All language subtitles for THE STAIRCASE.2022.S01E03.THE.GREAT.DISSEMBLER.1080P.HMAX.WEB-DL.DD5.1.H.264-NTB

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight.

How did your mom die?

Your mom mom,
I mean.

Brain aneurysm.

Do you remember her?

No, I was only two
when she died.

Sometimes I remember things,
but I realize it's just stuff

people have told me
or stuff in pictures.

Then Kathleen became
my mom.

I mean, first,
it was Patty in Germany.

But...

really, it was Kathleen.

She took care of us.

Stay here after finals.

You know I have to go home.

Why do you have to?

The trial's not
for a while still.

Because it might be
the last normal-ish summer

with my family.

Okay.

I'll come visit then.

It'll get weird.

I'm not ready for that.

If I go...

it doesn't have to be
like a coming out party.

We can also pretend
we're just friends.

Promise me
you'll at least call.

Yeah, of course.

The blow poke.

What is it exactly?

Oh, it's a fireplace tool.

Something between a poker
and a bellows.

Nice ride.

Kathleen's sister
had given one

to each of her siblings
one Christmas years ago.

And after we had done

our initial search
of the house,

taken measurements,
photographs,

she noticed from looking
at those pictures

that it was missing
from the Peterson fireplace.

Now, we don't believe
it was randomly misplaced.

Is there a chance
you experts conclude

she actually died from a fall?

Now, a lot of people
smarter than me

have said from day one

that it could only be
one thing, a beating.

Where could it be?

Wherever Kathleen
hid the thing.

I don't even remember
Candace giving it to her.

Why would you?

Who the fuck
gives fireplace tools

as a Christmas gift?

Let alone
one fireplace tool.

They're kind of handy.

I swear to God,
that stupid thing

is in there somewhere,

and it ain't covered in blood.

How much
to get rid of 'em?

Well, first of all,
you can't just get rid of 'em.

Bats are special that way.

You gotta relocate 'em.

It's not cheap.

Let me go over a couple
of things with my husband

and, um, give us a few days.

Yeah, the longer you wait,
the worse it's going to get.

At least they're not
in the plumbing.

Then you're really,
you're fucked.

The boys are fucking us.
Both of them need money.

Clayton's gotten fucked
by the market.

And Todd's got
this website thing.

What website thing?

Well, I don't know
what it is.

With Clayton's qualifications,

he could get a job easily.

He needs to focus
on school right now.

- No! Do it again, I dare you.

Mike?

Dog's chewing up
the damn furniture again.

The boys are going to need
your help again, Patty.

Oh dear. I don't know
if now is the ideal moment.

Well, can you refinance
the house again?

- The exterminator's done.
- No, not again.

The banks in Germany frown
on that type of business.

It's not good.

- It's Patty.
- Mike?

Well, things are
really bad at Nortel.

I can't ask Kathleen
for more help.

I understand,
but I really cannot.

So whatever we do to Mike,

it affects them.

Please stop worrying

about Martha
and Margaret, Cay.

They're the ones who decided
to support a killer.

But they didn't really have
much of a choice.

Look...

I get it's a lot to process

but as your lawyer,

until you give me
the go-ahead to strike,

Michael's going to keep
getting your mother's money

- to pay for his defense.
- Yes.

But I can get them
to delay payment

until we get allocation
sorted out.

Exactly.

I think it's time, Caitlin,
but it's up to you.

I can't make
this decision for you.

I don't really want to deal
with this right now.

I'll be in Durham
for the summer.

Maybe we can talk about it then.

These were all
on Peterson's computer.

Can you confirm
these are photos of you?

Did you have sex
with Michael Peterson?

No.

"I was in the Marines.

Love to fuck, suck, and rim."

Peterson wrote that to you?

Yeah.

Mr. Wolgamott.

Do you expect me to believe

that after all these emails,
after all these phone calls,

after all this back and forth,

that you two never actually met?

- Never.
- If you say you didn't,

it's not going to get you
out of testifying.

I can't believe you want
to show these in court.

It's a good thing
I'm well hung.

I wouldn't go so far
as to say that.

You don't think so?

Did you see this one?

We'll let the jury decide.

Well, I'm not surprised.

- Me neither.
- Alright, Ron.

Uh, get something to eat
and head back here.

So, uh, that was Ron.

The search turn up anything?
They find the blow poke?

No, no, nothing.

But, uh, apparently

Deaver's still bashing in
Styrofoam heads

with the one Candace gave them.

And?

Well, that's the good news.

They haven't been able
to show the blow poke

could create that scene.

The bad news is
the DA is on a crusade

to find someone you slept with.

We should talk
about the emails.

Which emails?

Uh, between Mike
and Brad Wolgamott.

A few other escorts online.

Wait. An escort? What?

Bill, settle down.

Uh, Todd,
maybe you and your mom

can help clean up a bit.

I'll make some coffee.

Sure.

Jean. Please, no family.

Tom, I never met up
with any of those guys.

Yeah, I, I came very close
to meeting up with Brad,

but it didn't happen.

Period.

Sometimes when you listen,

you hear things
you don't want to.

So there are some emails.
So what?

These emails paint
a very vivid picture.

You want a picture?

Huh? I'm a painter, too.

I get up there,
and I read this.

In the same email
where Mike's talking

about doing this,
that, and the other,

Mike says,

"Evenings aren't great
for me anyway.

"I'm married.

"Very happily married,

"with a dynamite wife.

"Yes, I know. I know.

"I'm very bi,

and that's all there is to it."

Can I see that?

That's not somebody
hiding something.

That's someone
who clearly loves his wife.

I mean, it's not
only possible, but common

for these kinds
of arrangements to exist.

The French do it
all the time.

Without anyone to testify
that Kathleen knew,

it's just conjecture.

Well, unless they get
a guy on the stand

to testify
that she didn't know.

I mean, if some emails
and some porn

are all they got?

Hey, this is
our biggest hurdle,

and I'm already over it.

I'm sorry,
I don't understand.

What type of arrangements
exactly are we talking about?

What do we got?

We have no murder weapon,

and no one can say
they slept with Peterson.

Brad Wolgamott's emails
could help solidify motive,

but without proof of a meeting,

it may not be worth it
to put him on the stand.

But if I get up there
and I say,

"Do you really think...

"do you really think,

"that Kathleen Peterson...

"that this woman knew

"her husband was talking
about fucking this

"and sucking that...

And God knows what else."

Rimming.

Y'all even know what that means?

I believe it is,
uh, cunnilingus

but from the other end.

Wait, don't you mean
on the other end?

- Even with, uh--
- And people enjoy that?

Even with
the Freda Black show...

the connection
between the emails

sent in September to Brad

and Kathleen
being killed in December

is a little fuzzy.

I want actual infidelity.

That's concrete.
That's the story.

Do you recognize
this man right here?

Michael Peterson?

Have you noticed any
kind of strange behavior

with Mr. Peterson or, um,

...homoerotic relationships

with any of your members?

He's never come in here before?

You're absolutely positive?
You sure?

Dennis Rowe.

He mentioned
something about Peterson.

Dennis Rowe?

Yeah. R-O-W-E.

He said he was fun.

Hey.

Hey. Hey, what's up?

You happy to be back?

Yeah.

I don't know. Yeah.

How's SF?
Making a lot of friends?

Boyfriends?

No.

So, you know, the DA's
been laser-focused
on Dad's sexuality.

Well, they were before I left.

Yeah. Right. So,

I mean, you knew about the porn

and that Dad
was talking with escorts.

- Dad was cheating on Mom?
- No.

I mean, they had an agreement.

And Dad's happy, and,
and she was happy, so...

Have you talked
to him about it?

No. I mean, I don't know.
That's between those adults.

I just feel like
we should be able
to have that dialog.

If you want to go talk
to him, go ahead.

Alright? I'll make sure
I'm a hundred miles away.

Yeah, well, I'm glad...

I'm glad you found me too.

...word of mouth, you know.

Yeah. I think so...

...I'm seeing people
every other week.

Oh, what the-- Surprise!

What's going on?

Got you a massage.

I know it's been
a little rough.

I thought you deserved
something nice.

I'm actually running for,

uh, for Durham City Council,
you know.

Some say that
the city council does

more than the mayor's office,
you know, ever does.

- Is that right?
- Oh yeah.

You said you live by that
low-income development, right?

Yeah. Yeah. Bit of an eyesore.

- Mm-hm.
- Hi. You want
to start face down.

- We'll get going.
- Sure.

How's that face cradle?
Is it okay?

- Mm-hmm.
- Right.

How's that pressure?

Mm. Good. Great.

Thank you.

That project
could have been great.

And not just for
the people who need--

Mike.

You gonna be here
the whole time?

I'm just talking
to a future constituent.

Maybe you should go
to Blockbuster now

and, you know, before all
the good movies are gone.

Okay!

James, take care of my wife.

She's a delicate flower.

- I'll do my best.

Do you know this guy?
Dennis Rowe? R-O-W-E?

Mike?

No, I don't know
who the hell he is.

You meet a lot of people
when you're campaigning.

Well, apparently,
he's a friend of Lori's.

Kathleen used to babysit him

and his brothers
when they were kids.

My sources say he has a limp.

A limp!

Says you had sex with him
four or five times.

Oh, you're shitting me!

- That's what he's claiming.
- Oh my god.

Rather know now than later.

Did he indicate where this
great love affair took place?

He hasn't given
a full statement yet.

Oh, when he does, get it to me.

I'm dying to see it.

- Will do.
- Is that it, then?

Uh, yeah. Till we get more.

We're going to need
to digest this

and rethink
how we approach it.

When we lived in Germany,

Mike had many dalliances
with men and women,

and I didn't end up
at the bottom of the stairs.

- Patty.
- My ex-wife, everyone.

She'll, uh,
she'll be around all week.

Mike, can I talk
to you for a second?

How-how many more men
are they going to turn up?

I, I don't know, Bill.
I don't keep a diary.

But I'm pretty sure
I never fucked a cripple.

No. You said,
"No affairs, Bill."

Well, they weren't affairs.

I, I never, I never took any
of those guys out to dinner.

It was just sex.

Don't "Michael Peterson" me.

I mean, sex is affairs.

You... lied.

You slept around on Patty.
You slept around on Kathleen.

Well, I, I didn't lie.

What? You heard her.

I slept with men and women
when we were married.

I only had sex with men

since I married Kathleen.

- Don't you get it?
- Kathleen knew?

And answer the question.

You sound
like her right now!

"Just answer
the question, Mike."

No, no. She knew,
and she understood.

To say otherwise, it's,
it's just insulting to her.

I should have
mentioned this, uh, before.

I'm going to go to Reno
for a couple of days.

What? Well, for how long?

A couple of weeks.

I just, I need to try
and figure out a balance

between home and Durham.

What? Come on.
You can't leave because
you're pissed at me.

That's not why I'm leaving.

I'm leaving because
I want to see my family.

What? Who's going to
take care of everything?

Make sure, make sure
the bills are paid?

Here-here-here's
the latest Nortel check.

You go to the bank,
walk up to the teller,

sign the back, hand it over.

It's not that difficult.

You're, you're here
to take care of me,

not to give me a hard time.

I know it's hard
for you to believe,

it's not all about you.

No, it is!
It is all about me.

Make no mistake,
for the next little while

or however fuckin' long
this takes,

it is about me.

Now when it's your ass
about to go to prison

for the rest of your life,
it can be about you.

Take a breath.

I loved her.

And she fucking loved me too.

The first time
was about eight years ago

at the sex shop off the 110.

Then a few years later
again at the YMCA.

- The Forest Hills Y?
- Yeah.

You work out there?

On occasion.

Uh, so you didn't know

who you were having
intercourse with?

No. I didn't know who he was
until I walked into his house,

and Lori
introduced me to him.

After the party,
did you tell Lori

about your connection
with Michael?

No, I... I didn't...

I didn't see any reason
to create a problem.

Do you know anyone else
who might have slept

with Michael Peterson?

Um...

You can tell us now
or under oath.

I would talk
to Tyrone Lacour.

You're friends
with Tyrone Lacour?

No. Not friends.

We're in a small community.

I told him the story
after the campaign event.

He, he looked up
Michael's picture

and-and-and thought
he looked familiar.

Alright.

Well, Mr. Rowe,

what I'd love
for you to do for me

is write down

what you remember
from your encounters

with Peterson.

Every detail,
no matter how small.

We want to know everything.

Uh-uh. No. Nothing.

Hey. More blood.

Take another look,
Tyrone.

Maybe an anonymous hookup
somewhere.

Who's telling you this shit?

Someone trustworthy.

Reputable.

- I ain't no fag.
Well, if somethin'
comes to mind...

give me a call.
You've got my card.

Was that enough time for you?

- Yes, sir.
- Let's see what we've got.

What's this list?

Names of other people
I've slept with.

If you're going
to get me up there
and ask about Peterson,

I'm guessing
I'll also be asked

about the other important
married men in town

I've slept with.

Some of whom I, I think
you know pretty well.

Your friends?

Acquaintances.

Donors, actually.

I don't see this
playing out well for us, Freda.

Outing...

innocent people on the stand

in order to show what
Michael Peterson was up to.

Well, we have the autopsy,

the crime scene, the photos,

the emails.

We have our theory.

A man who is hiding

gets caught and explodes.

It all feels circumstantial.

We have a theory

about a motive
and no murder weapon.

Well, I guess
we also still got Brad.

Their search
has hit a dead end.

I told you I didn't
know this Rowe guy.

Apparently, you're not
as hot as we thought.

Why did it seem like everyone
wants a piece of me?

Well...

What are you up to
this weekend?

- Working for you.
- What? No, forget me.

Just spend time
with your wife and kid, man.

Well, Charlene's not so crazy
about me right now.

Oh yeah? What'd you do?

Renovations
and well, let's just say...

I admire the relationship
you and Kathleen had.

Where she let you be you.

My wife and I are just not
on the same page.

Oh.

Happy to talk my problems,

but, uh, I'm still on
the clock here, Mike.

Well, geez. Never mind.
I can't afford you as it is.

Okay. Well...
thank you, David.

Thank me when we hear
"Not guilty."

- Good night.
- Good night.

Nothing! Nothing!

They got nothin'.

- What's going on?
- Rowe guy crapped out.

DA's got nothing.

Dad, this is great.

Hey, Dad.

Would you talk
about it with me?

Talk about what?

You really want to talk
about your dad's sex life?

Go to bed, honey.

Okay. Good night.

Oh my god.

Oh!

Hello?

Hey, it's Brad.
How's it going?

Uh, well, um...
things are crazy,

but, um, you know, good.

You know, election's coming up.

You?

Not too bad.

So, look,
I have to cancel.

- What?
- Yeah.

- Why?
- My schedule's changed.

I have to get up to Durham
and back to Tampa

in less than a day and...

And I just think
my ass might need

at least a couple days
to recover.

Well, uh, let me know
when you're passing through.

For sure.

Promise me something though.

What?

Stay hard
till I get there.

Uh, yeah. Alright.

Take care.

Yeah, you too. Bye.

Oh.

Oh, that was
really very good.

Thank you so much.

Uh, are you good or...

- I'm good. Yeah.
I'll clear out.
- Yeah? Alright.

Thanks again.

Oh...

Goddamn bats.

Oh.

Uh, how was the massage?

Amazing. Until I had
to take a shower.

I think the bats are chewing
the pipes or clogging them.

All I know is, it's a problem.

Mm-hmm.
I'll figure it out.

Let's just enjoy
the night. Hmm?

Hmm.

- Where are the dogs?
- Who cares?

Almost ripped up the rug today.

Oh yeah, I meant to ask.
How'd the talk go with Patty?

Oh, right.

Um, well, uh...

she can't refinance
the house again.

It's something-- German laws
makes it verboten,

so I, I think
we're going to have to...

I think we're going to
have to keep chipping in
to help with the boys.

I know what
you're doing here.

Butter me up with a massage
and a romantic night,

and then you ask me
to bail your kids out again

because you let them
get away with murder.

Especially Clayton.

I, I know you're mad
at him. I am, too.

You literally bought him
a car when things blew up.

Well, nothing actually
blew up... that time.

Clay got lucky.

And you... are playing me.

Is it working?

The Great Dissembler,
ladies and gentlemen.

I guess we'll do
what we always do,

just figure it out.

Some money for the boys.

We need to deal with
the plumbing first.

And then...

Ohh.

We'll, um...

And then...

we'll, um...

Oh... We'll deal
with the bats later.

Hello.

I know you gave them
my name, Dennis.

I will do you like that
Peterson bitch. You hear me?

You shut your mouth.

Shut it.

- Tyrone?

Shit.

What do you think of...

...when you think
of Kathleen?

I think of just these

wonderful and funny moments.

- Hello?
- Shh!

She was so funny.

There's this, there's this
wonderful photo of her

in front of the Imperial Palace
in Tokyo just... looking.

Or just... how we talk
about the kids.

Is it strange for you to be
in the house where she died?

No.

I feel her here.

Just imagine she might walk
through that door any moment,

just smiling,

laughing, just...

telling me I'm going
to be late for something.

Shit.

Sorry.

Can we take a moment?

Yeah.

Come here, Margie.

I know you didn't come home
just to hear me talk.

You finally found someone
who has to listen
to your stories.

Come here.

Everyone, I'd like you to meet
my other daughter, Margaret.

- Hi.
Is it weird being back?

Yeah, it was a little
weird going through town,

like, but it's good
to be home.

You guys hungry?
Should we make some lunch?

Michael, are you sure
it's okay to shoot the girls?

Sure.

You get used to it
faster than you think.

Todd loves it.

Huh? What? Huh?

Come on.

We've kept the office
just the way she left it.

The only things that are gone
are the calendar

and the diary she had
in her desk.

The police took them
pretty early on.

What did Mike take?

Michael hasn't taken anything.

What about Martha
and Margaret?

Did they come by?

No one's reached out
this whole time but you.

I sent in my condolences
pretty early on,

but once
the investigation started,

I figured, better
to keep my distance.

I don't know why I thought

that they'd be interested
in this stuff.

Sorry, do you mind if I have
a moment alone here?

Of course.

Take your time.

Good morning.

- Morning.
- The trial's
around the corner.

We gotta control the narrative.

I don't see a way
around it, so,

the interview
would be filmed here,

but it will be syndicated
to all ABC affiliates.

We can have the eyes
and ears of the country.

What you doing?

Well, I'm just going
through autopsy reports.

That's totally normal.

Nothing's normal anymore.

- I know. I was kidding.

Martha...

Hey.

So they want us to do
an interview on the news.

- What?
- I know.

I don't want to do that.

- I know, I--
- So...

what do you think?

The reporter, Sonya Pfeiffer,
is a friend,

so no curveballs.

This is what Caitlin
would be doing

for the family if she was here.

Uh, we're not sure.

It's just like
a lot of people.

Well, seems like you're already
getting used to an audience.

Yeah, but it's...

it's a news show on TV.

It's, like, immediate.

What if we say the wrong thing?

No, you girls will do great.

Alright?

Look, you'll have to accept,

sooner or later,

everyone's going
to know who you are.

I'm not going to push
you girls to do anything
you don't want to do.

You know
let Caitlin and Candace

piss on our family
if that's what they--

- Dad...
- No. No, I mean it.
Fuck them!

I'd rather go to prison

that put you girls
through any more pain.

We're okay.

We'll, we'll do
what we have to.

Great. I'm going
to get it set.

And, uh, Martha,
think about dyeing your hair.

Bleach blonde
isn't great on camera.

It's really good
to see you, man.

I've been thinking
about you and your dad.

- Yeah.
- Your mom--

Yeah, man.
It's, it's been intense.

I'm telling you, man. Cabo.

Look how tan I am. Right?

I'm fuckin' hot. Right?

Fuck.

Oh.

Oh.

That's good shit, huh?

Man...

You know...

- the thing about my dad...
- I love your dad.

...is he's people.

You know?

What I'm starting
to realize is

that people are just people.

And they go, and they,
they create these labels.

They just try
to categorize people.

What are you talking about?

It's just my dad
is complicated.

- You wanna do
another one?
- Yeah.

Dude, I'm telling you,
Cabo's so fuckin' sick.

You got to get away
from here, man.

Fuck, and I already did,
like, all the groundwork
and everything.

Timeshare shit there, man.

Like, you can make
ten to one

fucking on your investment,
I'm telling you, dude.

What--?

Oh fuck.

Fuck.

I'm sorry, Dad, I--

Imagine people seeing my son

getting wasted around town.

They're gonna think
we're a family of assholes.

Clayton's the fuckup,
not you.

You're my centurion.
I need you focused.

I know. I'm sorry, Dad--

Now go on up
and have a shower.

- You okay?
- Yeah.

Just, um...
give me a minute,

I'll get breakfast ready.

We can do it.

No, it's fine.
Just give me a minute.

What does that mean?
Can you forward me the letter?

Yes, we will.

Bottom line, though,
Caitlin's lawyer was successful

in stopping the payments
coming from Nortel.

She and her biological father

have been identified
as the next of kin.

On the life insurance?

You shouldn't count on it.

After everything
I've done for her.

Greedy bitch.

I can talk to Jackie

about refinancing the house
when I see her.

Maybe dip
into Dad's savings.

My dad's in
a nursing home in Reno.

He has some savings that we
were going to probably inherit.

It's not much, but...

Don't be gone
too long, Bill.

Please, okay?
I need you here.

Don't worry, Mike.
I'll be back soon enough.

Don't worry.

David's a good friend.

I swear
I'll make it painless.

You good? Alright.

Well, just, um, imagine
I'm one of the girls

and we're, we're getting
to know each other.

With the interview,
are you going to ask

about our, our mom-mom
in Germany?

No, well, just,
just what you remember.

Uh, the good things.

Thanks. Yeah.

Okay.

This is Sonya Pfeiffer
reporting

for WTVD Channel 11 News.

I'm with the daughters
of novelist Michael Peterson

who is preparing for trial
for the murder of his wife

Kathleen.

Today, they break
their silence on the case

in this exclusive interview.

Born to George
and Liz Ratliff

in Germany in the 1980s,

where their father
was stationed
on a military base,

Margaret was only two,

Martha not even one,

when he died
on a mission in Panama.

A year later,

their mother died
of a brain aneurysm.

Within the course
of two years,

they lost both
their biological parents.

I remember almost
nothing from that time.

Yeah.
I, I only remember

what people tell me
about that period.

Two of those people
were Michael Peterson

and his wife
at the time, Patty,

who were neighbors
and close friends.

It was confusing

when Michael left Patty
for Kathleen.

- Exactly.
- Yeah,
confusing but wonderful.

He's an adulterer.

Ka-Kathleen became our mom.

He loved her,
and, and she loved us.

And the wedding was here.

And you two
were bridesmaids?

Yeah, we, we, like,
sprinkled rose petals

up the stairs on the way
to their bedroom.

It was like a movie.

Hello?

Hi, this is Margaret Blair.

I'm calling to speak
with the DA.

Um, I'm Freda Black.
I'm an ADA here.

I'm sorry to be
calling so late,

but I've been speaking
with God,

and he will not allow me
to stay silent any longer.

"Speak, Margaret, speak,"
He said.

I'm sorry.
Who did you say was calling?

Margaret Blair.
Liz Ratliff's sister.

Martha and Margie
are my nieces.

I need to tell you
about their mother's death.

You found another woman
at the bottom of the stairs?

Liz had been complaining
for weeks.

For weeks about these,
these migraines she was having.

What the fuck, Mike?
We're four weeks out!

How could you not tell me?

It was 20 years ago!
In Germany!

Why would I,
why would I even think of it?

I was helping her out with
something or other that night,

I don't remember what,
but I left Liz

very much alive
and on her way to bed.

The next morning,
the girls' nanny, Agnes,

woke us up...

to tell us she'd found Liz
at the bottom of the stairs.

The Ratliffs
were practically family.

We taught at the same school.

That's it!

Liz's autopsy.
It's all there.

Look, I told you,
this can't be a coincidence.

I know that he raised you,
but he is not good.

That's our dad!
You can say those things!

He's very manipulative,
Margaret.

I haven't even told you half
of what we know about Germany.

I can't talk
to you anymore. Goodbye.

Beware of false prophets who--

Jesus Christ...

She's crazy.

It is kind of
a weird coincidence

we've had two moms die
at the bottom of the stairs.

So what are you saying?

I'm not saying anything.
I'm just...

We just haven't talked
about it.

Don't freak out on me.

So you think
there's some connection?

I can see why
Aunt Margaret's suspicious.

Mom died of a brain aneurysm

which caused her
to fall down the stairs.

It was an accident.

The same way
Kathleen was an accident.

Yes, exactly.

And, like, isn't that weird?

All of it's weird.

Our dad died
mysteriously in Panama.

In fact, where was Mike
when 9/11 happened?

Oh, stop it, you sound
fucking ridiculous.

Well, you're starting
to sound like Caitlin.

It's like you don't
even remember

what happened
before Christmas.

Yes, I do.

And then Kathleen died.
And now we have to grow up.

Dad has been there
for us always.

He didn't have
to take us in, but he did.

That's all that matters.

So just stop questioning
everything. Just stop.

I can't. Can't. I can't!

Was it strange for Mike

to have been over
at Liz's without you?

Oh no, not at all.

After George died,
Liz needed a man

to help around the house.

Well...

The DA's going to suggest
some infidelity.

You know that, right?

Liz and I were good friends.
That's it.

Under no circumstances

would she put carnal desires
above our friendship.

And as far as Michael's
impropriety, at the time,

he was never very good
at hiding it.

I didn't sleep with Liz.

This is all
in German, Mike.

Patty can
translate it for you.

It says what
I've already told you.

Liz Ratliff died of a,
of a brain aneurysm.

We'll, um, get
a court-certified translator

and turn it all over
to the DA.

We don't want to look like
we're hiding anything.

Well, I'm not.

I'm going to need to speak
with the girls, uh, privately.

- By all means.
- No cameras, please.

Mike, can you please.

Thanks. I'll come get you
when this is over.

The girls knew?

Not just about the aneurysm,
but the stairs?

It's essential you're honest
with me right now.

Ask them.

Hey, girls!

It must feel surreal

you're getting
pulled into this.

Look, the most important thing
to me is the truth.

And if there's anything
you want to say

about your mother's death...

anything at all,

now's the time to say it.

Wait, which mom's death?

Liz mom.

Your biological mother.

Hey, Mike.

Everything checks out.
I'll stick around
in case you need me.

You girls okay?

It's us against them.

And they're, uh,
clearly willing to go

as low as possible to hurt us.

And we can't let them.

There are no secrets
between us anymore.

Rudolph's already
filing a motion

to keep Liz Ratliff out.

We can argue the 404.

Oh yeah.
Come on in.

I was just thinking
about these two girls.

How are yours doing?

Oh, they're good.

I've been teasing 'em.

They've been eating
so much mac and cheese

that, that their hair
is going to get curly.

- Never heard of that.
- Mm-hmm.

Hmm.

They're with Van this week.

Uh-huh.

Uh, put him through.

Duane, what you got?

Peterson was standing
over her

when he beat her.

The speck of blood
on the inside

of his shorts?

The blood flew upwards.

And that was the last piece.

We've managed to replicate
this crime scene

to a tee with the blow poke.

You got yourself
a murder weapon, sir.

I'm looking forward
to testifying for you.

Great work, Duane.

Hot damn.
Uh, send that report.

I knew it.

I could feel it in my gut.

I never told you this before,

but, um...

I lost my brother
and sisters in a house fire

when I was 13.

Jack was ten

and my two little sisters...

they were even younger.

Sophie-Anne and Mary.

I got out.

But... they didn't.

I'm so sorry, Jim.

Terrible things just happen.

You know.

Innocent children
can burn up in a fire.

And women can trip
and fall down the stairs

for no reason.

They can.

Start filing a motion.

We're gonna have to dig her up.

We'll need permission
from next of kin.

The girls could say no.

They could.

If they find out she died
of natural causes,

like the original
autopsy said...

it's gonna look bad for us.

Maybe.

Or maybe we all
find out the truth.

Let the games begin.

"To the esteemed lawyers
who are pursuing the prosecution

"of our father,
Michael Peterson.

"we are writing to convey

"our feelings of distress
in this matter.

"However, seeing that
you have no compassion

"for the memory of our mother,

"we reluctantly consent
to your request

"to exhume
our mother's body.

"We are confident
that you will conclude

"what experts concluded
almost 20 years ago,

"that our mother died
of a brain aneurysm

"and that our father,
Michael Peterson,

"will be vindicated
of these outrageous claims.

Sincerely yours,
Margaret and Martha Ratliff."

Thank you.

Of course, Dad.
Anything.

Hold the door, please.

You're going to be smiling
in prison soon, you prick.

All rise.

Oyez, oyez, oyez.

This honorable court
for the County of Durham

is now open and sitting for
the dispatch of its business.

The Honorable
Judge Orlando Hudson presiding.

God save the state
and this honorable court.

You may be seated.

- And good morning.
- Good morning, Your Honor.

This court is now prepared
to hear the case

of the state versus
Michael Iver Peterson.

Mr. Hardin, you may proceed
with your opening.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Good morning.

In a very real sense,

this case is about pretense

and appearances.

It's about things
not being as they seem.

One, two, three, four.