Original subtitles

ANNOUNCER: Free the innocent. Find the guilty.

-Are you sure you want to poke the bear? -I want to rip his heart out.

ANNOUNCER: All-new episodes of Proven Innocent Fridays.

And check out our other hit shows--

The Resident, 9-1-1, and Empire.

Only on Fox.

Previously on Proven Innocent...

What happened between you and Rosemary?

You're afraid of me?

MADELINE: It is my privilege

to announce the candidacy

of Evan Esteban-Miller

for the attorney general of Ill...

Are the rumors true about your marriage?

But aren't you tired of hiding our relationship?

-Aah! -NIKKI: I'm a cop, Bodie.

There's more to your identity than just prison.

There is, huh?

And what would that be?

I missed you. You were the first love of my life.

WREN: We spent a long time together.

Those were the best years of my life.

You can't be serious. The police can't find her?

You're letting them get away with that.

Your Honor, give me two days.

My investigator will bring her right to this spot,

just please don't dismiss this case.

Miss Scott, I already decided.

I have filed countless affidavits.

I have multiple witnesses, and I have laid out

in exact detail what Mrs. Ramirez said to me,

has said to dozens of people.

How she and her family have been harassed, intimidated,

threatened with jail time

and deportation, and now suddenly they can't find her?

You can't be okay with that.

-Miss Scott, that's enough. -Put me on the stand.

-I'll tell you what happened. -I said that's enough.

Or better yet, call the corrupt police

who continue to harass

and intimidate my witnesses. That includes

and is particularly directed to Detective Falcone

and his flunkies, who seem

to conveniently have the entire legal system just wrapped around

their fat little fingers.

It's absolutely outrageous.

You know what? You people make me sick.

One more word and I hold you in contempt.

Yeah, well, I hold you in contempt.

-(gate alarm buzzes) -EASY: Feel better now?

Yeah, just about.

You know, I'll deny I ever said it,

but a part of me-- a very small part of me--

-relaxes in here. -Yeah,

it's like Tahiti, without the everything.

The iron bars,

the rules and regulations-- it's familiar.

You keep picking fights with Judge Riley,

you'll never have to leave.

He's one of the judges that still thinks you're guilty.

He's also a misogynist pig.

Who runs unopposed every six years.

Easy, their key witness was paid off by a corrupt cop

to lie on the stand. And Falcone's

gonna keep paying off witnesses unless we stop him.

So what are you saying, you want to take down Detective Falcone?

Exactly. Let's expose him for the corrupt cop that he is.

You know, I bet if we took him down,

dozens of his wrongful convictions would be tossed out.

Falcone is a high-level cop with friends in high places.

Taking him down would require an IAD investigation.

Or just one case, one solid witness to expose him.

You want to start a war.

We're already fighting the war, Easy.

Let's friggin' win it.

I just need you to post my bail first.

It's what I live for.

(gate alarm buzzes)

*

VIOLET: There are many people who feel the justice system

is rigged against them, and sometimes it actually is.

Yes, most police officers are proud citizens

who truly want to protect the public,

but there are a few

who will lie, cheat, and steal

for their own interests, and those are the ones

who are responsible for so many wrongful convictions.

On this week's episode of Until Proven Innocent,

we will tell the story

of one corrupt cop

and our attempt to bring him down.

May I help you?

Uh, I'm looking for a lawyer.

Sometimes a ninja is more effective.

Whatever gets my brother out of jail.

Oh, to get your brother out of jail?

Yeah, you need a lawyer. Come on.

-Come with me. -MAN: I just read that you got

arrested for contempt, and I thought

you'd be the perfect person

-to take a look at my brother's case. -Why?

The same detective that railroaded your client

did the same thing to my brother.

Falcone?

What happened to your brother?

He was blamed for bombing a synagogue

15 years ago, which he had nothing to do with.

There was no evidence tying him to the scene.

What was the prosecution's theory

for why he'd blow up a synagogue?

That's where it gets a little complicated.

Um, my brother is Ronnie Petersen.

MADELINE: Yeah, we know this case.

Your brother's a white supremacist.

H-He was a white supremacist,

but he isn't like that anymore.

He's totally reformed.

And, most importantly, he didn't bomb that synagogue.

Falcone pinned it on Ronnie because he wouldn't help him.

Nick, man, you seem like a nice guy,

but I don't know if you noticed-- I'm a black man

in these here United States of America.

So why would I even touch your case?

Every lawyer that I've ever spoken to

has kicked me out in minutes.

But I just thought, since you lost it in court over Falcone,

you might want to hear how he framed Ronnie.

Falcone paid three people

to say my brother was the bomber.

We appreciate you coming in. But, reformed or not,

we're not in the white supremacist business.

Neither is my brother.

I mean, he hates who he was.

Even now, he is trying to change

the way that those guys think in prison,

and he is constantly getting his ass kicked for it.

It breaks my heart.

People thought you were a sex-crazed Satanist,

but you weren't.

Everyone deserves a second chance,

especially the ones who regret their bad choices.

Please, just look at it.

CROWD: White power!

America first! White power!

America first! White power!

America first! White power!

America first! White power!

White power!

RONNIE: We need to take

this country back!

Purify our nation!

White pow...

So, after we free Ronnie, can we can try

to posthumously exonerate Himmler?

Nick swears his brother is reformed now.

I don't know, maybe miracles do happen.

But, yes, it's hard to believe.

Plus, it wouldn't be a good look for us.

Even if he did change somehow, people wouldn't get it.

That being said,

finding a way to expose Falcone is music to my ears.

You guys, we can find another case to go after Falcone for,

if we really want to nail him.

We're not actually entertaining this, are we?

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't touch this case.

It's the wrongfully convicted part that has my attention.

Justice is justice, right?

Yeah, as a white man, I think maybe I should just shut up.

-Maybe we just meet with him. -Why? For what?

For them.

These are Falcone's corrupt cases, right?

More than half of them relied on his paid-off witnesses,

and, unfortunately, none of them are anywhere near

as obviously corrupt as this one.

Yep, and, in this case, the only evidence

that's convicting Petersen

is the false eyewitness testimony.

So if we get one of those witnesses to recant, we have

a direct line to taking Falcone down.

What happened to shutting up?

It would just be a meeting, Vi.

Exactly. No promises.

Madeline and I will meet with him.

If he doesn't check out, we'll move on.

RONNIE: Well, I didn't blow up anything.

I swear to you.

Never did it.

Your brother's theory is that the witnesses

who testified against you were set up by a dirty cop.

That's exactly what happened.

And I was... easy to frame,

because I was,

you know, part of the organization that did this.

But I don't associate with those people anymore.

Turned my back on all that.

What brought the change of heart?

(exhales, mutters)

I was just so... young and stupid

when I got sucked into it.

These guys, they made me think that my anger was justified.

Mm.

That my family was poor because of Jews and...

black people.

Couple years locked up in here,

started realizing how wrong I'd been.

All that hate I'd spewed at my little brother.

I'm just...

I just thank God Nick never got caught up in that.

I just wish I could have those years back.

You know? But I...

I spilled the milk and made a mess and...

(sighs) ...now I got to try my best to clean it up.

My name is Easy Boudreau.

I'm born and bred on the bayous of Louisiana.

If we take your case,

I'd be sitting first chair,

if that's okay with you.

I am more than okay with that, Mr. Boudreau.

It would be a downright honor.

I'm Madeline Scott.

I'm just a white woman.

That okay, too?

Ah, gosh, this blows my mind.

The people who should hate me the most

are actually the ones who are embracing me now.

It really is beautiful.

And I am so grateful that you came here and heard me today.

(indistinct chatter)

He have any intel on Ronnie?

Well, he's been here a long time.

From what he tells me, Ronnie is legit.

Maybe a leopard can change its spots.

So, could be worth it to try to get those other people out?

I don't know, but I guess we'll find out.

Violet, I'm with you 100%.

I don't like it.

But we have a real shot

at getting a bunch of these people out.

You won't handle an abortion case,

but you'll represent a white supremacist?

People can change.

Some even deserve redemption and forgiveness.

You and I both know that that kind of hate runs deep.

Redemption only happens when you actually repent.

He's conning you.

You may be right.

He was awful. Maybe he still is.

But maybe we have to live with that for the greater good.

It's a public display of our principles. We fight

for the innocent, no matter who they are.

He may have a horrible past,

but he may also be innocent.

So what about Charlottesville and all of the other

hateful white supremacist rallies that are happening

all over this country?

It's not interesting, Easy. It's wrong.

This man does not deserve our time

-or our talents. -EASY: I hear you,

but being a hothead won't change the world.

We have an opportunity to do something big.

Ronnie Petersen goes around calling us the N-word

and burning crosses, but somehow I'm the hothead?

I'm out.

EASY: Okay. So, we're, um...

we're tracking down Detective Falcone's

witnesses in your case.

(clears throat) First thing I do

when I get out is I'm gonna have these removed.

-I hear it's painful. -Good.

I deserve it.

You know, it's crazy, isn't it,

just... how all this hate over nothing

can literally tear a country apart?

What we don't understand, we fear.

And fear and isolation breed hatred,

and... hatred roots in people.

I think you're right.

Here I am,

just sitting here with you,

normal as can be. (chuckles)

(chuckles softly)

15 years ago, I couldn't even imagine this.

You know, the key to your case

is proving the witnesses lied.

So... tell me about your alibi.

It's disgusting.

I was about two hours away from that synagogue.

Soaking burlap in Klan cologne.

Getting everything ready for a cross burning

we were gonna do that night.

Sounds like there were a lot of people

who could vouch for you.

Why didn't they?

Most of them had records.

And everyone knew that Falcone was gonna be framing me,

so they was just glad it wasn't them.

We only need one.

Mm.

Well, I did have a girlfriend at that time.

So, if we find her, do you think she'll help?

I don't know.

As I remember it, she was pretty hateful back then, too.

Hmm. All right.

Bodie tracked down one of those false witnesses,

Dante Jordan, and he's on the streets finding him now.

Levi? Why are you here?

Hey, sis.

(Madeline sighs)

-What? -I found Toby Kissell.

You said that there was an Adderall ring in high school,

right, that-that Rosemary was secretly taking...

that Toby was the guy that was selling the Adderall?

-So? -So maybe that's why he killed her.

YOUNG TOBY: Cheers. Come on, drink up.

-Come on. Finish the whole... -(laughs) Don't rush me.

-Come on. Cheers. -(laughs): Oh! -LEVI: What if he was

her dealer? You know, then he's hooking up with her?

Then he lies about us at our trial?

YOUNG TOBY: Levi went berserk

after he caught me and Rosemary

in the tent kissing.

He said that he was mad at Rosemary,

that he wanted to kill that bitch.

BELLOWS: Nothing further.

LEVI: He lied about us.

I mean, why would he say something like that

in court unless he was trying to hide something?

Huh?

(sighs)

All right.

Yeah. There could be something there.

-We should talk to him. -Okay, good. I found him.

He's-he's living in Evanston. I say we go there now.

I can't today. I have a case I'm dealing with.

(sighs) Okay, fine. I'm heading up there myself, then.

'Cause, sis, I'm gonna prove to you

I did not kill her.

(sighs)

Oh!

Toby Kissell?

(chuckles) Almost didn't recognize you there.

-Hey, Levi, uh... -Hey.

What are you... doing around here?

Oh, I'm looking for you.

What's it been-- like, 17 years?

-Yeah? -What can I, uh, do for you?

I'm just tracking down old friends, you know.

I mean, we-we are old friends, right?

Yeah. Sure.

All that trial stuff is water under the bridge?

Well, aside from the ten years that my sister and I

spent in prison, yeah, sure.

Yeah, well, I-I should go.

Hey, tell me something, Toby-- what-what have you been doing

with the last ten years of your life, huh?

You got, like, a wife, you have family, kids?

Uh, I'm divorced. No kids.

Wow. That's a shame.

You were, like, top dog in high school, you know?

Different girl every week.

Slinging Adderall to all the kids.

-I sell insurance now. -Ooh.

Anyway, I, uh... I should go.

We should talk. We should catch up,

you know, about old times.

I don't know, like, maybe like what happened

the night that Rosemary Lynch got murdered.

Everybody's moved on from that. It was a long time ago.

Yeah, except for when you're sitting in jail

for a crime you didn't commit.

Then time just kind of stands still, Toby.

I keep replaying that-that night over and over again

in my mind, and I-I can't quite figure out

why you lied on the stand. Did you kill her?

-Huh? Was it because of the Adderall ring? -What?

-Because she was gonna expose you? -No, of course I didn't.

-Did you kill her? -Stay the hell away from me!

(horn honks)

ALDERS: This is our first debate

in the race for Illinois attorney general.

On my right is Cook County State's Attorney Gore Bellows.

-(applause) -On my left,

former prosecutor Evan Esteban-Miller.

-Welcome to you both. -(cheering and applause)

Our first question is for Mr. Bellows.

Voters believe that police misconduct

is still a major concern.

If elected attorney general,

how will you address this issue?

I think transparency is the key.

I plan to implement several programs

both for citizens and for the police,

whose lives are still being sacrificed

on our streets every day.

But more importantly, it will rebuild the trust

between the community and the police department.

Because a relationship can't survive without trust.

(applause)

Mr. Esteban-Miller, same question.

Fact:

last year over 6,000 complaints were filed

against the police in Chicago,

but only two percent

resulted in disciplinary action for the officers involved

under the office of Attorney Bellows.

Yes, let's-let's blame that on me, too. I mean,

-that-that's entirely bogus. -98 to two. It's clear which side

-Attorney Bellows is on. -Police disciplinary action has nothing to do...

As attorney general, I plan to work

with the police unions and the city

to modify policies so that we can flip

those numbers.

Because transparency isn't just key.

It's often a matter of life and death.

(cheering)

ISABEL: I think

-it went well. -That's 'cause you're an idiot.

You weren't prepared.

Now maybe you'll listen to me next time.

Holy wow, Gore. That was mediocre.

What did you say to my husband?

Oh, that he's a train wreck.

Yeah, you got to come out guns blazing

to change the narrative. It was bad.

Thank you, Susan. That's enough.

Ugh.

Dante Jordan?

Bodie Quick.

I'm with the Injustice Defense Group.

Look, we need to talk to you about Ronnie Petersen.

Aw, I'm wearing the wrong shoes.

(grunts)

(phone rings)

Hey.

I think the word is out that we're going after Falcone.

(sighs) Yeah.

I know.

Well?

-Message sent. -Good.

Appreciate you looking out.

(sighs)

What's Detective Falcone got on you, buddy?

-No idea what you're talking about, man. -Come on. Six trials,

you told the jury exactly what Detective Falcone

wanted you to say.

That's perjury. You can go to jail for a long time for that.

What do you want from me, man?

15 years ago, the Ronnie Petersen trial,

you gave false testimony. Falcone paid you to do it.

Now we need you to tell the judge that.

No, man. No, man. Look, he... look,

h-he doesn't even pay me anymore, man. He doesn't pay me.

He just threatens to lock me up if I don't do what he wants.

Right. Well, we're taking Falcone down.

You want the threats to end?

You got to help us out.

Well, this is a very well-written puff piece.

It's absolutely wonderful in its frivolity.

Come on. I mean, it's not that bad.

Oh, it's bad.

I can't print this. But I can find

-another writer. -Hey, just... Don't do that.

Just let me keep going, okay?

-I will get you something. -You better.

Or someone else will.

(sighs)

BODIE: Hiya. I got Dante Jordan

to agree to testify.

That's great. Uh, I found

Ronnie's ex-girlfriend. She confirms his alibi.

How'd you get Dante to step forward?

Falcone stiffed him for his last two court appearances,

and hell hath no fury like a false witness scorned.

See ya. Hey.

-Hey. -Vi.

You're leaving?

No goodbye?

I heard about that bullet.

Trying to get your head blown off, too?

Okay. You know what? I get it.

You're morally opposed to this case,

and I understand why.

It's horrible. But I really can't take this attitude.

We need to win, all right?

So get on or get off or whatever you need to do,

but this train is moving.

(sighs)

(exhales)

Take one.

Not for air. Yet.

I was one of a few black kids at my high school.

And one day,

a few of us went to our lockers

and found a noose hanging inside.

And our principal told us that while it was awful,

racism was just a part of life

that we needed to accept.

He said

the hate train was never gonna

come to a stop.

And we were just gonna have to toughen up...

...and ride it out like everyone else in history.

Have you ever had to ride that train?

MAN: So, remember,

continue to do the Lord's work and walk in his path.

Thank you for coming, and see you next week.

(indistinct chatter)

You need to talk to your son.

Something happened to him at school today.

What happened?

Audra and I will wait outside.

Come on, baby.

What happened at school?

-I got into a fight. -Over what?

Kids was messing with me about your case.

I told you to fight with your words, not your fists.

You let that stuff roll off your back.

And you don't have to get yourself in trouble

defending me.

I was not defending you.

I was defending myself.

(scoffs)

You're a hypocrite, Dad.

Always preaching pro-black this

and Black Lives Matter that,

but, man, you ain't really down.

You told me to never compromise.

And look at you.

(sighs)

Michael.

One day you'll understand why I'm doing this.

I'll never understand this.

It's for the greater good, son.

Look at me.

If you don't hear nothing else,

hear that.

All right, let's go home now.

I, uh, got suspended.

All right. I'll talk to Principal Denton.

I'll take care of it.

Don't trip.

Mom knows.

She'll take it from here.

(Atticus whines)

I'm not gonna become

one of those people who talks to their dog, so...

-(whines) -You shut up.

(knocking at door)

(Atticus growls quietly)

Stay.

-(knocking) -DYLAN: Hey.

(exhales) Hey.

Yeah. Uh...

DYLAN (softly): Hi.

What a good boy, Atticus.

(sighs): Uh...

listen, I think it's pretty obvious that we...

haven't been entirely honest with each other.

I'm sorry, th-there's just... there's been...

No, no, no, don't... don't apologize.

I should have told you this a long time ago.

The truth is...

...I liked you since before Becky and I broke up.

(Dylan sighs)

I think you're inspiring...

...and smart

and good.

And I love your smile and your eyes and your hair.

And I get it, it's not easy to be vulnerable for anybody.

It's got to be even harder for you

after everything that you've gone through, but...

but I want to try to do this, for real.

If you want to... if you want to try.

Do you want to?

Yeah.

I think I do.

*

Hey, pretty girl.

Back so soon?

We have a case that's causing

some friction with Violet-- I need someone to talk to.

What about that guy you were telling me about?

How come I don't see you for months, and then the moment

I lay eyes on you it all comes flooding back?

It's the same for me.

So, I mean, tell me about this guy.

-You still talking? -Yeah.

(clears throat) Yeah, we're talking.

He's around.

Where's your girl?

-She's around. -(chuckles)

MADELINE: I want you to know that, whoever I'm with,

that a part of you is

always with me.

I love you.

MADELINE: All right, so, we should tell you

how this is gonna go once we get inside.

All right, listen, brother, just tell the truth.

You still good to go, man?

DANTE: Hell, yeah.

I'm tired of his corrupt ass, man.

-Let's do this. -(sirens wailing)

-Dante Jordan, you're under arrest. -For what?

-What the h... what the hell's going on, man? -MADELINE: Hey! Excuse me.

I'm his lawyer. What's the charge?

Here's the arrest warrant.

Hey, what's going on, man?

You said I was good.

MADELINE: We can't proceed, Your Honor.

Our witness, Dante Jordan, was just arrested.

-On the courthouse steps. -That's unfortunate.

It's criminal. The prosecution knew that

Mr. Jordan was about to testify

to the threats and the corruption

that Detective Falcone used in this case.

-They're protecting Falcone. -Mr. Duncan,

-what's going on here? -Sorry, Your Honor,

I'm just getting caught up.

I was recently given a copy of an arrest warrant

for Dante Jordan.

Armed robbery, felony assault of a peace officer.

From what I gather, the police have been looking

-for him for some time. -And they just

happen to make an arrest right before he was about to testify?

-Guess they knew where to find him. -Your Honor,

it's an obvious attempt to keep our witness

from exposing the corruption of Detective Falcone.

The prosecution's playing dirty to protect a dirty cop.

Do you have any evidence to substantiate these allegations?

I did. He just got arrested.

We need a continuance, Your Honor.

Fine. Get your ducks in a row.

We do this again in two days.

Court's adjourned.

-What the hell just happened? -A slight delay.

You just play me, boy?

Oh, that's right, I see you, brother.

-OFFICER: Let's go. -What's up?

-(scoffs) I see you, brother. -Come on. Move.

What the hell was that?

Looks like our leopard still has his spots.

EASY: It was that look.

You know what I'm talking about.

So I was right-- he was conning us.

-Can we drop this case? -No. We can't give up.

We have one shot at Falcone. This is it.

Even though he is clearly a racist.

BODIE: Well, we've got another huge problem.

Our star witness is in the county lockup

for the foreseeable future,

which means he's definitely not testifying.

Then we need to find a different angle.

All right, 30-year career, Falcone

leaned on dozens of people. He must have had help.

-You mean other cops.

VIOLET: Even if he had help, there is no way

his brothers in blue are gonna flip on him.

Unless we can force them to.

Let's see who we can leverage.

Work your contacts. Someone on the inside

must have hated Falcone

-just as mu... -Much as I hate our client?

(door opens)

RECEPTIONIST: Can I help you? Sir.

Toby Kissell?

What are you doing here?

Keep your drug-addicted brother away from me.

Look, I don't know what Levi said to you...

He accused me of killing Rosemary,

which is ridiculous-- we all know who really killed her.

Do we?

Because the way I remember it, you blatantly lied on the stand.

-That's perjury, and it makes you look pretty guilty. -No.

-I testified to what I heard. -You lied,

and we both know it.

If I see him again, I'm calling the cops.

He's messed up. I don't want him anywhere near me.

Because he reminds you of how guilty you are?

Or because you stole ten years from us?

No, don't look away.

You look me in the eye, and you tell me

that you think Levi killed her.

Exactly.

What else are you hiding, Toby?

Don't you come in here like you're the innocent victim,

because you're not.

You ruined him.

You're a coward and you're pathetic,

and everything that happened to him

is your fault.

Get out of my office.

I think you're putting a spell on me with all this good food.

Mmm.

(both chuckle)

Does it make you want to sleep with me more?

Mm. Makes me crush on you more.

Yeah?

-Yeah. -Finally.

Does this mean that we can...

go out in public and have dinner in a restaurant?

(soft music playing)

Okay, but nothing fancy.

I promise take you to the most mediocre place

-I can find. -Yeah?

-Yeah. -Yeah?

Hey, if we go public,

I need you to stop trying to free the white supremacists.

-(laughs) -He's a scumbag. Period.

-Okay. -Yeah.

I guess Falcone did a good thing putting him away, then, yeah?

Falcone's a piece of crap. He's one of the bad ones.

You ever work with him?

No, but, uh, his partner--

"Dirty David" Moss--

that guy used to hit on me nonstop. He's a pig.

You want me to take him out for you?

-You know I'm a ninja. -(laughs): Yeah?

Part-time. Part-time. You know. I have the outfit.

Yeah, well, that guy took himself out.

-Oh, this is good. Really good, babe. -What do you mean

-he took himself out? -He went out

on some bogus disability charge

a couple years ago-- rumor is

he still collects three-quarters of his salary,

-tax-free. -What a pig.

Exactly. Cheers.

-Cheers. -Babe, this looks good.

So good.

BODIE: I got a name.

David Moss.

Supposedly dislocated his shoulder in the line,

-but I have it on good authority he's a liar. -VIOLET: So a cop

who's defrauding the city by taking disability

but isn't actually injured--

that's our big breakthrough?

Why not?

That's all the leverage we need, if we can prove it.

(phone ringing)

Hey. I got to go somewhere.

You want to work out some aggression?

I think I do. Let me grab my coat.

All right...

when are you two gonna make up?

It's getting seriously weird around here.

Whenever she wants. This is her thing, not mine.

I know, it's awful, but there's a bigger picture here.

If we win, we can help a lot of innocent people.

Let's stay focused on that.