Suitcase Killer: The Melanie McGuire Story (2022) Movie Script
I need another fish and chips,
stat!
Hey, Slate.
What are you doing Saturday?
Driving down to Atlantic City
to see some friends.
- You're dating someone.
- Jessica?
No, it's, it's not really
a defined thing.
- Yeah?
- Anyway, it wouldn't be a date.
Just trying to help.
- Well, how's that?
- I see her in there.
Your inner gambler
trying to get out.
Worry not, my lady,
I'm here to set her free.
Well, what about
my outer nursing grad
with a job interview on Monday?
What about her? She's got
all day Sunday to rest up.
- I don't know.
- Am I hearing a yes?
You're hearing
I gotta think about it.
That's not what I'm hearing.
I'm hearing,
"I can't wait, Bill.
What time should I be ready?"
Come on, Greeves. Be bold.
I think I got this one.
- Looking good.
- Looking good.
No!
Yeah. Well, that's it for me.
Like hell it is.
You are my rabbit's foot.
It's play money.
Don't worry about it.
Just remember, it's 21 or under.
If it was over,
you would be killin' it.
Okay, okay.
It's play money, right?
Let's play.
Watch me win now.
This is a nice house.
You got roommates?
- I do, my mom and my step-dad.
- I see.
I had way too much to drink.
You had fun is what you had.
That is true. Thank you.
Your parents still up?
You are not getting lucky
tonight, young man.
Well, it didn't even occur
to me.
I don't believe you.
But okay.
- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
Can I have my jacket back,
please?
Yes, you can.
Maybe next time.
Next time what?
You'll get lucky.
And that's your fish...
I'll check on you in a minute.
Well, how was Atlantic City?
Tell me.
Details, details, please.
He's fun.
Didn't treat me like some
delicate flower, which I like.
He's got an ex-wife,
but she's not in the picture.
Okay, and what about
the girlfriend?
She's in California
for a few weeks.
- So he's cheating on her.
- Not yet, he's not.
Not yet with you.
- Right.
- Here we go again.
Where's my medium-rare
surf 'n' turf?
- What is that supposed to mean?
- It's supposed to mean...
That I've known you since
fifth grade, and we both
know you don't know
how to pick 'em.
Look, just go slow, okay?
Deserve someone
who treats you well.
I know it's only been
a few weeks,
but I gotta show you off.
Don't be nervous,
they're only like family to me,
so the stakes
couldn't be higher.
There he is, ladies
and gentlemen, late as usual.
All the way from Woodbridge,
New Jersey,
Third Petty Officer McGuire.
- Missed you, bro.
- And his stunning plus one!
My God! She's beautiful, Bill!
Marry her fast
before she spooks.
Hi, I'm Sue.
Look at you.
Bill warned you about me, right?
- Lion's den, I told her.
- Stop. No, I'm a pussycat.
Let's get you a drink.
- You're a nurse, right?
- Yeah, I just got my degree.
I'm working at a fertility
clinic up in Woodbridge.
- Right on. How's that going?
- I love it so far.
Our work
brings a lot of joy to people.
- Not every time, though?
- No.
But for most couples, you know,
with all the options
that are out there right now,
where there's a will,
there's a way.
But I should tell you about
the new recommendation
for couples trying to conceive
based
on the latest medical data.
Yeah, tell me.
Have a lot of sex.
- Cheers to that.
- Yeah.
This is your happy place,
isn't it?
I wanna end up here.
Virginia Beach is growing.
It's gonna be a demand
for system engineers.
Well, you should do it.
Someday.
Till then I just get down here
as much as I can.
Too bad it's a seven-hour drive.
Well, it depends who's with me.
They can see us.
- Better?
- Much.
So, I decided.
I'm movin' out
of my parents' place.
- Really? Finally! This is huge.
- I know, right?
And I may have found
a roommate already.
Yeah?
- Bill McGuire.
- Seriously?
- I know it's fast--
- Yeah, no kidding.
But we spent the whole drive
back from Virginia talking
about it and we're both
really ready to explore this.
Okay, but living together?
I mean, how well
do you even know him?
I'm a big girl.
And, yeah, maybe he's got
some rough edges,
but nothing that I can't fix.
Okay, and when has that
ever worked out?
You know,
I should probably warn him.
Remember what happened
with Tony Parisi
and that girl
from Staten Island?!
You shoved him
outside the door butt-naked
and you locked the door
behind him.
- He deserved it.
- You sent him to the hospital.
The temperature
sent him to the hospital.
How was I supposed to know
it was five below zero?
Honey, you knew.
You're not gonna tell
these stories when
you're my maid of honor,
are you?
Shut up. You're joking, right?
Are you engaged
and you didn't tell me?
- Are you serious, Mel?
- Well... No, I'm joking!
Well, why would you do that
to me, Mel? Come on!
But I'm telling you right now...
it's gonna be him.
You really like him, don't you?
I do.
Man!
How much was that?
Twenty-five hundred.
- Which I'm about to win back.
- Can't you win it back tomorrow?
Twenty more minutes, baby.
Hey, go on up to the room.
I'll be there soon.
Okay?
All right, good luck, everyone.
What time did you get in
last night?
I don't know. 3:00, 4:00.
I got pulled
into this serious game of poker.
- I missed you.
- Well, you got me now.
Thank you, sir.
- Wow!
- Who's hungry?
My God. Yes, please.
So I could not crack this player
last night, I thought
I had his tell, but then
he beat me six hands straight.
- His tell?
- Yeah.
Something somebody does
that tells you they're bluffing.
So maybe he rubs his nose,
maybe he holds his cards
a certain way.
It could be anything.
Well, this guy kept rubbin'
his sunglasses.
Turns out
they were just fogging up.
To another memorable evening.
And morning.
So what's your tell,
Bill McGuire?
Shh! I will never say.
Okay. Well, then what's my tell?
- Easy. Your smile. There it is.
- My smile?
Right there. A thousand watts
of blinding light.
- That is so not true.
- It's the ultimate smokescreen.
- You're even using it now.
- Really?
How is that?
Because you saw me in the mirror
a minute ago,
and now you're trying
desperately not to let on.
It's okay, babe.
Melanie Slate...
will you marry me?
Yes! Yes!
My God! My God,
it's gorgeous.
- Can you afford this?
- It's okay, I know a guy.
And look at you. You're worth it
a thousand times over.
- Yeah, can I help you?
- Hi.
I'm Marci Polsky. I...
I was married to Bill McGuire.
I was hoping
we could talk for a minute.
You couldn't have called first?
I was afraid
you might tell Bill.
My God, he lets you
get your nails done?
Um, look, I'm sorry,
but why are you here exactly?
To warn you, like I wish
someone had warned me.
Just two minutes,
woman to woman.
Ex-wife to fiancee, you mean.
Please?
Yup.
Look, Marci,
what Bill and I have together,
it's not what you guys had.
- Not yet. I'm your preview.
- Marci--
He's a serial cheater,
every chance he gets.
He probably cheated on someone
to be with you.
And he disappears. Get ready for
that, for-for weeks, sometimes.
Okay, enough.
You really should leave.
Look, the real reason
I came here is
I know what that man's capable
of, and I couldn't live
with myself
if something happened to you.
- He was violent with you?
- Not exactly.
- But trust me, he has it in him.
- Not exactly?
The times he wanted to hurt me
are too many to count.
By the end,
I was scared for my safety.
I mean,
you've seen his temper, right?
What's goin' on?
What's she doing here?
- She just decided to show up.
- Okay, Marci.
This is harassment.
You can't just come over--
- I'm talking to her, Billy.
- Not anymore.
- We'd like for you to leave.
- Right.
Got it. No good deed.
You'll learn the hard way now.
Good luck to you, really.
Feel sorry for her.
She just can't stand the idea
of me being happy.
You okay?
Yeah, I mean,
she's lying, right?
- How can you even ask me that?
- No, I know.
O-of course,
of course she's lying.
- Yeah. She's lying.
- Yeah. I'm sorry. Um..
Just come on inside, okay?
I made dinner.
Apparently, I've grown a little.
Okay, impossible. Look at you.
Not so impossible.
My God!
- We weren't even trying.
- My God!
- How far along are you?
- Seven weeks.
We weren't gonna be sharing the
news, but I just had to tell ya.
Because I'm the godmother,
right?
Well, you're in the running.
I'm in the running?
Bill's sisters.
He's lobbying for Cindy.
The guests are seated.
How much longer?
Speak of the devil.
Five minutes.
Yeah, well, he can lobby,
but I'm not going down
without a fight.
Babe, look at you.
Getting married,
a baby on the way.
Okay, well, you really just hit
that light-speed button.?
- I know, right?
- Well...
You better hold on 'cause
things are about to get real.
Let's get a picture
if you ladies are ready.
Great.
So all we need
is a four-bedroom house
in a nice neighborhood with
a great school for the boys.
Do we need to spend 500K?
We spent half that
in Virginia Beach.
How would that even work for us?
No, my job is here. My parents
are here. Child care...
We're never getting out of here.
Sweetie.
Virginia Beach can still be
our long-term plan.
Okay? I wanna
move there, too, someday.
But right now this is
the best place for our family.
University's gonna promote me,
I think. Did I tell you?
That's fantastic!
Adjunct professor
to tenure track.
I'm still gonna handle
all the network contracts,
but that classroom stuff will be
some extra security for us.
And it's gonna look really good
on our mortgage application.
Did I tell you,
one of my clients said
it's a great time
to buy right now.
That's good.
Come on, boys, eat up.
Finish your chicken.
Hey.
Can we please,
please, go out shopping
this weekend?
Sure, why not?
Clearly there's no stopping you.
Right answer.
Happy wife, happy life.
Professional
basketball league was busy
last night with
seven games on the schedule.
The Cavaliers came up
with their surprise upset
beating the Bullets 108-99.
The Lakers had no trouble with
the Rockets winning 124-88.
The Nuggets
just got by the Knicks 114-112.
The Supersonics devastated
the Jazz 136-78.
It was the Trail Blazers
over the Bucks 98-94.
The Celtics edged the Bulls...
The Intercontinental
Heavyweight Boxing Tournamen...
See you next week.
Ooh!
And there's a terrible crash
on turn three, race fans!
There's debris
all over the track.
It's a miracle
both drivers are walking away.
- Wow.
- Gosh, I am so sorry.
No, it's fine. You're okay.
- Can I help you?
- Yeah.
- Hi. I'm Dr. Miller.
- Hi.
Can you point me
to the conference room?
- Dr. Scott's expecting me.
- Of course, doctor.
It's to the left
at the nurses' station.
- Right. Thanks.
- Yeah.
Okay.
The clinic hired
another partner.
- I have four bosses.
- Who is he?
I don't know, some big-shot
from D.C. He's hot, though.
Got the whole nursing staff
just drooling over him.
Yeah? Is he single?
- Of course not.
- They never are.
- So you guys gonna buy a house?
- Yes.
And I'm excited to have a bigger
house, better neighborhood.
Well, here's
to living the dream.
- Hey, Selene. How's it going?
- Hey, Bill.
- Wanna join us?
- Ooh, can't. Sorry.
- Well, where are you going?
- AC.
It's date night.
The boys are with my parents.
It's gonna have to be next week.
Walter asked me
to drive down with him.
I transferred some money
to casino line.
Hey, Bill.
There's no more play money.
Okay? We're gonna have
a lot of housing costs soon.
We really need
to be saving money.
Don't worry.
Tonight I'm gonna win.
Don't wait up.
Mel...
Sweetie.
What's going on?
It never stops.
Hi!
Daniela. Hey, I'm Melanie.
Hi, Melanie. Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
What a beautiful accent.
- Where are you from, Daniela?
- I'm from Brazil.
- I'm here for school.
- In Newark?
Yeah, New Jersey
Institute of Technology.
NJIT. It's a good school.
My husband actually works there.
- Right on.
- Yeah.
All right, Daniela, so have you
ever donated eggs before?
No, but a friend of mine did and
she said it was a perfect way
to make some extra cash,
you know?
Hey, I-I-I wanted to ask you.
This guy I'm seeing is worried
that the hormones will interfere
with our sex life.
Is that true?
It can happen for some donors,
but most of the time
the biggest complaint
is just the mood swings.
Well, nothing he can't fix
with some fine jewelry, right?
I like the way you think,
Daniela.
Call me Dani. Everyone does.
Okay, Dani.
So today's pretty simple.
It's really
just about blood work.
Got a gown for you right here.
I'm gonna step out while you get
undressed, and the doctor
and I will be back
in a few minutes, okay?
- Okay.
- Okay.
Dani? Dani Da Cruz?
Yup, Daniela Cruz.
I know, I should've been
a pop star, right?
God...
God!
- Is she ready?
- Yeah.
- You okay?
- Yeah.
You look like
you could use a minute.
Look, I'll have Gail
cover for you.
No, no, no, no,
it's a blood draw
and there are tricky veins and
Gail gets nervous. It's fine.
I'll do it myself, then.
It's fine, thank you.
Stop.
This is fun.
Love you.
Bye.
Bye.
Want a few more?
Almost eaten
all of these for breakfast.
- Morning.
- Hey.
- I waited up all night for you.
- Sorry. Had that faculty thing.
I tried to sneak out,
but Marty wouldn't let me.
I thought
it was an early dinner.
- What time did you get back?
- It was late 'cause...
You're not gonna believe it.
Here, some more juice, bud.
By the time I get out of there,
car is missing.
Campus police towed it. Took me
three hours to get it back.
Wow. What a night.
No kiddin'.
All right, gotta go.
All right, tell Ms. Singh
her husband needs to get
a motility analysis.
And Ms. Parker...
Actually, her progesterone's
back up--
I'm sorry.
Ms. Singh needs, um...
- What did you say?
- You okay?
Yeah, I'm sorry, it's just...
It's just home stuff.
Well, um, not that
it's any of my business,
but if there's anything
we can do for you here...
- Days off? Shorter hours?
- No.
- Paid cruise?
- No.
Um, that's very kind of you.
It's not kind. Selfish.
You're our best nurse.
We'd fall apart without you.
- Um, yeah, Ms. Singh--
- I need... Yeah.
Well, I actually need you
to sign this, um...
this paper.
- Well, cheers.
- Cheers.
I'm really sorry, if you could
try, cashing it tomorrow,
I'll make sure
that the funds are in there.
Yeah, thank you. I really
appreciate it. Okay, bye.
Go brush your teeth.
Hey, this is Bill.
You know what to do.
Jack's preschool check just
bounced. Where are you? Call me.
Melanie, you've got
a call on line three.
- Hi, it's Melanie.
- Hey, it's me.
Why are you calling me here?
Are the boys okay?
Your cell is off. Boys are fine.
- I've good news for you.
- Well, what is it?
Our offer was accepted.
We got the house.
That's...
- Well, that's great.
- Congratulations.
I hope this is good news
for you, too.
It is.
I just hope we can afford it.
Well, we can as long
as we're careful with our money.
You know, what, I got
a lot of work to do, I gotta go.
Yeah, me, too.
See you later.
All right, bye.
Think he suspects?
I don't really care.
What's good for the goose
is good for the gander.
So where do you see us
taking this?
To every bed
we can find together.
I'm serious.
Well, I'm...
I'm not ready
to divorce my wife.
- If that's what you're asking.
- No.
I mean, I am, but I wouldn't
wanna do that to the kids.
I'm a child of divorce,
I don't want that for them.
Or maybe I'm just a coward.
I don't know.
No, you are not.
Well, lots of people
are stuck in bad relationships.
But I'll never escape him,
though.
His gambling is a wrecking ball,
for our future
and the boys' future.
And to top it all off,
an offer we made on a house
was accepted, which is crazy.
But at least it's money
that he can't gamble away.
Well, maybe this could be
a fresh start.
You guys can start over.
He'll never change.
I want a do-over.
What are you doing up?
I'm... I couldn't sleep.
So I'm just, gettin'
some work done.
3:00 in the morning?
Come back to bed.
I'll be there in a minute.
Hi.
101. Yeah, no. Yes.
You can go ahead and give him
some Tylenol. Thanks.
N-not the... No. Not the grape.
He likes the cherry.
Yeah, the cherry one, please.
Look, I gotta go.
Bill, they are not paying you
enough for these hours.
Or did the parking trolls
get you again?
Someone moved my car.
Left it back at the office.
I don't understand.
Who would do that?
Someone with a spare key.
You made me miss
a drinks meeting with Marty,
my boss,
the guy who decides tenure!
I don't know what you're talking
about, but you know,
the boys are sleeping.
So if you could just
keep your voice down...
Did you move it?
You know it really took me
a long time to get JC--
Did you move my car?
What, move your car?
- Of course not.
- There.
There it is.
A 1000 watts of blinding light,
smile that hooks anyone
not paying attention!
- Did you move my car?
- What did I just say?
Except, you were smiling
when you said it, bitch.
We both know what that means!
Did you move my goddamn car?
And why would I do
something like that?
Can you think of any reason??
Yes.
Congratulations, Mr. McGuire.
You are officially a co-owner
of a four-bedroom,
three-bath residence
in Warren County.
To the future.
Man!
Hope we're not in
over our heads.
Well, there's no going back now.
What's done is done.
We found a head
and upper torso, chief.
Yeah, they-they have to belong
to the legs
that washed up last week.
Same brand of suitcase.
Kenneth Cole.
Probably one of those
luggage sets.
Yeah, he working on it.
Almost done. Copy that.
My God!
Who does this
to another human being?
- Mr. Cappararo?
- Yes.
I'm Detective Stanyan with the
Woodbridge Police Department.
Is your step-daughter
Melanie here?
Yeah, she is. Can I tell her
what this is about?
We should talk inside, sir.
- All right. Come on.
- I went to her house.
The cleaning lady told me
she was here.
Please. This is my wife
Linda, my daughter Melanie.
- I'm Detective Stanyan. Hi.
- Hi.
- Do you mind if I sit?
- Yeah.
I think it would be better
if the children weren't here.
Okay, well, now you're getting
me worried, detective.
Boys, can you go with, um...
Mom, can you take them?
- Yeah. Come on, come on, guys.
- Go with grandma.
Who wants ice cream?
Want some ice cream?
Leave the balls there.
There's no easy way
to say this, ma'am.
Your husband, Bill McGuire,
was found dead in Virginia.
My God.
I know he'd been
reported missing.
His friends, Jon and Susan Rice,
identified the body for us.
From the water?
W-w-what? What, did he drown?
- How did he die?
- Wish I could elaborate.
But we're not leading
this investigation.
This is Virginia Beach's case.
They'll be reaching out to you
shortly.
Honey.
Wait, this isn't happening.
- I'm so sorry, ma'am.
- My God!
Are the boys in the other room?
I know. I'm so sorry.
You need to take
compassionate leave.
- A month or two.
- No.
I'll have HR clear it.
I-I want to work.
It'll keep me sane. You're here.
God,
I-I can't believe he's dead.
All this time I thought
he was just off
binging with his girlfriend
in Atlantic City.
We were supposed to move in
to our new house next week.
I...
I don't even wanna go there.
- You just bought it.
- With Bill.
I'm just gonna stay
with my parents
until I figure out
what I'm gonna do.
My God!
I can only imagine
what you're going through.
I mean, even if things
weren't good at the end,
you guys have history together,
you have memories.
You need to grieve.
So if you wanna take a break
from us,
I mean, I completely understand.
No.
No. You-you don't get it.
I was divorcing him.
A lawyer isn't needed, by the
way. This is not adversarial.
Judy's just my divorce attorney.
I only asked her to be here
as an extra set of ears.
All right, Ms. McGuire,
if I could start
with the last time you saw Bill.
Yeah, um, April 28th,
in the early morning,
around 4:00 or 5:00
is when he walked out on us.
- On you and your children?
- Yes.
And this was at the house
at 2902 Plaza Drive?
Right, yes.
We'd just had a fight.
The fight noted in
the temporary restraining order
that you filed two days later?
He got physical,
it wasn't the first time,
but I was worried about what
might happen when he came back.
- Physical meaning violent?
- Yes.
You did the right thing, ma'am.
Too many women wait.
So had he not died,
Bill would be coming back
to divorce papers?
That was your intention?
I retained duty right after
the restraining order.
Okay, so just so I'm clear,
the fight that led you
to end the marriage
took place the day after
you and your husband
closed on
the Warren County property.
Yeah. Ridiculous timing, I know.
Huh, that's a beautiful house.
I mean, it's like a dream home,
really.
- Not Bill's.
- You talked him into it?
That's what the fight was about.
Bill had a gambling problem.
I loved this house,
but mostly I thought
real estate was a good way
to lock up our money.
- So that Bill couldn't touch it.
- Okay. Right.
The next step for us,
we need to search your home.
Great.
You own a Kenneth Cole
luggage set, Ms. McGuire?
I do. I did.
I don't know, I think Bill
took it with him when he left.
I don't know
if it's Kenneth Cole,
but it's maybe something
name brand.
Ms. McGuire, this, this laptop,
yours or Bill's?
It's both of ours, we shared it.
- May we take it for a few days?
- Yeah, of course.
I mean, I don't know
what else they want from me.
I have answered their questions.
I've bent over backwards
trying to help them.
And now they're just buzzing
around the house like bees.
Okay, don't take it personal,
they're just doing their job.
Selene's right,
they're checking their boxes.
They have to look at the spouse.
That is an awful feeling.
It'll pass.
Just tell them everything.
- What's everything?
- Anything relevant.
Full cooperation.
Well, what if it's not relevant,
but they might think it is?
Mn-mn. This doesn't sound good.
Remember how Bill had a felony
for perjury?
Yeah, the whole
speeding-ticket thing?
He wouldn't have passed
a background check,
so he asked me
to get it for him.
Just pestered me about it
for months,
so finally I just gave in.
Get what, sweetheart?
A gun.
He wouldn't leave it alone,
you know, especially once
he knew we were moving,
he thought we needed
protection out there.
- What kind of gun?
- Well, I don't, I don't know.
I don't know a gun
from a can of paint, pop.
Whatever he told me to get.
A-a pistol.
- Okay, where is it now?
- The hell if I know.
I gave it to him,
I never saw it again.
Okay, okay, that's fine.
That's fine.
We tell them now.
Get out in front of it.
But the bigger problem
is gonna be when I bought it.
Okay, show me what you got.
This is April 26th,
at a retailer in Pennsylvania.
A nickel-finish Taurus .38,
one box of wadcutter rounds.
April 26th?
Where is this on our timeline?
Two days before she claims
she last saw the victim.
Download me. Where are we?
There's zero evidence
she had plans to leave him.
All her legal moves,
the abuse claim,
the TRO,
hiring a divorce lawyer,
occurred immediately
after Bill vanished.
An attempt to back-fill
her narrative.
- Exactly.
- You've got the gun purchase.
Y-you don't have the gun,
though.
She claims
that Bill took it with him.
You've one bullet retrieved from
the torso's ribcage,
a wadcutter,
just like the one she purchased.
Unfortunately, it's the most
popular target round
in the country.
And the black garbage bags
found in the suitcases,
they exactly match the bags
from the McGuire kitchen.
Same grade of plastic,
the same factory.
But also the same commonality
problem as the bullets.
They're sold
all over the East Coast.
I'm not worried about it.
Now, where are we on DNA?
Nothing at the townhouse,
some very heavy
bleach residue, though.
Somebody cleaned well.
- Not in Bill's car.
- You found it?
Thursday. An impound yard
in Atlantic City.
His DNA all over the floor mats.
- Blood?
- Skin fragments.
Most likely tracked in
on someone's shoes.
Good.
I think you should know that,
in person,
I find her convincing.
Steady as she goes
in our interviews.
Well, I find Meryl Streep
convincing.
Sh-she's still an actress.
Gentleman,
our person of interest
just got a lot more interesting.
I know we're grieving,
but I've lost my brother,
so I'm just gonna come out
and say it.
He deserved better.
That service was totally rushed.
The priest didn't even
know his name.
That was the only time slot
that they had left.
Where were the boys?
They've been through enough.
Bill is their father.
Mom, give us a minute?
Hey, the boys are two and four.
They cry for their daddy every
single night, and I hold them
until it stops.
I was just trying to spare them.
- Bill would've wanted them here.
- I couldn't really ask him.
Now, could I? And since when are
you so concerned about the boys?
You're the aunt
they barely know.
I'm sorry.
God. I'm sorry.
That was not okay.
I'm a single mother
in the middle of a nightmare,
and I'm just trying
to get through it.
It's not over
until they found his killer.
You haven't forgotten
about that, have you?
Because you seem
remarkably uninterested.
The boys and I
need to keep living, Cindy.
I take it back.
Not all of us are grieving,
are we?
Well, I'm sorry the service
wasn't to your liking.
It's been quiet.
No police contact
for two months.
Maybe they've moved on.
- You think?
- They should.
They need to,
because I don't how much more
of this I can take.
The waiting is hell.
Some days I just wish
they'd just
get it over with
and arrest me already.
Hey.
It won't come to that,
I promise.
You're innocent,
that's where they'll end up.
Good morning. Thank you.
Dr. Miller. Detective Stanyan,
Woodbridge Police Department.
- You have a minute?
- What's this about?
I just have a few questions
about Melanie McGuire.
Melanie? That's Dr. Scott's
nurse, mostly.
He may be better qualified
to assist you.
I don't think so, doctor.
That is a beautiful family.
We need to talk.
Where are we with motive?
Anything more, Terry?
We don't need more.
We've got a lover.
The oldest story
in the murder-your-spouse book.
Except there's no evidence
Dr. Miller
planned to divorce his wife.
Maybe she hoped he would.
Or maybe it's something bigger.
- Bigger?
- Deeper.
When Melanie was four,
her dad ditched the fam
for a brand-new life
in California,
then promptly died
of liver cancer.
What?
That made her a sociopath?
Maybe not sociopath,
but everyone has triggers.
Did you move my goddamn car?
Add domestic violence
to the mix.
Okay, wait, wait, wait. No.
We are not maligning the victim.
You know, she says he got rough
with her, but we don't know
that, there's no report of that.
I thought
we're discussing motive.
We are.
A motive that gets a win for us.
Now, a victim who had it
coming isn't gonna do that.
Neither is a-a sad,
weepy childhood story. No.
But what will is a secret lover.
Obsession.
Now, now, the fantasy of
starting a new life with someone
without any of the trappings
of her old one...
I mean,
people can relate to that.
And who of us hasn't dreamt
of doing that
at least at one point?
- Of killing our spouses?
- No, of being free.
Free, totally free,
of-of a mess that we've made.
Okay, Terry. Tell me our story.
- From?
- The night of.
Early morning, actually,
4:30 a.m.,
the suspect claims that--
Defendant.
We haven't charged her yet.
Well, let's just try it on
for size.
Right.
The morning
the defendant claims,
in court filings
and police interviews,
she had a fight with the victim
and feared for her life.
Well, ladies and gentleman
of the jury,
I regret to inform you,
there was no fight.
The night he and Melanie
closed on their dream home
and celebrated with wine,
she killed him in cold blood.
And Bill never saw it coming.
How could he know
that two weeks earlier,
the defendant
was on her home computer
conducting Internet searches
on how to sedate someone?
That just two days
before that night
she drove to a Pennsylvania gun
store where she would purchase
a .38 caliber Taurus revolver
she would use to kill him?
How could he know
that just one day before,
she forged her lover's
signature and handed over
a fraudulent prescription
of 500 milliliters
of chloral hydrate syrup
to a pharmacist?
How could he know
that when he closed his eyes
that night,
drugged from the altered wine
she had given him...
that he'd sleep
just long enough for her
to drop the kids off
at preschool...
and return to end his life?
How could he know
that he would never...
wake up?
Can I say something?
- Yes, Anne?
- So far the townhouse is clean.
They did a luminol search
and they didn't find anything.
No blood in the bathroom,
no blood on the, on the couch.
I'm having a team
from the outside
come and do a deeper dig.
Yeah, but what if
the crime scene
proves to be somewhere else?
It won't.
And we don't want it to.
No, no, the townhouse
is a better story.
Okay, keep going, Terry.
From the shooting.
He's dead on the couch.
So now Melanie
has a body to dispose of.
It's early
in the morning, the kids are
in school, her folks have
agreed to pick
them up from school
and keep them that night.
So now Melanie has two days
to get Bill into the suitcases
and clean up her mess.
She did a good job on the house.
Perfect, in fact.
But she forgot about her shoes.
When she dumped Bill's car
in Atlantic City
to throw investigators
off her scent,
she tracked tiny skin fragments
from her butchering
all over the floor mats.
I-I don't like "skin fragments."
It's too-too clinical.
I know, let's say
human sawdust.
I like that. I like that.
Human sawdust.
I think we're ready.
Now, remember,
use your listening ears
for Ms. Gail today, okay?
- Okay.
- All right. I love you, baby.
And, Ahma and PopPop are
gonna pick you up after school.
- Okay? Have a good day.
- You, too.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Melanie McGuire,
put your hands on your head,
interlace your fingers.
- Do you have any weapons on you?
- No.
You have the right
to remain silent.
Anything you say
can and will be used against you
in a court of law. You have
the right to an attorney.
You cannot afford one, the court
will provide one for you.
Do you understand these rights
you've just heard?
- Yeah.
- Let's go.
Mrs. McGuire,
how are you pleading?
Not guilty, You Honor.
Let the record show
that the defendant has pled
not guilty
to the arresting charge of
first-degree murder
of William McGuire.
Counsel's request for
a preliminary hearing is denied.
Bail is set at $750,000.
Yes, this is Michael Cappararo.
I do all my banking with you.
Can I speak to a loan officer,
please?
I wanna take out
a second mortgage on my house.
No, no, no, I'll hold. I need
to speak with him right away.
The arrest of Melanie McGuire
representsa 13-month effort
to bring William McGuire's
killer to justice.
Now, forget the prurient
headlines, this young man
was the father of two,
who served his country,
and I will forcefully
honor his life
with our actions in court.
We haven't decided if we will
seek the death penalty,
but the rank barbarity
of this crime
certainly puts it in play.
No, that's-that's all for now.
Michael!
They're perfectly... Michael!
- No, they're gonna be fine.
- Hey, hey, what's going on here?
- No, no.
- They're taking the kids.
- Michael!
- No...
- We have to take the children.
- No.
They're gonna stay with us.
They're gonna stay with us.
- They're fine here.
- No, honey, no. Hey.
It's gonna be okay.
We're gonna get 'em back.
- We're gonna get 'em back.
- No, it's not okay.
- It's okay, honey... Guys.
- It's not okay.
Hey, we'll see you soon, okay?
Be good. Be good boys.
Goodness, look at her.
Hi, baby.
Sweetie. My goodness.
Good to see you.
- How'd you come up with it, pop?
- I moved some things around.
- It's no big deal.
- No, he moved mountains.
- Um...
- It's just money.
We gotta get to the custody
hearing, it's in 15 minutes.
- No way we'll make it, sweetie.
- Well, not if we don't move.
- Give me the keys.
- Okay.
Come on!
Upon the completion
of their physical
and psychiatric evaluations,
both McGuire children are
to be placed in the custody of--
- Excuse me, excuse me!
- Bailiff!
No, I'm-I'm their mother.
You're late, and you will ask
permission to address this court
or be sent out.
Permission to address the court,
Your Honor.
Do you have counsel?
- No.
- Quickly.
I'm out on bail
for a crime I did not commit,
and my boys need their mother.
I have no,
prior criminal history.
Ms. McGuire, this is
an emergency hearing,
and as such,
when you retain counsel,
you will have avenues
to contest my ruling.
- Yes, but, Your Honor, I-I--
- I'm speaking, Ms. McGuire.
Now, given
the extraordinary gravity
of the criminal action
against you
and given the allegations
of child neglect
by family members
through their counsel,
the court has no other choice
but to revoke custody.
So at this time
the court hereby assigns
emergency sole guardianship
to Jack and Jason's aunt,
Ms. Cindy Ligosh.
Next case.
Bill's sisters are lying
to Family Services about me.
I can petition
for supervised visits,
but a social worker
has to be there.
Brad.
I'm here.
Have you been watching
TV? They know about us.
It's all over the news.
Charla's not talking to me.
No surprise there.
The RMA fired me today.
Brad, I'm so sorry.
The detectives called me.
- They wanna meet with me again.
- About what?
They think I'm your accomplice.
For something
that didn't happen?
I know...
Yeah, they're just trying
to scare me.
They said on the day
you bought the gun,
we were on the phone
for a hundred minutes.
You know what that looks like?
Well, we did nothing wrong.
So you'd tell me, right?
I mean,
if you had anything to do with
what happened to Bill,
you'd tell me?
I already have.
Just say it again.
On my children's lives,
a thousand times over,
absolutely nothing.
I know. I know. Thank you.
What's going on?
Nothing. No, nothing.
Sweetie, I just wanted
to hear it again.
I gotta go, okay? I'll-I'll
check in with you later.
- I love you.
- I love you, too.
I know what
you're thinking. Why me?
The easy answer is you're
the lover of a murder suspect,
who we believe had help.
But another way
to think of it is
you're in a position
to help her.
Could be we're way off.
What you get from her proves it.
You're way off.
I hope so, Dr. Miller.
I really do.
Number two.
Ten dollars.
Thank you.
Hello? Hi, yeah.
Yes. Thank you.
Come in. Come in.
Joe Tacopina.
Can I call you Melanie?
- Please do.
- Please have a seat.
Thank you.
Can we get you anything?
Water? Coffee?
No, thank you.
I must say, you've got
quite the advocate
in Selene Trevizas.
She was relentless.
Yeah, that's Selene,
even when I told her
I couldn't possibly afford you.
Let's not worry about that
now. We'll figure it out.
This is Stephen Turano,
he's licensed in New Jersey,
so he'll be my co-counsel.
- Good to meet you.
- Hi.
What they're doing to you,
Melanie, is appalling.
Prosecutors are bullies,
but Prezioso
is her own sadistic breed.
Well, it's time she met me.
I tear bullies to shreds.
So let's get to work, shall we?
- Yeah.
- Good.
Take me to the last time
you saw Bill McGuire.
Um, well, we had just closed
on the Warren County house.
I was ecstatic.
Bill, not so much, but
I was determined to celebrate,
so I opened up
a nice bottle of wine.
We finished it.
But it didn't relax Bill at all.
Goddamn it!
She's unbelievable!
Bill. Bill.
Hey, calm...
It's 4:00 in the morning.
How many times have I said
I don't wanna see
dryer sheets in this house?
They're for lazy people! You
ever hear of fabric softener?
God.
Your problem is
you don't listen!
How many times did I say
I don't want this house?
Five-hundred-thousand dollars
is gonna wreck us!
- What are you doing?
- I'm cleaning up.
Leave it!
Goddammit! I said leave it!
Don't touch me! Don't...
You wanna clean it?
You wanna, you wanna clean it?
I got just the place for it.
How about this?
- No.
- Open your mouth.?
Yeah, just swallow. Exactly.
Good, right? Yeah, swallow.
- No!
- Swallow.
Swallow it all the way.
Mommy?
Baby.
Come here.
No, it's okay.
Open the door.
Open the goddamn door!
Open the door!
It's all right. It's all right.
It's all right.
Fine. I'm done with this.
I know, it's okay. It's okay.
That must've been very scary.
What happened next?
We stayed in the bathroom.
I could hear him packing.
Then I heard
the garage door open.
Right here. Shh, shh, shh...
He sped away.
And that's the last time
I ever saw him.
Who do you think
killed your husband?
I don't know.
I don't know, I'm sure
Bill had a long list of people
who he pissed off, I...
Maybe he owed
some bad guys money.
I don't know who did this
to my husband.
Let's turn to the days
immediately after he left.
Prezioso has
your E-ZPass records.
You drove to Atlantic City,
they say, to dump Bill's car.
It's okay, this is where we tell
her what she doesn't know
about that trip.
We can do that now, or--
No, no, I don't need any time,
it's just...
It's just embarrassing is all.
Not one of my finest moments.
Just dumb.
I went to Atlantic City
to look for Bill's car.
Once I found it,
I moved it with my spare key.
I drove it to another casino
few miles down the road.
You know, "Good luck
finding your car, you jerk."
But at the time, I, um...
I'd been taking Xanax.
I had taken a few that night.
I was in no condition
to be driving home.
So I took a cab home.
And then you took,
another cab right back?
Yeah, well, by the time
I got back to Woodbridge,
I was feelin' better.
And I needed my car,
so I went back for it.
Just so we're clear, that's
another two hours in a cab,
for a total of four hours,
the combined fares
close to, what, $500?
- Yeah.
- For a prank?
For my hide-a-car revenge, yes.
I mean, I'd done it before.
I could tell you a better story,
but it wouldn't be true.
You also called E-ZPass billing
to try to get the charges erased
on this trip.
Right. After they started
investigating me.
Pfft. I was worried
how it'd make me look.
No kidding.
Stephen, let's remember,
they have the burden of proof,
not us.
Their story has to be perfect,
not hers.
Know what our client is?
Consistent.
A year's worth of police
transcripts and recordings,
and she never wavers.
That tells a jury she's honest.
Hell, even her boyfriend
couldn't shake her.
Janice.
Well, we did nothing wrong.
So you'd
tell me, right? I mean...
If you had anything to do
with what happened to Bill...
- You'd tell me.
- I already have.
Say it again.
On my children's
lives, a thousand times over,
absolutely nothing.
Are you okay, Melanie?
Can we get you a-a water?
A wiretap, ladies and gentlemen,
is a weapon of choice
for lazy prosecutors.
In my client's case,
detectives used Dr. Miller
to question her by proxy,
forcing the man she trusted most
to catch her
at her most vulnerable,
without the benefit of counsel.
Remember, Ms. Prezioso
maintains, without evidence,
that Dr. Miller was Melanie's
entire motive
for killing her husband.
And yet I ask you,
where on those many tapes
recorded during
raw and intimate moments
does my client admit
or even imply,
she had anything to do
with Bill McGuire's death?
Nowhere.
Even as Dr. Miller
pressed her over and over
for the confession
Ms. Prezioso
so desperately wanted...
While Dr. Miller was making
those recordings,
he was still seeing my client.
He was still trusting her,
he was still loving her,
despite everything these
detectives were telling him.
Those recordings
only exonerate my client.
They show the true,
the unguarded Melanie McGuire.
Imperfect? Yes.
Seeking refuge from a cruel
and violent husband...
Don't touch me! Don't...
But a depraved killer?
No way.
Never.
So let's be done with all this.
We can grieve the victim,
and we absolutely should.
But, members of the jury,
I ask you,
end this persecution
of an innocent woman.
Melanie McGuire is not guilty
of this crime.
Allow her to get on
with her life.
Allow her to go home
to her children.
Thank you.
I gotta be honest,
keeping up with the defendant's
fantastical account
over the past two years
has been a full-time job.
But, thankfully,
she can't lie her way
out of DNA.
Can't spin the human sawdust
she tracked into Bill's car
after cutting him to pieces.
You need nothing more
to convict her,
but there's even more,
and you have it in abundance,
starting with the fact
that there was no fight.
In the early hours
of April 28th, 2004,
there was no fight.
No, Bill never sped off
in his car.
No, instead,
he lay in a stupor...
from the chloral hydrate
that the autopsy found
in his bloodstream.
Incapacitated...
by the date-rape drug
that Melanie used to poison him.
What happened next took two days
and it, it is not
for the faint of heart.
A seven-hour drive, now just
think about that,
ladies and gentlemen.
Seven hours in a car
with her husband
stuffed into suitcases
in the back of her SUV.
Did she reflect in horror
on what she had done?
Show any remorse whatsoever?
No, her actions tell us
that she did not,
because Melanie's last act
that night
was to throw out
the father of her children...
like she was throwing out
the trash.
Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,
the defense and the prosecution
have rested.
You've heard my instructions.
You're hereby dismissed
to begin deliberations.
Please follow the bailiff.
So?
They're drowning
in reasonable doubt.
Acquittal, no question.
Hi, Melanie.
Alice Davis.
Thank you for having us.
Yeah. Of course.
I just hope the jury does
the right thing for Billy.
Patti has fought
so hard for him,
for us, for justice.
And we're rolling.
It's day two
of jury deliberations.
You're out on bail,
a free woman,
staring at the very real
prospect of life in prison.
- The waiting must be--
- Agony.
- Yeah.
- What's going through your mind?
Patti told a good story.
Hell, if it were a movie,
I'd watch it.
Melanie has been lying about
my brother for two years,
and now this trial
has been seven weeks
of nothing but lies, lies, lies.
And it's time for a verdict of
guilty to finally shut her up.
Joe Tacopina told a story--
He told the truth.
A version that, quite frankly,
many people
are having trouble believing.
Well, let's hope the 12 people
who matter the most
are smarter than that.
I feel most for her parents,
Linda and Michael,
who I've always adored.
She's put them
in an impossible position.
What kind of a person
doesn't search
for the missing father
of her children?
Even with all of our problems,
I desperately wanted Bill
to be found safe and alive.
For weeks after Billy vanished,
I begged,
begged her to go with me
to Atlantic City,
to pressure the police there,
to make phone calls
to anyone who knew him
to help us.
She refused.
And that told me everything.
It should tell you everything,
too. Thank you.
Finally, let me ask you
about Dr. Miller.
He assisted
in the effort to convict you.
- Do you hold it against him?
- No. No, they threatened him.
And he knew
I couldn't incriminate myself.
If you could do it
all over again,
would you still have the affair?
I don't know.
Do you still love him?
I did.
What do you think
happened to Bill?
Do you really think
he ran afoul of the mob?
I mean, it certainly fits.
Got money on the street in AC,
that's how you get bullets
here and here.
Now, regardless of the verdict,
when this program airs,
viewers are going to hear
claims from you that
are impossible to corroborate.
Why should our audience
trust you?
I have no control over that.
But I know that I'm innocent.
Thank you.
Thank you, everyone. We're done.
Yeah.
You know, I'm sure
that you get this a lot,
but you have
an incredible smile.
Bill used to say that to me.
"A thousand watts
of blinding light," he'd say.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the jury has reached a verdict.
I know there will be strong
feelings of both agreement...
and disagreement.
But outbursts
will not be tolerated.
Clerk Hacker, you may proceed.
Mr. Foreman, how do you find as
to the count of the indictment
charging Melanie McGuire with
the murder of William McGuire
on or about April 28th, 2004,
in the jurisdiction
of Woodbridge,
Middlesex County, New Jersey?
We, the jury
finds Melanie McGuire...
guilty on all charges.
My babies.
My babies...
stat!
Hey, Slate.
What are you doing Saturday?
Driving down to Atlantic City
to see some friends.
- You're dating someone.
- Jessica?
No, it's, it's not really
a defined thing.
- Yeah?
- Anyway, it wouldn't be a date.
Just trying to help.
- Well, how's that?
- I see her in there.
Your inner gambler
trying to get out.
Worry not, my lady,
I'm here to set her free.
Well, what about
my outer nursing grad
with a job interview on Monday?
What about her? She's got
all day Sunday to rest up.
- I don't know.
- Am I hearing a yes?
You're hearing
I gotta think about it.
That's not what I'm hearing.
I'm hearing,
"I can't wait, Bill.
What time should I be ready?"
Come on, Greeves. Be bold.
I think I got this one.
- Looking good.
- Looking good.
No!
Yeah. Well, that's it for me.
Like hell it is.
You are my rabbit's foot.
It's play money.
Don't worry about it.
Just remember, it's 21 or under.
If it was over,
you would be killin' it.
Okay, okay.
It's play money, right?
Let's play.
Watch me win now.
This is a nice house.
You got roommates?
- I do, my mom and my step-dad.
- I see.
I had way too much to drink.
You had fun is what you had.
That is true. Thank you.
Your parents still up?
You are not getting lucky
tonight, young man.
Well, it didn't even occur
to me.
I don't believe you.
But okay.
- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
Can I have my jacket back,
please?
Yes, you can.
Maybe next time.
Next time what?
You'll get lucky.
And that's your fish...
I'll check on you in a minute.
Well, how was Atlantic City?
Tell me.
Details, details, please.
He's fun.
Didn't treat me like some
delicate flower, which I like.
He's got an ex-wife,
but she's not in the picture.
Okay, and what about
the girlfriend?
She's in California
for a few weeks.
- So he's cheating on her.
- Not yet, he's not.
Not yet with you.
- Right.
- Here we go again.
Where's my medium-rare
surf 'n' turf?
- What is that supposed to mean?
- It's supposed to mean...
That I've known you since
fifth grade, and we both
know you don't know
how to pick 'em.
Look, just go slow, okay?
Deserve someone
who treats you well.
I know it's only been
a few weeks,
but I gotta show you off.
Don't be nervous,
they're only like family to me,
so the stakes
couldn't be higher.
There he is, ladies
and gentlemen, late as usual.
All the way from Woodbridge,
New Jersey,
Third Petty Officer McGuire.
- Missed you, bro.
- And his stunning plus one!
My God! She's beautiful, Bill!
Marry her fast
before she spooks.
Hi, I'm Sue.
Look at you.
Bill warned you about me, right?
- Lion's den, I told her.
- Stop. No, I'm a pussycat.
Let's get you a drink.
- You're a nurse, right?
- Yeah, I just got my degree.
I'm working at a fertility
clinic up in Woodbridge.
- Right on. How's that going?
- I love it so far.
Our work
brings a lot of joy to people.
- Not every time, though?
- No.
But for most couples, you know,
with all the options
that are out there right now,
where there's a will,
there's a way.
But I should tell you about
the new recommendation
for couples trying to conceive
based
on the latest medical data.
Yeah, tell me.
Have a lot of sex.
- Cheers to that.
- Yeah.
This is your happy place,
isn't it?
I wanna end up here.
Virginia Beach is growing.
It's gonna be a demand
for system engineers.
Well, you should do it.
Someday.
Till then I just get down here
as much as I can.
Too bad it's a seven-hour drive.
Well, it depends who's with me.
They can see us.
- Better?
- Much.
So, I decided.
I'm movin' out
of my parents' place.
- Really? Finally! This is huge.
- I know, right?
And I may have found
a roommate already.
Yeah?
- Bill McGuire.
- Seriously?
- I know it's fast--
- Yeah, no kidding.
But we spent the whole drive
back from Virginia talking
about it and we're both
really ready to explore this.
Okay, but living together?
I mean, how well
do you even know him?
I'm a big girl.
And, yeah, maybe he's got
some rough edges,
but nothing that I can't fix.
Okay, and when has that
ever worked out?
You know,
I should probably warn him.
Remember what happened
with Tony Parisi
and that girl
from Staten Island?!
You shoved him
outside the door butt-naked
and you locked the door
behind him.
- He deserved it.
- You sent him to the hospital.
The temperature
sent him to the hospital.
How was I supposed to know
it was five below zero?
Honey, you knew.
You're not gonna tell
these stories when
you're my maid of honor,
are you?
Shut up. You're joking, right?
Are you engaged
and you didn't tell me?
- Are you serious, Mel?
- Well... No, I'm joking!
Well, why would you do that
to me, Mel? Come on!
But I'm telling you right now...
it's gonna be him.
You really like him, don't you?
I do.
Man!
How much was that?
Twenty-five hundred.
- Which I'm about to win back.
- Can't you win it back tomorrow?
Twenty more minutes, baby.
Hey, go on up to the room.
I'll be there soon.
Okay?
All right, good luck, everyone.
What time did you get in
last night?
I don't know. 3:00, 4:00.
I got pulled
into this serious game of poker.
- I missed you.
- Well, you got me now.
Thank you, sir.
- Wow!
- Who's hungry?
My God. Yes, please.
So I could not crack this player
last night, I thought
I had his tell, but then
he beat me six hands straight.
- His tell?
- Yeah.
Something somebody does
that tells you they're bluffing.
So maybe he rubs his nose,
maybe he holds his cards
a certain way.
It could be anything.
Well, this guy kept rubbin'
his sunglasses.
Turns out
they were just fogging up.
To another memorable evening.
And morning.
So what's your tell,
Bill McGuire?
Shh! I will never say.
Okay. Well, then what's my tell?
- Easy. Your smile. There it is.
- My smile?
Right there. A thousand watts
of blinding light.
- That is so not true.
- It's the ultimate smokescreen.
- You're even using it now.
- Really?
How is that?
Because you saw me in the mirror
a minute ago,
and now you're trying
desperately not to let on.
It's okay, babe.
Melanie Slate...
will you marry me?
Yes! Yes!
My God! My God,
it's gorgeous.
- Can you afford this?
- It's okay, I know a guy.
And look at you. You're worth it
a thousand times over.
- Yeah, can I help you?
- Hi.
I'm Marci Polsky. I...
I was married to Bill McGuire.
I was hoping
we could talk for a minute.
You couldn't have called first?
I was afraid
you might tell Bill.
My God, he lets you
get your nails done?
Um, look, I'm sorry,
but why are you here exactly?
To warn you, like I wish
someone had warned me.
Just two minutes,
woman to woman.
Ex-wife to fiancee, you mean.
Please?
Yup.
Look, Marci,
what Bill and I have together,
it's not what you guys had.
- Not yet. I'm your preview.
- Marci--
He's a serial cheater,
every chance he gets.
He probably cheated on someone
to be with you.
And he disappears. Get ready for
that, for-for weeks, sometimes.
Okay, enough.
You really should leave.
Look, the real reason
I came here is
I know what that man's capable
of, and I couldn't live
with myself
if something happened to you.
- He was violent with you?
- Not exactly.
- But trust me, he has it in him.
- Not exactly?
The times he wanted to hurt me
are too many to count.
By the end,
I was scared for my safety.
I mean,
you've seen his temper, right?
What's goin' on?
What's she doing here?
- She just decided to show up.
- Okay, Marci.
This is harassment.
You can't just come over--
- I'm talking to her, Billy.
- Not anymore.
- We'd like for you to leave.
- Right.
Got it. No good deed.
You'll learn the hard way now.
Good luck to you, really.
Feel sorry for her.
She just can't stand the idea
of me being happy.
You okay?
Yeah, I mean,
she's lying, right?
- How can you even ask me that?
- No, I know.
O-of course,
of course she's lying.
- Yeah. She's lying.
- Yeah. I'm sorry. Um..
Just come on inside, okay?
I made dinner.
Apparently, I've grown a little.
Okay, impossible. Look at you.
Not so impossible.
My God!
- We weren't even trying.
- My God!
- How far along are you?
- Seven weeks.
We weren't gonna be sharing the
news, but I just had to tell ya.
Because I'm the godmother,
right?
Well, you're in the running.
I'm in the running?
Bill's sisters.
He's lobbying for Cindy.
The guests are seated.
How much longer?
Speak of the devil.
Five minutes.
Yeah, well, he can lobby,
but I'm not going down
without a fight.
Babe, look at you.
Getting married,
a baby on the way.
Okay, well, you really just hit
that light-speed button.?
- I know, right?
- Well...
You better hold on 'cause
things are about to get real.
Let's get a picture
if you ladies are ready.
Great.
So all we need
is a four-bedroom house
in a nice neighborhood with
a great school for the boys.
Do we need to spend 500K?
We spent half that
in Virginia Beach.
How would that even work for us?
No, my job is here. My parents
are here. Child care...
We're never getting out of here.
Sweetie.
Virginia Beach can still be
our long-term plan.
Okay? I wanna
move there, too, someday.
But right now this is
the best place for our family.
University's gonna promote me,
I think. Did I tell you?
That's fantastic!
Adjunct professor
to tenure track.
I'm still gonna handle
all the network contracts,
but that classroom stuff will be
some extra security for us.
And it's gonna look really good
on our mortgage application.
Did I tell you,
one of my clients said
it's a great time
to buy right now.
That's good.
Come on, boys, eat up.
Finish your chicken.
Hey.
Can we please,
please, go out shopping
this weekend?
Sure, why not?
Clearly there's no stopping you.
Right answer.
Happy wife, happy life.
Professional
basketball league was busy
last night with
seven games on the schedule.
The Cavaliers came up
with their surprise upset
beating the Bullets 108-99.
The Lakers had no trouble with
the Rockets winning 124-88.
The Nuggets
just got by the Knicks 114-112.
The Supersonics devastated
the Jazz 136-78.
It was the Trail Blazers
over the Bucks 98-94.
The Celtics edged the Bulls...
The Intercontinental
Heavyweight Boxing Tournamen...
See you next week.
Ooh!
And there's a terrible crash
on turn three, race fans!
There's debris
all over the track.
It's a miracle
both drivers are walking away.
- Wow.
- Gosh, I am so sorry.
No, it's fine. You're okay.
- Can I help you?
- Yeah.
- Hi. I'm Dr. Miller.
- Hi.
Can you point me
to the conference room?
- Dr. Scott's expecting me.
- Of course, doctor.
It's to the left
at the nurses' station.
- Right. Thanks.
- Yeah.
Okay.
The clinic hired
another partner.
- I have four bosses.
- Who is he?
I don't know, some big-shot
from D.C. He's hot, though.
Got the whole nursing staff
just drooling over him.
Yeah? Is he single?
- Of course not.
- They never are.
- So you guys gonna buy a house?
- Yes.
And I'm excited to have a bigger
house, better neighborhood.
Well, here's
to living the dream.
- Hey, Selene. How's it going?
- Hey, Bill.
- Wanna join us?
- Ooh, can't. Sorry.
- Well, where are you going?
- AC.
It's date night.
The boys are with my parents.
It's gonna have to be next week.
Walter asked me
to drive down with him.
I transferred some money
to casino line.
Hey, Bill.
There's no more play money.
Okay? We're gonna have
a lot of housing costs soon.
We really need
to be saving money.
Don't worry.
Tonight I'm gonna win.
Don't wait up.
Mel...
Sweetie.
What's going on?
It never stops.
Hi!
Daniela. Hey, I'm Melanie.
Hi, Melanie. Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
What a beautiful accent.
- Where are you from, Daniela?
- I'm from Brazil.
- I'm here for school.
- In Newark?
Yeah, New Jersey
Institute of Technology.
NJIT. It's a good school.
My husband actually works there.
- Right on.
- Yeah.
All right, Daniela, so have you
ever donated eggs before?
No, but a friend of mine did and
she said it was a perfect way
to make some extra cash,
you know?
Hey, I-I-I wanted to ask you.
This guy I'm seeing is worried
that the hormones will interfere
with our sex life.
Is that true?
It can happen for some donors,
but most of the time
the biggest complaint
is just the mood swings.
Well, nothing he can't fix
with some fine jewelry, right?
I like the way you think,
Daniela.
Call me Dani. Everyone does.
Okay, Dani.
So today's pretty simple.
It's really
just about blood work.
Got a gown for you right here.
I'm gonna step out while you get
undressed, and the doctor
and I will be back
in a few minutes, okay?
- Okay.
- Okay.
Dani? Dani Da Cruz?
Yup, Daniela Cruz.
I know, I should've been
a pop star, right?
God...
God!
- Is she ready?
- Yeah.
- You okay?
- Yeah.
You look like
you could use a minute.
Look, I'll have Gail
cover for you.
No, no, no, no,
it's a blood draw
and there are tricky veins and
Gail gets nervous. It's fine.
I'll do it myself, then.
It's fine, thank you.
Stop.
This is fun.
Love you.
Bye.
Bye.
Want a few more?
Almost eaten
all of these for breakfast.
- Morning.
- Hey.
- I waited up all night for you.
- Sorry. Had that faculty thing.
I tried to sneak out,
but Marty wouldn't let me.
I thought
it was an early dinner.
- What time did you get back?
- It was late 'cause...
You're not gonna believe it.
Here, some more juice, bud.
By the time I get out of there,
car is missing.
Campus police towed it. Took me
three hours to get it back.
Wow. What a night.
No kiddin'.
All right, gotta go.
All right, tell Ms. Singh
her husband needs to get
a motility analysis.
And Ms. Parker...
Actually, her progesterone's
back up--
I'm sorry.
Ms. Singh needs, um...
- What did you say?
- You okay?
Yeah, I'm sorry, it's just...
It's just home stuff.
Well, um, not that
it's any of my business,
but if there's anything
we can do for you here...
- Days off? Shorter hours?
- No.
- Paid cruise?
- No.
Um, that's very kind of you.
It's not kind. Selfish.
You're our best nurse.
We'd fall apart without you.
- Um, yeah, Ms. Singh--
- I need... Yeah.
Well, I actually need you
to sign this, um...
this paper.
- Well, cheers.
- Cheers.
I'm really sorry, if you could
try, cashing it tomorrow,
I'll make sure
that the funds are in there.
Yeah, thank you. I really
appreciate it. Okay, bye.
Go brush your teeth.
Hey, this is Bill.
You know what to do.
Jack's preschool check just
bounced. Where are you? Call me.
Melanie, you've got
a call on line three.
- Hi, it's Melanie.
- Hey, it's me.
Why are you calling me here?
Are the boys okay?
Your cell is off. Boys are fine.
- I've good news for you.
- Well, what is it?
Our offer was accepted.
We got the house.
That's...
- Well, that's great.
- Congratulations.
I hope this is good news
for you, too.
It is.
I just hope we can afford it.
Well, we can as long
as we're careful with our money.
You know, what, I got
a lot of work to do, I gotta go.
Yeah, me, too.
See you later.
All right, bye.
Think he suspects?
I don't really care.
What's good for the goose
is good for the gander.
So where do you see us
taking this?
To every bed
we can find together.
I'm serious.
Well, I'm...
I'm not ready
to divorce my wife.
- If that's what you're asking.
- No.
I mean, I am, but I wouldn't
wanna do that to the kids.
I'm a child of divorce,
I don't want that for them.
Or maybe I'm just a coward.
I don't know.
No, you are not.
Well, lots of people
are stuck in bad relationships.
But I'll never escape him,
though.
His gambling is a wrecking ball,
for our future
and the boys' future.
And to top it all off,
an offer we made on a house
was accepted, which is crazy.
But at least it's money
that he can't gamble away.
Well, maybe this could be
a fresh start.
You guys can start over.
He'll never change.
I want a do-over.
What are you doing up?
I'm... I couldn't sleep.
So I'm just, gettin'
some work done.
3:00 in the morning?
Come back to bed.
I'll be there in a minute.
Hi.
101. Yeah, no. Yes.
You can go ahead and give him
some Tylenol. Thanks.
N-not the... No. Not the grape.
He likes the cherry.
Yeah, the cherry one, please.
Look, I gotta go.
Bill, they are not paying you
enough for these hours.
Or did the parking trolls
get you again?
Someone moved my car.
Left it back at the office.
I don't understand.
Who would do that?
Someone with a spare key.
You made me miss
a drinks meeting with Marty,
my boss,
the guy who decides tenure!
I don't know what you're talking
about, but you know,
the boys are sleeping.
So if you could just
keep your voice down...
Did you move it?
You know it really took me
a long time to get JC--
Did you move my car?
What, move your car?
- Of course not.
- There.
There it is.
A 1000 watts of blinding light,
smile that hooks anyone
not paying attention!
- Did you move my car?
- What did I just say?
Except, you were smiling
when you said it, bitch.
We both know what that means!
Did you move my goddamn car?
And why would I do
something like that?
Can you think of any reason??
Yes.
Congratulations, Mr. McGuire.
You are officially a co-owner
of a four-bedroom,
three-bath residence
in Warren County.
To the future.
Man!
Hope we're not in
over our heads.
Well, there's no going back now.
What's done is done.
We found a head
and upper torso, chief.
Yeah, they-they have to belong
to the legs
that washed up last week.
Same brand of suitcase.
Kenneth Cole.
Probably one of those
luggage sets.
Yeah, he working on it.
Almost done. Copy that.
My God!
Who does this
to another human being?
- Mr. Cappararo?
- Yes.
I'm Detective Stanyan with the
Woodbridge Police Department.
Is your step-daughter
Melanie here?
Yeah, she is. Can I tell her
what this is about?
We should talk inside, sir.
- All right. Come on.
- I went to her house.
The cleaning lady told me
she was here.
Please. This is my wife
Linda, my daughter Melanie.
- I'm Detective Stanyan. Hi.
- Hi.
- Do you mind if I sit?
- Yeah.
I think it would be better
if the children weren't here.
Okay, well, now you're getting
me worried, detective.
Boys, can you go with, um...
Mom, can you take them?
- Yeah. Come on, come on, guys.
- Go with grandma.
Who wants ice cream?
Want some ice cream?
Leave the balls there.
There's no easy way
to say this, ma'am.
Your husband, Bill McGuire,
was found dead in Virginia.
My God.
I know he'd been
reported missing.
His friends, Jon and Susan Rice,
identified the body for us.
From the water?
W-w-what? What, did he drown?
- How did he die?
- Wish I could elaborate.
But we're not leading
this investigation.
This is Virginia Beach's case.
They'll be reaching out to you
shortly.
Honey.
Wait, this isn't happening.
- I'm so sorry, ma'am.
- My God!
Are the boys in the other room?
I know. I'm so sorry.
You need to take
compassionate leave.
- A month or two.
- No.
I'll have HR clear it.
I-I want to work.
It'll keep me sane. You're here.
God,
I-I can't believe he's dead.
All this time I thought
he was just off
binging with his girlfriend
in Atlantic City.
We were supposed to move in
to our new house next week.
I...
I don't even wanna go there.
- You just bought it.
- With Bill.
I'm just gonna stay
with my parents
until I figure out
what I'm gonna do.
My God!
I can only imagine
what you're going through.
I mean, even if things
weren't good at the end,
you guys have history together,
you have memories.
You need to grieve.
So if you wanna take a break
from us,
I mean, I completely understand.
No.
No. You-you don't get it.
I was divorcing him.
A lawyer isn't needed, by the
way. This is not adversarial.
Judy's just my divorce attorney.
I only asked her to be here
as an extra set of ears.
All right, Ms. McGuire,
if I could start
with the last time you saw Bill.
Yeah, um, April 28th,
in the early morning,
around 4:00 or 5:00
is when he walked out on us.
- On you and your children?
- Yes.
And this was at the house
at 2902 Plaza Drive?
Right, yes.
We'd just had a fight.
The fight noted in
the temporary restraining order
that you filed two days later?
He got physical,
it wasn't the first time,
but I was worried about what
might happen when he came back.
- Physical meaning violent?
- Yes.
You did the right thing, ma'am.
Too many women wait.
So had he not died,
Bill would be coming back
to divorce papers?
That was your intention?
I retained duty right after
the restraining order.
Okay, so just so I'm clear,
the fight that led you
to end the marriage
took place the day after
you and your husband
closed on
the Warren County property.
Yeah. Ridiculous timing, I know.
Huh, that's a beautiful house.
I mean, it's like a dream home,
really.
- Not Bill's.
- You talked him into it?
That's what the fight was about.
Bill had a gambling problem.
I loved this house,
but mostly I thought
real estate was a good way
to lock up our money.
- So that Bill couldn't touch it.
- Okay. Right.
The next step for us,
we need to search your home.
Great.
You own a Kenneth Cole
luggage set, Ms. McGuire?
I do. I did.
I don't know, I think Bill
took it with him when he left.
I don't know
if it's Kenneth Cole,
but it's maybe something
name brand.
Ms. McGuire, this, this laptop,
yours or Bill's?
It's both of ours, we shared it.
- May we take it for a few days?
- Yeah, of course.
I mean, I don't know
what else they want from me.
I have answered their questions.
I've bent over backwards
trying to help them.
And now they're just buzzing
around the house like bees.
Okay, don't take it personal,
they're just doing their job.
Selene's right,
they're checking their boxes.
They have to look at the spouse.
That is an awful feeling.
It'll pass.
Just tell them everything.
- What's everything?
- Anything relevant.
Full cooperation.
Well, what if it's not relevant,
but they might think it is?
Mn-mn. This doesn't sound good.
Remember how Bill had a felony
for perjury?
Yeah, the whole
speeding-ticket thing?
He wouldn't have passed
a background check,
so he asked me
to get it for him.
Just pestered me about it
for months,
so finally I just gave in.
Get what, sweetheart?
A gun.
He wouldn't leave it alone,
you know, especially once
he knew we were moving,
he thought we needed
protection out there.
- What kind of gun?
- Well, I don't, I don't know.
I don't know a gun
from a can of paint, pop.
Whatever he told me to get.
A-a pistol.
- Okay, where is it now?
- The hell if I know.
I gave it to him,
I never saw it again.
Okay, okay, that's fine.
That's fine.
We tell them now.
Get out in front of it.
But the bigger problem
is gonna be when I bought it.
Okay, show me what you got.
This is April 26th,
at a retailer in Pennsylvania.
A nickel-finish Taurus .38,
one box of wadcutter rounds.
April 26th?
Where is this on our timeline?
Two days before she claims
she last saw the victim.
Download me. Where are we?
There's zero evidence
she had plans to leave him.
All her legal moves,
the abuse claim,
the TRO,
hiring a divorce lawyer,
occurred immediately
after Bill vanished.
An attempt to back-fill
her narrative.
- Exactly.
- You've got the gun purchase.
Y-you don't have the gun,
though.
She claims
that Bill took it with him.
You've one bullet retrieved from
the torso's ribcage,
a wadcutter,
just like the one she purchased.
Unfortunately, it's the most
popular target round
in the country.
And the black garbage bags
found in the suitcases,
they exactly match the bags
from the McGuire kitchen.
Same grade of plastic,
the same factory.
But also the same commonality
problem as the bullets.
They're sold
all over the East Coast.
I'm not worried about it.
Now, where are we on DNA?
Nothing at the townhouse,
some very heavy
bleach residue, though.
Somebody cleaned well.
- Not in Bill's car.
- You found it?
Thursday. An impound yard
in Atlantic City.
His DNA all over the floor mats.
- Blood?
- Skin fragments.
Most likely tracked in
on someone's shoes.
Good.
I think you should know that,
in person,
I find her convincing.
Steady as she goes
in our interviews.
Well, I find Meryl Streep
convincing.
Sh-she's still an actress.
Gentleman,
our person of interest
just got a lot more interesting.
I know we're grieving,
but I've lost my brother,
so I'm just gonna come out
and say it.
He deserved better.
That service was totally rushed.
The priest didn't even
know his name.
That was the only time slot
that they had left.
Where were the boys?
They've been through enough.
Bill is their father.
Mom, give us a minute?
Hey, the boys are two and four.
They cry for their daddy every
single night, and I hold them
until it stops.
I was just trying to spare them.
- Bill would've wanted them here.
- I couldn't really ask him.
Now, could I? And since when are
you so concerned about the boys?
You're the aunt
they barely know.
I'm sorry.
God. I'm sorry.
That was not okay.
I'm a single mother
in the middle of a nightmare,
and I'm just trying
to get through it.
It's not over
until they found his killer.
You haven't forgotten
about that, have you?
Because you seem
remarkably uninterested.
The boys and I
need to keep living, Cindy.
I take it back.
Not all of us are grieving,
are we?
Well, I'm sorry the service
wasn't to your liking.
It's been quiet.
No police contact
for two months.
Maybe they've moved on.
- You think?
- They should.
They need to,
because I don't how much more
of this I can take.
The waiting is hell.
Some days I just wish
they'd just
get it over with
and arrest me already.
Hey.
It won't come to that,
I promise.
You're innocent,
that's where they'll end up.
Good morning. Thank you.
Dr. Miller. Detective Stanyan,
Woodbridge Police Department.
- You have a minute?
- What's this about?
I just have a few questions
about Melanie McGuire.
Melanie? That's Dr. Scott's
nurse, mostly.
He may be better qualified
to assist you.
I don't think so, doctor.
That is a beautiful family.
We need to talk.
Where are we with motive?
Anything more, Terry?
We don't need more.
We've got a lover.
The oldest story
in the murder-your-spouse book.
Except there's no evidence
Dr. Miller
planned to divorce his wife.
Maybe she hoped he would.
Or maybe it's something bigger.
- Bigger?
- Deeper.
When Melanie was four,
her dad ditched the fam
for a brand-new life
in California,
then promptly died
of liver cancer.
What?
That made her a sociopath?
Maybe not sociopath,
but everyone has triggers.
Did you move my goddamn car?
Add domestic violence
to the mix.
Okay, wait, wait, wait. No.
We are not maligning the victim.
You know, she says he got rough
with her, but we don't know
that, there's no report of that.
I thought
we're discussing motive.
We are.
A motive that gets a win for us.
Now, a victim who had it
coming isn't gonna do that.
Neither is a-a sad,
weepy childhood story. No.
But what will is a secret lover.
Obsession.
Now, now, the fantasy of
starting a new life with someone
without any of the trappings
of her old one...
I mean,
people can relate to that.
And who of us hasn't dreamt
of doing that
at least at one point?
- Of killing our spouses?
- No, of being free.
Free, totally free,
of-of a mess that we've made.
Okay, Terry. Tell me our story.
- From?
- The night of.
Early morning, actually,
4:30 a.m.,
the suspect claims that--
Defendant.
We haven't charged her yet.
Well, let's just try it on
for size.
Right.
The morning
the defendant claims,
in court filings
and police interviews,
she had a fight with the victim
and feared for her life.
Well, ladies and gentleman
of the jury,
I regret to inform you,
there was no fight.
The night he and Melanie
closed on their dream home
and celebrated with wine,
she killed him in cold blood.
And Bill never saw it coming.
How could he know
that two weeks earlier,
the defendant
was on her home computer
conducting Internet searches
on how to sedate someone?
That just two days
before that night
she drove to a Pennsylvania gun
store where she would purchase
a .38 caliber Taurus revolver
she would use to kill him?
How could he know
that just one day before,
she forged her lover's
signature and handed over
a fraudulent prescription
of 500 milliliters
of chloral hydrate syrup
to a pharmacist?
How could he know
that when he closed his eyes
that night,
drugged from the altered wine
she had given him...
that he'd sleep
just long enough for her
to drop the kids off
at preschool...
and return to end his life?
How could he know
that he would never...
wake up?
Can I say something?
- Yes, Anne?
- So far the townhouse is clean.
They did a luminol search
and they didn't find anything.
No blood in the bathroom,
no blood on the, on the couch.
I'm having a team
from the outside
come and do a deeper dig.
Yeah, but what if
the crime scene
proves to be somewhere else?
It won't.
And we don't want it to.
No, no, the townhouse
is a better story.
Okay, keep going, Terry.
From the shooting.
He's dead on the couch.
So now Melanie
has a body to dispose of.
It's early
in the morning, the kids are
in school, her folks have
agreed to pick
them up from school
and keep them that night.
So now Melanie has two days
to get Bill into the suitcases
and clean up her mess.
She did a good job on the house.
Perfect, in fact.
But she forgot about her shoes.
When she dumped Bill's car
in Atlantic City
to throw investigators
off her scent,
she tracked tiny skin fragments
from her butchering
all over the floor mats.
I-I don't like "skin fragments."
It's too-too clinical.
I know, let's say
human sawdust.
I like that. I like that.
Human sawdust.
I think we're ready.
Now, remember,
use your listening ears
for Ms. Gail today, okay?
- Okay.
- All right. I love you, baby.
And, Ahma and PopPop are
gonna pick you up after school.
- Okay? Have a good day.
- You, too.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Melanie McGuire,
put your hands on your head,
interlace your fingers.
- Do you have any weapons on you?
- No.
You have the right
to remain silent.
Anything you say
can and will be used against you
in a court of law. You have
the right to an attorney.
You cannot afford one, the court
will provide one for you.
Do you understand these rights
you've just heard?
- Yeah.
- Let's go.
Mrs. McGuire,
how are you pleading?
Not guilty, You Honor.
Let the record show
that the defendant has pled
not guilty
to the arresting charge of
first-degree murder
of William McGuire.
Counsel's request for
a preliminary hearing is denied.
Bail is set at $750,000.
Yes, this is Michael Cappararo.
I do all my banking with you.
Can I speak to a loan officer,
please?
I wanna take out
a second mortgage on my house.
No, no, no, I'll hold. I need
to speak with him right away.
The arrest of Melanie McGuire
representsa 13-month effort
to bring William McGuire's
killer to justice.
Now, forget the prurient
headlines, this young man
was the father of two,
who served his country,
and I will forcefully
honor his life
with our actions in court.
We haven't decided if we will
seek the death penalty,
but the rank barbarity
of this crime
certainly puts it in play.
No, that's-that's all for now.
Michael!
They're perfectly... Michael!
- No, they're gonna be fine.
- Hey, hey, what's going on here?
- No, no.
- They're taking the kids.
- Michael!
- No...
- We have to take the children.
- No.
They're gonna stay with us.
They're gonna stay with us.
- They're fine here.
- No, honey, no. Hey.
It's gonna be okay.
We're gonna get 'em back.
- We're gonna get 'em back.
- No, it's not okay.
- It's okay, honey... Guys.
- It's not okay.
Hey, we'll see you soon, okay?
Be good. Be good boys.
Goodness, look at her.
Hi, baby.
Sweetie. My goodness.
Good to see you.
- How'd you come up with it, pop?
- I moved some things around.
- It's no big deal.
- No, he moved mountains.
- Um...
- It's just money.
We gotta get to the custody
hearing, it's in 15 minutes.
- No way we'll make it, sweetie.
- Well, not if we don't move.
- Give me the keys.
- Okay.
Come on!
Upon the completion
of their physical
and psychiatric evaluations,
both McGuire children are
to be placed in the custody of--
- Excuse me, excuse me!
- Bailiff!
No, I'm-I'm their mother.
You're late, and you will ask
permission to address this court
or be sent out.
Permission to address the court,
Your Honor.
Do you have counsel?
- No.
- Quickly.
I'm out on bail
for a crime I did not commit,
and my boys need their mother.
I have no,
prior criminal history.
Ms. McGuire, this is
an emergency hearing,
and as such,
when you retain counsel,
you will have avenues
to contest my ruling.
- Yes, but, Your Honor, I-I--
- I'm speaking, Ms. McGuire.
Now, given
the extraordinary gravity
of the criminal action
against you
and given the allegations
of child neglect
by family members
through their counsel,
the court has no other choice
but to revoke custody.
So at this time
the court hereby assigns
emergency sole guardianship
to Jack and Jason's aunt,
Ms. Cindy Ligosh.
Next case.
Bill's sisters are lying
to Family Services about me.
I can petition
for supervised visits,
but a social worker
has to be there.
Brad.
I'm here.
Have you been watching
TV? They know about us.
It's all over the news.
Charla's not talking to me.
No surprise there.
The RMA fired me today.
Brad, I'm so sorry.
The detectives called me.
- They wanna meet with me again.
- About what?
They think I'm your accomplice.
For something
that didn't happen?
I know...
Yeah, they're just trying
to scare me.
They said on the day
you bought the gun,
we were on the phone
for a hundred minutes.
You know what that looks like?
Well, we did nothing wrong.
So you'd tell me, right?
I mean,
if you had anything to do with
what happened to Bill,
you'd tell me?
I already have.
Just say it again.
On my children's lives,
a thousand times over,
absolutely nothing.
I know. I know. Thank you.
What's going on?
Nothing. No, nothing.
Sweetie, I just wanted
to hear it again.
I gotta go, okay? I'll-I'll
check in with you later.
- I love you.
- I love you, too.
I know what
you're thinking. Why me?
The easy answer is you're
the lover of a murder suspect,
who we believe had help.
But another way
to think of it is
you're in a position
to help her.
Could be we're way off.
What you get from her proves it.
You're way off.
I hope so, Dr. Miller.
I really do.
Number two.
Ten dollars.
Thank you.
Hello? Hi, yeah.
Yes. Thank you.
Come in. Come in.
Joe Tacopina.
Can I call you Melanie?
- Please do.
- Please have a seat.
Thank you.
Can we get you anything?
Water? Coffee?
No, thank you.
I must say, you've got
quite the advocate
in Selene Trevizas.
She was relentless.
Yeah, that's Selene,
even when I told her
I couldn't possibly afford you.
Let's not worry about that
now. We'll figure it out.
This is Stephen Turano,
he's licensed in New Jersey,
so he'll be my co-counsel.
- Good to meet you.
- Hi.
What they're doing to you,
Melanie, is appalling.
Prosecutors are bullies,
but Prezioso
is her own sadistic breed.
Well, it's time she met me.
I tear bullies to shreds.
So let's get to work, shall we?
- Yeah.
- Good.
Take me to the last time
you saw Bill McGuire.
Um, well, we had just closed
on the Warren County house.
I was ecstatic.
Bill, not so much, but
I was determined to celebrate,
so I opened up
a nice bottle of wine.
We finished it.
But it didn't relax Bill at all.
Goddamn it!
She's unbelievable!
Bill. Bill.
Hey, calm...
It's 4:00 in the morning.
How many times have I said
I don't wanna see
dryer sheets in this house?
They're for lazy people! You
ever hear of fabric softener?
God.
Your problem is
you don't listen!
How many times did I say
I don't want this house?
Five-hundred-thousand dollars
is gonna wreck us!
- What are you doing?
- I'm cleaning up.
Leave it!
Goddammit! I said leave it!
Don't touch me! Don't...
You wanna clean it?
You wanna, you wanna clean it?
I got just the place for it.
How about this?
- No.
- Open your mouth.?
Yeah, just swallow. Exactly.
Good, right? Yeah, swallow.
- No!
- Swallow.
Swallow it all the way.
Mommy?
Baby.
Come here.
No, it's okay.
Open the door.
Open the goddamn door!
Open the door!
It's all right. It's all right.
It's all right.
Fine. I'm done with this.
I know, it's okay. It's okay.
That must've been very scary.
What happened next?
We stayed in the bathroom.
I could hear him packing.
Then I heard
the garage door open.
Right here. Shh, shh, shh...
He sped away.
And that's the last time
I ever saw him.
Who do you think
killed your husband?
I don't know.
I don't know, I'm sure
Bill had a long list of people
who he pissed off, I...
Maybe he owed
some bad guys money.
I don't know who did this
to my husband.
Let's turn to the days
immediately after he left.
Prezioso has
your E-ZPass records.
You drove to Atlantic City,
they say, to dump Bill's car.
It's okay, this is where we tell
her what she doesn't know
about that trip.
We can do that now, or--
No, no, I don't need any time,
it's just...
It's just embarrassing is all.
Not one of my finest moments.
Just dumb.
I went to Atlantic City
to look for Bill's car.
Once I found it,
I moved it with my spare key.
I drove it to another casino
few miles down the road.
You know, "Good luck
finding your car, you jerk."
But at the time, I, um...
I'd been taking Xanax.
I had taken a few that night.
I was in no condition
to be driving home.
So I took a cab home.
And then you took,
another cab right back?
Yeah, well, by the time
I got back to Woodbridge,
I was feelin' better.
And I needed my car,
so I went back for it.
Just so we're clear, that's
another two hours in a cab,
for a total of four hours,
the combined fares
close to, what, $500?
- Yeah.
- For a prank?
For my hide-a-car revenge, yes.
I mean, I'd done it before.
I could tell you a better story,
but it wouldn't be true.
You also called E-ZPass billing
to try to get the charges erased
on this trip.
Right. After they started
investigating me.
Pfft. I was worried
how it'd make me look.
No kidding.
Stephen, let's remember,
they have the burden of proof,
not us.
Their story has to be perfect,
not hers.
Know what our client is?
Consistent.
A year's worth of police
transcripts and recordings,
and she never wavers.
That tells a jury she's honest.
Hell, even her boyfriend
couldn't shake her.
Janice.
Well, we did nothing wrong.
So you'd
tell me, right? I mean...
If you had anything to do
with what happened to Bill...
- You'd tell me.
- I already have.
Say it again.
On my children's
lives, a thousand times over,
absolutely nothing.
Are you okay, Melanie?
Can we get you a-a water?
A wiretap, ladies and gentlemen,
is a weapon of choice
for lazy prosecutors.
In my client's case,
detectives used Dr. Miller
to question her by proxy,
forcing the man she trusted most
to catch her
at her most vulnerable,
without the benefit of counsel.
Remember, Ms. Prezioso
maintains, without evidence,
that Dr. Miller was Melanie's
entire motive
for killing her husband.
And yet I ask you,
where on those many tapes
recorded during
raw and intimate moments
does my client admit
or even imply,
she had anything to do
with Bill McGuire's death?
Nowhere.
Even as Dr. Miller
pressed her over and over
for the confession
Ms. Prezioso
so desperately wanted...
While Dr. Miller was making
those recordings,
he was still seeing my client.
He was still trusting her,
he was still loving her,
despite everything these
detectives were telling him.
Those recordings
only exonerate my client.
They show the true,
the unguarded Melanie McGuire.
Imperfect? Yes.
Seeking refuge from a cruel
and violent husband...
Don't touch me! Don't...
But a depraved killer?
No way.
Never.
So let's be done with all this.
We can grieve the victim,
and we absolutely should.
But, members of the jury,
I ask you,
end this persecution
of an innocent woman.
Melanie McGuire is not guilty
of this crime.
Allow her to get on
with her life.
Allow her to go home
to her children.
Thank you.
I gotta be honest,
keeping up with the defendant's
fantastical account
over the past two years
has been a full-time job.
But, thankfully,
she can't lie her way
out of DNA.
Can't spin the human sawdust
she tracked into Bill's car
after cutting him to pieces.
You need nothing more
to convict her,
but there's even more,
and you have it in abundance,
starting with the fact
that there was no fight.
In the early hours
of April 28th, 2004,
there was no fight.
No, Bill never sped off
in his car.
No, instead,
he lay in a stupor...
from the chloral hydrate
that the autopsy found
in his bloodstream.
Incapacitated...
by the date-rape drug
that Melanie used to poison him.
What happened next took two days
and it, it is not
for the faint of heart.
A seven-hour drive, now just
think about that,
ladies and gentlemen.
Seven hours in a car
with her husband
stuffed into suitcases
in the back of her SUV.
Did she reflect in horror
on what she had done?
Show any remorse whatsoever?
No, her actions tell us
that she did not,
because Melanie's last act
that night
was to throw out
the father of her children...
like she was throwing out
the trash.
Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,
the defense and the prosecution
have rested.
You've heard my instructions.
You're hereby dismissed
to begin deliberations.
Please follow the bailiff.
So?
They're drowning
in reasonable doubt.
Acquittal, no question.
Hi, Melanie.
Alice Davis.
Thank you for having us.
Yeah. Of course.
I just hope the jury does
the right thing for Billy.
Patti has fought
so hard for him,
for us, for justice.
And we're rolling.
It's day two
of jury deliberations.
You're out on bail,
a free woman,
staring at the very real
prospect of life in prison.
- The waiting must be--
- Agony.
- Yeah.
- What's going through your mind?
Patti told a good story.
Hell, if it were a movie,
I'd watch it.
Melanie has been lying about
my brother for two years,
and now this trial
has been seven weeks
of nothing but lies, lies, lies.
And it's time for a verdict of
guilty to finally shut her up.
Joe Tacopina told a story--
He told the truth.
A version that, quite frankly,
many people
are having trouble believing.
Well, let's hope the 12 people
who matter the most
are smarter than that.
I feel most for her parents,
Linda and Michael,
who I've always adored.
She's put them
in an impossible position.
What kind of a person
doesn't search
for the missing father
of her children?
Even with all of our problems,
I desperately wanted Bill
to be found safe and alive.
For weeks after Billy vanished,
I begged,
begged her to go with me
to Atlantic City,
to pressure the police there,
to make phone calls
to anyone who knew him
to help us.
She refused.
And that told me everything.
It should tell you everything,
too. Thank you.
Finally, let me ask you
about Dr. Miller.
He assisted
in the effort to convict you.
- Do you hold it against him?
- No. No, they threatened him.
And he knew
I couldn't incriminate myself.
If you could do it
all over again,
would you still have the affair?
I don't know.
Do you still love him?
I did.
What do you think
happened to Bill?
Do you really think
he ran afoul of the mob?
I mean, it certainly fits.
Got money on the street in AC,
that's how you get bullets
here and here.
Now, regardless of the verdict,
when this program airs,
viewers are going to hear
claims from you that
are impossible to corroborate.
Why should our audience
trust you?
I have no control over that.
But I know that I'm innocent.
Thank you.
Thank you, everyone. We're done.
Yeah.
You know, I'm sure
that you get this a lot,
but you have
an incredible smile.
Bill used to say that to me.
"A thousand watts
of blinding light," he'd say.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the jury has reached a verdict.
I know there will be strong
feelings of both agreement...
and disagreement.
But outbursts
will not be tolerated.
Clerk Hacker, you may proceed.
Mr. Foreman, how do you find as
to the count of the indictment
charging Melanie McGuire with
the murder of William McGuire
on or about April 28th, 2004,
in the jurisdiction
of Woodbridge,
Middlesex County, New Jersey?
We, the jury
finds Melanie McGuire...
guilty on all charges.
My babies.
My babies...