The Staircase (2022) s01e03 Episode Script

And five, six, seven, eight.
One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight.
How did your mom die?
Your mom mom, I mean.
Brain aneurysm.
Do you remember her?
No, I was only two when she died.
Sometimes I remember things,
but I realize it's just stuff
people have told me or stuff in pictures.
Then Kathleen became my mom.
I mean, first, it was Patty in Germany.
But,
really, it was Kathleen.
She took care of us.
Stay here after finals.
You know I have to go home.
Why do you have to?
The trial's not for a while still.
Because it might be
the last normal-ish summer
with my family.
Okay.
I'll come visit then.
It'll get weird.
I'm not ready for that.
If I go,
it doesn't have to be
like a coming out party.
We can also pretend we're just friends.
Promise me you'll at least call.
Yeah, of course.
The blow poke.
What is it exactly?
It's a fireplace tool.
Something between a poker and a bellows.
Nice ride.
Kathleen's sister had given one
to each of her siblings
one Christmas years ago.
And after we had done
our initial search of the house,
taken measurements, photographs,
she noticed from looking at those pictures
that it was missing
from the Peterson fireplace.
Now, we don't believe
it was randomly misplaced.
Is there a chance you experts conclude
she actually died from a fall?
Now, a lot of people smarter than me
have said from day one
that it could only be
one thing, a beating.
Where could it be?
Wherever Kathleen hid the thing.
I don't even remember
Candace giving it to her.
Why would you?
Who the fuck gives fireplace tools
as a Christmas gift?
Let alone one fireplace tool.
They're kind of handy.
I swear to God, that stupid thing
is in there somewhere,
and it ain't covered in blood.
How much to get rid of 'em?
Well, first of all,
you can't just get rid of 'em.
Bats are special that way.
You gotta relocate 'em.
It's not cheap.
Let me go over a couple
of things with my husband
and give us a few days.
Yeah, the longer you wait,
the worse it's going to get.
At least they're not in the plumbing.
Then you're really, you're fucked.
The boys are fucking us.
Both of them need money.
Clayton's gotten fucked by the market.
And Todd's got this website thing.
What website thing?
Well, I don't know what it is.
With Clayton's qualifications,
he could get a job easily.
He needs to focus on school right now.
No! Do it again, I dare you.
Mike?
Dog's chewing up the damn furniture again.
The boys are going to need
your help again, Patty.
Oh dear. I don't know
if now is the ideal moment.
Well, can you refinance the house again?
- The exterminator's done.
- No, not again.
The banks in Germany frown
on that type of business.
It's not good.
- It's Patty.
- Mike?
Well, things are really bad at Nortel.
I can't ask Kathleen for more help.
I understand, but I really cannot.
So whatever we do to Mike,
it affects them.
Please stop worrying
about Martha and Margaret, Cay.
They're the ones who decided
to support a killer.
But they didn't really have
much of a choice.
Look
I get it's a lot to process
but as your lawyer,
until you give me the go-ahead to strike,
Michael's going to keep
getting your mother's money
- to pay for his defense.
- Yes.
But I can get them to delay payment
until we get allocation sorted out.
Exactly.
I think it's time, Caitlin,
but it's up to you.
I can't make this decision for you.
I don't really want to deal
with this right now.
I'll be in Durham for the summer.
Maybe we can talk about it then.
These were all on Peterson's computer.
Can you confirm these are photos of you?
Did you have sex with Michael Peterson?
No.
"I was in the Marines.
Love to fuck, suck, and rim."
Peterson wrote that to you?
Yeah.
Mr. Wolgamott.
Do you expect me to believe
that after all these emails,
after all these phone calls,
after all this back and forth,
that you two never actually met?
- Never.
- If you say you didn't,
it's not going to get you
out of testifying.
I can't believe you want
to show these in court.
It's a good thing I'm well hung.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that.
You don't think so?
Did you see this one?
We'll let the jury decide.
Well, I'm not surprised.
- Me neither.
- Alright, Ron.
Get something to eat and head back here.
So, that was Ron.
The search turn up anything?
They find the blow poke?
No, no, nothing.
But, apparently
Deaver's still bashing in Styrofoam heads
with the one Candace gave them.
And?
Well, that's the good news.
They haven't been able
to show the blow poke
could create that scene.
The bad news is the DA is on a crusade
to find someone you slept with.
We should talk about the emails.
Which emails?
between Mike and Brad Wolgamott.
A few other escorts online.
Wait. An escort? What?
Bill, settle down.
Todd, maybe you and your mom
can help clean up a bit.
I'll make some coffee.
Sure.
Jean. Please, no family.
Tom, I never met up
with any of those guys.
Yeah, I came very close
to meeting up with Brad,
but it didn't happen.
Period.
Sometimes when you listen,
you hear things you don't want to.
So there are some emails. So what?
These emails paint a very vivid picture.
You want a picture?
I'm a painter, too.
I get up there, and I read this.
In the same email where Mike's talking
about doing this, that, and the other,
Mike says,
"Evenings aren't great for me anyway.
"I'm married.
"Very happily married,
"with a dynamite wife.
"Yes, I know. I know.
"I'm very bi,
and that's all there is to it."
Can I see that?
That's not somebody hiding something.
That's someone who clearly loves his wife.
I mean, it's not only possible, but common
for these kinds of arrangements to exist.
The French do it all the time.
Without anyone to testify
that Kathleen knew,
it's just conjecture.
Well, unless they get a guy on the stand
to testify that she didn't know.
I mean, if some emails and some porn
are all they got?
Hey, this is our biggest hurdle,
and I'm already over it.
I'm sorry, I don't understand.
What type of arrangements
exactly are we talking about?
What do we got?
We have no murder weapon,
and no one can say
they slept with Peterson.
Brad Wolgamott's emails
could help solidify motive,
but without proof of a meeting,
it may not be worth it
to put him on the stand.
But if I get up there and I say,
"Do you really think
"do you really think,
"that Kathleen Peterson
"that this woman knew
"her husband was talking
about fucking this
"and sucking that
And God knows what else."
Rimming.
Y'all even know what that means?
I believe it is, cunnilingus
but from the other end.
Wait, don't you mean on the other end?
- Even with
- And people enjoy that?
Even with the Freda Black show,
the connection between the emails
sent in September to Brad
and Kathleen being killed in December
is a little fuzzy.
I want actual infidelity.
That's concrete. That's the story.
Do you recognize this man right here?
Michael Peterson?
Have you noticed any
kind of strange behavior
with Mr. Peterson or,
homoerotic relationships
with any of your members?
He's never come in here before?
You're absolutely positive? You sure?
Dennis Rowe.
He mentioned something about Peterson.
Dennis Rowe?
Yeah. R-O-W-E.
He said he was fun.
Hey.
Hey. Hey, what's up?
You happy to be back?
Yeah.
I don't know. Yeah.
How's SF? Making a lot of friends?
Boyfriends?
No.
So, you know, the DA's been laser-focused
on Dad's sexuality.
Well, they were before I left.
Yeah. Right. So,
I mean, you knew about the porn
and that Dad was talking with escorts.
- Dad was cheating on Mom?
- No.
I mean, they had an agreement.
And Dad's happy, and,
and she was happy, so.
Have you talked to him about it?
No. I mean, I don't know.
That's between those adults.
I just feel like we should be able
to have that dialog.
If you want to go talk to him, go ahead.
Alright? I'll make sure
I'm a hundred miles away.
Yeah, well, I'm glad
you found me too.
Word of mouth, you know.
Yeah. I think so.
I'm seeing people every other week.
What the Surprise!
What's going on?
Got you a massage.
I know it's been a little rough.
I thought you deserved something nice.
I'm actually running for
Durham City Council, you know.
Some say that the city council does
more than the mayor's office,
you know, ever does.
- Is that right?
- Oh yeah.
You said you live by that
low-income development, right?
Yeah. Yeah. Bit of an eyesore.
Hi. You want to start face down.
- We'll get going.
- Sure.
How's that face cradle? Is it okay?
Right.
How's that pressure?
Good. Great.
Thank you.
That project could have been great.
And not just for the people who need
Mike.
You gonna be here the whole time?
I'm just talking to a future constituent.
Maybe you should go to Blockbuster now
and, you know, before all
the good movies are gone.
Okay!
James, take care of my wife.
She's a delicate flower.
I'll do my best.
Do you know this guy?
Dennis Rowe? R-O-W-E?
Mike?
No, I don't know who the hell he is.
You meet a lot of people
when you're campaigning.
Well, apparently, he's a friend of Lori's.
Kathleen used to babysit him
and his brothers when they were kids.
My sources say he has a limp.
A limp!
Says you had sex with him
four or five times.
You're shitting me!
- That's what he's claiming.
- Oh my god.
Rather know now than later.
Did he indicate where this
great love affair took place?
He hasn't given a full statement yet.
When he does, get it to me.
I'm dying to see it.
- Will do.
- Is that it, then?
Yeah. Till we get more.
We're going to need to digest this
and rethink how we approach it.
When we lived in Germany,
Mike had many dalliances
with men and women,
and I didn't end up
at the bottom of the stairs.
- Patty.
- My ex-wife, everyone.
She'll be around all week.
Mike, can I talk to you for a second?
How many more men
are they going to turn up?
I don't know, Bill. I don't keep a diary.
But I'm pretty sure
I never fucked a cripple.
No. You said, "No affairs, Bill."
Well, they weren't affairs.
I never took any
of those guys out to dinner.
It was just sex.
Don't "Michael Peterson" me.
I mean, sex is affairs.
You lied.
You slept around on Patty.
You slept around on Kathleen.
Well, I didn't lie.
What? You heard her.
I slept with men and women
when we were married.
I only had sex with men
since I married Kathleen.
- Don't you get it?
- Kathleen knew?
And answer the question.
You sound like her right now!
"Just answer the question, Mike."
No, no. She knew, and she understood.
To say otherwise,
it's just insulting to her.
I should have mentioned this before.
I'm going to go to Reno
for a couple of days.
What? Well, for how long?
A couple of weeks.
I just, I need to try
and figure out a balance
between home and Durham.
What? Come on. You can't leave because
you're pissed at me.
That's not why I'm leaving.
I'm leaving because
I want to see my family.
What? Who's going to
take care of everything?
Make sure the bills are paid?
Here's the latest Nortel check.
You go to the bank, walk up to the teller,
sign the back, hand it over.
It's not that difficult.
You're here to take care of me,
not to give me a hard time.
I know it's hard for you to believe,
it's not all about you.
No, it is! It is all about me.
Make no mistake, for the next little while
or however fuckin' long this takes,
it is about me.
Now when it's your ass
about to go to prison
for the rest of your life,
it can be about you.
Take a breath.
I loved her.
And she fucking loved me too.
The first time was about eight years ago
at the sex shop off the 110.
Then a few years later again at the YMCA.
- The Forest Hills Y?
- Yeah.
You work out there?
On occasion.
So you didn't know
who you were having intercourse with?
No. I didn't know who he was
until I walked into his house,
and Lori introduced me to him.
After the party, did you tell Lori
about your connection with Michael?
No, I didn't.
I didn't see any reason
to create a problem.
Do you know anyone else
who might have slept
with Michael Peterson?
You can tell us now or under oath.
I would talk to Tyrone Lacour.
You're friends with Tyrone Lacour?
No. Not friends.
We're in a small community.
I told him the story
after the campaign event.
He looked up Michael's picture
and thought he looked familiar.
Alright.
Well, Mr. Rowe,
what I'd love for you to do for me
is write down
what you remember from your encounters
with Peterson.
Every detail, no matter how small.
We want to know everything.
No. Nothing.
Hey. More blood.
Take another look, Tyrone.
Maybe an anonymous hookup somewhere.
Who's telling you this shit?
Someone trustworthy.
Reputable.
I ain't no fag. Well, if somethin'
comes to mind,
give me a call. You've got my card.
Was that enough time for you?
- Yes, sir.
- Let's see what we've got.
What's this list?
Names of other people I've slept with.
If you're going to get me up there
and ask about Peterson,
I'm guessing I'll also be asked
about the other important
married men in town
I've slept with.
Some of whom I think you know pretty well.
Your friends?
Acquaintances.
Donors, actually.
I don't see this
playing out well for us, Freda.
Outing
innocent people on the stand
in order to show what
Michael Peterson was up to.
Well, we have the autopsy,
the crime scene, the photos,
the emails.
We have our theory.
A man who is hiding
gets caught and explodes.
It all feels circumstantial.
We have a theory
about a motive and no murder weapon.
Well, I guess we also still got Brad.
Their search has hit a dead end.
I told you I didn't know this Rowe guy.
Apparently, you're not
as hot as we thought.
Why did it seem like everyone
wants a piece of me?
Well,
what are you up to this weekend?
- Working for you.
- What? No, forget me.
Just spend time
with your wife and kid, man.
Well, Charlene's not so crazy
about me right now.
Oh yeah? What'd you do?
Renovations and well, let's just say,
I admire the relationship
you and Kathleen had.
Where she let you be you.
My wife and I are just not
on the same page.
Happy to talk my problems,
but, I'm still on the clock here, Mike.
Well, geez. Never mind.
I can't afford you as it is.
Okay. Well, thank you, David.
Thank me when we hear "Not guilty."
- Good night.
- Good night.
Nothing! Nothing!
They got nothin'.
- What's going on?
- Rowe guy crapped out.
DA's got nothing.
Dad, this is great.
Hey, Dad.
Would you talk about it with me?
Talk about what?
You really want to talk
about your dad's sex life?
Go to bed, honey.
Okay. Good night.
Oh my god.
Hello?
Hey, it's Brad. How's it going?
well, things are crazy,
but, you know, good.
You know, election's coming up.
You?
Not too bad.
So, look, I have to cancel.
- What?
- Yeah.
- Why?
- My schedule's changed.
I have to get up to Durham
and back to Tampa
in less than a day,
and I just think my ass might need
at least a couple days to recover.
Well, let me know
when you're passing through.
For sure.
Promise me something though.
What?
Stay hard till I get there.
Yeah. Alright.
Take care.
Yeah, you too. Bye.
That was really very good.
Thank you so much.
are you good or
- I'm good. Yeah. I'll clear out.
- Yeah? Alright.
Thanks again.
Goddamn bats.
How was the massage?
Amazing. Until I had to take a shower.
I think the bats are chewing
the pipes or clogging them.
All I know is, it's a problem.
I'll figure it out.
Let's just enjoy the night.
- Where are the dogs?
- Who cares?
Almost ripped up the rug today.
Oh yeah, I meant to ask.
How'd the talk go with Patty?
Right.
Well,
she can't refinance the house again.
It's something, German laws
makes it verboten,
so I think we're going to have to
keep chipping in to help with the boys.
I know what you're doing here.
Butter me up with a massage
and a romantic night,
and then you ask me
to bail your kids out again
because you let them get away with murder.
Especially Clayton.
I know you're mad at him. I am, too.
You literally bought him
a car when things blew up.
Well, nothing actually blew up that time.
Clay got lucky.
And you are playing me.
Is it working?
The Great Dissembler,
ladies and gentlemen.
I guess we'll do what we always do,
just figure it out.
Some money for the boys.
We need to deal with the plumbing first.
And then
We'll
And then
we'll
We'll deal with the bats later.
Hello.
I know you gave them my name, Dennis.
I will do you like that
Peterson bitch. You hear me?
You shut your mouth.
Shut it.
Tyrone?
Shit.
What do you think of
when you think of Kathleen?
I think of just these
wonderful and funny moments.
Hello?
She was so funny.
There's this wonderful photo of her
in front of the Imperial Palace
in Tokyo just looking.
Or just, how we talk about the kids.
Is it strange for you to be
in the house where she died?
No.
I feel her here.
Just imagine she might walk
through that door any moment,
just smiling,
laughing, just
telling me I'm going
to be late for something.
Shit.
Sorry.
Can we take a moment?
Yeah.
Come here, Margie.
I know you didn't come home
just to hear me talk.
You finally found someone
who has to listen to your stories.
Come here.
Everyone, I'd like you to meet
my other daughter, Margaret.
- Hi.
- Is it weird being back?
Yeah, it was a little
weird going through town,
like, but it's good to be home.
You guys hungry?
Should we make some lunch?
Michael, are you sure
it's okay to shoot the girls?
Sure.
You get used to it faster than you think.
Todd loves it.
Where do you stand?
Do you think Michael did it?
I really don't know.
Sometimes, I'm convinced he's lying.
But even when I know
he's telling the truth,
it can sound like a lie.
I mean that 911 call
"My wife had an accident."
He sees his wife looking
like a bloody mess
and he thinks accident?
And then all that crying and screaming
His wife was dying right in front of him.
Oh! Please, it was like a movie.
And a bad one.
What did he say to the operator?
Huh? What? Huh?
Come on.
Give me a break.
It's obvious he did it.
I don't know if it's that obvious.
To believe he could do it
is to believe I could do it.
Jean, I believe we all could.
Sorry did you want some pie?
Also, I have some bad news.
It seems like half our film
is running away.
Jim hardin and the cops
are not calling back.
I think the da is scared of us.
It's not too late to pull out
and find another story
where we can actually
get access to both sides.
No.
We continue.
We've kept the office
just the way she loved it.
The only things that are gone
are the calendar
and the diary she had in her desk.
The police took them pretty early on.
What did Mike take?
Michael hasn't taken anything.
What about Martha and Margaret?
Did they come by?
No one's reached out
this whole time but you.
I sent in my condolences pretty early on,
but once the investigation started,
I figured, better to keep my distance.
I don't know why I thought
that they'd be interested in this stuff.
Sorry, do you mind if I have
a moment alone here?
Of course.
Take your time.
Good morning.
- Morning.
- The trial's around the corner.
We gotta control the narrative.
I don't see a way around it, so,
the interview would be filmed here,
but it will be syndicated
to all ABC affiliates.
We can have the eyes
and ears of the country.
What you doing?
Well, I'm just going
through autopsy reports.
That's totally normal.
Nothing's normal anymore.
I know. I was kidding.
YASMINE: G' MORNING! HOW ARE YOU?
MISS YOU
Martha.
Hey.
So they want us to do
an interview on the news.
- What?
- I know.
I don't want to do that.
- I know.
- So,
what do you think?
The reporter, Sonya Pfeiffer, is a friend,
so no curveballs.
This is what Caitlin would be doing
for the family if she was here.
we're not sure.
It's just like a lot of people.
Well, seems like you're already
getting used to an audience.
Yeah, but it's
a news show on TV.
It's, like, immediate.
What if we say the wrong thing?
No, you girls will do great.
Alright?
Look, you'll have to accept,
sooner or later,
everyone's going to know who you are.
I'm not going to push you girls to do
anything you don't want to do.
You know, let Caitlin and Candace
piss on our family if that's what they
- Dad.
- No, I mean it. Fuck them!
I'd rather go to prison
than put you girls through any more pain.
We're okay.
We'll do what we have to.
Great. I'm going to get it set.
And, Martha, think about dyeing your hair.
Bleach blonde isn't great on camera.
It's really good to see you, man.
I've been thinking about you and your dad.
- Yeah.
- Your mom
Yeah, man. It's been intense.
I'm telling you, man. Cabo.
Look how tan I am. Right?
I'm fuckin' hot. Right?
Fuck.
That's good shit.
Man.
You know,
- the thing about my dad,
- I love your dad.
is he's people.
You know?
What I'm starting to realize is
that people are just people.
And they go, and they create these labels.
They just try to categorize people.
What are you talking about?
It's just my dad is complicated.
- You wanna do another one?
- Yeah.
Dude, I'm telling you,
Cabo's so fuckin' sick.
You got to get away from here, man.
Fuck, and I already did,
like, all the groundwork and everything.
Timeshare shit there, man.
Like, you can make ten to one
fucking on your investment,
I'm telling you, dude.
What?
Oh fuck.
Fuck.
I'm sorry, Dad, I
Imagine people seeing my son
getting wasted around town.
They're gonna think
we're a family of assholes.
Clayton's the fuckup, not you.
You're my centurion. I need you focused.
I know. I'm sorry, Dad.
Now go on up and have a shower.
- You okay?
- Yeah.
Just give me a minute,
I'll get breakfast ready.
We can do it.
No, it's fine. Just give me a minute.
What does that mean?
Can you forward me the letter?
Yes, we will.
Bottom line, though,
Caitlin's lawyer was successful
in stopping the payments
coming from Nortel.
She and her biological father
have been identified as the next of kin.
On the life insurance?
You shouldn't count on it.
After everything I've done for her.
Greedy bitch.
I can talk to Jackie
about refinancing the house
when I see her.
Maybe dip into Dad's savings.
My dad's in a nursing home in Reno.
He has some savings that we
were going to probably inherit.
It's not much, but
Don't be gone too long, Bill.
Please, okay? I need you here.
Don't worry, Mike.
I'll be back soon enough.
Don't worry.
David's a good friend.
I swear I'll make it painless.
You good? Alright.
Well, just, imagine I'm one of the girls
and we're, we're getting
to know each other.
With the interview, are you going to ask
about our, our mom-mom in Germany?
No, well, just what you remember.
the good things.
Thanks. Yeah.
Okay.
This is Sonya Pfeiffer reporting
for WTVD Channel 11 News.
I'm with the daughters
of novelist Michael Peterson
who is preparing for trial
for the murder of his wife
Kathleen.
Today, they break
their silence on the case
in this exclusive interview.
Born to George and Liz Ratliff
in Germany in the 1980s,
where their father was stationed
on a military base,
Margaret was only two,
Martha not even one,
when he died on a mission in Panama.
A year later,
their mother died of a brain aneurysm.
Within the course of two years,
they lost both their biological parents.
I remember almost nothing from that time.
Yeah. I only remember
what people tell me about that period.
Two of those people were Michael Peterson
and his wife at the time, Patty,
who were neighbors and close friends.
It was confusing
when Michael left Patty for Kathleen.
- Exactly.
- Yeah, confusing but wonderful.
He's an adulterer.
Kathleen became our mom.
He loved her and she loved us.
And the wedding was here.
And you two were bridesmaids?
Yeah, we, like, sprinkled rose petals
up the stairs on the way to their bedroom.
It was like a movie.
Hello?
Hi, this is Margaret Blair.
I'm calling to speak with the DA.
I'm Freda Black. I'm an ADA here.
I'm sorry to be calling so late,
but I've been speaking with God,
and he will not allow me
to stay silent any longer.
"Speak, Margaret, speak," He said.
I'm sorry. Who did you say was calling?
Margaret Blair. Liz Ratliff's sister.
Martha and Margie are my nieces.
I need to tell you
about their mother's death.
You found another woman
at the bottom of the stairs?
Liz had been complaining for weeks.
For weeks about these,
these migraines she was having.
What the fuck, Mike? We're four weeks out!
How could you not tell me?
It was 20 years ago! In Germany!
Why would I even think of it?
I was helping her out with
something or other that night,
I don't remember what, but I left Liz
very much alive and on her way to bed.
The next morning, the girls' nanny, Agnes,
woke us up
to tell us she'd found Liz
at the bottom of the stairs.
The Ratliffs were practically family.
We taught at the same school.
That's it!
Liz's autopsy. It's all there.
Look, I told you,
this can't be a coincidence.
I know that he raised you,
but he is not good.
That's our dad! You can say those things!
He's very manipulative, Margaret.
I haven't even told you half
of what we know about Germany.
I can't talk to you anymore. Goodbye.
Beware of false prophets who
Jesus Christ,
she's crazy.
It is kind of a weird coincidence
we've had two moms die
at the bottom of the stairs.
So what are you saying?
I'm not saying anything.
We just haven't talked about it.
Don't freak out on me.
So you think there's some connection?
I can see why Aunt Margaret's suspicious.
Mom died of a brain aneurysm
which caused her to fall down the stairs.
It was an accident.
The same way Kathleen was an accident.
Yes, exactly.
And, like, isn't that weird?
All of it's weird.
Our dad died mysteriously in Panama.
In fact, where was Mike
when 9/11 happened?
Stop it, you sound fucking ridiculous.
Well, you're starting
to sound like Caitlin.
It's like you don't even remember
what happened before Christmas.
Yes, I do.
And then Kathleen died.
And now we have to grow up.
Dad has been there for us always.
He didn't have to take us in, but he did.
That's all that matters.
So just stop questioning
everything. Just stop.
I can't. Can't. I can't!
Was it strange for Mike
to have been over at Liz's without you?
Oh no, not at all.
After George died, Liz needed a man
to help around the house.
Well,
the DA's going to suggest some infidelity.
You know that, right?
Liz and I were good friends. That's it.
Under no circumstances
would she put carnal desires
above our friendship.
And as far as Michael's
impropriety, at the time,
he was never very good at hiding it.
I didn't sleep with Liz.
This is all in German, Mike.
Patty can translate it for you.
It says what I've already told you.
Liz Ratliff died of a brain aneurysm.
We'll get a court-certified translator
and turn it all over to the DA.
We don't want to look like
we're hiding anything.
Well, I'm not.
I'm going to need to speak
with the girls privately.
- By all means.
- No cameras, please.
Mike, can you please.
Thanks. I'll come get you
when this is over.
The girls knew?
Not just about the aneurysm,
but the stairs?
It's essential you're honest
with me right now.
Ask them.
Hey, girls!
It must feel surreal
you're getting pulled into this.
Look, the most important thing
to me is the truth.
And if there's anything you want to say
about your mother's death,
anything at all,
now's the time to say it.
Wait, which mom's death?
Liz mom.
Your biological mother.
Hey, Mike.
Everything checks out. I'll stick around
in case you need me.
You girls okay?
It's us against them.
And they're clearly willing to go
as low as possible to hurt us.
And we can't let them.
There are no secrets between us anymore.
Rudolph's already filing a motion
to keep Liz Ratliff out.
We can argue the 404(b).
Oh yeah. Come on in.
I was just thinking about these two girls.
How are yours doing?
They're good.
I've been teasing 'em.
They've been eating so much mac and cheese
that their hair is going to get curly.
Never heard of that.
They're with Van this week.
Put him through.
Duane, what you got?
Peterson was standing over her
when he beat her.
The speck of blood on the inside
of his shorts?
The blood flew upwards.
And that was the last piece.
We've managed to replicate
this crime scene
to a tee with the blow poke.
You got yourself a murder weapon, sir.
I'm looking forward to testifying for you.
Great work, Duane.
Hot damn. Send that report.
I knew it.
I could feel it in my gut.
I never told you this before,
but,
I lost my brother
and sisters in a house fire
when I was 13.
Jack was ten
and my two little sisters,
they were even younger.
Sophie-Anne and Mary.
I got out.
But they didn't.
I'm so sorry, Jim.
Terrible things just happen.
You know.
Innocent children can burn up in a fire.
And women can trip
and fall down the stairs
for no reason.
They can.
Start filing a motion.
We're gonna have to dig her up.
We'll need permission from next of kin.
The girls could say no.
They could.
If they find out she died
of natural causes,
like the original autopsy said,
it's gonna look bad for us.
Maybe.
Or maybe we all find out the truth.
Let the games begin.
"To the esteemed lawyers
who are pursuing the prosecution
"of our father, Michael Peterson.
"we are writing to convey
"our feelings of distress in this matter.
"However, seeing that
you have no compassion
"for the memory of our mother,
"we reluctantly consent to your request
"to exhume our mother's body.
"We are confident that you will conclude
"what experts concluded
almost 20 years ago,
"that our mother died of a brain aneurysm
"and that our father, Michael Peterson,
"will be vindicated
of these outrageous claims.
Sincerely yours,
Margaret and Martha Ratliff."
Thank you.
Of course, Dad. Anything.
Hold the door, please.
You're going to be smiling
in prison soon, you prick.
All rise.
Oyez, oyez, oyez.
This honorable court
for the County of Durham
is now open and sitting for
the dispatch of its business.
The Honorable
Judge Orlando Hudson presiding.
God save the state
and this honorable court.
You may be seated.
- And good morning.
- Good morning, Your Honor.
This court is now prepared
to hear the case
of the state versus Michael Iver Peterson.
Mr. Hardin, you may proceed
with your opening.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Good morning.
In a very real sense,
this case is about pretense
and appearances.
It's about things not being as they seem.
One, two, three, four.