help.

Why do you care?
Why are you so mad?

I mean, every time I talk
about when we were kids,

you shut down,
just like Dad.

Don't go.

For me.

Please.

I'm sorry.
I have to.

Fuck you.

(sighs)

(door slams)

Hey, John, I want you
to come here a sec.

Woman:
SBI is dirty.

Given more time,
I can prove

that consequential evidence
was withheld and misrepresented.

I mean,
test results were hidden.

Now, this man is serving
a life sentence,

missing valuable time
with people he loves.

Man:
So would Durham be
the focus here?

-Definitely.
-Man: Let's get you down there.

We need evidence
of misconduct and motive.

You got to see this.

Body's already in the morgue.

Dr. Deborah Radisch:
My god.

It's unbelievable.

(cell phone chiming)

Michael: (over phone)
Darling. How's Paris?

Everything's good here.

Michael: Fantastic.
How's the old man?

Uh, Jean?

Uh, stressed
but surviving.

Michael:
Tell Jean I said hello.

I'd love to see him
here sometime.

Michael, I've got to go.

Speak soon.

Bye.

Sophie Brussard:
I was surprised
to get your email.

What email?

About the homicide.

Hmm?

Injuries are congruent
with a beating.

Radisch:
Okay. I don't know
who sent that to you,

but it wasn't me.

You have something
on your...

Oh!

So, a man was killed.

Police are pursuing
a suspect.

The newspaper's
writing about it.

Seems like
there's clear motive.

And
the murder weapon is
a heavy flashlight.

So what's the connection?

Cause of death is blunt
force trauma to the head.

-It's a homicide.
-Okay.

And there were no
skull fractures, which means...

-No.
-...the nature of
Kathleen Peterson's death

is no longer an anomaly.

But all those autopsy reports.

Every other beating case,

they all had
skull fractures.

Until now.

You said there was motive.

Officially,
robbery gone wrong.

But Detective Holland thinks
the men knew each other.

Sorry. Dr. Radisch,
can I show you something?

Excuse me.

(indistinct chatter)

Rowe?

Dr. Radisch:
Let's get ahead of it...

It was Dennis Rowe?

Ron Guerette: (over video)
Dennis Rowe. R-O-W-E.

My sources say
he has a limp.

A limp?

Ron:
Says you had sex with him
four or five times.

Oh, you're shitting me.

-That's what he's claiming.
-Oh my god!

Ron:
Rather know now than later.

Michael:
Did he indicate where

this great love affair
took place?

(line ringing)

-Jean: (over phone) Hello?
-Jean.

(speaking French)

Jean:
Wow. Okay.

(Christmas music playing
over loudspeakers)

♪ Used to laugh
and call him names ♪

♪ They never let poor Rudolph ♪

♪ Join in any
reindeer games ♪

♪ Then one foggy
Christmas Eve ♪

♪ Santa came to say ♪

(toy train hooting)

♪ Rudolph, with your
nose so bright ♪

♪ Won't you guide
my sleigh tonight?" ♪

(sighs)

Kathleen Peterson:
I will take them.

And, uh, I'll split it
on these two.

You got it.

So, uh, are you excited
for the holidays?

Well, I was,

but my boyfriend
and I broke up,

and now I'm devastated.

Oh! Before the holidays?

God, some people are strange.

I guess
it can be stressful.

Well, apparently
he was so stressed,

he had to fuck
other people.

-It's complicated.
-Look up, please.

My first husband, Fred,

he used to lie all the time,

and I was like,
"Never again.

"Never again.
Give me the truth.

The good, the bad,
and the ugly."

You know what?

The stories I make up
in my own head

are far worse than reality.

Makeup artist:
But you're married again?

Yup. To a real piece of work.

Yeah.
He's the strangest,

most exciting person
I've ever met.

That sounds great.

-And impossible.
-That's it.

It's always two things
with Michael.

-Michael. That's his name?
-Yeah.

Unless he's pulling
a long con.

-Yeah.
-(laughter)

So this watch is
$300 more?

Yes. The diamonds
make it special.

Yeah.

Uh...

Okay, well, I'm going to have
to go with the cheaper one,

and I would love it
gift wrapped.

Of course.

Oh, you're shitting me.

(cell phone ringing)

Hello?

Man: (on phone)
M.P. What is up, man?

I'm sorry.
Who is this?

Simon: Simon.

-Your agent.
-Oh, Simon.

Yes!

Simon:
"Charlie Two Shoes."

-Remember that old horse?
-Sure. I wrote it.

Simon:
Yeah, right.

Sorry. Anyways,

I just got off the phone

and I got
some really good news.

Hey, Patty.

Hello, Martha baby.
You've arrived.

Oh, I trust
you traveled well.

Airplanes are so fast.

Thank you again
for having me.

Of course.

Once you're settled in here,
we can head over

to your mother's house
this afternoon.

Okay.

It is so good to see you.

Let's get you cleaned up.

(speaking German)

(somber music playing)

You lit this match.

Freda Black:
Son of a bitch
can't stop cheating.

Now it's gonna burn.

Hi. Freda Black?

My name's Evelyn Ivins.

You got something
that needs cleaning?

(both chuckle)

My partners and I, we're,

we're filming
follow-up interviews

for a documentary

to, uh, investigate

what we've learned
over the years.

-Sure.
-Do you mind putting it in?

The, the wire.

That's it.

(beeps)

Fire away.

Thanks so much
for coming here.

I'd like to know more
about your past employer.

Honey, I've had
several past employers.

Yeah, the Durham
District Attorney.

Thank you.

Oh, I'm not one
to kiss and tell.

Even though you're the one
working at a dry cleaner

and Jim Harden's a judge?

Art Holland:
I'm sure the case
was complicated,

but, you know,
at the end of the day,

everything pointed
to murder.

Kathleen Peterson
was killed

at the bottom
of that staircase.

Did you ever consider
the alternatives?

Honestly, not much.

I don't ignore facts.

You had debt, work stress,

empty nest, infidelity,

and the discovery of a lie.

I wish murder
wasn't predictable,

but it is.

So... what if
it was murder?

Okay.

Go on.

Michael sleeps with a man.

-Dennis.
-(Art chuckles)

So you heard
about Dennis Rowe?

What-what-what's this
interview really about?

I'd like to know more
about the relationship

between the Durham DA

and the State Bureau
of Investigation.

-SBI.
-Well, the SBI is
an independent agency,

uh, arriving at
objective conclusions

based on the evidence
in hand.

There is no relationship.

Well, what I found suggests

that isn't really
what's going on.

The DA's office,

they write the year-end
performance reviews

for all SBI analysts.

What are you suggesting?

That it's pretty hard
to stay objective

when your raise
is being determined

by the prosecution.

No.

Honey, the Durham DA

and the SBI
aren't hiding anything.

It's no secret.

I mean,
it may be problematic,

but it's not illegal.

Until the problematic
relationship encourages SBI

to shade evidence or hide it
to suit the DA's needs.

Okay. Alright,
well, uh, go on.

Dennis tells someone
he knows about a rich man

with a big house

and... accidentally

puts an idea
into a bad man's head.

And that bad man goes
to 1810 Cedar,

ends up killing Kathleen.

Kathleen and Dennis
had the same injuries.

So the same man
could have killed them both.

Art:
So what you're saying is

Rowe tells Tyrone Lacour
about Peterson.

Tyrone Lacour?

Uh, I'm sorry, who's this?

Well, he, he killed Rowe.

Career criminal...

(garbled voice over earphone)

Oh, I'm sorry.
Your mic. I can't...

-Wait.
-What?

You know, I started
as a defense attorney.

My family, they had
run-ins with the law,

and I thought
when I get the chance,

why not help those in need?

But then I met the needy.

Men,

mostly men,

doing... horrible things
to women.

And as a defense attorney,

I had to do my best
to get 'em off.

But you know what?
When it came to
the wife beaters,

I didn't even really have
to try all that hard.

You know, hit a woman
and give her a little...

If you're unlucky, you get

three months max
in county.

But steal a man's car?

No, now we're talking
real crime.

Art:
Say Lacour's,
he's late on rent.

Sorry.

So he goes to Peterson's

to steal some stuff
that he could sell.

He surprises Kathleen.

One thing leads
to another, and, uh,

you've got yourself
a crime scene

worth making a movie about.

-Exactly.
-Yeah, but we,

we didn't find
any signs of an intruder.

Maybe you missed the signs.

No, we didn't,
we didn't miss any
'cause there weren't any.

Because, because Lacour,

he knew Peterson...

in the same way
Dennis knew Peterson.

Michael knew Lacour?

Oh yeah. When we
questioned Rowe, he folded.

Told us that Peterson
was getting

a piece of Lacour too.

Lacour didn't need
to break in

because he'd been
there before.

With Michael.

Michael slept
with both of them?

Uh, Michael Peterson
fucked a lot of people.

(chuckles)

But this Lacour thing,
it's good, Sophie.

It's real good.

I'm going
to follow up on this.

Freda:
I got worn out
helping the wrong people,

so I decided
to switch teams.

I could make a difference
in the DA's office.

And it felt good, mostly.

Sometimes it didn't.

Because you
weren't playing fair.

Life's not fair.

And the law reflects that.

If I think someone's done
something wrong,

how am I going
to live with myself

if I don't do
everything in my power

to stop 'em
from doing it again, huh?

Freda, there are three men
from around the state

who have been executed
on faulty SBI evidence.

They were killed for crimes
they didn't commit.

That true?

Evelyn Ivins:
I'm working
on a specific case.

There's a man
sitting in prison

who shouldn't be there.

I got an order of napkins
I need to press.

Will you testify to
the quid pro quo nature

of the SBI/DA relationship?

You know where
to find me, sweetie.

I can't really
remember her.

Your mom was an angel.

She treasured you girls.

What was she like
after my dad died?

Oh, Liz was a mess.

She couldn't understand

why something like this
would happen to her.

To you girls.

After she died,
your emotions were so big.

You had tantrums.

That's what made
Michael so mad.

He couldn't control you.
He didn't like that.

So he did bad things.

Did you see him hit me?

No.

I only saw what happened
after he hit you.

Bruises on your arms,
your face.

It was unbearable.

You were too young
to remember, but Margaret.

she could tell you.

-She knows.
-No. That's not right.

Aunt Blair could tell you

how horrible Michael was
bouncing you

from home to home.

Michael and Patty kept
giving you away to people.

Giving us away?

There was a German couple
who wanted

to adopt you and Margaret.

It didn't work out
with them,

so you went to Texas.

Then Memphis.
Then Aunt Blair.

Wait, what are you
talking about?

Then Michael wanted
to keep Margaret

and give you away.

Your mama and papa
were already gone.

Could you imagine
taking your sister from you?

What was so wrong with me?

Patty Peterson:
Oh, Martha.

You were simply acting

like a child
who had lost her father

and then her dear mother.

Lightning struck twice, and it
just made you a nightmare.

That's all.

-I was three.
-You had fits and tantrums.

You hurt yourself.
You were bruised all the time.

We, we could not assuage
your inner turmoil.

Michael and I loved you,

but it seemed
we could not love you enough.

So you tried
to give me away?

Jesus, Patty.

I live my life
trying my best

and also believing

that everyone else
is trying their best.

And that is all
people can do.

That's all we
can expect from them.

I extend this philosophy
to all my children.

And even to Michael.

When I feel disappointed,
I know it's simply my belief

in a reality
that never truly existed.

Are you disappointed,
Martha?

I just wonder

if all of this
hadn't happened...

who would I be?

If things
had been different,

you would be different.

For what it's worth...

I really love who you are.

And I look forward to knowing
the Martha you will become.

You look beautiful.

Beautiful women
deserve good news.

-Hmm. We do?
-Mm-hmm.

Simon called.

-Simon?
-My agent.

Right.

Remember "Charlie Two Shoes"?

Oh yeah,
I loved that book.

Well, that book just got
optioned by some producer

who wants to turn it
into a movie.

-Big one.
-Really?

-Yeah.
-Michael.

You're not just telling me
something I want to hear

to make me feel better,
are you?

Check my phone.

Simon called.
The option's guaranteed.

What happens then,
I have no idea,

but it seems promising.

Wow.

-How much?
-$10,000.

Okay.

Well, tomorrow
we'll celebrate,

have a fun dinner.

I'll go and buy
that watch for Caitlin

that she really wants.

She's got such good taste,

just like her mother.

Oh shit.

We gotta light
the candles and leave.

(classical music playing)

(people chattering)

-Something happening at Nortel
you're not telling me about?
-I know!

Devon:
Kathleen.

Excuse me.

Hey, Devon.

Isn't this pretty crazy?

-Maybe a little much.
-Yeah.

(upbeat jazz music playing)

(indiscernible chatter)

(laughter)

Oh my god,
oh my god, oh my god.

Remember CommTech?
The company Nortel bought?

Yeah, of course.

Well, they just sold it.

-Who?
-They, as in, we.

Nortel sold it
for, like, nothing.

Who told you that?

Amber, Ethan's assistant.

She saw something
on his desk.

What does this mean?

Why would we sell
a company we just bought

for less than
we bought it?

I don't know,
whatever it means,

we can't do anything
about it tonight.

So just...

(indistinct whispering)

Okay.

Devon: I'm sorry
to ruin your night.

Why don't you go
flirt with someone

you shouldn't be
flirting with.

Okay.

Oh.

Your cocktail.

You see that line?

I had to butter up the bartender
just to cut in front.

He's cute.

I could get his number.

For whom?

Hey, Sophie.

You have bad news?

The Lacour theory
was good, Sophie.

It was really good.

How do you know
it wasn't him?

Tyrone's got
the perfect alibi.

Check again.

The night Kathleen died,
he was in jail.

That man wasn't
at 1810 Cedar.

At least not
in December 2001.

You came around.

You know
Kathleen didn't fall.

No.

We don't know that.
Not for sure.

In my experience, a woman
either has an accident

or she doesn't.

But, hey, that's just,
that's just my experience.

Well, in my experience,
I've always found life

to be far more complicated

than yes or no,
black or white.

An owl, or something
you've never thought about.

Sophie, sometimes
life isn't complicated.

The answers, they're sitting
right there in front of you

just waiting for you
to see 'em.

I don't need you
here anymore.

(Art clears throat)

Take care, Sophie.

(buzzer sounds)

I didn't know
you were back.

(Sophie chuckles)

Is everything okay?
Are the kids--

I never left Durham.

Hmm.

Well...

you didn't have
to lie to me.

-Why did you?
-Dennis Rowe.

You slept with him.

Dennis was killed.

Okay.

Blunt force trauma to the head
with no skull fractures.

No.

That's unbelievable.

Oddly, that's not the part
that's hard to believe.

The man who killed him
was another man you... knew.

Tyrone Lacour.

You slept with him, too.

Michael...

you know, I thought maybe
I finally got the answer

that if this guy
had killed Kathleen,

that it was all
a horrible mistake.

But all I did
was open Pandora's box.

This is crazy.

Michael!

Don't you have
anything to say?

I-I-I lied about Dennis.

I don't know Tyrone.

At least,
I don't think I do.

I mean, sure,
it's possible.

Sophie, I don't want
to be the reason

you can't get
the life you want.

If you need
something more,

if you need something
different than this,

than me,

I understand.

But you're what I want.

I'm not her.

(crying)
I'm not Kathleen.

No, I know you're not.

I want the truth,
just like she did.

And...

I won't share you,
not in that way.

No, you don't.
And you won't.

You know,
I'll give you everything.

So what do you want
to do here?

I need more time.

(siren wailing in distance)

-(door opens)
-Sophie: Jean.

Sophie.

Sophie, Sophie, Sophie...

(speaking in French)

(Jean speaking French)

Um...

-(mimics explosion)
-(Jean chuckles)

Shit.

(door opens)

David: (on screen)
Is there anyone in the room

who thinks
she didn't know?

Mike said Kathleen knew.

So she must
have known, right?

Right?

Has anyone in this room
ever successfully hidden

anything from their wives?

(all chuckle)

Moving on.

Evelyn:
With Freda's help,
we can prove

that they didn't have
the results to convict him,

and they buried
exculpatory evidence.

Man: (on phone)
Before we go public,
you're 100 percent sure

this guy didn't do it.

Evelyn:
He's innocent.

But there's more.

It seems to be
a systemic issue.

I can't tell you how widespread
the corruption goes,

but I can say for sure

this isn't just
a one-off thing.

He's not the only victim here.

Man: Alright.
Do we have motive?

Motive?

I think I got that too.

(metallic clinking)

I'm not sure
there's anything to find.

Keep looking.

Case 432. What's shaking
with that lawnmower?

-(banging)
-(men shouting)

(indistinct shouting)

-Sir, what's going on?
-Officer: On your knees, sir.

On your knees.
On your knees.

-On your knees.
-What's going on?

Keep your eyes
to the front.

Newsreader:
Evidence now shows that

the North Carolina State
Bureau of Investigation

has failed
to perform their duty.

Findings by the
Innocence Project revealed

that SBI frequently
withheld test results

that contradicted
the DA's case.

And this is how Greg Taylor
spent 19 years in prison

for a crime
he did not commit.

Taylor was convicted
in 1993

in the beating death
of Jacquetta Thomas.

The only physical evidence
was a spot of blood

found near the wheel
of his SUV.

But further testing by SBI
revealed the substance

was inconsistent
with human blood.

This second test was
never shared with the court

or with Taylor's defense.

Evelyn Ivins,
an attorney

for the North Carolina
Innocence Project,

led the investigation
into SBI.

Our findings in
the Greg Taylor case suggest

SBI labs intentionally
hid exculpatory evidence

that would have
exonerated him.

Further investigation
leads us to believe

that the corruption
between state DA

and the supposedly independent
investigative unit,

it's a complex web of lies,

which is why we are thrilled

to announce audits
of all SBI cases to date

to ensure other
wrongly convicted men

and women
get their day in court.

What the fuck?

-Woman: Sir.
-Bill Peterson:
No, I'm going in.

-Woman: You can't go in there.
-Bill: Yes. Call security.

-Woman: Sir!
-Bill: We're very good friends.

Trust me. He's going
to be very happy to see me.

(door slams)

My money was on tomorrow,

but tonight works.

David, this SBI thing

is just absolute insanity.

Those, those motherfuckers!

Okay, settle down, Bill.

We always knew
they were full of shit.

Now we have proof. You,

you should have known
how corrupt they were.

-Jesus Christ!
-Of course, I knew.

They were all corrupt.

Which was why
we ran our own tests.

It's why I cost so much.

But when the state
audits our case,

they aren't going to find
any SBI wrongdoing.

We kept our eyes on things.

You think Tom Maher's
going to let

some bullshit like this fly?

We can't give up.

Hey, nobody said anything
about giving up.

You did.

Three years ago.

You left my brother
to rot in there.

David:
Come on, sit.
Please, sit.

Bill, hey.

Come on.
Please, sit.

Sit.

I don't keep this
because I'm in it.

I keep it 'cause I'm not.

It reminds me of Michael.
The mistakes I made.

The ones you only see
in hindsight.

I don't like to lose.

And I really don't like seeing
my clients in prison,

especially when
they're innocent.

But we already did
some digging.

SBI didn't fuck us.

Yes, David, but?

An SBI agent did.

A Mr. Duane Deaver lied
about his experience.

He lied on the stand,
under oath.

He said he was an expert.

That he had overseen, what,

500 blood spatter cases.

At the time
Deaver testified,

he'd only been
to fifty-fucking-four.

-Deaver perjured himself?
-Yeah.

W-what does that get us?

Well, we've been
here before

with the computers.

We need to prove
that Deaver's testimony swayed

the jury enough

that had it
not been included,

the verdict could have
gone another way.

-And then?
-And then maybe,

maybe by the grace
of a reasonable God,

we get a hearing for a retrial.

Not a retrial, but...
a hearing for one.

If that goes the way
we want it to,

he will be out.

-That's good.
-Yeah.

-That's good.
-It's really good.

I don't care what it takes
or how long.

You're going to make up
for these mistakes.

You're going to figure out
how this helps my brother.

And you're going
to do it for free.

He's not listening
to reason.

You, uh, you may want
to rethink

your tickets
for tomorrow.

He's not taking
the plea?

I'll speak with him.

Okay.
Be my guest.

Tell him he's being
a fool. Okay?

A moron. This has been
years in the making.

He is lucky
to be here today.

He could go back
to prison.

That is a very real reality.

Just let me talk
to him, David.

I know this wasn't
our plan. I'm sorry.

Sophie:
We've talked about this.

You'd have to lie
about that night.

To get what you want.

What we want.

But I can't lie anymore.

I'm not perfect.
Jesus, no man is.

But I'm not this.
Mm-mm.

And the kids,

the money.

But if I don't sign,
it all starts again.

-Sophie: Mm-hmm.
-Mm-hmm.

And if you take this plea,

you can leave Durham
tomorrow.

And finally... be done.

Whatever you decide.
I'll be here.

But I must say one thing.

The DA doesn't care about
what really happened.

People who believe
you're guilty,

they do not care
about other truths.

The table's crooked, Michael.

No matter the circumstance,
they'll never say
they were wrong.

Why the fuck not?

Why can't they just see
that's what happened?

They made a mistake.

We get to go back
and correct it.

We get to fix the past,
and that's never an option.

But today...

today it is.

I need to speak
with Jean alone.

(telephone rings)

Kathleen Peterson's office.

Sure.

(sighs)

Kathleen.

Kathleen.

They want to see you.

Remember you have Mike's
celebration dinner tonight.

Man 1:
This one was done.

Man 2: Yeah,
it's gonna be a long day.

Man 1:
Yeah, it's brutal,

but what can we do?

Thank you for joining us
on such short notice.

-Of course.
-Man 2: Sit.

I wish we could say
we called you here

with better news,
but, um...

it seems
we won't be giving

end-of-year bonuses.

Oh.

Okay. That-that...
Yes, that is...

(sighs)

that is bad news.

Man 1:
None of us will be
receiving bonuses.

The third and
fourth quarters were, uh...

challenging.

So, no year...
No, no year-end bonuses.

Man 2:
Correct.

(laughs)

(laughing)

See, I was just sitting
at my desk,

and I watched
our stock drop

27 percent
in under four minutes.

Um... I mean, it has
not stopped going down.

So, I mean,
who cares about bonuses?

(laughing)

I just lost my retirement.

All of it.

Nearly a million dollars.

Ohh!

Oh my...

(door opens, closes)

Sorry I'm late.

Did you come straight
from the gym?

Indeed.

Here.
(clears throat)

-Have you been home?
-Busy day.

Someone gave me
a list of Christmas chores.

What should we order?

Oh, I, uh,
I already did.

I ordered,
I ordered a lot.

Celebration.

-(sighs)
-(glasses clink)

But seriously,
this book option

could lead
to some real money.

And then you can rest,
not worry so much about Nortel.

That's great.
I mean, it's really...

That's great, Michael.
Um...

I have to tell you
something.

Shoot.

I, I thought you would
have already known, but, um,

our stocks...

Nortel.

It's all gone.
Everything's gone.

What are you talking about?

Retirement account.
Moving to Paris in ten years.

I mean, all our dreams,
they're, they're...
they're dead.

It's all gone.

The bubble burst.

You're shitting me.
We're poor?

All those hours
and work trips

and... sacrifices.

I mean, I have...

wasted...

wasted years of my life.

And now I'm sitting here in this
fucking Chinese restaurant,

and I don't even know if I
can afford this stupid meal.

Michael:
Hey, no.

The movie's going
to work out, huh?

What?

Do you think some
Hollywood producer's

going to come along
and make you a millionaire?

Are you kidding?

You're fucking
kidding me, Michael?

We'll figure it out.
It'll be okay.

The only way
this will be okay

is if I make it okay,

and I am way
too fucking exhausted.

You're not alone here.

Well, sometimes I think
it would be easier if I was.

Oh, I see.

What? What do you see?

-Joan of Arc
burning before me.
-(scoffs)

-What?
-You know, you used to be fun.

Your eyes, they used
to have a light behind them.

And now all I see is,
is this stress case.

You forgot what it is
to smile, to be alive.

Fuck you, Michael.

You know, you, you used
to take care of yourself.

You used to be
a really good time.

(Kathleen laughs)
A good time?

I am too busy
to be anyone's good time.

I am busy working.

I am busy
raising your children.

I mean, Margaret and Martha,
they were a mess before me.

And the boys.
Your boys.

I am the one
who supports them.

I am the one who visited
Clayton in prison.

And Todd, god, he is so lost
looking for your approval,

I don't think he'll
ever find his way home.

And you just wander
through life, going to the gym

and yelling at the dogs
and spending my money,

promising these big,
beautiful dreams like Paris,

and then you don't do a goddamn
thing to make them happen.

I mean,
I thought I married a man.

It turns out
all I got was a boy

who is only good

for getting drinks
at the bar.

Say something.

Michael.

Are you even here?!

Of course, I am.

I'm here for you,

for the kids,

for my parents,

for my men in combat.

I've always been here.

Maybe you're the one
who's disappeared.

Maybe the problem is
that the life you have
isn't the life you want.

And I am damned, Kathleen,
if I'm going to continue
to be your whipping boy.

So figure it out!

Or move on.

Congratulations.

(door opens, closes)

You're upset.

You shouldn't drive.

(alarm beeping)

(engine starts)

(classical music playing)

(tires squealing)

(horn honks)

(engine revving)

(tires squealing)

I'm gonna finish the song.

(door slams)

(music continues)

(sighs)

(rumbling)

Fuck!

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

-(grunts)
-(clattering)

This is it!
(grunts)

-(leaf blower sputters)
-(Kathleen groans)

(leaf blower rumbling)

(bats squeaking)

-(glass shatters)
-(bats squeaking)

(panting)

Yes!

Woman: I'm sorry.
Can I help you?

♪ ♪

(exhales)

(car door closes)

-(horn honking)
-(indistinct shouting)

Woman:
Hey, Margie.

(knocking on window)

-Todd: Hey, stranger.
-Hey.

-Ahhh!
-(child giggles)

Margaret:
Look how strong
your dad is!

Baby, come here.

(both babbling)

Becky: Want to give
Aunt Margie a hug?

Hi, Aunt Margie.

Todd:
Hey, Clay.

-How are you?
-Yeah, good.

-Don't you wanna go say hi?
-Hi!

Oh my god. You girls
are getting so big!

Okay, come on.
Let's go in.

Margaret:
How are you?

I'm fine. How are you?

-Nervous.
-Yeah.

-It's gonna be good.
-Todd: Hey, Clay, grab my bag.

(indistinct chatter)

♪ ♪

♪ Frosty the Snowman ♪

♪ Was a happy jolly soul ♪

♪ With a corncob pipe
and a button nose ♪

♪ And two eyes
made out of coal ♪

♪ Frosty the Snowman ♪

♪ Is a fairy tale, they say ♪

♪ He was made of snow
but the children know ♪

♪ How he came
to life one day ♪

♪ There must have been
some magic in ♪

♪ That old silk hat
they found ♪

♪ For when they placed it
on his head ♪

♪ He began to dance around ♪

♪ Oh, Frosty the Snowman ♪

♪ Was alive as he could be ♪

♪ And the children say
he could laugh and play ♪

♪ Just the same
as you and me ♪