The Sinner (2017) s01e02 Episode Script

Part II

1 What's your relationship with Frankie Belmont? [children playing.]
I've never met him before in my life.
- Then why kill him? - No! Stop it! I mean, you can tell us anything.
Whatever you can.
I just did it.
And I don't know why.
I mean, I don't really know what to say to her, to be honest.
'Cause it didn't really make any sense.
She started going towards the girlfriend.
Like she was saving her.
- [breathing heavily.]
- Get down.
When you were a baby inside of me, you took up all my strength.
That's why she's so sick.
You think he knew her? And then he let her kill him? Having in mind the rights which were just read to you, will you be entering a plea? [dramatic music.]
I'm sorry, can you repeat that, please? Guilty.
Let it stand for the record that the defendant has submitted a plea of "guilty" to the court.
Counselor, why aren't you speaking on behalf of your client today? I'm only here as a formality, Your Honor.
My client declined legal counsel and prefers to represent herself.
Mrs.
Tannetti, you realize by pleading guilty you're give up your right to a trial? Yes.
And your counselor has made clear to you that second-degree murder charges can result in life imprisonment without parole? - Yes.
- Mrs.
Tannetti, you have no criminal record.
You've turned down a lawyer, and you're pleading guilty to a murder you can't explain.
Would you care to clarify any of this for me? [sighs.]
I just know that I did it, and I just want this all to end.
In consideration of the circumstances of the crime and the defendant's unique behavior, the court orders an examination of the defendant, pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law 730, to determine competency to stand trial.
Pending those results, the court will hear the defendant's plea in a scheduled allocution.
Please rise.
- What does that mean? - The judge ordered a 730 exam.
They need to evaluate you to see if you're fit to stand trial.
Cora.
[whispering.]
What are you doing? What are you doing? [stirring music.]
Did you put Judge Baird up to this? I called, made my case.
[indistinct chatter.]
Hey, Mason.
- How are you? - Good ah, it's Katelyn.
- Oh, yeah, no I remember.
- Sorry, it's just that it's been a while since graduation.
[stammers.]
You know anything? Like what they're saying about her, or or why she did it, or [whispering.]
I can't talk about it.
- No? - No, sorry.
[sighs.]
Well, I'll I'll see you around then, - I guess, huh? - Mason, I can there's a way out back I know - Yeah, I'd like that.
- Yeah, okay.
Thanks, I'll be good.
[door clicks shut.]
[exhales heavily.]
I know you knew Frankie Belmont.
No, I didn't.
You're pleading guilty.
Why are you doing that? You could at least try to help yourself.
If you work with your lawyer, plead temporary insanity, you might reduce your sentence.
It could take a while, but eventually, you could be with your family again.
And you could get your life back.
What makes you think I want my life back? [eerie humming music.]
- Watch her head, William - I see it! - This is the last time.
- She still wakes up in the middle of the night.
She needs me to be with her.
Well, she needs to learn to sleep through it, and I need to sleep in my own bed.
- I can't do this much longer.
- Shh! [slam.]
[tense music.]
We made the "Times," too.
DeStefano's already worried about foliage season.
And he thinks the case'll scare away the leaf peepers.
I'm worried about that 730 exam.
Judge Baird doesn't usually order those.
It gives Tannetti time to change her plea.
We may still have a trial on our hands, gentlemen.
Well, it's not like we're gonna get caught with our pants down.
And we got a case.
Well, yeah, but if we go to trial, we have to establish motive.
And so far There's an explanation there somewhere.
I didn't even notice her.
None of us did.
I remember I I changed the music.
Frankie was in a band when he was in med school, and I had the the tracks on my phone to surprise him.
We were just kidding around, and next thing I know, she's there, screaming.
Did Cora say anything during any of this to you, or anybody else? I don't know.
I don't remember.
What about before all this? Did Frankie ever mention Cora's name, or any other women that you might not have met? He only ever talked about his colleagues residents from the hospital.
Well, maybe he knew her, but he didn't tell you about it.
You mean, was he cheating on me? Is that what you're asking? Fact is, most people have secrets even the most unlikely ones.
There was a girl that Frankie mentioned.
He wouldn't talk about it with me, but he told his friends, once, that he had some sort of intense connection with her, but there was something wrong with her.
[tense music.]
And then some sort of accident happened, and it almost ruined his life.
When was this? Five, six years ago.
Before we met.
His friends say that's when he changed.
[dramatic music.]
Are you coming? [gasps, pants.]
[unsettling music.]
[crickets chirping.]
[light humming.]
Hey, Harry, get up here.
I'm making breakfast.
Yeah, I'm coming.
And then you add some chive, blueberries, sprinkles - whatever you want.
[laughs.]
- So, now you bust out the omelet? - When I'm leaving? - I'm sorry, baby.
Just teaching the temporary bachelor how to survive.
- Bye, you guys.
- Bye, little man.
- [clears throat.]
- So, uh you doing all right? - What's that supposed to mean? - You know, you kind of scared the shit out of Mia last night you're in the yard, 3:00 in the morning, in your underwear.
You doing more of that - plant-whispering shit? - I was taking a break.
- From what, sleeping? - [sighs.]
Why is your wife looking out the window at 3:00 in the morning? - That's the question you should be asking.
- Would you stop that shit? Next time, you wear some pants.
How about that? Stop showing your wang to my woman.
[chuckles.]
[children's show playing.]
- Did you cut his hair? - I trimmed it barely.
What are you doing? Cora likes it longer.
You know, it's Oh.
Well, I think it looks nice, because he has ears for once.
You really coming to work? Yeah.
I told you I was.
I'm not gonna stick around here all day.
I'm gonna go out the back, though.
[tools whirring loudly.]
[woman whispering indistinctly.]
[whispering.]
No, no, he's right here.
He's right here, in the house.
Because, I saw him on the news.
I don't I'm just creeped out and Mike's at work.
Will you come over? Okay, I Yes, yes, I know, but I didn't realize that they would send him.
[somber music.]
[indistinct chatter.]
Sorry.
[chuckles.]
Here you go.
You had you had - the beer, right? - I had the beer.
- Beer.
Food.
- Thank you.
And your other stuff will be out in just a few minutes.
You, uh you you're new here, right? [chuckles.]
Yeah, is it that obvious? Oh, no, no, you're doing fine.
I just I hadn't seen you here before.
I'm originally from upstate from Ellenville.
- Oh, yeah, I know it.
- You do? I live in Dorchester.
- Oh.
- Yeah.
I'm just I'm picking up some inventory here, but that's where I live.
[laughs.]
That's really the only reason I got the job my Aunt Margaret knows knows Laura, the owner, and, yeah.
- She hired me as a favor.
- Oh.
Well, why'd you come to Inwood? Just wanted a change.
How's the waitressing thing working out for you? [stammers.]
I'm terrible.
- No.
- Yeah, I [stammers, laughs.]
I can't remember anything, I [sighs.]
- Spill everything.
- No.
Nah, it's just you know, you should be a hostess at a fancy spot downtown.
[sucks teeth.]
Where they charge $30 for a salad.
- [laughs.]
- I'd pay 30 bucks if you were working there.
You know, at my women's group, we talk there about what's happening, how we're feeling.
It's such a relief to me.
Could you speak directly to Harry, like we've been doing? [inhales.]
Um [exhales.]
I feel so lonely.
Like you're not really interested.
I feel like something could happen to me and you wouldn't even notice.
I keep thinking about that time at the hospital.
Now, that's not fair.
We've already been over this.
When I had my knee replacement last year, he he left me in the hospital.
He disappeared.
When I woke up in the recovery room, Harry was home, spraying his dogwoods for anthrac Anthracnose.
The nurse had said I feel invisible.
The nurses had said that it'd be at least an hour before she came out of it, and I thought I could pop over and I could pop back, and that was a bad call.
We haven't had sex in so long.
I don't even know what he wants anymore.
"Just as I am, without one plea, "but that Thy blood was shed for me, "and that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, "O Lamb of God, I come.
I come.
" Fill us with your peace.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray.
Amen.
[together.]
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art though amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
[together.]
Hail Mary, Full of Grace Honey.
Cora.
I have to go back to the city, but I will be back in a few days, okay? [guests praying "Hail Mary".]
Phoebe is gonna pull through.
We just have to keep hoping for the best.
You'll pray for her? I pray for her all the time in my own way.
all: Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God Eat it before your mother finds it, okay? You deserve a treat.
Thanks, Aunt Margaret.
I love you.
all: Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
We can do this all day if you want.
And we can come back tomorrow and do it all over again.
I know there's a story between you and Frankie.
And I'm gonna keep digging.
You are not mentally ill, and sane people, they have motives for what they do, whether they hide it or not.
And me coming here is not going to stop until I hear something out of you that makes sense.
There is someone out there who knows something.
Maybe it's a friend or one of your family.
They've got TV cameras following them every minute of the day because of you.
And they're in pain.
[tense music.]
And you're just gonna leave them there for the rest of their lives, with no explanation for what you did.
Is that what you want? I met Frankie on July 3rd.
[music building.]
It was five years ago.
Where were you? It was at a bar, on Route 6.
Carl's Taproom.
But I didn't know him as Frankie He told me his name was JD.
I didn't realize that he was lying until later.
- What year was this? - 2012.
4th of July weekend.
He was there at the bar with some friends with a couple of guys.
JD had some pills and we all took 'em.
And then we got in his car and went to somebody's house.
What kind of car did Frankie drive? He has a truck.
A black truck with a white top.
Where was this house? I'm not sure.
We just ended up there.
I remember this orange carpet.
And that song Frankie just they played it over and over and over again.
It was from a band that he was in.
And he just seemed so confident.
[chilling ringing.]
Like he was on his way somewhere.
And then what? [chilling ringing.]
And we spent the night together.
Two weeks later, I found out I was pregnant.
And I didn't know what to do.
He he had my phone number.
I didn't have his.
So, I tried to track him down, and that's when I found out that he didn't even give me his real name.
I grew up Catholic.
I couldn't get an abortion.
I couldn't tell my parents.
[heart beating.]
I just wanted to die.
[intense music.]
[horn honking.]
[sighs.]
And then I woke up in the hospital, with a fractured hip and a concussion, and I wasn't pregnant anymore.
[sniffs.]
I used to pray a lot when I was little Praying for my sister Phoebe, praying for my mother, for myself.
[laughs.]
Hours and hours, I would I would beg God to help us, and for what? What kind of a god kills your baby but lets you survive? When I heard that song at the beach, then I then I realized who he was.
Something inside me just snapped.
Jesus Christ.
[sighs.]
Well, Lopez will be happy, at least.
We got a story.
Kinda all makes sense now.
Doesn't it? [stirring music.]
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.
I indulged in temptation and risked my sister's life.
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned You're been praying out here for over an hour.
Phoebe saw you from the window reminded me you were out here.
I wanted to stay.
[chuckles, sniffs.]
I have faith that He heard you and He'll spare your sister.
But you have got to be stronger than this.
I know that it's hard, but we can't give Him reasons to punish us.
One bite of this chocolate, and He could take Phoebe's life.
Okay.
Show Him you understand.
[mellow acoustic music playing.]
I can feel you brooding from across the room.
Smiling on the inside.
The usual? Medium-rare? With salad instead of fries.
I, um thought you were coming over on Tuesday.
You could've let me know.
I know.
I'm sorry.
The thing is, I can't come see you anymore.
- That last time was a mistake.
- You've said that before.
I'm trying with Faye.
I really wanna try.
[plate clatters.]
So why are you here now? Well to tell you.
It's an awfully long way to come just to tell me that.
Text me next time.
[sighs.]
[shoes drop to floor.]
[soft music.]
- Hey.
- Hmm? - Come up here, come up here.
- No, no, no, no.
- Yes.
- No, I want to.
- Please.
- I really want to.
- [both laugh.]
- Please.
- Shh, shh, shh.
- Please.
[gasps sharply.]
[choking, grunting.]
[gasping.]
[panting.]
What was that? I don't know.
I don't know.
- Oh, my God, are you okay? - Yeah, don't worry.
[breathing heavily.]
[paper crinkling.]
That's it.
Get that tape right on the corner.
Yeah.
Go ahead, tear it, tear it, tear it, tear it.
And [imitates trumpets.]
[imitating trumpet music.]
Dad, I told you he wanted LEGOs.
The "Star Wars" falcon thing.
Well, I thought he could use these on our hikes, you know, and if he could see the birds, he might be more interested.
That right, kiddo? What's the matter, honey? - [sighs.]
Dan.
- What? Can you help, please? [sighs.]
Now, be honest with me.
Have you ever wanted to go up to that kid and just - [imitates squelching.]
- [laughs.]
- Just a little bit? - Next time, just get the LEGOs.
All right, just get the LEGOs.
It's nice to be here with you.
It's nice to hear you say that.
It feels natural.
I know how to do this.
We said eight weeks, Harry.
That's what we decided.
But why? Why can't we just live together? You want to still.
And I want to.
Look around you there are so many sad stories out there.
We're lucky.
So, we're just trying to back up the story before, you know, we close the investigation.
[exhales shakily.]
How did she know Frankie? Did she date him or something? I'm sorry, I can't tell you.
- But she mentioned him to you.
- No, I I told you guys that already.
No.
Okay.
Well, what about someone called JD? - JD? - Yeah, it was a nickname.
That's how she knew him.
As JD? Did she mention him? No.
What else did she say about him? [sighs.]
Mason, I can't tell you.
It's confidential.
You know, I'm sitting here all day, with this stuff circling around in my head, and it's driving me up a wall, okay? I feel like I'm going nuts.
So, don't treat me like I'm just a witness to something.
You know, how long have you known me? Please.
Nobody's saying anything to me.
Give me something to go on.
Don't you know, you can't just leave me in the dark about it.
- I need I need anything.
- Okay.
- Please, anything to go on - Okay, okay.
Apparently, it was a one-night stand, and he he got her pregnant.
[stirring music.]
[sighs.]
[exhales heavily.]
[cellophane crinkling.]
Oh, this [sighs.]
Do you know how to get the music off of this? All of the covers Off of the mattress [upbeat rock music.]
[soft music.]
Uh, yep.
That's the face.
When I saw her on the news, I knew that I had seen her here before.
So, how crazy is she? [chuckles.]
When was it that she was here? A while back.
I think it was the 4th of July, 'cause I remember some idiots were setting off M-80s in the parking lot.
And she was dancing with this other girl.
This other girl what did she look like? All I remember is that she was so sauced she couldn't stand up straight.
There was a guy with them too.
Uh Was it him? No.
This isn't the guy who was with Cora Tannetti that night? Don't think so.
The guy that she was with had blond hair.
Okay, thanks.
I'll be in touch.
Thanks.
It's just hard to believe.
And he never mentioned anything about a girl, - or an accident? - No.
[sniffs.]
It just doesn't sound like Frankie.
He never did drugs.
And abandoning a girl like that? That girl is lying.
Young guys Frankie's age, it often happens that they have lives their parents aren't aware of.
Did you ever hear him go by the nickname JD? JD? No.
You knew he was in a band? Sure.
He mentioned it.
But that was a flash in the pan.
He quit because he didn't have time.
He was at Cornell working 100 hours a week.
He could barely have time to come see us.
What would he be doing in Dorchester, 40 minutes north of here? Well, that's what we're trying to understand.
No, you don't.
You don't understand.
Frankie was good.
He was too good.
Even as a child, all he ever wanted to do was help people! It's gotta be hard on both of you.
When did this whole thing happen exactly? You said five years ago, but when? We think it was 4th of July weekend.
In 2012? But Frankie wasn't even here.
Yeah? What do you mean? I have a colleague, Dan Strauss.
He runs a volunteer clinic in Los Angeles.
Frankie went to work for him for two months that summer.
I have the registration paperwork in my office somewhere.
He wasn't even on this coast! [phone vibrating.]
- Yeah? - Thought you should know this.
- I was just gonna call you.
- Been trying to track down Cora Tannetti's hospital records after that car accident.
You know how she says she went to Saint Amelia's? They have no record of her.
Checked all over the state.
Nothing.
[sighs.]
Okay.
And you know how she said in her interview that her parents were both dead? - Guess what? - [sighs.]
They are alive and well, a half hour away in Ellenville.
[sighs heavily.]
[indistinct chatter.]
[buzzer.]
As long as you're a loner, they'll push you around.
You should sit with us.
No, thanks.
Suit yourself.
We have to move you, honey.
Otherwise, they get worse.
- [whimpers.]
- Okay, shh, shh.
- [whimpers.]
- Okay, okay.
Shh.
[tense string music.]
[sniffs.]
- She'll be okay.
- [weeping.]
We'll keep praying, and God will make her better.
[sniffing.]
Come here.
Look at her.
Do you know why she's not better? Because you're not doing your part.
Tell your sister what you did.
Tell her why she's so sick.
Because I'm a sinner and I took the chocolate from Aunt Margaret.
Look her in the eye and apologize.
[music building.]
Cora! [whispering.]
Sorry.
Cora.
Why did you lie to me about your parents being dead? And the pregnancy.
That isn't true, is it? How about the hospital? I didn't go to the hospital.
The driver of the car who hit me took me to his home for treatment.
[chuckles.]
Do you even realize that I'm trying to help you? - Are you? - Yeah, I'm trying.
Nobody else gives a damn, but - I'm here.
- But you're a detective and you're not supposed to be helping me, so Why? The truth is my job know the truth.
- You're so full of shit.
- Good, we have something in common, don't we? How do you know Frankie? I told you.
[sighs.]
- We met on July 3rd - No, don't.
Don't screw around with me.
Why did you kill him? [sighs.]
- I don't know.
- Yes, you do know.
And I know that you know.
You don't get to do what you did and not know.
What happened on the beach? Huh? You were sitting there with your husband, and you were slicing up a pear for your son, and Frankie and his friends were 15 yards away, and somebody was playing music.
[upbeat rock song playing.]
And you heard that music, didn't you? It reminded you of something, didn't it? - Turn it off.
- No, we are going through this.
- We are going through this step by step.
- I'm not doing this.
- Turn it off.
- Why? [rushing sound.]
He did something to you, didn't he? What did he do? - What did he do to you? - [quietly.]
Screw you.
[volume increases.]
I'm sorry, I can't hear you.
Giving me love Are you coming? - Stop.
- I can't hear you.
- How do you know Frankie? - Stop it! Stop it! [growling.]
I'm gonna kill you.
I'm gonna kill you! I'm gonna kill you! Dim the lights All hearts up [panting.]
I'm all right.
I'm all right.
They said you had gotten pregnant.
Is that true? Don't you think that's something that you should've told me? Cora? Why did you lie to the cops about Frankie? I know the guy you were talking about.
I know JD.
He's got that truck.
I knew some of his friends before we met.
Was he the one that got you pregnant? - Did he hurt you? - Doesn't matter anymore.
It it does matter.
Because you're talking to the cops about it, it does matter.
- Is Lane okay? - No, Lane is not okay.
And I'm not okay.
[tense music.]
Our world is turned upside-down right now.
And you won't even talk to me.
You still hang out with Mitch? - Yeah, sometimes.
- Yeah.
Yeah, I don't know.
Hey, you remember this guy from back then JD? He drove that black truck, hung out with Jason and those dudes? Yeah.
Yeah, JD's still around.
Yeah, up in Kingston, mostly.
I know a couple guys that run with him sometimes.
Okay.
You think you can just hook me up with him? Why do you wanna mess with him? I just wanna meet him.
You know.
Work stuff, maybe.
You think you can introduce me? [birds singing.]
Hey.
I can't say exactly how it helps.
II feel calmer.
My mind is quieter, I think.
It's like a shift.
And you sit on those cushions? Oh, no.
I just sit in the chair.
Well, it sounds interesting.
[thud.]
You gotta do something about the reflection.
[gentle music.]
[whispering.]
Hey, that's a good Come back.
You're gonna be okay.
Come back.
Come back.
[bird chirping.]
You came back.
[discordant music.]
- Harry.
- Dan, thanks.
I appreciate this.
Look, I wanna show you something.
I hope you got something good, 'cause I only got about 4 hours of sleep left.
Yeah, yeah.
Okay.
Cora, right? That song I played triggers her somehow.
When she hears it, something happens.
- Look at this.
- Whoa, Harry.
- Okay, where she hit me? - Yeah.
- The pattern.
- Mm-hmm.
One here, one here, and one here.
Look at the stab wounds on Frankie Belmont.
Same exact places.
She stabbed Frankie seven times, right? Look at this.
Look how many times she hits me.
One two three four five six seven.
Sweet Jesus.
She's repeating exactly what she did on that beach.
- [exhales.]
- She doesn't even know it.

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