All language subtitles for The.Staircase.S01E07-eng

(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 ♪

---oOo---