[projector whirring]
[foreboding music]
II
[music stops]
- So how have you been feeling?
- Okay, I guess.
- Have you had any more contractions
since your last visit?
- A few, I think.
- Ah, there we go.
- That's it?
- That's it.
Heartbeat looks good.
[heartbeat warbling]
Just need to get a few measurements here.
[heartbeat stops]
Now, you did not want to know the sex of the baby, correct?
- Mm, no, I'd rather not.
. Okay"
I honestly don't blame you.
If I could do it over again, I wouldn't want to know, either.
We were told I was having a girl,
ended up a boy.
Had to redecorate the nursery, return all the shower gifts.
Such a pain.
Guess it's kind of ironic, though, considering what I do.
Let me wipe up the belly.
Here you go. - Thanks.
- There you go.
So how have you been feeling in general?
- Okay, I guess.
I just want to get it over with.
- Just about everyone says the same thing at this point.
It won't be long now, though.
Okay, well, if you don't have any more questions for me,
then the doctor will be going over all the results with you
at your visit next week.
. Okay" . Okay"
[door clicks shut]
[ambient choral music]
II
[bass drum note]
[ambient choral music]
II
[foreboding music]
[dull thuds]
II
[ominous music]
II
[material rips]
- Check the pupils.
- No, they're equal.
[siren wailing]
- Can you tell me your name?
Can you open your eyes for me?
- [speaking indistinctly]
- Get breath sounds, too, when you get that done.
We got the one I.V.
We'll go ahead and get another one bilaterally.
Got a mid-20-year-old female involved in an assault.
Obvious trauma to the head, vaginal bleeding, unresponsive.
Got one 14-gauge I.V. on...
- One, two, three.
- The right forearm.
- We need to get a second I.V.
Let's start some more I.V. fluids
and get two units of O neg blood.
We need to call O.B. stat.
Ma'am, I'm Dr. Bales.
Can you hear me?
Are you having any pain?
[indistinct radio chatter]
She's unresponsive.
[machine beeps]
[air pump hissing]
[machine beeps]
[air pump hissing and electronic beeping]
- See me go B-B-B stat.
- Dr. Bales? - Yes.
- They can't be here for at least 3O minutes.
They're in surgery.
- The baby's heart rate is really low.
I need a blood pressure. - Blood pressure's 60.
- We can't wait. We have to get the baby out now.
[indistinct chatter]
[indistinct radio chatter]
I need a scalpel.
[indistinct chatter]
- Dr. Romero.
Dr. Romero, please.
[knock at door]
- Come in.
- Esther Woodhouse?
- Yes.
- My name is Detective Allen.
Do you have a few minutes to talk?
. Okay"
- May I?
[sighs]
How are you feeling?
- Pretty sore.
Not great, I guess.
- I'm very sorry about your baby.
I know this will sound strange,
but you are actually quite lucky.
- And how's that?
- You lost a lot of blood.
Most people don't come back from that.
- You're right. That is a strange thing to say.
- Nevertheless,
that's what you should be focusing on right now:
hey, how much worse things could have been.
It'll help with the anger.
So...
do you feel up to talking about what happened,
what you remember?
- I don't really remember much of anything.
I left my O.B. appointment.
And I was walking to the bus stop.
And then I woke up here.
Everything else is just pieces,
fragments.
Icouldn't tell you what was real or not.
- We recovered your purse
at the entrance to the alley where you were found.
We'll have you check it just to be sure, but...
it looks like all that's missing
is whatever money you would have had.
- When can I have it back?
- Um...soon.
It's safe.
- I know. I just want it back.
L-it...
I'd just like to have it back.
- Okay, ru-
I'll see what I can do.
Is there anyone you can think of, Esther,
anyone at all,
that may have held a grudge against you?
- Can I think of anyone who might want to kill my baby?
No.
- What about the father?
- Sperm bank.
- Sperm...
Um...
Why a sperm bank?
- Does it matter now?
- Coworkers?
Acquaintances?
- No.
Why are you asking me all this?
- This thing that happened to you, Esther-
this type of assault is almost always carried out
by someone who knows the victim personally.
The time it took to do this,
the risk,
the emotion involved to follow through with something so-
It's just not characteristic of a random mugging.
- Well, I don't know who would want to do it.
What about someone on drugs
or a misogynist
or maybe just some crazy homeless person
who lived in that alley?
- Yeah, yeah.
I mean, those-
those are all definite possibilities.
[knock at door]
Looks like you have your next visitor.
I'll get out of here,
and I'll let you two get acquainted.
Just, uh...
give some thought to what I said.
Call me anytime.
My cell phone's on there and everything.
. Okay"
- I'll be in touch soon.
So sorry, again, for your loss.
- Hi, Miss Woodhouse, I'm Mary Wilkens.
I'm one of the social workers here at the hospital.
- Hi.
- How are you feeling?
- Going to get that question a lot around here, I guess.
- Yeah.
Well, I'll try and make it quick
so we can let the next one come in.
- The next one?
- The doctors, the nurses, rehab,
police, social workers,
religious counsel-
all day and, I'm afraid, all night, until you leave here.
There's gonna be more people comin' through that door
than you know what to do with.
You're gonna get sick of the attention.
So who can I call to talk to
about helping you transition back into life?
- Uh, there really isn't anyone.
I'm kind of on my own.
- Family, coworkers?
- I don't have any family.
- Friends? Who are you close to?
- My fish.
- Sweetie, I need names.
Give 'em up.
- I'm sorry.
There really isn't anyone-
no one who would care.
- You're gonna need a support system,
people to help you through this.
Without it, it's gonna be incredibly difficult.
- Well, the chaplain's been in and the police and you.
- I'm talking about long-term support.
We're here to help you with the initial phase of recovery.
Have you ever had any formal therapy before?
- No.
That lists therapists and counselors
as well as several support groups that specialize
in victims of violent crimes and women who have lost a child.
- Thank you.
I'll take a look at it.
- I hope you do.
Don't fall through the cracks.
Too many people do.
You have to reach out now.
You remember the people who I said who are gonna come in
to see you and help you?
That stops once you leave here.
We're here to help and support you,
but the second you walk out the front doors of the hospital,
we disappear.
I go on to the next person that needs help
and then the next.
You understand?
Okay.
[knock at door]
- Sorry, buddy.
[answering machine beeps] - One new message.
[answering machine beeps] - Hey, it's me.
Just wondering if you're okay.
Okay-.
I'll just, uh, try you back later when loan.
[answering machine beeps] - Message deleted.
[somber piano music]
II
[clothes rustling]
II
[woman vocalizing]
II
- [sighs]
[music fades]
[birds chirping]
- And he just kept...
laughing and laughing.
[sniffles]
You know what really gets me, though,
is that he thought this was just a-a joke.
[sniffles]
[sobs]
- Thank you for sharing that, Audrey.
So would anyone else like to share
before we take a short break?
All right, then.
For those of you who are new to our group,
we have pastries and coffee,
so please feel free to help yourself.
So let's take about, um,
ten minutes, okay?
- This your first meeting?
- Um...
yeah.
- I thought so.
I'm Melanie.
- Esther.
- So nice to meet you.
You kind of had that look on your face.
- What look?
- Well, like you're not quite sure what to make of this place.
- Oh.
Well, I've just never really done anything like this before.
- I get it.
The first time is always strange.
[indistinct chatter]
Here you go.
- Thank you. - Ooh, I love the shirt.
- Thanks.
It wasn't expensive.
- Even better.
Looks really good on you.
Most of these women-
they've been through some really horrific things.
- Do you think coming here helps?
- I do.
I mean, there is something about hearing other people
tell you the terrible things that have happened to them
that...
kind of makes you feel better about your own problems.
It's like you're not alone.
- Is this how I look?
- Honest?
Yes.
Hey, but don't worry.
That's why you're here, right?
- How come you don't?
- I guess most of my damage is on the inside.
- We're coming back now,
so please feel free to join the group.
- Great. Thank you.
Ready?
- Does everyone have to, you know, um...
talk about what happened to them?
- Oh, no, no. You don't have to do anything.
You can just sit.
A lot of people just come, and they listen.
They don't talk.
And then there's others-
don't shut up.
Come on, you.
Come sit with me.
My husband and son.
- What happened to them?
- They were coming to pick me up from work one night.
Drunk driver ran a light. That was it.
- I'm sorry.
- [chuckles]
They say it gets better.
But it doesn't.
It never gets easy.
And everyone around you, they forget almost immediately.
I think that's probably one of the most unbearable parts.
And they want you to forget too, but...
[sighs]
That's why I go to the groups.
You can tell your story for as long as you need to,
and no one gets sick of you being in pain,
and no one gets tired of caring.
- I lost my baby.
I was walking to the bus stop.
And then...
. HEY-
You don't need to tell me.
It's still too soon.
But you know what?
For whenever you're ready.
Because we all need someone to listen.
[somber orchestral music]
II
[somber piano music]
II
[monitors beeping and machines clicking]
- Can I help you?
- Um...l just-
I didn't know where else to go.
- Well, I'm sorry, but you can't be back here.
- Do I have to leave?
- What do you mean?
- Is there someplace I can just sit?
- Well, no, This is a hospital.
You can't just be here.
- Anywhere?
- There's a waiting room around the corner.
I guess you could sit there.
- Thank you.
- [sighs]
Okay, just-you have to find someplace else to go.
[melancholy orchestral music]
II
[creaking and rattling]
- [sighs]
[telephone beeping]
[line ringing]
- Hi, you've reached Melanie.
Leave me 8 message.
[voice mail beeps]
- Hi...
[clears throat] Melanie.
It's Esther...
from the other night- the meeting.
I was calling to see if you were going today
and, um...
wondered if you wanted to get coffee again after.
So, anyway, I guess I'll see you there.
Okay. Bye.
[sighs]
[somber music]
II
[sighs]
- Good afternoon.
I just want to begin by thanking each and every one of you
for joining us today.
My name is Denise Meadows,
and I'm the director of the Women's Healing Network.
I'm a licensed therapist and a grief counselor,
and I've been in this field for over 2O years.
And what I can tell you is,
I understand that it took a lot of courage
for you to come here today.
But I wanted to let you know we all have something in common.
We all have lost someone that is very important to us.
[bellsjingle]
[somber music]
II
[music fades]
- Excuse me.
- Hi.
Is there something that I can help you with?
- Uh, yes.
Can I fill out an application?
- Sure.
Here you are.
You want to go ahead and fill that out,
bring it back on in.
- Can I fill it out here?
- If you'd like.
Here you go. - Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
[suspenseful music]
II
- Peyton?
Peyton.
Oh, God.
Peyton!
Oh, my God.
Peyton.
Please, help, my son. - Is everything okay here?
- My son-um, he was just-
he was literally standing here with me one-
he was just right here.
- Can you tell me what he looks like?
- Yes, he's, um...
Peyton! Where are you?
He's, um... - Ma'am.
Can you describe your son to me?
- He's blond.
- Okay. - He's-he's three.
He's, um- - Okay.
- Oh, my God.
- What color is his- - I can't believe I lost him.
- Blond hair. What was he wearing?
- Um...he's, um... he's in a T-shirt.
He's in his favorite-
he's in his favorite blue T-shirt.
- Blue T-shirt, blond hair.
- Blue-yeah, blue T-shirt, blond hair.
He's got blue eyes. - Okay, three years old.
- He never leaves.
Somebody took him. I bet somebody took him.
- Okay, I tell you, I'm gonna go look and see
in the internal security cameras-
- Somebody took him! I'm gonna check outside!
- I will look on the internal security cameras, ma'am,
and see if we can find him.
- Thank you so much. Peyton!
Oh, please, Peyton!
[suspenseful music]
II
- [crying]
[crying continues]
Ah, mommy!
[ambient orchestral music]
II
[music swells]
II
[music stops]
[answering machine beeps] - One new message.
[answering machine beeps]
- Hi, Esther. This is Melanie.
Sorry I'm just getting back to you now.
I had some personal things to tend to today,
and I just couldn't make the meeting,
but I would love to get together again,
and I would really hale to wall another week.
Um, how is tomorrow afternoon looking for you?
There's a great place that really helps keep me centered.
Um, give me a call.
- Hi. - Hi.
Mm.
[children shouting]
Here you go.
- Oh, thank you.
- So how are things?
. Okay"
- Good.
I hope it's okay that we came here.
- Sure.
Do you come here a lot?
- I do.
My son and I, we used to come here together.
I don't know.
I suppose it should hurt, but...
Somehow, I get a bit of peace.
- What was his name?
- Peyton.
- Oh, look what I found!
- What happened to the driver- the drunk one?
- Oh, I don't know.
I thought about asking,
wanting to know if it was instant for him...
or if he suffered, but...
figured I'd rather not know.
That way I can tell myself that he suffered.
I do feel lucky, though.
Oh, some of these other women-
what they've been through.
[sighs]
The absolute worst are the ones whose kids have been taken-
kidnapped.
They say the worst thing about losing a child through abduction
and not knowing whether they're alive or dead, it's-
it's just that,
the not knowing.
But for me,
if it was me, the-
the worst part, the thing that would just
eat away at me, that-
just sicken me would be the fact
that I would hope for my child to be dead.
You know, most parents,
they hope for their child to be returned,
that everything will be okay.
But are they ever really okay?
No, they're...
broken.
[gentle orchestral music]
II
[music fades]
- [gasps]
[ominous music]
II
[heavy breathing]
[grunting]
II
[moans]
II
- [chuckles]
I forgot how much I love fucking you.
So who was she?
- Who?
- The fucking bitch you were with at the park.
- She's nobody.
Just this woman from my support group.
- You wouldn't be cheating on me, would you?
- Of course not.
- I hope not.
Not after what I did for you.
[smooching]
God, I missed you.
Look, I'm not gonna pretend to understand any of this.
I did it because you asked me to.
Nobody else would have done it.
You know why?
Because I'm the only one who really loves you.
You know that, right?
So why haven't you been returning my calls?
- You said we shouldn't talk, to be safe.
- No.
I said you shouldn't call me.
How am I supposed to keep you safe
if I don't know where you are?
Next time I call, you answer, okay?
. Okay"
- Come here.
Mommy knows what she's doing, okay?
We're gonna keep you safe.
[chuckles]
That's my girl.
[sighs]
That's my girl.
[sighs]
[energetic techno music]
[indistinct chatter]
F.“
[no audible dialogue]
F.“
- [panting]
[muffled techno music]
f.“
_ [grunting]
F.“
[clock ticking]
[telephone ringing]
- Hello?
- Hi, Esther. It's Melanie.
- on, m. - Hi.
I hope I'm not calling too Sate.
- No, it's fine. - Good.
I was actually Wondering if you're up for a late coffee.
- Well, I'm not really dressed.
- Oh, okay.
It's kind of fast minute anyway.
Um, maybe tomorrow then'?
- Do you want to just come over here?
- Are you sure? f-f woufdn'? want to impose.
- No.
I'd love to see you again.
- Okay, I'll be right over.
Um, where do you live'?
I think I owe you an apology.
- Why?
- Well, the last time you asked to get together, I just-
all I did was talk about myself the whole time, my problems.
- It's okay.
I like listening to you.
- Well, tonight it's about you,
if you're ready to talk.
- Um...
I,um...
I was pregnant,
almost nine months,
about two weeks away from my due date.
I hadn't had any complications.
I'd had a great pregnancy.
I loved it.
[chuckles]
People just treat you differently when they know
you're going to have a baby.
Usually when I walk down the street,
people don't even notice me.
It's like I'm not even there.
But then suddenly, they saw me.
Not only that.
They wanted to touch me,
and they were smiling at me.
And it was like just me being there made them happy.
- [chuckles]
Were you excited
about being a mother?
- I never wanted to be a mother.
- I don't understand.
- I think you're the only one who understands.
- Esther, what are you doing?
- I'm sorry.
- Why-why would you do that?
- I'm so sorry.
I thought you wanted me to.
- You thought I wanted you to?
I am not a lesbian.
- Neither am I.
- I think I should go.
- I saw you with your son.
At the-
- [breathing shakily]
You don't know what you're talking about.
Do you understand me?
Do you?
I'm fine.
You need help.
You need help, Esther, and it's not coming from me.
Don't you ever, ever call me again.
- [sobbing]
[door creaking]
[door rattles]
[sobbing]
[water plopping]
[eerie music]
II
[music fades]
[suspenseful music]
II
[car door thuds]
[trunk thuds and clicks]
[indistinct chatter]
II
[rustling]
[suspenseful music]
II
[indistinct chatter on TV]
II
[lock clicks]
[ominous music]
II
[footsteps approaching]
- Okay, bath time.
He's getting ready, and I laid his jammies out on the bed.
' [groans]
Babe, could you do it tonight?
- You kidding me?
- Please?
- Don't give me that look.
- Oh, come on, I'm watching this.
- I do the bath every night.
- [sighs]
- You're like cool, fun dad.
You get to read and play games, and then I bathe, and I-
- Yeah, I'm cool- that's right.
I'm cool, fun dad. Cool, fun dad.
Cool, fun dad is deep into a game
with only 15 minutes left.
Please.
[suspenseful music]
II
[indistinct chatter]
II
[water splashing]
[dull thuds]
[water splashing]
[splashing stops]
[floorboards creaking]
- Peyton!
Bath time.
Hey, you.
Peyton, let's do this.
Peyton!
No, no, no, no, no!
[sobbing] NO_
Please. No.
[exhaling]
Stay with mommy. Come here.
Peyton, please, no, no, no.
- What's wrong?
- Ambulance! Call an ambulance!
Go!
God, please, no!
[sobs]
[gasps]
Please, Peyton.
Please stay with mommy.
Stay with mommy.
Please. I'm so sorry.
God, please, please.
[gasping]
- Please don't be scared.
- What- what are you doing here?
Did you do this?
- I did it for you.
- No.
- I would never hurt you.
- [gasps]
- I just came to do the things you couldn't do.
Don't you see?
So we can be together.
Melanie.
No more lies.
We are the same.
[footsteps thudding]
[gun cocks back]
[tense orchestral music]
II
[melancholy orchestral music]
II
[gunshot]
II
[dramatic orchestral flourish]
II
[melancholy orchestral music]
II
[dramatic orchestral flourish]
II
[melancholy orchestral music]
II
[no audible dialogue]
II
[gunshot]
II
[dramatic orchestral flourish]
II
[ominous orchestral flourish]
II
[melancholy orchestral music]
[no audible dialogue]
II
[telephone ringing in distance]
II
[telephone ringing]
[telephone beeps]
- [Weakly] Hello?
[clears throat]
Hello?
- Melanie?
' Yes?
. HEY-
ifs Laurie.
- Hi, Laurie.
- How are you doing, honey?
- Oh, you know.
Getting by.
Just kind of hard getting back to things.
- Oh, honey.
We've all been so worried.
I've tried to call so many times.
No one has seen you guys.
Have-have you been out of the house at all?
- No.
No, not...
Not since-
- We need to get you out of there.
You need to talk to us.
Pm calling Megan right now
and telling her we're going to lunch today.
- No, I-l can't.
I just-it's-it's too soon.
- Honey, please. - Just...
- You need to. - {said f can't.
Sorry. Bye.
[telephone beeps]
[ambient orchestral music]
II
[ambient choral music]
II
- She was talking to you.
- What?
- When I came back, she was talking to you.
Before I shot her right there,
she was talking to you.
What was she saying?
. [sobs]
[sighs]
Only that you were next.
- [sighs]
[sighs]
[upbeat rock music]
- I There's no way I
II
I I can begin I
[tattoo needle buzzing]
- She's gonna love this.
- I doubt that.
She's fucking dead.
- Oh, damn.
I'm sorry, honey.
What happened?
- Some dickless piece of shit shot her.
- Holy fuck.
That's pretty hard-core.
Is this that little girl you've been seeing?
- Yeah.
And not only that, but they're trying to say
that she killed their kid.
- Shit.
Oh, fuck, I remember hearing about this.
Didn't it happen right after you went in?
- It was right before, but I didn't find out until I got out.
How did you hear about it?
- Small town.
Plus, I'm sure I read about it in the paper.
- What paper'?
- The newspaper.
They don't have newspapers in there?
- I don't know. Who the fuck reads newspapers?
- Uh, whoever wants to know
what the fuck's going on, I guess.
- So?
- So what?
- So what the fuck did the newspaper say?
- Oh, I don't know, what you said.
That someone was killed after killing some kid.
- Did it say their names?
- The parents?
- Yeah.
- Mm, I don't remember.
I'm sure you can look it up online.
[suspenseful music]
II
[keyboard slacking]
[foreboding music]
II
[printer whirring]
- Pat?
- What?
- What are you looking at?
- A truck.
- A truck?
- This truck's just been sitting there.
Hasn't moved since...
that night.
- Are you hungry?
[Winces]
- This fucking truck has been parked out there
since that night.
It hasn't moved. - Okay, I see it.
[sighs]
Pat.
Patrick.
You're hurting my arm.
- Where are you going?
- I thought, um...
I thought I'd go to-
to Peyton's school and get his things.
Thought maybe we could go together.
Your dad called earlier.
He...
He was wondering when you'd be back in the office.
Everyone misses you.
- That second shot...
- What?
- I shouldn't have taken that second shot.
I could have tried to stop the bleeding...
told the police she got away.
I could have found out who she was.
I have all those tools in the basement.
I could have figured out why.
Then I could have done it the right way.
[foreboding music]
II
[keysjingle]
[footsteps thudding]
- [sighs]
[sighs]
[engine turns over]
[foreboding music]
II
- [screaming]
- Mr. Verdel?
- Mrs. Michaels.
- Is this a good time?
- Of course.
Come in.
The students are at recess.
[children shouting in distance]
How are you getting along?
- One day at a time, I guess.
Thank you for coming to the funeral, by the way,
and for your card.
I'm sorry I haven't-
haven't had a chance to get around a thank-you note yet.
- No, please, I'm-l'm not expecting anything like that.
I'm just sorry more of the other students
didn't attend the services.
- I don't think children need to be at funerals.
It's not really the place for them.
[children laughing in distance]
I'm sorry, I just, um...
[inhales deeply]
I don't really know-
[sighs]
What am I supposed to do?
Am I supposed to just get his things or...
- Oh, yes, I-l have everything together.
I didn't mean for you to have to come here.
Would have dropped it off
when you were ready.
- I just...
guess I didn't know when that was gonna be, you know?
Turned out it was today.
[sighs]
- It's mostly art projects,
crafts, paintings,
some supplies, things like that.
. [sobs]
[sniffles]
[crying]
[sniffles]
[sniffs]
[sobs]
- Miss Michaels.
Miss Michaels.
I'm sorry, but the students will be back in just a minute.
- Of course. Yes.
Thank you, Mr. Verdel,
for all your help.
[exhales deeply]
[sighs]
[sniffles]
[rustling]
[keysjingle]
[birds chirping]
[sighs]
[inhales sharply]
Hi, Laurie.
Um, a little bit better today.
Thank you.
I was actually wondering if that offer for lunch
was still on the table.
I just could really get out of the house today.
Oh, I don't care. Anywhere's great.
Sure, um, that sounds wonderful.
Thank you so much for doing this.
[sighs]
No, I'lljust- I'll talk to you when I see you.
Okay.
Bye.
- Can I help you, dear?
- Yeah, I want to talk to the guy who wrote this.
- Uh-huh. And what is this regarding?
- This.
- I see.
Unfortunately, I'm not able to allow direct access
to the reporters.
I can give you a phone number to the news desk
or an email address.
- Why? Why can't I just talk to him?
- As I just explained-
- Is he back there right now?
- That is beside the point. - [scoffs]
- Ma'am, you are not allowed backthere.
I'm calling security.
- Raymond Sheeley!
Which one of you is Raymond Sheeley?
- Can I help you? - Are you Raymond Sheeley?
- No, but-
- Well, then get the fuck out of my way.
Are you Raymond Sheeley?
Did you write this? - Yeah.
- What were their names? - Who?
- The people that shot her.
- I can't tell you that.
- Don't fuck with me, Raymond.
What were their fucking names? - I don't know.
They-they didn't want them disclosed.
- It's time to go, miss. - Get your hands off me.
Get your hands off me.
Get me those names, Raymond!
I said get your hands off me.
[indistinct conversations]
- Come back again, we'll call the police.
- [Spits]
[woman screaming]
[foreboding music]
II
[screaming stops]
II
[door clicks]
[ominous music]
II
[insects chirping]
[suspenseful music]
II
[foreboding music]
II
[intense string flourish]
II
[suspenseful string music]
II
[no audible dialogue]
[gentle orchestral music]
II
[lock clicking]
II
- Patrick?
- One new message. Message one.
[answering machine beeps] - Hello.
This message is for Melanie Michaels.
I'm calling from the Channel 8 news desk.
We received your message and are very sorry to hear
about the loss of your son.
Unfortunately,
it turns out We ran a segment on this incident-
[answering machine beeps]
- Message deleted.
No new messages.
[melancholy music]
II
- You are home.
- Where else would I be?
- Pat, you don't look so good.
. [scoffs]
How should the father of a dead son look?
- Babe, you can't think like that.
- Or maybe you should.
- And what's that supposed to mean?
- Nothing.
Nothing.
- Why don't you come upstairs with me?
I've got something to show you.
Come on.
He's all around us.
[sighs]
We're gonna be okay.
Oh, babe.
- [sobbing]
- I know. I know.
[sighs]
. [sobs]
- I know.
Hey.
Hey, it's okay.
It's okay.
Hey.
Shh.
- [sighs]
- We could always have another one.
[indistinct conversations]
[knock at door]
- Morning, dad.
- Morning.
It's good to have you back.
[indistinct conversations]
How you doing?
- I don't know how to answer that question anymore.
. Okay"
You know I'm right next door if you need to talk
or just want to get out of here early.
- All right. Thanks, dad.
- It's good to see you, son.
- [sighs]
[drawer clicks shut]
[line buzzing]
[telephone buttons clicking]
[line trilling]
- Detective O/er.
- Detective Oler, hi.
Uh, this is Patrick Michaels.
Yes?
- You're investigating the death of my son, Peyton.
- Yes, lremember, Mr. Michaels.
How can I help you?
- [exhales sharply]
Well, I found something that I felt I should tell you about.
. Okay-
- There's a truck that's been parked on our street
ever since that day.
It hasn't moved.
- Uh-huh.
- Well, I went into the truck,
and I found a vehicle registration card for an Anika-
- What do you mean, "Went inside of it"?
- I went inside the truck.
- Mr. Michaels, did you break into this vehicle?
- N-no.
It was unlocked.
I just opened the door.
- It does not matter if it was unlocked.
Did you take anything from the vehicle?
- Well, like I was just saying,
I found this vehicle registration card.
- Mr. Michaels, you really must leave this to us.
I understand that you're upset.
Now, I suggest you return whatever items you took
from the vehicle immediately.
I will have someone check it out today,
and We'll be sure to notify you if anything develops.
Mr. Michaels? - Fine.
Fuck!
[children chattering]
[melancholy music]
II
- Peyton?
[laughter]
[sobs]
Peyton, mommy can't see you.
Peyton?
[children yelling]
II
- Excuse me.
You dropped your hat.
Here you go.
- Look what I found!
[children chattering indistinctly]
- Guys, where's Andrea?
- That's mine over there.
I think we've seen you here a few times before.
Which one's yours?
II
- [panting]
[sniffles]
[rustling]
[line ringing]
- Hello? - Hey, Laurie, I-it's me.
- Hey. How are you?
- Um...
I'm okay.
I was actually wondering if maybe we could get together
and do lunch again today.
- Oh, honey, I'm sorry. I can't today.
- Oh.
Are you sure?
L-I j u st-
I could really use someone to talk to today.
- No, I just can't.
- Okay. No, no, I get it. I-
- Have you tried to call Megan?
- Yeah, you know what?
I don't even- I don't even have her number.
Do you think you could give it to me?
- Sure.
- Okay, just hold on one sec, okay?
- Yeah.
[rustling]
[groans]
Okay. Go ahead.
- Okay, ifs 969-1134.
You there?
- No, no, I'm here.
- Okay, Well, talk to you soon, honey.
- Okay. Thanks.
[sighs]
- I'm gonna step out for a minute, son.
[birds chirping]
[cell phone chimes]
- Mel, ifs Marshall.
I have Patrick here.
We're at the hospital, the ER.
He hurt himself, but he's okay, physica?y, I guess.
Look, they're concerned about him here, and so am I,
how he's handling Peyton.
They're sending us to some kind of support group
for this sort of thing.
Look, I have to gel back to the office,
but I really think you should be there.
He needs you right now.
The group is in an hour.
Ifs at some church loce-
[suspenseful music]
II
[door creaking]
II
[drawer scrapes]
[drawer thuds]
[rustling]
- [sighs] Come on.
Come on.
Esther, come on.
[rustling]
[sighs]
Thank God.
[chuckles]
[rustling]
[woman panting]
[suspenseful music]
II
[woman moaning]
II
[moaning intensifies]
II
_ [grunting]
[sobs]
[groaning]
[panting]
[water rushing]
[doors creaks]
- Patrick?
Would you like to introduce yourself?
- No, I was told that I didn't have to talk.
- That's true.
You don't have to.
- [sighs] I'm-
Hi. I'm Patrick Michaels.
- Would you mind standing up for us, Patrick?
- [sighs]
My name is Patrick Michaels.
Uh, I'm here because my son, Peyton, was murdered,
and I can't stop thinking about it.
I can't stop thinking about his little body laying there...
and how-
how he's never gonna smile at me again,
and I can't stop thinking about the woman that did it
and all the things that I want to do to her,
all the ways that I want to hurt her.
. Okay"
Let's try redirecting this anger.
What do you miss most
about Peyton?
- Uh, um...
I miss not feeling guilty about being a bad father.
[sighs]
Um...
You know, I used to feel like,
working and making money,
providing a home and food for my family
was enough, you know,
was the role that I played.
And now all...
I can think about is just the things
that we didn't do together,
time that I didn't spend with him,
things we'll never get to do together,
and all of the times that I said, "Not now"...
to this little boy that just wanted to play with his dad.
How I was too...
busy or too tired.
Whew.
I miss...
taking my entire life for granted.
- Mr. Michaels.
' Yes?
- Hi.
I'm Elliot.
- Patrick. - Sorry.
I don't mean to bother you.
I just wanted to say that I really appreciated
what you had to say back there, your honesty.
- Thank you.
- Sure.
I've been coming to these for some time now,
and you don't see it that often.
I'm sure your wife's happy that you're coming now too.
You know, I lost my little girl about four years ago, and I-
- What do you mean, "coming now too"?
- Well, it's just that I've seen her at several of-
Melanie, right?
- Yes.
Melanie's been here?
- Well, sure.
I'd say off and on for about a year now.
- But our son only died a month ago.
- I'm sorry.
I am so sorry.
I must have made a mistake- it'sjust-
I-I remembered the name Peyton and that he'd been kidnapped,
and I thought she said her husband's name was Patrick.
- Our son wasn't kidnapped.
He-he was murdered in our house.
- Again, I'm sorry.
I must be wrong.
[sighs]
It's nice to have met you. - Hold on.
- I really should get going. - Wait.
[knock at door]
- Who are you? - "Ah-neeka" Baron?
- It's "Ah-ni-kah." Who are you?
- I'm Detective Oler with the Richmond Police Department.
May I come in?
- No.
Let's just do it here.
- Well, would you like to put some clothes on?
- [scoffs] No, not really.
Why? You don't like this?
- Hmm.
Did you recently report avehicle missing?
- Yeah, my truck, like a month ago.
- A 2005 Chevy, red?
- Yeah.
- And you reported it before you went to county
for four weeks on an assault and battery charge?
- Well, I thought the fucking bitch had taken it.
Guess I was wrong.
- Right.
- So what? You-you actually found it?
- We found it abandoned in the Reeveston area.
- Reeveston?
- Yeah.
- So can I go get it?
- Actually, no.
It's being taken down to the impound lot this afternoon
for processing and further investigation.
- Further investigation for what'?
You fucking found it.
- That's why I came here to talk to you.
Your vehicle is being entered
as potential evidence in a homicide.
There was a break-in in that area,
and a child was murdered.
- I don't know anything about that.
- I didn't say you did,
but you will need to come down
for a formal statement about the vehicle,
make sure nothings missing.
- When do I get my truck back?
- Once we've established there's no connection.
In the meantime,
if you think of anybody
who might have taken the vehicle,
give me a call.
- Fine.
- Thank you for your time.
And we'll be in touch about that statement.
- [sighs]
- Last night, a home invasion in Richmond
came to a tragic end with the death of a young boy.
The father shot and killed the intruder
before she had a chance to flee the scene.
With more on this terrible tragedy,
we go to Tom Warren.
- Thanks, Larry.
Details are still uncertain at this time
as to exactly what happened in this home.
We do know the forensics team is aire-
We tried to speak with the mother of the deceased,
but she's understandably distraught,
and she's unable to comment.
[ambient orchestral music]
II
[door creaks]
- [sighs]
[glass clinks]
- Where have you been?
- Thinking.
. Okay"
About what?
- [sighs]
Trying to make sense
out of a lot of things that don't make sense.
- I don't know what you're talking about.
- What have you been telling people about Peyton?
-L...
- What have you been saying about my son?
- I don't- I don't know what you mean.
L-nothing-
[glass shatters]
[gasps]
Patrick.
[gasps]
Oh, my God.
- It's time for you to stop lying to me, okay?
It's time for you to stop lying!
- I'm not.
Look, I don't know what you think you know, but-
- How do they know about you, then?
How do they know about him?
- Who? Who?
How does who know what?
Patrick, please, come on.
- Who the fuck was she?
Who was she?
- I don't know.
I don't know, okay?
Is that what you want me to say?
I don't know!
I wish I knew, but-
Please, babe, just put that down.
- I'm sorry, Mel. I can't do this anymore.
[sighs]
- Look at me, okay?
Just look at me. Put that down.
We just- we need to talk.
It's just us, okay?
- It's too late for talking.
[sighs]
I can't even stand to be around you.
[sighs]
I need to leave.
- What are you saying?
- [sighs]
[sighs]
I just need to go.
- So he tell you where to find it?
- Kind of.
Did you get what I asked?
- Mm.
I don't even want to know.
- Good.
Reeveston.
. Okay"
[suspenseful music]
II
- There.
- You're gonna just take it?
- That's what's gonna happen.
- All right.
I'll see you later, then.
- Thanks, bitch.
II
[music fades]
- [sighs]
[knock at door]
- This must be the right house.
[ominous music]
_ [gasping]
What the...
[grunting]
- Just-just relax.
Just relax. We're-we're just getting-
We're just getting to know each other.
- What do you want?
- No, no, no, no, no.
We're not gonna play that game, you know,
'cause you know exactly why I'm here.
You fucked my girl,
and your dickless, piece-of-shit husband shot her.
So you don't get to ask any questions.
You don't get to tell me any stories.
But since it looks like we've got a little bit of time,
I'd like to get some answers.
Number one: how the fuck do you know me?
- I don't know you. I don't know what you're talk-
[gasps]
- I'm-l'm sorry.
Uh, continue.
- [sighs]
I saw you at Esther's house.
- Hmm.
Okay.
So does your husband know that you've gone dyke?
- What? No.
I'm not. What are you talk-
[gasps]
Stop hitting me, please!
I didn't even do anything with her!
[sighs]
. Okay"
I believe you.
It's too bad. She was good.
- She was crazy.
- That's what made her a great fuck.
[chuckles]
Oh, don't worry. That-that's not for you.
That's for your husband.
You see, it's like so few men get the chance to know
what it's really like to get fucked.
So since he doesn't have that much time left,
I figured I'd show him.
And-and you can watch.
- You're sick.
- Yeah.
And you haven't even heard
what I've got planned for you yet, princess.
- You do know she killed my child?
- And whose fault is that?
[sighs]
So where is he?
I don't have all day.
- I don't know.
He left. He's probably never coming back.
- I'll take my chances.
Is the kitchen that way?
- What?
[grunts]
- [sighs]
[munching]
[suspenseful musical flourish]
II
Where's your toilet?
- What?
- Your head.
- Down the hall.
[water splashing]
- What's that?
- What?
- That sound.
Like water running.
- I don't know. I don't hear anything.
[water splashing]
- That's a fucking shower.
Is that a fucking shower? Is he upstairs?
- I don't know what you're talking about.
I don't even hear anything.
- Wow. You are a sneaky little bitch.
He's fucking upstairs taking a shower.
Unbelievable.
[water splashing]
[suspenseful music]
II
[foreboding music]
II
[chuckles]
' [grunts]
[wood cracking]
- Oh, fuck me.
[gunshot]
Oh, fuck!
Oh, fuck you,
you fucking bitch.
You fucking bitch!
- Oh, shut up already, please.
Although, you know, I should be thanking you.
You've made this a much better story.
- [gasps]
Oh, my God.
You are fucked up.
No wonder Esther fucking liked you.
[gentle orchestral music]
II
[dramatic music]
- Our next story is that of every mother's Worst nightmare.
Two years ago, an unknown intruder
broke into the home of Melanie Michaels.
Her son was tragically murdered by the intruder,
who was then shot and killed by her husband
when trying to escape.
One month later, the vengeful lover of the intruder returned,
taking the fife of her husband.
Melanie was then forced out of sew-defense
to kill the second assailant.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Mrs. Michaels
and talk about her story.
Melanie, thank you for being with us.
- Thank you so much for having me.
- /am so sorry for your terrible loss.
This is truly every mother's Worst nightmare.
How are you handling everything?
- Well, I don't think there's ever really a Way to handle it.
It's just taking it one day at a time.
But there isn't a moment that goes by that-
[sighs]
That I don't think about my boys.
Excuse me.
- I'm sure.
But What you're not doing and What you're being commended for
is not allowing yourself to become a victim.
And, in fact, you've written a book
in order to turn your experience
into education for other parents.
- Yes, I have.
- It's called Our Children, Our Responsibility,
and it details your story as well as, in retrospect,
what you could have possibly done to prevent this tragedy.
- Exactly.
I feel that there's a {of of parents out there
that take their child's safety, as well as their own,
for granted.
And if I could just prevent what happened to us
from happening to someone else,
then I feel that Peyton and Patrick's deaths,
they will not have been in vain.
- Right.
Well, it takes a very brave parent
to admit they made mistakes, especially so publicly.
- Thank you.
- {also understand that a few television networks
are interested in turning your story into a movie?
- Yes, there's some talks and some offers,
but nothing's set in stone yet.
- Weft, {wish you the best of fuck with that
and your book.
I know the more people
that hear your message and your story,
the better off We'll all be.
- Thank you. That means a lot.
- And finally, I understand you have another big announcement.
-/do.
{recently got remarried, and,
Well, We found out this morning that...
I'm pregnant.
- Who the fuck are you talking to?
[suspenseful music]
II
- Everyone.
II
[gunshot]
[ominous musical flourish]
[choir vocalizing]
II
[ambient choral music]
II
[somber piano music]
II
[woman vocalizing]
II
[somber orchestral music]
II
[melancholy orchestral music]
II
[suspenseful music]
II
[foreboding music]
II
[ominous orchestral flourish]
II