All language subtitles for Law.and.Order.S21E08.720p.HDTV.x264-SYNCOPY - HI

In the criminal justice
system,

the people are represented

by two separate,
yet equally important groups:

The police,
who investigate crime,

and the district attorneys,
who prosecute the offenders.

These are their stories.

[Dramatic music]

[Cell phone chimes]

[Sighs]

- Thank you, anything else?
- Should be okay.

Oh, Alexis?

I thought you were taking
the rest of the night off.

I was,
but I saw that you emailed

the updated PowerPoint slides.

Just sending so you'd have
them to review in the morning.

I know, but you guys
should be done for the night.

Deal closes end
of day Friday.

I understand that.

It's 10:00.
Go to bed.

Is something wrong?

I'll explain everything
tomorrow.

There are some difficult
conversations to be had,

but for tonight, everyone,
just stop what they're doing.

Copy that, boss.

[Door buzzer rings]

[Tense music]

[♪]

What the hell
are you doing here?

[Police sirens wailing]

DOA is Alexis Morphew, 34,

owner of the house,
lived alone.

Nice neighborhood.

Time of death's somewhere

between 10:00 p.m.
and 2:00 a.m.

[♪]

Discoloration and bruising
around the neck,

and petechiae hemorrhage
in the eyes.

Looks like she was strangled.

Any indication
of sexual assault?

Mm-mm.

Looks like
there was a struggle.

We're knocking on doors,
but no witnesses so far.

There's blood
under her fingernails.

Looks like
she scratched the attacker.

She's still wearing
her jewelry,

and I assume
that's her laptop there.

This alarm system,
they have cameras for it?

No, but according to the log,

the system was deactivated
from the keypad at 10:03 p.m.

Immediately after that,
the front door was opened.

It was turned off
to let somebody in.

- It means she knew the killer.
- Who called the cops?

A colleague, got nervous

when she didn't show
for their 9:00 a.m. Zoom.

No escaping the rat race.

Until you do.

[♪]

[Dramatic music]

[♪]

*LAW AND ORDER*
Season 21 Episode 08

Episode Title: " Severance"
Aired on: May 05, 2022.

Alexis and I
had a touch-base

every morning at 9:00
on Skype.

I tried calling, emailing...

I knew something was wrong.

I just can't believe
she's dead.

Were you two close?

As close as you can be

without having ever met
in person.

But we're in virtual meetings
together 16 hours a day.

Was there anything unusual
happening with Alexis...

Any problems, issues?

She was really distracted
yesterday,

which is unusual for her.

She's usually really focused,

and she logged off early
around 7:30.

Oh, 7:30.
That's early?

[Chuckles] Yeah,
if we're done before 10:00,

that's like a vacation day.

You know, they started
letting us turn off our cameras

around 9:00, as if
that really solves the problem.

- What do you do?
- I'm a consultant.

Alexis and I were
working together on a project.

- And what did Alexis do?
- She's the CFO of QuestArc.

The electric car company?

It's like a New York version
of Elon Musk.

Cars, rockets, robots,

and whatever else
Ethan Merritt found sexy

and unimaginable at the time.

M.E. was able to recover DNA

from under
Morphew's fingernails,

but no match in the system.

Mm.

- Huh.
- What do you got?

Vic's phone records...

Dozens of texts
and phone calls,

every hour,
all hours of the day.

All the work contacts,

including
Ethan Merritt himself.

Town houses
in the West Village

aren't gonna pay
for themselves.

Check this out,
at 8:37 p.m.,

she texted Merritt,
"There is a problem.

We need to talk."

But Merritt doesn't reply.
No call, no text.

Maybe he responded in person.

[♪]

Alexis was
the total package...

Smart, kind, brilliant.

Yeah, dedicated to her work
too, as far as we can tell.

Absolutely, and
she totally got me, you know...

Got what I wanted
this company to be about.

- Changing the world, right?
- Yeah, why stop there?

Let's terraform Mars, man.

Let's cure cancer.
Let's end world hunger.

Zero emission vehicles
are just the beginning.

I'm Batman.
She was my Robin.

I don't know
what I'm gonna do without her.

It says here that
she sent you a text last night

saying that you have a problem.

I know.
I feel terrible.

I was already asleep
when she sent it.

I didn't see it
till this morning.

You were asleep at 8:30?

I start my day at 3:45,
work out for 90 minutes,

and then I go to the office.

That's quite a regimen.

Positive change
starts from within.

I figured
whatever the problem was,

we could discuss it
when she got into the office.

Do you have idea what
that problem might have been?

Unfortunately, yes.

She was having problems
with a former employee.

I promoted Alexis
to CFO six months ago.

Her predecessor
didn't take well to it.

He's, you know,
accused her of sabotaging him.

Did he ever threaten her?

I'm not sure
they were actual threats,

but he did send her
a few distasteful emails.

[♪]

Emails weren't hard to find.

She saved them
under a tab labeled "Threats."

Huh, she's keeping receipts.

Or she's just
really organized.

Regardless,
this guy, Bellantoni,

he goes at her hard,

calls her a viper,
a backstabbing bitch.

"Make no mistake.
I will destroy you."

This guy
has a legit temper too.

His ex-girlfriend
filed for a restraining order

three months ago,
said that he was stalking her,

claimed he got physical
on a few occasions.

Just found video
of Bellantoni and the victim

near her town house,
day before the murder.

[♪]

- [Scoffs]
- [sighs]

[♪]

Let's go find this bastard.

[♪]

Okay, so I sent
a few ill-advised emails

when I was drunk.

I would never actually
do anything like that,

especially to a woman.

Well, your ex-girlfriend
may beg to differ.

[Scoffs] Please.
She's a psycho.

I saw the video between you
and Alexis from three days ago.

If that guy hadn't stepped
in between you two...

Seems like you got a problem
with the ladies, Terry.

Yeah, and why direct
your anger towards Alexis?

Merritt's the one
that fired you.

Because she convinced him to.

She made a big deal
about the fact

that there weren't any women
in the C-suite.

C-suite?

CEO, CFO, COO.

Started complaining
about the optics,

made some veiled threats.

Next thing I know,
she's decorating my office

with her
eco-friendly furniture.

Why are you freaking out
about this severance deal?

It looks like you're doing
pretty well for yourself.

That's not the point.

I was employee number six
at that company.

I ruined two marriages

working nonstop
to get it off the ground,

and now I'm out because
Twitter says being a white man

is the moral equivalent
of being a serial killer.

[Scoffs]

Where were you two nights ago
around 10:00 p.m.?

Palo Alto.

I was pitching
a new start-up to investors,

took the red-eye back
this morning.

Okay.

Do you know anybody else
who shares your feelings

about Alexis Morphew?

Lots of people.

She was civil and beautiful,
but she had sharp elbows.

You should talk to Kayla,
her assistant.

She'll know
where the bodies are buried.

Everyone loved Alexis.

She was so bright
and confident,

a total queen, you know,
kicked ass at work,

but still
treated everyone with respect.

So do you know
of any specific problems

she was having or anyone
who may have want to hurt her?

No, sorry.

Was there anything unusual
going on in her life?

No, except for...

I don't like to gossip.

We're cops.
It's information, not gossip.

[♪]

I think she might've been
seeing someone.

I'm guessing
he was married too,

because she kept sneaking off
in the middle of the day

to these meetings
that weren't on her calendar.

It was nosy of me,
but one time she said

she was going to the doctor.

I called his office.

Receptionist said
she was never there.

Could be a lot
of explanations for that.

I know, but about a week ago,

I overheard her
on a phone call saying,

"We can't be seen together."

We went through her phone
and text messages.

We never saw
anything like that.

Because she was using
a second, secret phone.

[Buzzer rings]

[♪]

- Robert Fletcher.
- Yeah, that's me.

Detective Bernard,
Detective Cosgrove,

NYPD Homicide.

We'd like to ask you a few
questions about Alexis Morphew.

- I don't know who that is.
- Ooh.

You're not a very good liar.

Mr. Fletcher,
we found a burner phone

in Alexis Morphew's home

that exchanged numerous
text messages arranging meet ups

with a phone number
registered in your name.

No comment.

[♪]

Alexis Morphew
was strangled to death

two nights ago
in her home.

Alexis is dead?

Oh, I guess he does know her.

What was the nature of your
relationship with Ms. Morphew?

[Sighs]
I'd rather not say.

What part of
"We're homicide detectives"

do you not understand?

I don't give a damn

whether your wife finds out,
or not, or whatever.

Just... we need some answers.

My wife?
No, I'm gay.

[♪]

- Oh.
- I'm a journalist.

We were working together
on an article,

and she was my main source.

What was the article about?

About the toxic workplace
environment at QuestArc,

in particular, the bad behavior

of QuestArc's CEO,
Ethan Merritt.

She was trying to take down
Ethan Merritt?

He's like the richest guy
in the world.

Seventh, to be exact...

And yeah, she was.

We were really close
to doing it too.

[♪]

Alexis Morphew
was a whistleblower.

She was feeding a journalist

documents, recordings,
and firsthand accounts

for an exposé on Ethan Merritt.

Mr. Progressive
and Enlightened?

Yeah, she claimed
Merritt cultivated

an abusive
and misogynistic workplace,

said he physically
intimidates employees,

you know, yells, screams,
gets in their faces.

He threw a chair
through a glass wall once.

He was just
on the cover of "Forbes."

He was "The New Breed of CEO."

Spoiler alert:
It's a lot like the old breed.

Oh, a hit piece like that
could really destroy his brand.

That's what
she was counting on.

Use this article
to convince the board

to give Merritt the boot.

He's a jackass, no doubt,
but he is the boss.

Shouldn't he be allowed to get
pissed off once in a while?

I'm serious.

If it's sexual
or physical in nature,

I get it,
obviously, hashtag,

but should a guy get booted
from his own company

just because he's a dick?

It's a little more nuanced
than that.

You don't have to like
the people you work with.

He sending us a message,
Kate?

Probably,
but luckily, I don't care.

Dig deeper into his alibi.

Let's see if he really is

an early-to-bed,
early-to-rise kind of guy.

So we have you on tape

sneaking out
of the service entrance

of your apartment building
at 9:17 p.m.

the night of the murder.

- So?
- So you lied to us.

Please.
I didn't kill her.

Why would I blow up my life...

My very good life,
I might add...

Just because Alexis Morphew
was bitter and disgruntled?

Because
if the article gets published,

that very good life
just disappears.

Like I said, I had no idea
she was trying to take me down.

Why'd you lie to us then

and say
you went to bed at 8:30?

Because I have to worry
about appearances,

about people like Alexis who
are looking to destroy my life.

What do you mean?

I'm dating an employee.

I was with her that night,
didn't want anyone to find out.

Relax.
It was totally consensual.

It's just the word gets out,
this day and age?

Please.

- This woman have a name?
- Shannon Dunshire.

I can give you
her contact info.

You think
you can give us a sample?

Would you consent
to a DNA swab?

If it'll make this
go away quicker, absolutely.

Merritt's DNA is not a match.

Girlfriend
verifies his alibi too,

says he showed up
to her place around 9:45.

As best as I can tell,
we're nowhere.

- Not necessarily.
- What do you got?

We looked back over the
footage from the video canvass.

We found this from a bodega

six blocks
from Morphew's town house

the night of the murder.

Facial recognition ID's
this guy as Gus Imelski.

Who's that?

He is the founder
of a solar company

that QuestArc
was about to acquire.

When we were
collecting Merritt's DNA,

he said Morphew
abruptly called off the deal

the day she was murdered.

This guy, Imelski, was looking
at a $3 million payday too.

[Dramatic music]

[♪]

I don't know
what to tell you.

Yes, I went to Alexis' house
that night.

How come?

She called me earlier
in the afternoon freaking out,

said that she was
gonna terminate the deal,

that there had been a mistake,
and the company

had been overvalued.

I wanted to fix things,

see if I could
resurrect the transaction,

so I begged her
to have a drink with me.

I went to her house, knocked,
she never answered.

- What time was that?
- It was around 10:15 or so.

And you never saw her?
She never opened the door?

Correct, yeah.

I rang the bell
a few times,

and then I left.

I just figured
that she changed her mind.

Look, I did not kill Alexis,
okay?

That is ridiculous.

Alexis blew up a deal
that was gonna make you

a super rich guy.

Hours later, you show up
at her town house,

never actually see her.

Yet, at the same time,
she ends up strangled to death.

Doesn't sound
too ridiculous to me.

I am telling you the truth,
okay?

Wait, you can ask Colin Baker,

the consultant
that QuestArc hired.

I bumped into him about
a block away from her house.

Yeah, I asked him
if he'd heard from Alexis,

if he knew what was going on
with the deal,

but he just sort of
blew me off, kept walking.

[♪]

Look, I already told you
everything I know.

We just have a few
follow-up questions, Mr. Baker.

Okay, look, I really
don't have a lot of time, okay?

Why, where's the fire?

I'm putting out several,
actually.

I used to work
for the State Department

before I became a consultant.

I took this job because
I thought it'd be less intense

than negotiating
with hostile nations.

Do any of these fires

have to do with the acquisition
of Raystrux?

No, no.
No, that deal's dead.

Alexis messed up the numbers.

Are you sure
the mistake was hers?

Yes, I am.

Mr. Baker, you said

you had never met
Alexis Morphew in person.

That's right.

We have a witness
that says you were a block away

from her town house
the night of the murder.

I was out taking a walk.

I never went to her house.

- So you weren't there?
- No.

Look, that's ridiculous,
okay?

How dare you accuse me
of doing something like...

Look, I didn't do anything,
okay?

You need to calm down,
Mr. Baker.

Okay, look, I am sorry.

I have had... I have been
awake for two days straight,

and I have... on top
of everything else,

I have got a migraine, so...

[♪]

Do you mind rolling up
your sleeve for me, please?

[Sighs]

Yeah.

How'd you get
those scratches on your arms?

[♪]

I'd rather not say.

Then we're gonna have
to continue this conversation

down at the precinct.

[♪]

Docket number CR-230448-22,
People v. Colin Baker,

charge is Murder
in the Second Degree.

How do you plead, Mr. Baker?

Not guilty.

Bail?

The defendant stands accused
of a brutal murder.

He choked a woman to death
with his bare hands.

We found his DNA under
the decedent's fingernails.

Mr. Baker has established ties
in multiple foreign countries

from his time working
in the State Department.

The People believe
he's a flight risk,

and we're seeking remand.

Ms. Marcus?

My client has strong roots
in the community

and no criminal history.

As Ms. Maroun mentioned,

he worked for
the United States government

in a position that required him

to pass high-level
security clearance.

I'd also point out
that Mr. Baker suffers

from a debilitating
medical condition

that requires
constant attention.

What type of condition?

He suffers
from severe migraines.

I ask that
a reasonable bail be set,

so he can be cared for at home
by his wife who is a physician.

I get headaches too,
Ms. Marcus.

Defendant is remanded.
[gavel bangs]

[Groans]

[Tense music]

- Mr. Baker?
- I'm sorry.

I'm fine, I'm fine.

[Groaning]

[♪]

I heard Colin Baker
put on quite a performance

in the courtroom today.

It wasn't the full
Harvey Weinstein

with the walker routine,
but it was close.

I have to admit
he was pretty convincing.

He's a consultant,
a strategist.

He's setting up his defense.

He wants to appear too frail

to commit the violent,
physical act of strangulation.

They just filed
a motion to suppress.

Suppress what?

The DNA sample the police
collected from Baker.

Didn't he voluntarily agree
to a swabbing?

Yeah,
signed a consent form too.

We have it all on video tape.

As you can see,
the defendant

is orientated and aware.

He made a knowing and voluntary
waiver of his rights.

My client was experiencing
a severe migraine.

He conveniently failed
to mention that

at the time of the swabbing.

He told the detectives
when they first questioned him.

In addition to his migraine,

he'd also had been awake
for over 36 hours.

Again, he never mentioned
that to the detectives.

Yes, he did.

He was suffering from
severe emotional exhaustion

and sensory overload.

He would've signed over
the deed to his co-op

if someone had put it
in front of him.

In addition, Mr. Baker is on
a heavy dose of sumatriptan

for his migraines.

It has a number of side
effects, including dizziness.

Your Honor, the defendant
never told the detectives...

Next time you want DNA,
get a warrant.

Defendant's motion
to suppress is allowed.

The DNA is out.

[Dramatic music]

This case is about a man
whose ambition knows no bounds.

The defendant was
on the partner track

at one of the most prestigious

and cutthroat management
consulting firms in the world,

two months shy of a promotion,

a goal he had dedicated years
of his life to achieving.

Problem was he has a secret,

one that could end his career.

In preparing
the valuation analysis

for a potential merger,
he made a serious mistake

in the projected cash flow
of the target company.

Long story short,
he overvalued the company

his client wanted to buy
by approximately $100 million.

When his client,

Alexis Morphew, found out,

she terminated the deal,

realized they would be
grossly overpaying.

The problem is Alexis knew

that he was the one
who made the mistake,

and if she told
the defendant's boss

about this reckless error,

he'd be out of a job.

So he decided
to do something about that.

[♪]

The evidence will show

that on April 6th,
approximately 10:00 p.m.,

Colin Baker entered
Ms. Morphew's home,

wrapped his hands
around her neck,

and squeezed
the life out of her.

[♪]

In doing so,
he kept his secret safe

and his dream
of making partner alive.

[♪]

Mr. Imelski,
do you know the defendant?

Yes, we worked together
on a transaction.

He's a consultant at KMG.

He was working
with Alexis and QuestArc.

On the evening of April 6th,
did you see the defendant

near Alexis Morphew's home?

Yes, about a block away.

- What time was this?
- Around 10:00 p.m.

Can you describe
his demeanor?

He was distracted.

I tried to engage him
in a conversation,

but he just walked away.

- Was that typical?
- No.

On our video conferences,

he was always very friendly
and conversational.

Thank you.

You spoke with Ms. Morphew
earlier that day, correct?

Yes.

She told you she was

terminating the acquisition
of your company, right?

Correct.

Cost you
about $1/4 billion dollars?

Something like that.

It's a hell of a reason to
kill someone, don't you think?

- Objection.
- Sustained.

Nothing else.

[Sighs]

Mr. Imelski, did you
voluntarily submit your DNA

to the police
to be tested against the DNA

found under
Alexis Morphew's fingernails?

Yes.

Did the police inform you
of the outcome of that test?

They said it was not a match.

- Thank you.
- You may step down.

Why are you doing this?

- Yeah, I'm talking to you!
- Mr. Baker.

If you have something to say,
talk to your lawyer.

- No, he is lying!
- Ms. Marcus.

Control your client!

Look, I swear,
I didn't do it, I...

Get off of me!
[gavel banging]

I didn't kill anybody!

I didn't kill anybody!

I didn't do this!

I didn't... get off of me!

I didn't kill anybody!

What the hell was that?

[♪]

We're filing oral notice
that we plan to offer

an affirmative defense.

My client
is pleading not guilty

by reason
of mental disease or defect.

'Cause he gets migraines?

And why are we
just learning this now?

Yeah, why the late notice,
Ms. Marcus?

After what happened
in court yesterday,

I had a medical expert
examine Mr. Baker.

He shed new light
on a preexisting condition.

What preexisting condition
is that?

Havana Syndrome is very real,

but there's still a lot
we don't know about it.

It first manifested
about five years ago

among U.S. government employees

who were stationed
at our Cuban embassy.

That's how it got its name.

Colin Baker was stationed at
the embassy in Havana in 2017.

He was an early participant
in my study

of Havana Syndrome patients.

Why did he seek medical help?

He reported hearing
a high-pitched noise.

Shortly after, he had bouts
of memory loss, vertigo,

and some auditory distortion.

An MRI showed concussion-like
trauma to his brain

despite the fact that there was
no physical impact to his head.

What causes the noise
and the symptoms?

We really don't know.

The leading theory is that it's
pulsed electromagnetic energy,

like an infusion
of microwaves to the brain.

- Who's behind it?
- [chuckles]

I'm a neurologist,
not a CIA operative.

Mr. Baker says his symptoms

have increased
over the past year...

Fugue states,
lack of impulse control,

inability to behave
in a rational manner.

Is that possible?

I haven't heard
of anything that extreme,

but I suppose it's possible.

Colin Baker first
sought medical attention

for his condition back in 2017.

It makes his claim credible.

He reported
having a few headaches.

Among other things.

You think Havana Syndrome
is a valid excuse

for killing someone?

I think
the condition is real.

I don't dispute
that it's real

or that Colin Baker has it,
but is there a nexus

between the syndrome and
him strangling Alexis Morphew?

I'm not sure.

All I'm saying
is his defense is viable,

and he, himself, is actually
pretty damn sympathetic.

Oh, how so?

He was working
for the State Department

serving our country,
trying to do right.

Then one day,
he gets blasted with microwaves

or some such thing, and
suddenly can't think straight.

Has anyone else
with this ailment

ever committed an act
of violence?

Not that I could find.

So we're supposed
to believe that Colin Baker,

who is a brilliant strategist
accused of murder,

is also the first
and only person to kill

because of Havana Syndrome?

All I'm saying
is his defense is viable.

He didn't just lash out
or push her.

He held her in his hands,
squeezing her neck for minutes.

That's not
an uncontrolled outburst.

That's violence.
That's intent.

[Cell phone dings]

Defense just subpoenaed
the deputy director of the CIA.

Thanks for meeting with me,
Jack.

Of course.

I haven't been subpoenaed
in 15 years.

It means
they're not trying hard enough.

You know, Jack,
for a variety of reasons,

me testifying at this trial
is a really bad idea.

What does the defense
hope to elicit?

Oh, that the heartless CIA

ignored evidence
of Havana Syndrome for years,

we don't care about employees,

and if we'd just
done our damn job

and pulled Colin Baker
from his post

when we first learned of this,

he never would've been injured
in the first place.

- And would they be correct?
- [scoffs]

[tense music]

So they want
to put the agency on trial,

deflect blame away
from Colin Baker.

Our lawyers are preparing
a motion to quash,

but there's a good chance
we'll lose.

You want me to plead him out?

[♪]

Avoid the possibility entirely?

I want you to consider it.

[♪]

It was a brutal murder,
Grant.

I understand.

Like I said,

just asking you
to consider it.

[♪]

Okay.

[♪]

But no promises.

[♪]

[Sighs]

With all due respect,
I have no interest

in considering a plea
for Colin Baker

just to cover up the
federal government's blunders.

That's not
what this is about.

The defense
is gonna muddy the waters,

shift the blame
away from Colin Baker

to the United States
government,

a faceless, unsympathetic
enemy that is easy to hate.

It means you could lose.

Colin Baker is lying
through his teeth.

There's no credible
scientific data that suggests

Havana Syndrome causes people
to irrationally commit murder.

We have a solid motive,

a solid and perfectly
rational motive.

We have a witness that puts him
near the victim's home.

What I'm saying is the facts,
as well as the science,

are in our favor.

I don't dispute any of that.

But it's easier
to hate the feds

than a handsome
government worker

with a wife and two kids

who was unknowingly attacked
by a foreign agent.

If this is
about the defense's subpoena,

you can tell your friend
at the CIA...

You're missing the point,
Nolan.

This isn't about politics.

It's about playing
the hand you have,

not the hand you wish you had.

I get that.

But I'm very comfortable
with my cards.

Okay, if you think
you can win, go ahead.

Finish the trial.

[Dramatic music]

Dr. Grady, have you reviewed
Mr. Baker's medical records

from his time
at the State Department?

I have, and I've also
conducted my own examination.

And what's your assessment
of his condition?

Mr. Baker's
symptoms are consistent

with Havana Syndrome,
and those symptoms,

particularly
the more recent ones,

bear a striking
resemblance to CTE,

Chronic Traumatic
Encephalopathy.

Like what
football players get?

Correct.

Even though Mr. Baker

has never played football
or any other contact sport.

How is that possible?

When Mr. Baker
first sought treatment

for his Havana Syndrome,

brain scans showed he suffered
multiple severe concussions

as a direct result of whatever
was causing the syndrome.

We know that CTE is caused

by that kind of trauma
to the brain.

And sufferers of CTE
are known to be prone

to uncontrollable,
violent outbursts.

- Isn't that correct?
- Yes.

The damage to the brain
affects the patient's ability

to control their emotions
and impulses.

In your medical opinion,
did Mr. Baker's condition

prevent him from understanding
the nature and consequences

of his actions on April 6th?

I believe so, yes.

Thank you.
No further questions.

Dr. Grady, it's impossible

to accurately diagnose CTE

in a living person, correct?

My diagnosis can be inferred
from symptoms and context...

But currently, the only
scientifically accepted way

to verify the presence
of the disease

is by conducting
a postmortem dissection.

Correct.

How many people
with Havana Syndrome

have you studied?

About a thousand.

And none of these
other people claimed

their condition
also gave them CTE?

Correct.

And none
of them blamed their condition

for committing acts
of violence?

Yes, I believe that's right.

None of them
strangled the life

out of another
human being?

- Objection.
- Sustained.

Nothing further.

When we left Havana,
we went back to DC

so Colin could be treated
at Walter Reed.

What type of symptoms was
he experiencing at the time?

He lost vision in one eye,

and he had a lot
of dizzy spells.

He had to wear a weighted vest

to keep his balance
while walking.

Did his symptoms improve?

Yes, he was able to function,

and he regained his sight.

Did he go back to work?

He took the job at KMG,

and we moved to New York.

Did his symptoms
start back up?

Yes, but they were
different this time,

and to be honest, we didn't
even make the connection.

What do you mean?

Colin was always

really kind and gentle.

[Soft music]

But over the past year or so,
he started getting angry,

having violent outbursts,

and the smallest thing
would set him off.

[♪]

He was like a different person.

[♪]

I even considered...

[♪]

I even considered
leaving him at one point.

I feel terrible.

I didn't realize
it was the Havana Syndrome.

It had been years.

[♪]

Thank you, Dr. Baker.

No further questions.

[♪]

Dr. Baker.

What kind of medicine
do you practice?

I'm a pediatrician.

You never suggested
your husband seek

medical treatment
for these alleged symptoms?

We talked about it,
but he was worried about work,

didn't wanna take time off.

His job was obviously
very important to him.

Yes.

He wanted
to protect his status.

He didn't want anything
to interfere

with his desire
to make partner.

No, that's not what I meant.

Regardless of what you meant,

the fact is that since
you've been living in New York,

your husband never
sought medical treatment

for these allegedly
debilitating symptoms, did he?

Correct.

Even though
you're a medical doctor?

Like I said, I tried.

And you remained living
in the home with him

with your two children?

I didn't realize
how bad things had gotten.

Or, maybe, the symptoms
weren't that severe at all,

weren't significant enough
to merit your attention.

Maybe he was
just under a lot of pressure.

No, no, he had symptoms.
He became a different person.

Because he was desperate
to make partner,

because he wanted that brass
ring more than anything...

- Objection.
- Sustained.

[Tense music]

Nothing further.

[♪]

Mr. Baker, did you go
to Alexis Morphew's house

on April 6th because
you planned to kill her?

No.

I had made a mistake
in my financial projections.

So I went there to discuss
a new purchase price.

I wanted to try and find a way
to salvage the deal.

So you wanted
to talk with her?

Yes.

And she opened the door
and invited you inside?

Yes.

And then I guess
we got into an argument.

You guess?

I don't remember.

I sort of blacked out.

I remember talking to her,

and then I remember
sitting on the stairs.

I saw scratches on my arms,
and then I...

saw Alexis on the floor...

dead.

- What did you do?
- I panicked.

I ran home.

I didn't understand
what was happening to me.

I didn't intend to hurt her.

She was my friend.

I am so sorry.

Thank you, Mr. Baker.

No further questions.

Mr. Baker, when you realized

that your friend,
Ms. Morphew, was dead,

did you call the police,
an ambulance?

No, not in that moment.

I wish I had.
I wasn't thinking clearly.

In truth, there was
no salvaging the deal,

was there, Mr. Baker?

Alexis had told the seller she
was terminating it, correct?

She did, but that didn't
mean the deal was dead.

Perhaps, but that's not why
you went there that night.

You went there to confront her

to stop her from reporting your
mistake and getting you fired.

No, no.
I liked Alexis.

We were friends.

I would not have done that
if I didn't have this syndrome.

Oh, this syndrome,
which you claim caused you,

and you alone,
to become violent

with symptoms no one else has,
and which you never sought

medical treatment for?

Because the government
lied to me.

If they had told me
how severe it was,

if they had just let me know,
I would've gotten help for it.

All I ever wanted was to work
for the State Department

to help my country,
and then they screwed me.

They lied to me.

They lied to you,
but they didn't force you

to lose your temper
and strangle an innocent woman

to protect your career.

[♪]

He's right.

[♪]

They didn't,

but it still happened.

[♪]

And I honestly don't know why.

And I am sorry,
but I can't take it back.

I wish I could take it back,
but I can't,

and I don't know what to do.

I'm sorry!

I just...
I will never forgive myself,

and I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

[♪]

Madame Foreperson,
have you reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

[♪]

Accused and counsel,
please rise.

[♪]

Madame Foreperson,
how do you find?

We find the defendant

not guilty
by reason of mental disease.

[♪]

I still think he's lying.

[♪]

My old boss, he used to say,

"Lawyers who need to be right

lose more cases
than those who don't."

[♪]

[Sighs]

[♪]

[Dramatic music]

[♪]

[Wolf howls]