Narrator: IF YOU'RE A CREATIVE TYPE
IN NEW YORK CITY AND WANT TO GET NOTICED,
THE MEMBERS-ONLY SOHO HOUSE HOTEL IS
THE PLACE TO BE.
THE SOHO HOUSE IS A GREAT PLACE TO NETWORK.
UH, A LITTLE OASIS IN THE MEATPACKING INDUSTRY.
Narrator: THE CHIC HOTEL IS
WHERE RISING SWIMWEAR DESIGNER SYLVIE CACHAY
AND HER TRUST-FUND BOYFRIEND, NICHOLAS BROOKS,
HANG OUT AMONG THE CITY'S BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.
SHE HAD THE DREAM OF HAVING HER OWN LINE.
Buettner: HE HAD A PRESENCE ABOUT HIM.
WHEN HE WALKED INTO A ROOM,
HE INSTANTLY COMMANDED ATTENTION.
Narrator: AND ON DECEMBER 9, 2010,
THE SOHO HOUSE SHOULD BE A PLACE
FOR THE COUPLE TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S REST.
- I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! - YOU WITH YOUR FREAKING LIST!
Sylvie: ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
Narrator: INSTEAD, FOR ONE OF THEM,
IT WILL BE THEIR FINAL RESTING PLACE.
I'M SCREAMING, "PLEASE DON'T DIE!"
CALL 911!
Buettner: THIS IS A CLASSIC MYSTERY STORY
OF A LOVE APPARENTLY GONE WRONG.
"HOW COULD IT GO THIS BADLY WRONG?"
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: THE SOHO HOUSE IN NEW YORK CITY
IS ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST EXCLUSIVE HOTELS,
CATERING TO THE FILM, FASHION, AND MUSIC INDUSTRIES.
THE SOHO HOUSE IS A PLACE WHERE THOSE OF A CREATIVE MIND-SET
CAN COME TOGETHER AND NETWORK.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INNOVATORS,
THE MOVERS AND THE SHAKERS IN THE BUSINESS,
THE TRAILBLAZERS COMING TOGETHER TO CREATE.
Narrator: IT'S A LITTLE OASIS
IN THE HIP MEATPACKING DISTRICT IN LOWER MANHATTAN.
IT'S A PRIVATE MEMBERS CLUB, SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE ACCEPTED
AND VOTED IN THROUGH A BOARD AND SUCH.
IT WAS A HOTEL AS WELL.
IT HAD ITS OWN SPA, MOVIE THEATER.
Narrator: BUT FOR THE RICH AND FAMOUS
WITH EXCLUSIVE SOHO CLUB MEMBERSHIPS,
IT'S A HOME AWAY FROM HOME.
IT CATERS TO EVERY NEED OF IT'S WELL-CONNECTED MEMBERS.
FOR SYLVIE CACHAY,
ONE OF THE FASHION WORLD'S RISING STARS,
THE SOHO HOUSE WAS A WELCOME RETREAT FROM HER HECTIC LIFE.
LOVE IT. LOVE IT.
HELLO.
HOW'S IT GOING? - HEY.
- THANK YOU. - HEY, SYLVIE.
- HEY. - GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO. - HOW WE DOING?
IT LOOKS GREAT. JUST HOLD ON ONE SECOND, OKAY?
YEP.
Stephens: SYLVIE CACHAY WAS MOST DEFINITELY
THE QUINTESSENTIAL SOHO HOUSE MEMBER.
SHE WAS EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY GIFTED AND WARM.
YOU GUYS ARE BEAUTIFUL. - HERE WE GO.
KEEP WORKING IT, GIRLS. - HEY, ENERGY, GUYS, COME ON.
Stephens: SHE WOULD WALK INTO A ROOM AND LIGHT IT UP.
Narrator: NOT LONG AFTER GRADUATING
FROM MARYMOUNT COLLEGE, SYLVIE CACHAY BECAME
ONE OF THE HOTTEST YOUNG DESIGNERS IN THE U.S.
RIGHT OUT OF SCHOOL, SHE GOT AN INTERNSHIP
AT MARC JACOBS, WHICH IS AMAZING.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO START.
AND THEN, FROM THERE, SHE GOT HIRED AT TOMMY HILFIGER,
WHICH WAS REALLY INCREDIBLE.
SHE HAD A GREAT SALARY, A GREAT POSITION,
AND SHE WORKED SO HARD.
AND I WATCHED HER CLIMB THE CORPORATE LADDER THERE,
AND SHE DID IT SO WELL.
YES, THAT'S GREAT.
Bell: AND THEN, FROM THERE, SHE WENT TO VICTORIA'S SECRET,
WHICH THAT WAS, LIKE, HER PASSION
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE SHE STARTED DESIGNING SWIMWEAR.
Narrator: IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE SYLVIE CREATES
DESIGNS OF HER OWN AND THE NEW YORK PRESS TAKES NOTICE.
I CANNOT WAIT TO SHOW YOU THESE DESIGNS, OKAY?
THEY'RE EXCLUSIVE. I HAVE NOT SHOWN THESE TO ANYBODY.
SO THIS IS PART OF MY NEW COLLECTION.
I'M VERY EXCITED.
Narrator: BY 2006, AT THE AGE OF 29,
SYLVIE RECEIVES START-UP MONEY FROM AN INVESTOR,
AND LAUNCHES SYLA, HER VERY OWN SWIMWEAR LINE.
SHE CALLED ME, AND SHE SAID, "GUESS WHAT.
I WAS EXPECTING $100,000 OR $200,000 TO START,
BUT HE HAS GIVEN ME $1 MILLION."
Narrator: SYLVIE IS A P.R. REP'S DREAM.
THE SYLA COLLECTION IS AN INSTANT SUCCESS.
PEOPLE WERE LOVING IT.
I MEAN, SHE WAS GETTING GREAT STORES --
BARNEYS, ANTHROPOLOGIE -- GREAT PRESS.
THE PRESS WAS AMAZING.
ANNA WINTOUR WAS CALLING IN FOR HER TOWELS.
SHE WAS COVERED BY LUCKY AND VOGUE AND InStyle, ELLE.
AND THESE WERE NOT JUST PRODUCT SHOTS
OR INCLUSION IN, SAY, YOU KNOW, SUMMER SWIMWEAR ROUNDUPS.
IT WAS PROFILE STORIES ON HER AS A DESIGNER
AND AS A STYLE-SETTER IN HER OWN RIGHT.
Narrator: AND A SYLA DESIGN EVEN ENDS UP
IN THE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT EDITION,
A FEAT UNHEARD OF BY A BEGINNING DESIGNER.
McHale: FOR A SWIMWEAR DESIGNER,
THAT'S KIND OF LIKE THE HOLY GRAIL.
IT'S WIDELY READ BY MALES AND FEMALES ALIKE, OF COURSE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: SO IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT A YOUNG WOMAN LIKE SYLVIE
SEEKS TO BE A MEMBER OF THE EXCLUSIVE SOHO HOUSE HOTEL,
WHERE THE DENIZENS OF FASHION, FILM, AND FINANCE MINGLE.
FOR A DESIGNER ON THE RISE LIKE SYLVIE,
THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO PROMOTE HERSELF.
A CHANCE ENCOUNTER THERE COULD SEND SYLVIE
AND HER BUSINESS TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OVERNIGHT.
McHale: THE SOHO HOUSE IS A GREAT PLACE TO NETWORK,
TO MEET PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU
OR MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING
AND KNOW SOMEBODY THAT COULD HELP.
Narrator: FOR SYLVIE, ADMISSION TO THE SOHO HOUSE
IS A DREAM COME TRUE.
SHE CALLED HER DAD --
"HEY, DAD. GUESS WHAT.
I MADE IT. I MADE IT."
Narrator: SYLVIE IS NO STRANGER
TO THE WORLD OF MONEY AND PRIVILEGE.
SHE GREW UP IN A WEALTHY NORTHERN VIRGINIA TOWN
WHERE HER FATHER IS A SURGEON AND HER MOTHER AN ARTIST.
HER PARENTS HAD EMIGRATED FROM PERU
AND TAUGHT SYLVIE THAT, DESPITE HER PRIVILEGE,
SHE MUST WORK HARD.
Sylvia: SHE HAD A DREAM.
SHE ALWAYS HAD THE DREAM OF HAVING HER OWN LINE.
UH, SHE WANTED TO DO IT NO MATTER WHAT.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER SNAPS ] - GOOD.
LOOK AT THAT. - BEAUTIFUL.
ALL RIGHT. TAKE FIVE, GIRLS.
Narrator: FASHION ISN'T THE ONLY PASSION
WHERE SYLVIE FINDS SUCCESS.
I MISSED YOU.
SHE ALSO FALLS FOR THE MAN WHO PHOTOGRAPHS HER LOOKBOOK,
BEN BAKER, A WELL-KNOWN FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER
WHO BELIEVES HE'S ALSO MET THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE,
AND THE TWO GET ENGAGED.
THEY WERE VERY CUTE TOGETHER.
HERE, LET'S GET A SHOT WITH THEM
AND YOU IN THERE TOGETHER. - OKAY.
McHale: SYLVIE IS A BIG PERSONALITY.
BEN WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE QUIET. HE JUST LET HER SHINE.
HERE WAS THIS DRAMATIC, AMAZING CREATURE,
WHO, REALLY, THE CAMERA LOVED.
SO IT WAS SORT OF FUN TO JUST SEE HIM
LET HER HAVE HER MOMENT.
Baker: SAY, "BIKINI."
Women: BIKINI.
- YEAH, THERE WE GO. - [ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE A MATCH TORN FROM THE PAGES
OF A GLOSSY MAGAZINE.
SYLVIE APPEARS TO HAVE IT ALL
WITH A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF HER.
BUT THEN, IN 2008,
THE RECESSION HITS.
[ SIGHS ]
HEY, DIANA. IT'S SYLVIE.
YEAH.
LOOK, I GOT YOUR MESSAGE.
YOUR ORDER'S ALREADY IN PRODUCTION.
Narrator: CLIENTS START CANCELING ORDERS.
NO, I -- I UNDERSTAND.
McHale: SYLA HAD ORDERS PLACED,
AND, SUDDENLY, THE STORES WHO HAVE PLACED THOSE ORDERS
ARE SHUTTING THEIR DOORS. THEY'RE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.
THAT'S A HUGE HIT, PARTICULARLY FOR FOR A SMALL BRAND,
YOU KNOW, WHO'S RELATIVELY YOUNG.
AND AS HARD AS SHE TRIED TO KEEP THINGS GOING
AND KEEP THEM AFLOAT, YOU KNOW, IT JUST --
IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE.
OKAY. I-I HAVE TO GO.
Narrator: WITH INCOME CUT, SYLVIE'S INVESTORS BACK OUT.
SYLA, THE BABY THAT SYLVIE HAD NURTURED
INTO A PROMISING BUSINESS,
IS STRANGLED IN THE CRADLE.
THE 31-YEAR-OLD DESIGNER FALLS INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION.
[ SIGHS, SHOUTS ]
Sylvia: IT BROKE HER HEART
THAT SHE HAD TO LET HER PEOPLE GO,
AND SHE HAD TO CHANGE HER RESIDENCE
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SHE HAD TO CUT EVERYTHING.
SHE WENT BANKRUPT.
EVERYTHING WITH SYLA IS JUST FALLING APART.
THAT'S MY LIFE.
Narrator: NO ONE CAN CONSOLE HER,
NOT EVEN HER FINANCE, BEN.
IN FACT, IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE THE COUPLE DECIDES
TO CALL IT QUITS.
Bell: SHE JUST WAKES UP ONE DAY,
AND HER WHOLE LIFE IS DIFFERENT.
SHE HAS NO COMPANY AND NO FIANCé,
SO EVERYTHING THAT WAS DRIVING HER FORWARD
WAS, YOU KNOW, JUST -- SHE HAD NO DIRECTION.
Narrator: BUT SOON, SHE WILL MEET SOMEONE NEW,
SOMEONE WHO CHANGES HER LIFE IN UNEXPECTED WAYS.
IN SIX MONTHS' TIME, IT WILL ALL CULMINATE
IN ONE DRAMATIC NIGHT AT THE SOHO HOUSE.
NARRATOR: WHEN THE ECONOMY COLLAPSES IN 2008,
TOP SWIMSUIT DESIGNER SYLVIE CACHAY FALLS
ON HARD TIMES.
SHE LOSES HER LOFT, AND HER BUSINESS FAILS...
[ SIGHS, YELLS ]
Narrator: ...ALONG WITH HER ENGAGEMENT.
McHale: IT WAS A VERY TOUGH TIME FOR HER.
WHEN YOU'RE DEPRESSED, YOU ARE BLUER THAN BLUE,
AND YOU'RE THINKING, "WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS?"
YOU CAN REALLY DESCEND TO SOME PRETTY LOW DEPTHS.
AND THAT'S WHERE SHE WAS.
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT YEAR, SYLVIE STRUGGLES.
SHE LOSES WEIGHT, REFUSES TO GET ANOTHER JOB
AND DATES NO ONE.
DOCTORS PRESCRIBE MEDICATION TO HELP HER RELAX AND SLEEP.
BUT THE DRUGS DON'T HELP AS MUCH AS SHE'D LIKE.
SYLVIE RARELY STEPS OUT OF HER SMALL APARTMENT
EXCEPT TO WALK HER BELOVED TOY POODLES,
PEPPER AND LOLI.
HER PETS SEEM TO BE THE ONLY LIVING THINGS
THAT CHEER HER UP.
HER DOGS WERE HER LIFE.
THOSE WERE HER BABIES.
THERE WAS SUCH A STRONG BOND.
McHale: THESE TWO DOGS HAD BEEN WITH HER
THROUGH LOTS OF UPS AND DOWNS.
WHEN EVERYTHING SORT OF CAME CRASHING DOWN,
THEY WERE THESE LITTLE RAYS OF LIGHT FOR HER,
HER LITTLE CHILDREN.
Narrator: AFTER MANY LONG MONTHS,
HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY COAX HER BACK FROM THE BRINK.
AND THIS IS YOUR OFFICE.
GREAT. THANKS.
SYLVIE IS HIRED AS LEAD DESIGNER FOR ANNE COLE SWIMWEAR.
IT IS A DREAM JOB FOR MOST,
BUT SYLVIE HAS HER EYE ON A BIGGER GOAL --
BRINGING BACK HER FLEDGLING COMPANY, SYLA,
FROM ITS EARLY GRAVE.
WAS IT HER DREAM JOB? NO.
BUT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S A PRO, AND SHE MADE IT WORK.
Bell: IT WAS A GOOD SALARY, AND SHE WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW,
"I'LL TAKE IT AND STILL WORK ON TRYING TO RE-LAUNCH SYLA."
THAT WAS ALWAYS THE FINISHING OF EVERY SENTENCE --
"AND STILL TRY TO RE-LAUNCH TO SYLA."
I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GO OUT, DARS.
Woman: REALLY?
COME ON, YOU'VE GOTTEN COMPLETELY READY.
YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
EVEN LOLI WANTS YOU TO GO. DON'T YOU, LOLI?
Narrator: ON A SPRING NIGHT IN 2010,
A FRIEND CONVINCES SYLVIE TO GO TO A PARTY.
[ ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYS ]
- HI. - HEY.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
- THIS IS SYLVIE. - HOW YOU DOING?
- HI. - READY?
- OKAY. - ALL RIGHT, YOU GOT THIS.
HELLO, WORLD.
Man: LADIES, HEY. WHAT CAN I GET FOR YOU?
- RED WINE. - RED WINE -- YOU GOT IT.
AND FOR THE LADY WITH THE MILLION-DOLLAR SMILE?
RED WINE, SURE.
ARE YOU AN ACTRESS OR A MODEL?
ACTUALLY, I'M A DESIGNER.
- A DESIGNER? - MM-HMM.
WOW, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. WHAT DO YOU DESIGN?
SWIMSUITS.
Narrator: AT THIS PARTY, SHE MEETS NICHOLAS BROOKS,
A YOUNG MAN NEARLY 10 YEARS HER JUNIOR.
HE'S 23. SHE'S 32.
NICHOLAS IS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
AND SEEMS TO HAVE NO CARE IN THE WORLD.
HE HAD A PRESENCE ABOUT HIM. HE'S VERY HANDSOME.
PEOPLE SAID WHEN HE WALKED INTO A ROOM,
HE INSTANTLY COMMANDED ATTENTION.
Narrator: LIKE SYLVIE, NICHOLAS WAS RAISED
IN A PRIVILEGED HOUSEHOLD
AND ATTENDED ELITE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
BUT NICHOLAS' FAMILY WEALTH GOES BEYOND
EVEN THE COMFORT SYLVIE ENJOYED AS A CHILD.
NICK GREW UP ON THE WEALTHY UPPER EAST SIDE OF MANHATTAN.
HE IS HEIR TO HIS FATHER'S VAST FORTUNE
FROM MUSIC ROYALTIES.
MY DAD'S FAMOUS. HE WON AN ACADEMY AWARD.
HE WAS THE SON OF AN OSCAR-WINNING SONGWRITER.
Narrator: NICHOLAS' FATHER, JOSEPH BROOKS, HAD WRITTEN
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SONGS EVER COMPOSED,
"YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE,"
WHICH WON AN OSCAR FOR BEST ORIGINAL SONG IN 1977.
NICHOLAS GREW UP AROUND THE VERY RICH AND VERY FAMOUS.
I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR INVESTORS.
DO YOU THINK HE'D BE INTERESTED?
HE MIGHT, BUT I MIGHT BE COMING INTO SOME MONEY OF MY OWN,
SO I MIGHT BE INTERESTED DOWN THE LINE.
YOU LOOK LIKE A GOOD BET.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
Bell: HE TOLD HER ALL ABOUT HIS TRUST FUND.
AND I THINK HE WAS TELLING HER,
LIKE, "I CAN GET YOU STARTED AGAIN WITH YOUR BUSINESS."
YOU SHOULD GIVE ME A CALL.
YEAH, DEFINITELY.
SEE YOU AROUND.
HEY, WHAT'S HAPPENING? - HEY.
SHE CALLS ME THE NEXT DAY,
AND SHE SAYS, "I'VE MET SOMEBODY."
- HEY. - HEY.
- HOW ARE YOU? - I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
Sylvia: THEY HAD A FIRST DATE, AND THEY WERE GOING OUT.
AND SHE SAID, "INSTEAD OF GOING TO A RESTAURANT,
WHY DON'T WE TAKE A WALK?"
Sylvie: SO WHAT'D YOU DO TODAY?
JUST REGULAR ERRAND -- BORING STUFF, YOU KNOW?
- OH, YEAH. - I, UH, WENT TO THE POST OFFICE,
GOT A MASSAGE.
[ Chuckling ] YEAH. - COME ON.
Narrator: BUT, THIS AFTERNOON, THERE IS A DISTRACTION.
[ TIRES SCREECH, HORN BLARES ]
OH, MY GOD, NO! PEPPER!
Bell: THEY WERE COMING OUT OF HER APARTMENT ONTO HUDSON,
AND HE RAN INTO THE STREET.
[ SOBBING ]
Narrator: THE LITTLE TOY POODLE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED.
NICHOLAS SPRINGS INTO ACTION
AND SCOOPS UP SYLVIE'S BELOVED PET.
[ SOBBING ]
IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE VET.
TAXI!
McHale: HE WAS A HERO.
HE WAS VERY MUCH A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR,
I THINK, AT THAT TIME, IN THAT MOMENT.
EXCUSE ME. WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY.
OKAY, PLEASE JUST STAY CALM.
UM, TAKE THE ANIMAL STRAIGHT THROUGH THAT DOOR.
MA'AM, PLEASE JUST HAVE A SEAT.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
[ SOBS, SNIFFLES ]
ALICIA.
I PICK UP THE PHONE, AND SHE'S CRYING HYSTERICALLY.
[ Sobbing ] OH, IT'S PEPPER.
I MEAN, IT WAS JUST HORRIBLE.
I GOTTA GO.
SHE SAID THERE'S A CHANCE.
Narrator: SYLVIE'S INCONSOLABLE.
BUT NICHOLAS NEVER LEAVES HER SIDE.
McHale: HE STAYED CLOSE
AND WAS AN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT IN A HUGE WAY.
I THINK, AT THAT MOMENT, HE FELT LIKE A ROCK,
YOU KNOW, SOMEONE TO LEAN ON, AND HE WAS STRONG.
WOMAN: WE DID OUR BEST,
BUT THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH DAMAGE.
I RECOMMEND YOU EUTHANIZE THE DOG.
I'M SORRY.
[ Sobbing ] PEPPER.
- I'M SORRY. - [ SOBBING ]
Narrator: IT'S ONE OF THE WORST DAYS OF SYLVIE'S LIFE.
BUT NICHOLAS' SUPPORT HELPS GET HER THROUGH.
HE WAS THERE THAT MOMENT THAT SHE LOST HER BABY.
THEN, FROM THAT DAY FORWARD, HE WAS THERE FOR HER.
I'M SORRY.
I CAN'T BELIEVE... HE'S REALLY GONE, YOU KNOW?
Nicholas: I KNOW.
BUT YOU HAVE THIS ONE HERE.
McHale: WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH A TRAGEDY LIKE THAT,
AND HERE'S SOMEONE WHO'S RIGHT THERE,
NOT GOING ANYWHERE, I MEAN, I THINK,
IT WOULD BE EASY TO START TO FEEL LIKE THAT'S LOVE.
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS,
SYLVIE AND NICK BECOME INSEPARABLE.
NICHOLAS STARTS LIVING AT SYLVIE'S,
LEAVING HIS PLACE AND ROOMMATES ACROSS TOWN.
THEY ALSO WINE AND DINE AT ONE OF SYLVIE'S FAVORITE PLACES,
THE POSH SOHO HOUSE HOTEL.
Sylvia: SHE WAS HAPPY TO FIND SOMEBODY
THAT SHE THOUGHT DIDN'T HAVE PROBLEMS,
THAT IS VERY NICE.
Narrator: FOR THESE TWO LOVERS, THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT.
I'M REALLY GLAD I MET YOU.
Narrator: IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE SYLVIE DISCOVERS
THAT HER YOUNG KNIGHT'S LIFE
IS FAR DIFFERENT FROM WHAT HE'D PROJECTED.
IN FACT, HE'S NO STRANGER TO LOSS AND TRAGEDY HIMSELF.
I LOST MY SISTER.
WELL, I DID FOR 14 YEARS.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
[ SIGHS ] WELL...
MY DAD IS AN INTERESTING CHARACTER.
I MEAN, HE'S BRILLIANT,
BUT HE'S NOT A REAL GOOD PERSON.
- COME HERE! - WHAT'D I DO?
Joseph: HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU?
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CRAYONS ON THE FLOOR!
Narrator: THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS FAMOUS FATHER IS
THAT HE'S BEEN CRUEL AND ABUSIVE TO NICHOLAS HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
Susan: LEAVE HIM ALONE, JOE.
WHILE NICHOLAS WAS A YOUNG BOY,
HIS FATHER AND MOTHER DIVORCED,
AND HIS MOTHER MOVED BACK TO LONDON.
Amanda: IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
JOSEPH THREATENED TO DESTROY HIS EX-WIFE
IF SHE EVER TRIED TO TAKE THEIR KIDS.
Buettner: JOSEPH SORT OF TWISTED THE KIDS' ARMS
TO GET THEM TO SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT THEIR MOTHER.
AND SO HE WON CUSTODY, INITIALLY, IN THE EARLY '90s.
Joseph: WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!
Narrator: FEELING BETRAYED THAT HIS 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER,
AMANDA, WOULD WANT TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER MOTHER,
HE DISOWNED HER.
Nicholas: WHEN MY DAD AND MY MOM GOT DIVORCED,
I LIVED WITH HIM, AND SHE LIVED WITH HER.
AND I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SEE THEM.
JOSEPH TOLD NICHOLAS THAT HE WOULD CUT HIM OFF
IF EVER HE HAD CONTACT WITH HIS MOTHER OR HIS SISTER IN ENGLAND.
Narrator: YEARS LATER, WHILE A STUDENT
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO IN BOULDER,
NICK DECIDED TO RISK EVERYTHING
AFTER HIS SISTER, AMANDA, FOUND HIM ON FACEBOOK.
DON'T WORRY, NICK.
IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
NICK MET SECRETLY WITH AMANDA AND HIS MOTHER
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 14 YEARS.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD SEEN EACH OTHER
SINCE NICK WAS ABOUT 7 YEARS OLD.
Susan: OH, I MISSED YOU.
Narrator: BUT NICK'S LONG-AWAITED REUNION
WOULD HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
Buettner: THERE WAS SOME POINT IN TIME
WHEN NICHOLAS TOLD HIS FATHER HE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT
WITH HIS MOTHER AND SISTER,
WHICH WAS AGAINST HIS FATHER'S WISHES.
I TOLD HIM. HE WAS JUST...
VERY ANGRY.
JOSEPH PUNISHES NICK BY REDUCING HIS TRUST FUND
TO A SMALL MONTHLY STIPEND.
WITH HIS 72-YEAR-OLD FATHER'S HEALTH FAILING,
NICK IS HOLDING OUT HOPE FOR A LARGE INHERITANCE.
BUT IN JUNE 2009, EVERYTHING CHANGES.
Woman: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY, MR. BROOKS?
Narrator: JOSEPH BROOKS IS ARRESTED ON 127 COUNTS
OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 30 YOUNG WOMEN
OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
Buettner: WHAT THE WOMEN SAID WAS THAT JOSEPH BROOKS WOULD
PLACE ADDS ON CRAIGSLIST IN WHICH HE WOULD SAY
HE WAS CASTING A NEW FILM.
HE WOULD FLY THE WOMEN TO NEW YORK,
HAVE THEM COME TO HIS UPPER EAST SIDE APARTMENT,
WHERE HE WOULD SHOW HIM THEM HIS OSCAR, GIVE THEM WINE,
SUGGEST THAT THEY DISROBE.
HE WOULD SEXUALLY ABUSE THEM.
SOME OF THE WOMEN, I BELIEVE, SAID
THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE DRUGGED,
THAT THEY PASSED OUT,
OR THAT HE JUST PHYSICALLY ATTACKED THEM.
Woman: MR. BROOKS, DID YOU ATTACK THOSE WOMEN?
Narrator: NICK'S HOPES FOR AN INHERITANCE ARE DESTROYED
WHEN HIS FATHER SPENDS MOST OF HIS FORTUNE
ON HIS LEGAL DEFENSE.
BUT JOSEPH BROOKS' CASE NEVER GOES TO TRIAL.
HE WAS FOUND WITH A BAG OVER HIS HEAD
AND A TANK OF HELIUM AND A HOSE
SO THAT HE ASPHYXIATED HIMSELF BY BREATHING JUST PURE HELIUM.
Narrator: SYLVIE REALIZES THAT NICK IS IN NO POSITION
TO HELP FINANCE HER SWIMSUIT LINE.
BUT SHE'S FALLEN FOR HIM AND VOWS TO HELP HIM.
NICHOLAS IS YOUNG, CHARMING, EDUCATED, AND WELL CONNECTED.
HE HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE IF HE ONLY APPLIES HIMSELF.
ONE OF SYLVIE'S FINEST CHARACTER TRAITS IS
THIS VERY NURTURING, LOVING, CARING, MOTHERING TENDENCY.
SHE WANTED TO BELIEVE THAT HE COULD MAKE SOMETHING OF HIMSELF.
TO A NEW BEGINNING.
- NEW BEGINNINGS. [ GLASSES CLINK ]
CHEERS.
Narrator: BUT AS A TRUST-FUND PARTY BOY,
NICHOLAS NEVER HAD TO WORK FOR MONEY A DAY IN HIS LIFE.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
WHAT? [ COUGHS ]
HAVE YOU BEEN IN BED ALL DAY?
Buettner: BY SEPTEMBER, SHE STARTS TO SORT OF HAVE
SECOND THOUGHTS, LIKE,
"WHO IS THIS GUY THAT I'M INVOLVED WITH?
WHY DOES HE NOT HAVE A JOB AND SMOKE MARIJUANA CONSTANTLY?
WHAT?
YOU PROMISED ME NO POT!
SYLVIE, I HAD A ROUGH DAY.
WHAT DID YOU DO ALL DAY? YOU SPENT IT IN BED.
I WAS THE ONE WORKING.
I SENT A COUPLE OF RéSUMéS OUT TODAY.
HAVE YOU SEEN THESE BILLS?
McHale: SHE WAS GETTING INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED.
"IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO OUT AND WORK OR FIND A JOB
OR DO SOMETHING TO BETTER YOURSELF,
THEN AT LEAST GET UP.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO STAY IN MY APARTMENT,
WAKE UP, MAKE THE BED.
DON'T LEAVE A MESS FOR ME TO COME HOME TO
AT THE END OF THE DAY."
- YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU. - IT FRICKING SMELLS IN HERE.
I CAN'T DO THIS! COME HERE. COME HERE.
COME ON. - NO!
[ SIGHS ]
THERE'S ONE POINT WHERE SHE WRITE A LETTER TO HIM
SAYING, "HERE'S THE THINGS THAT NICK NEEDS TO DO
IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THIS RELATIONSHIP GOING."
AND IT IS A LAUNDRY LIST OF PROBLEMS SHE HAS WITH HIM --
KEEPING THE SHADES DRAWN, BLACK-OUT SHADES DRAWN
ON HER BRIGHT, SUNNY APARTMENT ALL DAY LONG,
NOT LEAVING THE APARTMENT, STAYING UP TILL 5:00 A.M.
WHEN SHE'S GOT A MEETING AT 8:00 A.M.
IT'S MIND-BLOWING THAT SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A LIST
OF THE STUFF THAT SHE HAD PUT ON THAT LIST
'CAUSE IT'S, LIKE, NORMAL DAILY THINGS THAT EVERYBODY DOES.
Narrator: NICK VOWS TO CHANGE.
HE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE THE ONE PERSON WHO CARES FOR HIM.
McHale: "THIS IS SOMEONE WHO COULD PAY FOR THINGS.
I CAN CRASH AT HER APARTMENT
WHEN I'M NOT PAYING THE RENT ON MY OWN.
I CAN GO TO GREAT RESTAURANTS WITH HER.
SHE'S BEAUTIFUL."
SO WHY WOULD HE GIVE THAT UP?
BY THE TIME SHE REALLY STARTED CONFIDING IN ME,
I THINK THE BLOOM HAD WORN OFF THE ROSE A BIT.
THE AGE DIFFERENCE WAS BECOMING MORE GLARING, I THINK.
THE LACK OF AMBITION, THE LACK OF A JOB...
YOU KNOW I SENT OUT A BUNCH OF RéSUMéS TODAY.
...WERE THINGS THAT WERE STARTING
TO SORT OF GRATE ON HER NERVES.
IT'S MY FIRST TIME LOOKING FOR A JOB BY MYSELF.
I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU.
SHE BROKE UP WITH HIM SEVERAL TIMES,
BUT THEN SHE WOULD ALWAYS, RECONCILE WITH HIM,
GET BACK TOGETHER WITH HIM AGAIN.
LOOK, YOU'RE TENSE.
HOW ABOUT... I GIVE YOU A MASSAGE,
TAKE SOME OF THE STRESS AWAY, AND I'LL MAKE YOU DINNER.
McHale: I THINK THAT THAT JUST OVERWHELMING DESIRE
TO BE LOVED AND CARED FOR
WAS AN ACHILLES HEEL FOR HER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
HERE HE IS, SAYING, "I'LL CHANGE."
HE KNEW THE RIGHT WORDS TO SAY TO GET BACK IN THE DOOR.
COME ON, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
YOU'RE THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.
HE WOULD TELL HER, "I LOVE YOU.
I DO WANNA MARRY YOU. I WANNA HAVE BABIES."
SHE WOULD CALL ME AND BE LIKE, "OH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN LOVE,
AND HE'S TALKING ABOUT MARRIAGE. AND SYLVIE WANTED TO BE MARRIED.
SHE WANTED TO HAVE KIDS, BABIES, BABIES, BABIES, BABIES.
I MEAN, SHE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT BABIES.
I LOVE YOU.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP
WAS GONNA BE DAY TO DAY.
YOU KNOW, ONE DAY, THEY'RE TOGETHER.
THE NEXT, IT'S OVER.
IT WAS LIKE A ROLLER COASTER.
I HAVE ALL MY E-MAILS FROM SYLVIE FROM, LIKE, FOREVER.
I TEXTED HER, "THIS GUY IS NO GOOD.
IT'S TOO MUCH HEARTACHE. YOU DON'T NEED THIS."
AND THEN SHE SAYS, "I KNOW...
WELL, I THINK I'VE FINALLY DECIDED THAT TODAY,
AND IT ACTUALLY HURTS.
WE HAVE CRAZY CHEMISTRY, BUT WAY TOO CRAZY."
COME HERE.
[ BOTH SIGH ]
HEY, WHERE YOU GOING?
I'M GONNA TAKE A SHOWER.
I HAVE TO WAKE UP EARLY TOMORROW.
I THINK I'M GONNA TAKE ANOTHER PILL.
BLOW OUT THE CANDLES. - AFTER I TAKE A SHOWER.
ALL RIGHT.
[ LOLI BARKING ]
LOLI, QUIET.
[ BARKING CONTINUES ] SHH.
Nicholas: SYLVIE! SYLVIE!
SYLVIE, WAKE UP!
[ BOTH COUGHING ]
Sylvie: AAH! OH, MY GOD!
NICK FOUND THE BED IN FLAMES.
THE PILLOW WAS ON FIRE,
AND SYLVIE'S HAIR WAS ON FIRE AS WELL.
OH, G-- AAH!
I TOLD YOU TO BLOW OUT THE CANDLES!
I WAS IN THE SHOWER.
IT'S A GOOD THING I CAME WHEN I DID.
- ARE YOU OKAY? - NO, I'M NOT OKAY!
WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO SLEEP?
Narrator: SYLVIE NEEDS TO GET SOME REST
BEFORE GETTING UP EARLY FOR WORK
AND HAS NICHOLAS CALL THE SOHO HOUSE JUST BLOCKS AWAY.
Stephens: NICHOLAS CALLED ME AT THE FRONT DESK
AND SAID, "MY GIRLFRIEND IS A MEMBER THERE.
HER APARTMENT HAS JUST CAUGHT FIRE.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR A ROOM. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING AVAILABLE?"
AND I SAID, "I DO."
OKAY, WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
COME ON.
Narrator: IT'S 12:30 IN THE MORNING
WHEN THEY REACH THE FRONT DESK.
Stephens: I RECALL THAT EVENING.
UM, I SENSED A TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.
THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE PERTURBED WITH EACH OTHER.
Narrator: NICHOLAS TAKES CARE OF CHECK-IN,
BUT SYLVIE APPEARS UNUSUALLY TIRED,
SO SHE HEADS UP TO THE ROOM.
KRISTEN STEPHENS HELPS HER WITH HER BAGS.
Buettner: WHAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE VIDEO CAMERA IS
THAT SYLVIE IS NOT TOTALLY STABLE.
SHE NEEDS SOME HELP STANDING UP. SHE HAS TO LEAN ON THINGS.
SHE'D ALREADY TAKEN HER SLEEPING PILL,
AND SHE WAS REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME STAYING AWAKE
AND JUST WALKING.
Stephens: WHEN I ESCORTED SYLVIE UPSTAIRS TO THE ROOM,
SHE WAS TIRED.
AND WHAT SHE SAID TO ME WAS...
[ SIGHS ]
"HE'S SUCH A STONER.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I'M WITH HIM."
THIS IS ALL THAT'S LEFT OF MY BED.
THAT IDIOT RUINED A $3,000 BED.
AND SHE SAID, "MY MOTHER SAYS I SHOULD JUST BREAK UP WITH HIM,
AND I SHOULD LISTEN TO MY MOTHER."
HE BURNED MY HAIR.
[ DOOR SLAMS ]
HE HAD ENTERED WITHOUT ME REALIZING IT.
UH, CALL EXTENSION 100 IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
THANK YOU.
Stephens: I FELT THEIR LOVERS' TENSION.
AND I, UH, THEREFORE MOSEYED ON OUT OF THE ROOM
AS QUICKLY AS I COULD.
YOU JUST HAD TO MENTION THE HAIR.
Narrator: FIVE MINUTES LATER,
KRISTEN IS BACK ON THE FIFTH FLOOR,
WHERE SYLVIE AND NICK ARE STAYING.
I WAS WALKING ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY DOWN,
AND I STARTED TO HEAR VOICES...
NO, I'M TIRED OF YOU DRINKING.
- ...YELLING. - WHAT?
THERE WAS A COUPLE ARGUING.
IT WAS A MALE AND A FEMALE VOICE YELLING
AT A VERY LATE HOUR. - WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?!
Narrator: THE LOUD VOICES ARE COMING FROM ROOM 20,
NICHOLAS AND SYLVIE'S SUITE.
- ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! - I WAS THINKING AT THE TIME,
"DO I HAVE TO ASK THEM TO KEEP THEIR VOICES DOWN?"
BUT WHEN I GO TO THE END OF THE HALLWAY, IT STOPPED.
Narrator: A FEW MINUTES LATER, AT 12:46 A.M.,
NICHOLAS EMERGES FROM HIS ROOM TO MEET ROOM SERVICE RESPONDING
TO HIS CALL FOR ICE.
NICHOLAS BROOKS SORT OF INTERCEPTS HIM IN THE HALLWAY,
ESCORTS THE HOTEL EMPLOYEE WITH THE ICE BUCKET
ESSENTIALLY INTO THE ROOM,
AND THAT EMPLOYEE IS THEN OUT OF THE ROOM
IN LESS THAN A MINUTE.
Narrator: TWO MINUTES LATER, AT 12:48,
NICHOLAS VISITS THE FRONT DESK
TO ASK IF THERE'S ANY PLACE NEARBY STILL OPEN FOR FOOD.
Alvarez: I RECOMMENDED OUR RESTAURANT,
WHICH WAS STILL OPEN FOR ANOTHER HOUR OR SO,
WHICH HE THEN TOOK MY ADVICE
AND ORDERED SOME FOOD FROM THE RESTAURANT.
FOR YOU, SIR.
Arnold: HE WOUND UP ORDERING TWO ENTREES --
COBB SALAD AND A STEAK --
AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE, SOME CIGARETTES,
BUT ESSENTIALLY DID NOT REALLY EAT WHAT HE ORDERED.
Narrator: AFTER THE MEAL, NICK RETURNS TO HIS ROOM.
MEANWHILE, IN THE ROOM BELOW NICK'S,
A GUEST REPORTS WATER LEAKING FROM UP ABOVE.
[ SIGHS ]
Alvarez: MY FRONT DESK STAFF INFORMED ME
OF A CALL REPORTING A WATER LEAK.
[ WATER DRIPPING ]
- EVENING, MR. MARION. - THANKS FOR COMING UP.
WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM?
THERE'S ALL THIS WATER COMING IN.
IT WAS DEFINITELY A LOT OF WATER ACCUMULATING ABOVE THEM.
HELLO? MS. CACHAY?
IT'S THE MANAGER. WE'RE HERE TO CHECK FOR A LEAK.
[ LOLI BARKING ]
WE HEAR HER DOG BARK, WHICH SHOCKED US
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW SHE HAD CHECKED IN WITH A DOG.
[ BARKING CONTINUES ]
HELLO?
THE DOG IS AT THE FOOT OF THE DOOR.
LEADING ME -- "COME THIS WAY. COME THIS WAY," TYPE THING.
Narrator: WHAT THE MANAGER DISCOVERS INSIDE ROOM 20
WILL ROCK THE SOHO HOUSE HOTEL TO ITS VERY FOUNDATION.
CALL 911!
Narrator: AT AROUND 2:45 A.M.
IN NEW YORK CITY'S EXCLUSIVE SOHO HOUSE HOTEL...
- HELLO. - NIGHT MANAGER BRYAN ALVAREZ
ENTERS THE ROOM OF FASHION DESIGNER SYLVIE CACHAY
AND HER BOYFRIEND, NICHOLAS BROOKS,
TO CHECK ON A SUSPICIOUS WATER LEAK.
Alvarez: HELLO?
WHEN I LOOKED TO MY RIGHT,
PAST THE CURTAIN THAT WAS BLOCKING THE TUB,
I COULD FINALLY SEE THERE'S A WOMAN SUBMERGED
UNDER THE WATER IN THE TUB.
CALL 911!
PANIC JUST RUSHES OVER ME.
WE'VE GOT A WOMAN UNCONSCIOUS IN THE BATHTUB.
MS. CACHAY. MS. CACHAY, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
MY FIRST THOUGHT IS MAYBE SHE FELL ASLEEP.
I BEGIN TO DO CPR,
AND I'M SCREAMING OUT LOUD TO HER, "DON'T LEAVE US.
PLEASE DON'T GO."
STAY WITH ME, MS. CACHAY.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
JUST A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN WHO NEEDED MY HELP.
HELP IS ON THE WAY.
Narrator: FOR NEARLY 15 MINUTES, ALVAREZ PERFORMS CPR.
I'M JUST DESPERATELY TRYING TO SAVE HER.
I JUST COULDN'T STOP TRYING AND TRYING
TO BRING HER TO LIFE.
I'D BLOW AIR INTO HER LUNGS,
AND I HEARD HER LUNGS BUBBLE,
AND THAT MADE ME PANIC EVEN MORE
BECAUSE I KNEW SHE HAD WATER IN HER LUNGS,
SO THEN I KNEW SHE JUST DIDN'T SLIDE UNDER THE WATER JUST NOW.
COME ON, MS. CACHAY, COME ON!
SHE'S NOT RESPONDING?
NO.
BEEN WORKING ON HER FOR A LITTLE BIT.
IS SHE GONNA BE OKAY?
Narrator: DESPITE THE EFFORT,
SYLVIE NEVER REGAINS CONSCIOUSNESS.
I COULDN'T HELP HER.
NO, SHE'S GONE.
FEMALE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 3:33 A.M.
Moller: THE BED WAS UNMADE.
THERE WAS SOME CLOTHING ON THE FLOOR -- A PAIR OF SOCKS.
THERE WAS AN EMPTY PILL BOTTLE
ON THE NIGHTSTAND NEXT TO THE BED.
Narrator: BECAUSE OF THE MEDICATION,
INVESTIGATORS CONSIDER THAT SYLVIE'S DEATH
MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT, BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY.
PEOPLE DON'T TAKE BATHS IN THEIR CLOTHES,
AND THIS WAS A PERSON WHO WAS IN A TURTLENECK SWEATER.
SHE WAS WEARING HER UNDERWEAR.
UH, SHE HAD HER ROLEX WATCH ON HER WRIST.
Moller: SHE HAD MARKINGS ON HER NECK
ALMOST LIKE CHOKING MARKS.
SHE HAD A SLIGHT CUT ON HER LIP,
LIKE SOMEBODY WAS HOLDING HER MOUTH.
Arnold: THIS WAS A PERSON WHO WAS STRANGLED
AND WAS ALSO FORCIBLY SUBMERGED IN THE BATHTUB.
Narrator: AND HER BOYFRIEND, NICHOLAS BROOKS, IS
NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
Moller: HE WAS NOT THERE.
NOW, WHERE IS HE? WHERE DID HE GO?
NO ONE SEEMED TO KNOW.
THAT'S THE GUY THAT CHECKED IN THIS ROOM.
SIR?
I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SYLVIE CACHAY.
DO YOU KNOW HER?
I'M HER BOYFRIEND.
WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?
SORRY TO SAY THAT SHE PASSED AWAY.
Alvarez: HE DIDN'T REACT THE WAY
A NORMAL INDIVIDUAL WOULD REACT TO HEARING THE NEWS
OF HIS GIRLFRIEND BEING DEAD --
KIND OF A VERY BLANK, COLD REACTION.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE YOU DOWN TO THE STATION
TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS.
WOULD THAT BE OKAY?
YEAH. SURE, WHATEVER YOU NEED.
TELL ME JUST ONE MORE TIME BECAUSE I'M STILL
JUST A LITTLE UNCLEAR ON SOME OF THESE DETAILS HERE.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
WHERE WERE YOU TONIGHT?
I TOLD YOU -- I WENT OUT TO GRAB A DRINK
WITH SOMEBODY THAT I MET. - AND WHAT TIME WAS THAT?
[ SIGHS ]
I DON'T KNOW, PROBABLY, LIKE, 2:00, 2:30.
Narrator: THE HOTEL SECURITY CAMERA CONFIRMS
THAT NICK LEFT THE SOHO HOUSE AT 2:18 A.M.
HE INSISTS SYLVIE'S DEATH WAS AN ACCIDENT.
Man: WHAT WAS SHE DOING WHEN YOU LEFT THE ROOM?
SHE WAS TAKING PILLS -- SLEEPING PILLS.
SHE WASN'T TAKING A BATH?
SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO TAKE A BATH.
NICK SAID SHE MAY HAVE TAKEN SO MUCH MEDICATION
THAT SHE FELL ASLEEP IN THE TUB AND DROWNED.
HEY, I'M GONNA GET A DRINK. DO YOU WANNA COME?
NO.
I'M GONNA TAKE A BATH AND TRY TO GET
THIS SMELL OUT OF MY HAIR.
I DON'T WANNA HEAR ANOTHER WORD ABOUT YOUR HAIR.
[ WATER RUSHING ]
THE DEFENSE TRIED TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE THE INJURIES
THAT SHE HAD TO HER NECK AND THE BURST BLOOD VESSELS
IN HER EYES COULD'VE BEEN THE RESULT
OF EITHER AN AGGRESSIVE ATTEMPT TO REVIVE HER
BY EMERGENCY RESPONDERS
OR THERE WAS SOME SORT OF ROUGH-SEX EVENT
EARLIER IN THAT NIGHT.
Narrator: NICK INSISTS THAT WHEN HE LEFT THE SOHO HOUSE,
SYLVIE WAS ALIVE.
BUT THE HOTEL VIDEO SURVEILLANCE PROVES OTHERWISE.
Buettner: THE SECURITY CAMERA SHOWS
THAT ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES BEFORE HE LEFT THE ROOM,
THE FIRST CALL CAME IN FROM THE ROOM DOWNSTAIRS
SAYING, "THERE'S WATER DRIPPING INTO MY ROOM."
AND THE BATHTUB WAS ALREADY OVERFLOWING
AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
AND HE LEFT EIGHT MINUTES AFTER THAT CALL CAME THROUGH.
HE SAID HE NEVER WENT ANYWHERE NEAR THE TUB AT ALL,
BUT YET A MIX OF HIS DNA AND SYLVIE'S DNA WAS FOUND
AROUND THE TUB AREA.
Moller: NO ONE ELSE COULD HAVE MURDERED SYLVIE CACHAY.
THERE'S ONLY ONE ENTRANCE INTO THE ROOM,
AND THAT'S THE DOOR IN FROM THE HALLWAY INSIDE THE ROOM,
AND THEN THERE'S WINDOWS IN THE ROOM,
BUT THERE'S NO FIRE ESCAPE AT THOSE WINDOWS.
AND SO WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT NO ONE ENTERED
OR EXITED THAT ROOM EXCEPT FOR, UH, NICHOLAS BROOKS.
Man: MR. BROOKS, WILL YOU PLEASE STAND UP?
- WHY? - I'M PLACING YOU UNDER ARREST
FOR THE MURDER OF SYLVIE CACHAY.
Narrator: NICK BROOKS IS ARRESTED
AND CHARGED WITH MURDER TWO.
ON THE WAY TO BOOKING,
HE ASKS DETECTIVES SOME RATHER UNUSUAL QUESTIONS.
Moller: HE ASKED, "HOW MUCH TIME CAN I GET FOR THIS?"
I TOLD HIM 25 YEARS.
HE SAID, "DID YOU EVER KILL ANYBODY?"
AND I WAS LIKE, "NO, I'VE NEVER KILLED ANYBODY."
LET'S GO.
Narrator: NICHOLAS BROOKS' ARREST MAKES
HEADLINES IN NEW YORK CITY.
McHale: THE NEXT DAY, I REMEMBER
WAKING UP AND HAVING MY COFFEE.
AND I ALWAYS LOOK AT THE NEWS FOR THE MORNING,
AND THERE WAS THIS STORY ABOUT THIS WOMAN FOUND
IN A BATHTUB AT THE SOHO HOUSE.
AND I WAS HORRIFIED
THAT THE GIRL IN THE BATHTUB WAS SYLVIE.
Buettner: YOU SEE A TRUST-FUND KID
WHO DOESN'T HAVE TO WORK.
YOU HAD VERY BEAUTIFUL VICTIM WHO HAS A CAREER IN FASHION.
PEOPLE WONDER, "HOW COULD IT GO THIS BADLY WRONG?"
Narrator: ALTHOUGH PROSECUTORS HAVE LITTLE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
TYING NICHOLAS DIRECTLY TO THE MURDER,
THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING.
HEY, I'M GONNA GRAB A DRINK. YOU WANNA COME?
NO.
NO, I'M TIRED OF YOUR DRINKING.
I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE. WE'RE THROUGH.
WHAT?!
I THINK SHE WAS LIKE, "NO, JUST LEAVE."
YOU KNOW, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. LEAVE."
HE KNEW IT WAS DONE.
GET OUT!
WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?!
YOU'RE MY PROBLEM! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
YOU'RE A DRUG ADDICT. YOU'RE A MESS!
ALL YOU DO IS DRINK!
McHale: HE DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO.
COULDN'T GO HOME BECAUSE HE COULDN'T PAY THE RENT.
I THINK THAT HE LOST CONTROL.
- I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! - YOU WITH YOUR FREAKING LIST!
WOULD YOU SHUT UP?! SHUT UP!! - ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
HE JUST LOST IT.
HE GOT HER AT A WEAK MOMENT, TOO, BECAUSE SHE WAS TIRED.
[ GRUNTS, GASPS ]
Stephens: I DO BELIEVE I HEARD THE END OF HER LIFE.
THE VOICES JUST STOPPED,
LIKE TAKING THE NEEDLE OFF A RECORD.
IT'S A VERY UGLY MOMENT, AND IT'S --
IT'S INSIDE OF ME FOREVER.
AND IT'S VERY SAD.
I'M GETTING ALL THESE CALLS FROM REPORTERS SAYING, YOU KNOW,
THAT SYLVIE... [ SNIFFLES ]
PASSED AWAY IN A HOTEL. [ SNIFFLES ]
McHale: IN HIS CRAZY, DELUSIONAL MIND,
THINKING SOMEHOW HE WAS GOING TO CONVINCE PEOPLE
THAT SHE HAD GOTTEN INTO A TUB FULLY CLOTHED
AND DRUGGED
AND, WHAT, FALLEN ASLEEP?
KILLED HERSELF?
REALLY?
PATHETIC ATTEMPT AT COVERING HIS TRACKS,
PUTTING HER IN A TUB.
Arnold: SYLVIE CACHAY WAS A YOUNG,
DRIVEN, SUCCESSFUL PERSON.
SHE WAS ADORED BY HER FRIENDS, CHERISHED BY HER FAMILY.
SHE ULTIMATELY DIED A RATHER HORRIFIC DEATH,
AND THE VERY LEAST WE COULD DO FOR HER GRIEVING FAMILY WAS
TO SEEK A MEASURE OF JUSTICE AND HOLD THE PERSON
WHO KILLED HER IN ACCOUNT FOR HIS ACTIONS.
Narrator: AT 26, NICHOLAS BROOKS IS SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE.
SYLVIE CACHAY WOULD'VE TURNED 34
JUST FOUR WEEKS AFTER HER DEATH.
EVERY YEAR ON HER BIRTHDAY,
HER FRIENDS RELEASE BALLOONS IN HER MEMORY.
A HANDWRITTEN NOTE IS ALWAYS ATTACHED.
McHale: EVERY JANUARY, YOU CAN'T HELP
BUT THINK OF WHAT COULD'VE BEEN,
AND, YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY WANTING
TO KEEP HER MEMORY ALIVE AND JUST HONOR HER.
Bell: SHE'S ALWAYS WITH ME. [ SNIFFLES ]
I ALWAYS HEAR HER LAUGHING.
AND I TALK TO HER ALWAYS.
IT'S WEIRD. SHE'S NOT REALLY GONE.
SHE'S WITH ME.
Sylvia: IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO TALK AS SHE WAS
BECAUSE SHE IS VERY PRESENT WITH ME.
McHale: YOU'RE STILL WITH US.
YOU HAVEN'T GONE ANYWHERE.
Narrator: AND AT HER FAVORITE HOTEL,
THE SOHO HOUSE,
SHE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.