Original subtitles

And here's the forecast for this battle area.

It's going to be overcast and below 60.

Tonight we'll get down somewhere in the high 30s. So get down to the home side.

Hi.

Hi.

I'm good.

Good. And how are you doing?

I'm good.

How was work?

Long night.

I kept thinking they were going to let us out early for Thanksgiving.

Then the press was broke down.

We're ready for our first turkey dinner in our new house.

You want to take him?

Come here.

I don't know which one of you is cuter. I think Cory is, but not by much.

Not by much.

Cory, look at that view. See that view? We couldn't have afforded a view like

that in Seattle.

Our own view, our own backyard, our own house.

Our mortgage, property taxes, utility bills.

Thanksgiving and counting our blessings.

Hey, sleepy.

I'll be out of your way in a second.

The house look okay for you, Mom?

Is there anything else I should do? No, Laura. I've run the vacuum twice.

Yes, Laura.

Oh, honey, I've got to put things in the oven.

So do I.

Oh.

Oh. Mm -hmm.

Oh,

let me out.

What's the matter now?

He's probably hungry.

He's still not eating very well.

Go ahead and get some rest.

Anybody home?

In here.

Is everybody asleep?

Oh, they can't hear you. Oh, great.

Now, this is genuine Lubbock, Texas dressing with sage and cornbread and

pepper, just like we had ever since I can remember. So they'll probably hate

Did you buy the cornbread or use Mom's recipe?

I bought it. Thank God.

I hope this is all done right.

Why is it so warm in here? The furnace. We can't turn it down because it goes

out, and then it takes forever to relight, and we freeze.

Ray's fixing it Saturday. He's just been so busy.

Let's go pray.

You think so?

Okay.

Lori, Lori, listen, since you're obviously not going to have any fun

why don't you come to Seattle with me for the weekend?

I don't know. Cory hasn't been feeling too good.

He'll rain off on Saturday. He can watch it. I just told you, he has to fix the

furnace Saturday.

And the radiator in the truck has a hole in it. It has to be filled every day,

so he wants to fix that, too.

God, it is so hot in here.

I have central air.

Temperature control at a very comfortable 68 degrees.

I'll get it, honey. Okay.

No.

How do I look?

Beautiful. Except for the sweat.

You'll be good.

No,

it's still warm in here.

I can't help but wonder if that's good for the baby.

Being this warm. I can always open another window. I only mention it

hasn't been feeling so well lately.

You see her.

He's just having a bit of trouble keeping his formula down. It's very

It's nothing.

Everything's okay.

The heat is so bad.

And then the cold air from the window on top of that. You certainly don't want

to have a lot of cold air on the baby, now that's for sure.

I should help Lori with dessert. I really wouldn't worry, Mrs. Samuels. As

nurse, I can tell you babies throw up all the time. Just don't make any sudden

moves. You do?

Oh,

well. I'm sure if there's anything really wrong, Lori, take him to the

Mom? Mom?

Mom, don't start on Lori, please.

Don't start? Your mom doesn't start, baby.

Can I just have a little bit?

There's the pie.

Oh, I never eat Brussels sprouts.

Nutmeg. Nutmeg.

Well, I'm going to try that. Oh, yeah. All right, now, Lori, this is not

criticism. I know. Lori, you might want to take Lori back in to see Dr. Roscoff.

Well, I think he's doing a lot better now. Well, but it's always smarter to be

sure, though.

Nice to see you again, Janine. Good night, Janine.

Oh, Lori.

Call me next week, and we'll do some Christmas shopping for the baby. Oh,

be nice. Oh, Ray.

Thank you, Ray.

You're lovely.

Oh, the baby boat. Did we get the sun yesterday? Got it. Oh, good.

I can't believe you came all the way to Seattle to watch movies.

I'm just so tired.

The house has been so hot, and Cory cries so much.

I never know anything so small could make so much noise.

I tell you, sometimes at night when he starts up, I wonder if I'm going to be

able to handle it much longer.

Maybe I'm just not cut out for this.

I think all you need is a little rest.

Oh, I wish.

I've developed this sort of reflex.

I mean, every time...

I lie down or try to put my head down for a second. Automatically, he screams

and my whole body tenses up.

Being a good mother is tough.

Well, that is why I like being an aunt.

Hello?

Yes, she is. Just a moment, please.

It's Ray.

The baby's fussing.

Bye there.

Ray, tell me you don't have Cory in that store.

The radio says it's 49 degrees outside.

I can't believe you have him out here in the cold with you. This is a baby, Ray,

not something neat your mother gave you for Christmas.

What is wrong with you?

We know he's been sick.

Oh, you're quiet now.

Oh, no. Oh, Corey, please.

Oh, please.

I'm really sorry about, you know, earlier.

I just thought if there was something wrong, it'd be better if I could hear

if he was near me and... I know.

I didn't mean to get so angry with you. It's just that Corey's so finicky about

things and there's so much going on and I wasn't here and he got sick and...

And I started thinking I shouldn't have left in the first place.

Thanks for fixing the furnace.

Ray, wake up.

Something's wrong with Corey. I'm taking him to Red Pine Pediatric Center.

What's the matter? His eyes were open, but he didn't seem to be looking at

anything. And he's having trouble breathing.

And we put him to sleep last night at 9 .30, but he didn't wake us up. Maybe

he's just tired. No, he's never done that before.

All right, look, I'll drive. I'm leaving now.

I called Dr.

Roscoff and left a message for him to meet me at the hospital.

If I drive like crazy, I can make it there in a half an hour. Wait a minute.

Wait a minute. You've got to stay here and wait for the doctor to call.

All right, look, as soon as he calls, I'll be there. I'll leave and I'll be

there, okay?

And be careful.

Corey?

Oh, baby.

Corey, cry for mommy.

Where's the sign? Where's the sign?

So cold.

Help me, please. My baby's not breathing.

I need an ambulance to take us to Red Pine Pediatric Center. Dr.

Rothkopf is meeting us there. Red Pine.

Frances. Please, can you help us? Here, let me take a look.

Careful, please.

I got him. What's wrong?

Well, he doesn't seem to be breathing.

Look, I think we need Dr.

Rothkopf. Where are we? You're at Hollingsworth Memorial.

Look, call a code blue. We've got an emergency. Do it now.

Where are you taking him? Ma 'am, you can't come in here. She'll help you

upstairs.

Where's she taking him? Look, I need you to sign some consent forms before we

can treat your baby. Ma 'am, do you understand what I'm saying to you?

Nurse Ness to radiology.

Nurse Ness to radiology, please.

What'd they say?

Same thing they said 40 minutes ago. There's a specialist in there with him.

We'll know when we know.

I should have just kept going to Red Pine. Yeah, you did what you had to do.

Just thank God you got him someplace.

Mr. and Mrs.

Samuels, let me give you some good news.

Corey has stabilized and his condition looks to be improving.

So he's going to be okay?

He's recovering from severe trauma, so I can't say yet.

Well, at his age, it looks like he's through the worst of it.

Have you found out what's wrong with him?

Yes. Yes, I have.

Fortunately, Hollingsworth Memorial Hospital is a regional poison control

center. Anyway, we've got the results of the tests and...

It seems pretty clear that Corey was poisoned with ethylene glycol.

Or antifreeze. I mean, that's where you find it. Wait a minute. I don't

understand. How could he have been poisoned?

Well, that's something that we're going to have to explore very carefully.

You're damn right.

Will you be here tomorrow morning?

I'm not leaving until Corey does. We want to see him. Can we see him now?

How could he have been poisoned?

Look, the important thing is he's going to be all right.

Yeah, but who could have poisoned him?

There hasn't even been anyone around him but you and me. Hi, I'm Clara Davies

from the Department of Children and Family Services.

I'd like to ask you a few questions about your son.

Who feeds the baby?

I do. I do, sometimes.

And who prepares the formula?

I don't know.

Did you have a babysitter recently?

No.

Any visitors in the last 72 hours? No.

Yeah, her sister came by on Friday.

My father came by. Remember, he came by to help me fix the furnace in the house.

And I flushed the radiator of my truck.

Corey was out there with me.

There was antifreeze all around there.

Did you set the child down anywhere near it? No, he has a stroller. When he's

outside, we keep him in a stroller.

So no one else fed the baby? No. You sure? What about the antifreeze?

Of course you know he would have to have ingested it.

But I'll get the information to the doctor. It has nothing to do with

Okay.

Is there anything else you want to tell me?

No.

I'll get this information to the doctors.

See what they have to say.

Why did you tell her all that stuff?

What do you mean, why did I tell her? She's trying to help. She thinks we did

something to Corey. No, she doesn't. What do you think all those questions

about? We don't have to tell her anything.

Nothing.

Good morning, Clara.

Good morning, Doctor.

I gave all the information on Samuel's baby to Dr. Abate.

Maybe we should have security for that child.

You think so?

Well, I don't think it's particularly wise to keep him alone with his parents.

All you have to do is look at her.

She's obviously hiding something.

She's cold, I'll give you that much.

If Abate agrees, I'll file an affidavit of suspected child abuse and then it's

up to the state.

Well, don't you think it had to be one of them?

I don't know.

Maybe both of them together.

I saw him just a couple of hours ago.

Look, go help him. There's tubes in him and all.

Still in the room with him? Oh, yeah. They're not going to leave us alone with

him. It's obvious.

Clara, the Clara person.

Mr. Samuels.

I'm Detective Sergeant Mitch Ryder from the Deerfield County Sheriff's

Department. This is Detective Lovell.

We'd like to ask you some questions.

We've answered a bunch of questions already.

The staff of the hospital has contacted the Division of Children and Family

Services and had your son removed to foster care until we can find out what

happened. You've taken my baby? How can you just take someone's baby like that?

Ray?

Ray. Corey!

Where is it?

Where is it?

You can't just take somebody's baby like that. You can't take my son without

asking me. How can you do that?

Why don't we just go somewhere and talk about this?

Would you like to talk to us, Mr. Samuels? Would you like to help us

what happened?

What are you saying?

I mean, if you think we poisoned him, why don't you just come right out and

it? We don't have anything to hide.

Okay, we'll talk. You want to come search our house, you don't need to get

search warrant. You just walk into our house. All right.

Why don't we just do that?

Come on.

You search the bathroom first.

Why is that?

Because I got to go and I don't want to be accused of flushing any evidence down

the toilet.

And this is like a storage room.

Lori's stuff is over there. This is my stuff, car stuff.

You know, tires and...

Surprised to find an empty bottle of antifreeze in your cabinet? No.

Probably didn't know it was empty.

I thought you said you had some antifreeze in the house.

I heard it.

Oh, I see.

You keep the empty bottles in the cabinet and the full ones on the floor

the pool table.

We'll just take these along with us, if you don't mind.

Technically, as I told your parents, Ray, when they asked me to handle this,

state has the right to hold the child indefinitely as long as they feel he's

any kind of danger.

But if you stick to the visitation schedule... We will get him back, won't

I can't make any guarantees.

There's been a rash of abuse cases in the Seattle area. It's on the news every

night. Now, the state's under a lot of pressure to do something.

That's one thing.

Well, Laurie here hasn't exactly compiled a record as a perfect mother.

What's that supposed to mean?

The police tell me that they have put together a rather thorough file on you,

Miss Samuels.

There is evidence that you may have had an abortion.

They know you had a baby and put it up for adoption.

Excuse me, Mr. Harper, but I had that baby when I was 15 years old, and I gave

him to a family who could give him a better life.

That hurt me in a way I could never explain to you, but I did what was right

the child.

Is that being a bad mother?

I didn't poison my son.

The police have suggested that you might want to take a lie detector test.

Depending on how you do, they might drop their case and return the child.

Or it could make it more difficult, depending.

Depending on what?

On whether or not you pass the test.

Well, we'll take that test, Mr. Harper, and we'll pass it.

Your name is Laurie Samuels, is that right?

Yes.

And you live in Woodfield? Yes.

And you have a sick child?

Yes.

Do you love your child? Yes.

Did you put antifreeze in your baby's formula? No, I would never do a thing

that. Keep your eyes closed, please, and just answer yes or no.

Did you put antifreeze in your baby's formula?

No. To the best of your knowledge, did your husband... You know, some women,

some mothers, they just...

Break down under the pressure.

You said she was tired all the time.

She felt like she was going crazy.

No.

No. That's what you're saying. I didn't say that. Your words. Your words, Ray.

Yes.

Do you love your child? Yes.

Did you attempt to poison your child?

No.

Okay, that's it then.

I failed the test. I know I failed it. No, you didn't. You can't fail something

when you're innocent.

Come on.

Inconclusive on the key issues. The machine can't tell if she's lying or

Okay. I'll take it from here.

Can we go?

You're lying, Laurie.

You want to pass the test?

Tell the truth.

Take it again.

I didn't do anything. Just take the test again. I didn't do anything, and I'm

not going to be treated like a criminal.

I'm going home.

We can't do anything for you as long as you continue to protect her.

I'm sorry, Ray.

I didn't poison Corey.

I know he's sick.

And maybe somebody did try to hurt him, but I didn't do it.

I didn't.

I didn't say you did.

I mean, he hasn't come right out and asked. You know, but it's there.

I don't know how I failed that test.

Oh, those things, they're not accurate, those polygraph things.

They don't even allow them in court.

Yeah, maybe you were just nervous.

Lori? Tired.

Ray?

Corey's here.

We're on the back.

Great. Will you wait till his parents leave? Oh, honey, you don't even have to

ask. I wouldn't go in there with them if you paid me.

Who is that funny man, Cory?

Well, Ray, I think we're leaving now. Okay, I'll walk you out.

Mommy, you want to try on the coat here?

Bye. Bye -bye.

Say bye -bye.

You got the keys?

Yeah.

Thank you for sharing your time with the baby.

Sure. Come back next Thursday if you want.

Well, bye -bye.

Look, I think we should talk about something.

I think there are a lot of things we should talk about.

I want you to know that I love you.

And anyway, we're going to make it out of this, and we're going to get Corey

back, and I want you to know that.

And what makes you so sure?

Well, they got to give us Corey back.

I don't have any real evidence against you.

People are going to look at me funny the rest of my life.

They're going to say I poisoned him and they caught me but they couldn't prove

it. That's not the same as being innocent.

Is it?

Oh, hi, Clara.

Oh, listen.

Sorry to tell you this, but we took Corey back to the hospital.

What's the matter? What happened?

Well, he became sick, and we had to take him to the hospital this evening.

I thought you should know.

Corey's sick again. What hospital?

I don't think I'm allowed to tell you that information.

Clara, why can't I see him?

What's going on?

Well, he became extremely lethargic, and he stopped eating.

And then his breathing became labored.

Well, that's the same thing that happened before.

Doesn't this prove that we didn't do anything? Ray and I haven't even seen

since Thursday morning.

Clara, please, what hospital is he in?

Corey, Mommy's here.

So what are you going to say this time?

I didn't even know where he was living.

He's going to be up all day.

Well, what I want is, let me talk to Doris.

All right, is Mildred there?

Hey. Hey.

How's he doing?

I think he's doing a little better because he doesn't have those respirator

things in him anymore, but they said they found the same poison.

I think we got to get him out of this hospital. People don't know what they're

doing. I mean, who do they think is poisoning him?

The antifreeze ferry.

When's he going to be released?

I don't know, but I don't think we should wait for that. I think we should

to get him transferred.

I got to go.

Mrs. Samuels.

What do you want?

Why don't you come outside with me? Oh, I've had all the conversation with you I

ever want to have.

Okay. Laurie Samuels, I have a warrant for your arrest.

What? Aggravated assault and attempted murder... Hold on. Wait a minute.

Look, Corey's in here with the same symptoms they had before, and she hasn't

been anywhere near him since Thursday. Is that so?

Yeah. And just who fed him on Thursday?

I did. Yes, you did.

And we found traces of ethylene glycol in the bottle you were using.

What is this? Why are you doing this to me?

You have a phone call.

Hello?

Oh, hi, Clara.

What's wrong? Is Corey all right?

What do you mean, a few hours?

What happened?

I want to see my baby.

Put me in chains, okay? Anything.

But I want to see my son.

I don't care what the judge won't allow.

I don't want to hear this from you.

I want to see my son.

I want out of this hellhole now!

Ray?

Did the doctor talk to you?

Yes, Father, yes, he did.

lord is my shepherd i shall not want in verdant pastures he gives me repose

beside restful waters he leads me he refreshes my soul he guides me in right

path for his name's sake even though i walk in the dark valley i fear no evil

for you're at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage you

spread the table before me in the sight of my foes you anoint my head with oil

my cup overflows only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.

In the name of the Holy Spirit, who was poured out upon you, go forth, faithful

Christian. May you live in peace this day. May your home be with God and Zion,

with Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, with Joseph and all the angels and

I commend you, my dear child, to Almighty God.

I love you.

You'll never know how much we both love you.

Your mom, she can't be here right now.

But we both wanted you.

Don't hurt, okay?

Please, God, don't let him hurt.

Take care of my son, God.

Please take care of my son.

Hey,

baby, how you doing?

You okay?

No, Ray, I'm not okay.

If they'd just let me go to the funeral, maybe I'd sleep.

You know, I'm not sleeping.

I can't quit thinking about it.

I don't think I can go on in here.

Hey, listen to me.

I got you a lawyer.

Okay, Janine found him and he's very successful.

He's coming here to meet you.

And he thinks, he told me that there had been an awful miscarriage of justice.

And that's what he said to me.

Laurie?

Honey, there's something I want to tell you.

Something I think you should know.

I'm not sure how you're going to react.

Okay. Tell me anything.

I think I'm pregnant.

I'm not sure, but I haven't been to the doctor yet.

But I have that feeling.

Yeah.

Are you happy about this?

Yeah.

Okay.

Because we need something to be happy about. Oh, we do.

We really do.

I love you.

It's going to be okay.

Ray, please get me out of here.

Please.

I'm going to get you out.

I'm going to get you out.

You have a visitor.

Thank you.

Our time together has been delightful.

We'll be back in a minute.

The guards here, warm and friendly, huh?

Yeah, they love me.

I'm Myron Oglesby. I suppose Ray told you I was coming. Yes, he did. Yes.

Well, I'm not going to waste our time because we don't have very much of it.

One thing you'll find about me is I don't waste my time if I don't have to.

I'm very good.

I'm good because I only take cases I can win.

Now, sometimes people look at a case and think it's unwinnable.

I keep looking until I see a way. If I don't see a way, I walk.

That's why I've never lost.

I've reviewed the record here. I've spoken to your husband and to Janine.

And, Laurie Samuels, I can win this case.

Are you saying you believe me, Mr. Oglesby?

Yes, Laurie.

That's what I'm saying, yes, I believe you.

And call me Myron.

I like my clients to be on a first -name basis.

Okay, Myron.

You want me to tell you my story?

Not now.

What you should do right now is learn to trust me and to hope again.

I even put in a little bacon bit.

They're not good for you. I don't know what you're eating.

There's no food in this house. Well, I'm not finding much time to shop, let

alone eat. I try to see the lawyer every day at the jail, and I'm working the

night shift still.

Now medical records for the lawyer.

You want some lunch?

No. It's still warm.

Oh, you don't have any crackers.

Want some lunch?

No, you know, actually...

I have off tonight, and I've got to go over this stuff for Myra and Oglesby.

you know, Mom, I really appreciate everything that you're doing and, I

helping out and all.

I don't want to fight again, Ray.

There's no point in pretending we ever liked you, all right? I won't say that.

But look, forget how we feel about her.

The doctors all say Corey was poisoned. The police say he was poisoned. These

are professionals, Ray.

Did you poison your son?

Then who do you think did?

I owe it to my wife to believe her.

I owe her that.

You've already done everything you could possibly do.

Now... Did Dad not expect me for Sunday dinner tomorrow?

We love you, Ray.

We can help you through this. You just let us.

That's what families are for.

Laura's my family.

Bye -bye.

You're being transparent.

I can't handle pregnant women in here. Sorry.

But my husband's coming here for our anniversary.

We have a permit to eat together.

Yeah, well, you tell your attorney. Don't tell me. Come on.

Wait a minute.

Be careful, please.

Excuse me.

What happened?

I don't know.

I'm here to see my wife in red sandals.

I see.

Well, she should be along soon.

I'm Sheriff Harding.

We were supposed to be able to have our anniversary dinner together this

evening. We got permission, and then they came and took it without telling

and I was hoping that we could have it here now.

I don't see any problems.

We have a kitchen, a table, everything you need.

I want to be able to hug her.

What?

I haven't been allowed to touch her since before our son died.

And I want to hug her.

how did you know my jurisdiction we still treat people like they're human

so i suggest you just back off seriously what is this seriously

oh well

i like them i like them over there

i think they're a lot nicer than that that other jail At least they let her

around a bit.

You get to see her without one of those glass partitions in the way.

That's got to be an improvement, huh?

You know, the only one who gives her any trouble is that one lady.

She told me she just sleeps.

And she's there.

You're tired, aren't you?

Yeah, I'm tired.

I'm working full -time at the trade shop every night, five nights a week.

I have to drive two hours each way every day if I want to see my wife.

I have to arrange this paperwork for these social workers so that when my son

born, they're going to allow me to bring him back here.

You mean they were thinking about not letting you have the baby?

I guess they think, you know, I might have been involved somehow.

You don't think that Laurie had anything to do with Corey being poisoned, do

you?

Do you?

Of course not. I'm her sister.

Well, I'm her husband.

Tina? What?

That guy that's painting down there, his fumes are blowing right this way. It's

making me really sick.

What's the matter? Does it smell like antifreeze?

Excuse me.

Um, you think you could point your fan in another direction? Your fumes are

blowing right this way, and it's making me real sick.

Hey, what are you doing? RJ's coming early. I was getting tired of waiting.

Keep breathing.

Hold on.

Keep breathing.

You'll need a gown.

Bye.

Junior, you're so beautiful.

We'll take him back now.

Oh, thank you.

Come on.

Keep him nice and warm now.

Just tell him. I'm sorry. There was nothing I could do about it. The

Children and Family Services showed up with a court order. They promised me.

sorry, Mr. Samuel. Just listen to me for one second. You see, I already hired

the babysitters because I have to go to work. And if you could just come and see

his room, see all the stuff that I got for him, you know, and you could go to

them and just tell them that I love him.

Yeah, I would never hurt him. You can tell him I would never hurt that baby.

Never. I don't know how else to say it, sir.

You're talking to the wrong person.

All right.

What'd they say?

I guess they still suspect me somehow.

I guess I'll leave you two alone.

No!

No!

How much longer?

We got about five minutes.

Oh, I can't wait to hold him.

Now, you know there are going to be guards there, huh? Yeah, I know. I don't

care.

How do I look?

Like a beautiful mouth.

Oh.

Ray, Laurie, RJ was admitted to the emergency room this morning.

What happened?

I broke the symptoms down. Not Hollingsworth Memorial?

No, Red Pine Pediatric Center.

The baby was brought to the emergency room having difficulty breathing. His

weren't focused.

He seemed extremely lethargic.

What's happening again?

That's the exact same thing that happened to Corey.

Ray.

Ray.

Ray. Ray.

What do you think you're doing?

Someone's trying to kill my son. Don't you get that?

They're not going to let you anywhere near him.

Now you listen to me.

And you listen hard.

You thank your lucky star that they have that baby.

And you thank God that they never put him with you.

Because if they did and it happened... Oh, friend, you'd be sitting there just

like Laurie is.

Cecil, she is innocent.

Let's prove she didn't do it.

She is innocent.

You're Dr.

Spooner? Yeah.

What can I do for you?

You treated my son, R .J. Samuels? You know, I'm sorry, I can't talk about

Your son is a ward of the state. They won't let me in there to see him.

I can't even see him, okay? He's been poisoned. I just want to know how he

have been... Wait, he wasn't poisoned.

Your son has a very rare genetic disease. He wasn't poisoned at all.

Are you okay?

Mm -hmm.

Yeah, a lot's been going on.

Uh, disease.

What's this disease called?

Methylmalonic acidemia.

MMA. It's a genetic disorder.

Myron wrote it down for me. We both have to have this recessive type gene in

order for RJ to have it.

MMA. Yeah, it's very rare. Here, see, Myron's figured it all out. This is our

defense. But if you have one child that has it, the chances are one in four that

you're going to have another child that has it.

Martin says you take this to a jury and they're going to let you go.

Is it fatal?

Yeah, usually it can be.

They just have to treat it really carefully.

They were right all along, weren't they?

What are you talking about?

In a way, we did kill Corey.

Oh, I think this is conclusive proof.

And I'm sure the district attorney is going to drop the charges.

Sure, I'll hold. Okay, so it says here that antifreeze is exactly... Ethylene

glycol, right, not antifreeze. All right, just like the chemical your body

when you have MMA.

They're very similar, yes. They both break down the same way in the body.

both create high levels of acid.

And their chemical structure is only one carbon molecule apart.

That's very good, Ray. You're really absorbing.

Yes, still here.

I'm talking to Lori's husband, Ray.

Oh, yeah, this is big.

I have an interview on the news tomorrow evening.

Well, off the record, I deserve it. No one else would have touched this case

with a ten -foot pole.

All right.

All right.

Talk to you later.

Myron, when do we get to Lori?

Not now.

First, we've got to get the media up to speed. No, we don't.

Look, I've been waiting a long time for you to stop with the... Ray!

Timing on something like this is very difficult.

You have to go with my instinct.

We have to give them a moment to get used to the notion they've made a

Trust me on this.

We'll get her released. We'll all live happily ever after.

I'm sorry, Mr. Oglesby, but I don't agree with you.

I prefer to try my cases in a court of law, not in the newspapers.

Are you saying none of this means anything to you?

Well, Myron, may I call you Myron? Sure.

I'm preparing a case for the state, and I'm operating under the notion that I

have to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt.

And considering the publicity that you've generated, I went back to all

of the doctors who treated Corey Samuels. I went to the doctor who heads

company that did the lab work on his blood. I interviewed the doctor who did

autopsy. And every single one of them, all of the doctors, are going to testify

in court that Corey was poisoned by ethylene glycol.

You haven't got a chance in hell of winning this case.

That child had MMA.

You don't know that.

Nobody knows that. But even if it was true, it doesn't matter.

A man can have MMA.

A man can have cancer.

But if somebody fires a bullet through your heart, you died of a gunshot.

I'm sorry, Mr. Oglesby, but I really do have to run.

Have a good day, Mr. Oglesby.

Mr. Braddock. Yes, sir. What can I do for you? I'm Ray Samuels.

Please, Mr. Braddock, Mr. Braddock. Look, you're making a big mistake here.

Just let my wife out of jail.

She didn't do any of this. And you don't have my son. Can I just... Mr.

Samuels, please.

I'm sorry for what happened.

But considering what all the doctors say and the police, I hope you understand.

It's not personal. I have to go. Just wait one minute.

Hollingsworth Memorial is a regional poison control center.

So that's what they were looking for. They were looking for poison. They're

looking for something they swallowed. They weren't looking for something that

was wrong with them. Mr. Samuels, I don't know what you want. I'll let you

my house, okay? If she runs away, I'll let you have my house.

I'll let you have my car.

I don't have much in my savings. I'll give you... Okay.

Okay, Mr.

Samuels. Okay.

I won't fight a motion to release on bail for the period preceding the trial.

But if your wife tries to contact your son...

I'll have her picked up so fast it'll make your head spin. Is that clear?

Yes, sir.

All right.

Thank you. Oh, and you may want to tell your attorney here that he won't be able

to introduce a bunch of favorable newspaper articles to a jury as

We're having a trial, not a press conference.

I suggest that you prepare for it.

What's up?

We have an appointment to discuss strategy.

Oh, that's right. That's right. I completely forgot.

I'm sorry. Come in. Come in.

I'm sorry, Lisa.

I'm in a rush.

My daughter and I are leaving for Paris tomorrow. I'm sorry.

You're leaving for Paris. Wait a minute. Her trial is in two weeks.

We're fully prepared.

Everything's ready.

Besides, I told you, they have no case.

You haven't even spoken to any of their witnesses, the doctors or the people

from the laboratory?

I'm not going to let them know what I'm going to ask before I get them on the

stand. That's a terrible strategy.

I don't know why other lawyers do that.

We'll let Braddock bore them with all that medical evidence.

You know, they haven't got a way in the world of proving this case.

I have to tell you, Dr. Donner, when the hospital attorney told me that you had

developed reservations about testifying, I was very surprised.

I thought you were convinced that Corey was poisoned. I'm not saying he wasn't

poisoned. It's just, given the other child's symptoms, RJ, I believe his name

is, given his diagnosis, I think it's possible that Corey Samuels had MMA as

well. That's speculation, doctor.

Isn't it?

Or are you saying that you have proof?

that Corey Samuels had this disease.

Are you holding back on me? Of course not.

But... But what?

I've never diagnosed a case of MMA. It's very rare, and... Well, what are you

saying exactly?

I'm still saying the child was poisoned. I just wonder if he might have had MMA

as well. I wonder if it might not have been a contributing factor.

But he was poisoned.

You're certain of that?

I have said so.

Yes.

Well, sir, I believe that Laurie Samuels is guilty And I can't take the risk of

letting her off the hook by putting a tentative witness on the stand to

speculate I Can't tell you what to say You'll have to decide that

Decide What it is that you can state under oath

that is factual and then get back to me. All right?

Okay Sure

We have a busy day tomorrow. We should get some sleep.

I'll let you down, Laurie.

You didn't let me down.

Look at how you got all those people to support me. The newspapers and

television.

There's nothing else you could have done.

They've got five doctors who are experts in poison who are going to go up there

and say Corey drank poison.

My mother's going to get up there and help him.

The only thing we got for your defense is you, me, and Janine.

And Oglesby.

Who ain't gonna do nothing.

We've done everything we can do.

Let's get some sleep.

Okay?

Your Honor, I don't even think the term MMA should be allowed at this trial.

Well, as far as I can tell, the court has yet to receive any evidence

R .J.'s existence, much less anything to support the assertion that the child is

ill. He's being supervised by the state, and the state knows all about it.

Mr. Oglesby, at the risk of surprising you, I must inform you that the state is

not on your side.

They have no reason to bring this other child or his disease into the trial. If

you intend to make that part of your defense, it's your responsibility to

introduce the records.

Well, sir, if you'll subpoena those records, I'll... I... what?

Perhaps it is just that this is my first criminal case, but, Mr. Oglesby, I am

not aware of this new judicial theory that supposes that a judge must do the

work of defense attorneys.

You prepare a subpoena, and I will be happy to see it executed. Then you will

able to discuss MMA with the jury.

That's the law.

Now, it seems fairly simple to me.

Is that clear to you as well?

Yeah, yes, sir.

Good.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Listen, I've decided not to bring MMA up at all.

But that's a whole case. No, it's not. Everything they have is circumstantial.

They've never had any direct evidence that you did anything.

And I tell you, that's going to become increasingly obvious.

This is baloney.

This is just complete baloney. You're obviously full of BS.

You're speaking, of course, from your wealth of experience with the law.

I have a little friend.

He's called Reasonable Doubt. And all I have to do is introduce him to the jury.

And this is a done deal.

I have never, ever lost a case that's gone to trial.

And I'm not going to lose this one either.

I don't know why I have to keep asking you people to track me.

Nonetheless, maintaining her innocent while her newborn son, R .J., fights for

his life.

We will remain here at the court.

The state calls Dr.

Kevin Donner.

Dr. Kevin Donner?

Now...

How would you describe the child's condition?

Everything about the way he presented was consistent with ethylene glycol

poisoning. All the tests we ordered confirmed that.

And is there any illness, disease, metabolic disorder, anything in

the body that is capable of forming ethylene glycol?

No. Well, then how would this occur in an infant, Corey's age?

Someone would have to feed it to him.

So, Doctor, in your expert opinion, and considering the symptoms that the child

presented, and in light of Corey Samuel's age, what was the cause of

He was poisoned.

All right. Thank you, Doctor.

No further questions, Your Honor.

Mildred Samuels?

Would you tell the jury your name, please?

Mildred Samuel.

And what is your relationship to Corey Samuels?

I was his grandmother.

Did you have an occasion to visit Corey when he was in the custody of the

Division of Children and Family Services, to go to their offices and

Yes, I did.

And what was that like? Tell us about that visit.

There were no words spoken.

It's very stressful.

Now, other than the aforementioned diaper bag and the bag of toys that you

brought, did you observe any other bags in that room?

Yes, I did.

The only reason I saw it was because Laurie went to lean against the table.

I heard the crinkle of the bag.

I looked up at her and I caught the edge of the string hanging off the side of

the table.

So there was a purse there? There was a purse.

That was not there before, I go.

Not that I know of. I did not see it before.

So Laurie Samuels had brought a purse into that room with her. What did you

sir? A small bag that could conceal any number of things.

I had called Lori Samuels to tell her that the judge wouldn't release while

Corey was dying.

And she just said, uh, I don't care about that.

Where's my husband? I want out of this hellhole.

He seemed awfully surprised that we found an empty container of antifreeze

the cabinet and then a full one under the pool table.

That's how I would describe it.

Surprised. I mean, she found out her child was dead and she didn't cry or

anything. All she wanted to do was smoke a cigarette.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have heard during the course of this

every doctor who treated Corey Samuels or tested his blood or was otherwise

involved with this poor, helpless infant's desperate struggle for life

unequivocally that he died of ethylene glycol poisoning.

Now, in addition, you have heard that the baby bottle from which he had his

feeding

contained traces of this very same poison.

Now, under the circumstances, what other conclusion could you possibly come to

except that Laurie Samuels did willfully and with

malice aforethought murder her own son?

I think it is significant.

That not one piece of evidence provided by the state can in any way establish

that Laurie Samuels fed her baby antifreeze.

She was not the only person to be alone with the infant on either occasion.

Mildred Samuels could have fed the baby or her husband. The sister Janine could

have fed the baby.

Ray Samuels also had opportunity to feed the child.

The prosecution has never established a motive in this case.

They've never established an isolated opportunity relating to the poison.

Despite the massive amounts of technical testimony and medical reasoning that

you've been subjected to, there is no concrete proof that a crime was ever

committed. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, can you honestly say in your heart

of hearts that Laurie Samuels is without doubt a murderer?

I don't think you can.

That's what I was supposed to trust in.

Don't convince Lori because somebody else could have poisoned the baby.

We were our experts. We were our doctors.

You couldn't afford them. I told you I could have raised more money. We don't

need experts. We've created reasonable doubt in the jury's mind. Look, I've

never lost a case.

Well, if you're working for the winning side, you're not working for me because

I'm going to jail.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?

Yes, Your Honor.

The defendant will please rise.

As to the charge of murder in the first degree, how do you find?

We find the defendant, Lori Samuels, guilty.

Bond is hereby revoked. He will be remanded into the custody of the

County Sheriff's Department.

Excuse me.

Mr. Samuels, I realize this must be difficult for you. No, it's not over.

want you to know I'm not giving up.

You go tell your doctors that.

I'm not giving up.

What do you think?

This is part of how we're raising money for the appeal.

It's to the point, anyway.

Have you heard from Myron?

No, but...

Everybody is crazed about the newspapers, the televisions. They keep

this could have happened.

Anyone who knows anything about RJ is just freaking out.

Believe me, I'm going to get you out of here.

You got to hold on.

Who's representing the defendant?

I waive my right to counsel, Your Honor.

I see.

Well, you understand that you have the right to an attorney, and that by

this right, you give up a guarantee granted you by... With all due respect,

I'd prefer to just get on with it.

Quiet, please.

Quiet!

The defendant will please face the court.

Yes, sir.

Have you anything to say before I pass sentence?

Only that I'm innocent.

Laurie Samuels, you have been convicted of the willful murder of your own child.

The state mandates sentencing in this case and affords the bench no

It is therefore necessary for me to exercise my authority in the enforcement

the prescribed penalty without regard to any mitigating circumstances.

In accordance with these measures, I hereby sentence you to life without

to be served at the Snohomish Correctional Facility for Women in

Washington. Such sentence to commence immediately upon this day and to

until the defendant's death.

While we may feel sympathy for you and your ordeal, we may do no other than we

have done in consideration of the will of the jury and the laws of the state.

This I do in the name of the state and on behalf of the infant, Corey Samuels.

And may God show mercy to you.

Hello, Barb. Your new cellmate is here.

Try to behave.

You're both going to be here a long, long time.

I'm Lori.

Don't talk to me.

Baby killers make me sick.

And if you didn't look like you were about to have a nervous breakdown, I'd

off and hit you in the face. That's how sick you make me.

I didn't kill my baby.

What did you say? I said I didn't kill my baby.

I didn't do it. I didn't kill my baby. I didn't do it.

Let me give you some advice.

I've been here a long time.

People around here don't like your kind.

And they don't like hearing lies either.

You keep this crap up and you don't have to worry about getting along with

anybody.

Because you'll be getting a transfer in a pine box.

And what if I'm innocent?

You don't listen very well, do you?

I just finished telling you how that kind of talk pisses me off.

Well, you're just going to have to let it, Barbara. Because it's the only thing

I can say.

It doesn't matter to me what you think. Because I know it's true.

And my husband knows it's true.

And God knows it.

But they're not here.

And I am.

Ray.

I know you think what I did was wrong, but I had to tell the truth.

I did it for you.

I did.

Wait. I was hoping... I was hoping

that after this is all over, you could get little RJ back and we could start

over. It would be terrible if we went through all this and nothing came out of

it. Maybe I don't understand what you're going through.

All right.

I know you think that, and maybe that's true, but...

You have to know I love you. Don't say that. Don't you say that because what

did, you did not do out of love.

You did it out of spite. You helped to put my wife in jail. You sorry?

Is that what you came here to say?

Thank you.

Are you crying in front of that picture again?

No, not really.

All right.

Listen to me for a minute, okay?

Okay? Yes.

That baby is still alive.

I know he's really sick, but he's not dead yet.

And you shouldn't be crying. You should be hoping.

Plus, you have a sister and friends and family and...

People have read about you in the newspaper, all going on and on about how

you've been treated and...

You

have no idea what I

would do to even be in your position.

Just for one day, even.

To know that I had a reason to hope.

To know that someone, anyone...

cared about what happened to me.

Every time I turn around, somebody steals my riot red lipstick and it's

starting to tick me off.

Oh, look.

RJ's getting so big.

What's that thing in his mouth? That's something to help him breathe.

But he's not sick. That's the important thing.

Look at his expression.

He is so adorable. I can't wait to see him.

Good, because I think I got you another lawyer.

Oh, wonderful. No.

This guy is different.

You got to meet him. How much does he want? Not a cent. He hasn't asked for a

cent. And he's really respected. Very smart.

He studied the case.

He's called and talked to me several times. And he wants to meet you.

He's different.

I promise.

And there's something else that I've been wanting to say for a long time.

When this all began, when they

took Corey away, I didn't know what to think.

That's okay. You don't have to say it. No, yeah, I do have to say it.

Because I should have known better and I didn't. And I'm ashamed of that.

But I want you to know that even when I... Even when

I thought... Laura, I just... I never stopped loving

you.

Never. Not even for a second. Never. I know that.

Hi, Lori. This is Gerald Orr. Hi, Lori. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. How

are you doing?

Okay. I guess, um, I suppose you know why I'm here.

Yeah, Ray told me.

He's a very persuasive man, your husband.

Would the two of you like a little time together before I get into this?

No, that's okay.

I've reviewed the transcript, and I've studied the implications of the MMA, and

I believe that a case could be made against the hospital for negligence

because...

Obviously, there is evidence to create reasonable doubt, although just as

obviously, that evidence, and I don't know why, wasn't pursued.

Still, these things do not add up to innocence.

So, Mr. Samuels, I have to ask you this question, because I can't proceed

without knowing.

And I hope you understand why I have to ask it. I'm sorry if you drove all the

way out here for nothing.

I'd really like to help if I can.

I want you to help.

But I've been trying to prove myself to people for a long time now, and I just

don't know how to do it.

Or even why I should.

Lauren, just listen to him, okay?

He wants to help you. And so do the doctors, and so did Myron.

But I'm not going to explain myself anymore.

If you're going to help me, you're going to have to trust me.

Or not.

Lauren. Well, he drove all the way out from Seattle just to see you.

Well, it's not that far.

It's a long way from here.

Why don't we talk about how we can get you back there?

Come on.

Come on.

Please, Mr. Orr, I'm sorry, but the evidence that was presented to me by all

doctors, it speaks for itself. The defense didn't present any evidence, and

there is evidence to be presented.

Do you know what antifreeze does to baby formula? Do you?

It turns it green.

Have you ever heard of an acid called polyglancol?

It's manufactured in the systems of children with MMA, and it is so similar

chemically. Wait, Mr. Orr, are you asking for a new trial?

Mr. Braddock, you're a decent man. You know the law, and you respect it.

Of course I do.

That young lady, guilty or not, that young lady deserved a fair trial.

You know and I know that her counsel was, to say the very least, incompetent.

And I want you to know, Mr. Orr, that I believe that Corey Samuels was poisoned.

Mr. Braddock, what you believe and what I believe is not evidence.

But there is evidence to be presented concerning R .J.'s illness. The jury

should have had the opportunity to hear that evidence, don't you think?

Because who benefits, Mr. Braddock?

Truth.

Who benefits when a citizen is found guilty without due process?

All right.

Okay, I'll recommend a new trial.

One more thing, Mr. Braddock.

Let her go.

Let her go home.

Wow. This is so exciting. I never met anybody who got to leave like this

I know. I can't believe it.

Well, when you get into a kitchen where you can just go to the fridge and pull

out anything you want and then you'll believe it. I want to thank you for

everything. No, no. I hate that stuff.

Are you ready?

Yeah, I'm ready.

Take care of yourself, okay?

Get out of here. Go on.

Get out of here and don't ever come back here again, you understand?

Heh heh.

How long is this going to go on?

Mr. Ward just says he's going to get bored. Just don't talk to him, don't

I can't believe I'm home.

You are here.

Thanks for waiting. No, no, no. Sit down, sit down, sit down. Well, you

Yeah. Good.

Come in.

It's just that getting all these people together with all the paperwork at the

same time... Oh, Sarah, excuse me. You have depositions regarding Corey's MMA

right in front of Mr. Braddock, please.

Just that getting all these people together with the right paperwork at the

time has been a logistical nightmare. Mr. Orr.

Mr. Orr?

You're really wasting your time on this MMA issue.

I never said I would contest the boy had MMA, but I still say that he was

poisoned. Edward, do you have a medical degree?

No.

This large group of doctors, all of whom treated Corey Samuels, worked on his

blood, did an admissions workup, or they went on record as consulting on the

case, or come to that, they...

Signed his death certificate.

All these doctors told you that that boy had been poisoned. They showed you

graphs. And they used a lot of big words. And they searched medical

plausible theoretical possibilities.

Did you ever consult one physician in this case who was not potentially liable

for malpractice in case Corey Samuels had been misdiagnosed?

Well, that's actually the job of the defense, isn't it?

And...

And they didn't do it.

That's what we're going to do today.

Ladies and gentlemen, let's go to work.

Top folder, please. And page 14.

Are you sure I'm not going to get in trouble for leaving the house? Because I

don't want this bracelet on my ankle to explode or something.

No, Jill got this chip cleared special.

I just wish you'd tell me where we're going.

Stop being so mysterious.

It's just a short little trick. Come on.

The lab technicians say that they found trace elements of ethylene glycol in a

baby bottle that had been washed in a dishwasher three times.

Do you have the deposition of the foster parents?

They say they washed the baby bottle three times in a dishwasher.

This is not possible.

Not only do we have doctors who say that's absolutely impossible, we also

with the manufacturers of ethylene glycol, and they agree that it's

But... But wait a minute.

All right.

I understand he had MMA.

I buy the baby bottle business.

But my doctors say he had two teaspoons of ethylene glycol in his bloodstream.

Now, how do you account for that?

The most damning bit of evidence of all.

How do we account for that?

When did they say Corey was fed?

On Thursday morning.

And when were the traces of ethylene glycol found in Corey's system?

The following Monday night.

Let's assume that's true. Let's accept that time frame as factual.

In researching ethylene glycol and its properties, actually it was Brian who

found out that ethylene glycol has a half -life of four hours in the human

system. You know what that means?

No. It means every four hours the body breaks it down by half. Four hours pass,

half of it's gone. Four hours pass, none of it's gone, and half's gone. In order

for Corey Samuels to have evidenced two teaspoons of ethylene glycol in his

little system at the point he was tested on Monday night, that means that his

mother would have to have fed him in the few minutes that they were alone

together at the Division of Children and Family Services, she would have to have

fed him in excess.

of 60 gallons of antifreeze.

Wait a minute.

60 gallons?

Well, actually, no. Two people here say that it's closer to 70 gallons, and one

guy claims it's almost 80. But to be safe, we're saying in excess of 60

of antifreeze, because I certainly don't want to mislead anybody.

But all of the doctors... Edward, don't spend another

moment of your life worrying about those doctors.

I'm going to take care of them.

I promise you that.

All of them.

What we have to worry about now is Laurie Samuels.

Hey, darling. What are you doing here? Your conviction is being overturned. All

charges are being dropped. You are completely... You mean there's not going

be a trial? It's over?

No trial, no anything anymore. In fact, Mr. Braddock is going to apologize to

you publicly on behalf of the state of Washington.

Oh, God.

Do we get R .J. back?

Yes, you get R .J. back. You can go home. You can be a family.

Dr.

Green to pathology, please.

Can I help you?

I'm his mother.

Who am I?

Daddy.

Heaven alert. Call me Mommy.

I don't know.

Yeah.

What do you think would have happened if R .J. hadn't been born? Oh, man.

Well, we'd probably still be in a lot of trouble.