Mea Culpa (2024)

[bunniefuu]

[thoughtful music fading in]

[siren sounding]

[woman] Mea?

Mea.

Would you like to come back to the table?

[music subsides]

Would you like to share with us

your feelings about what Kal said?

He just sat here and told me

that I was the reason he had an affair.

I didn't have an affair.

So

- [Kal sighs]

- you were just sitting there,

in a coffee shop, holding her hand.

Look, I told you

that Jenna is a childhood friend.

A childhood friend who you're close enough

to hold hands with. Is that right?

Don't lawyer me, Mea.

That's where he goes

when I ask him hard questions.

No, I'm sorry,

I'm not a witness on a stand.

I'm your husband.

Does Jenna know that?

Better yet, does your mother know that?

[cell phone buzzes]

[whispering] It's his mother.

[sighs] Look, I'm I'm sorry.

I know we only have 20 minutes left,

but it's my mom's birthday.

- She's pretty big on birthdays.

- And Sunday dinners.

I'm sorry, we're gonna have to go.

- No.

- Mea.

I'm gonna stay

and finish the session. You go.

- Mea, c'mon

- Go, Kal.

I'm sorry.

[cell phone buzzes]

- [Kal] Hey, Mom?

- [door opens]

- [Kal] Yeah, I'm on the way. Yeah.

- [sighs]

[door shuts]

Does that happen often?

She is more a part of this marriage

than anything else.

He feels guilty because she has cancer,

and he lost his job eight months ago.

And he keeps begging me

not to tell his brother

or my friend,

who is also my sister-in-law.

I know that lots of men

love their mothers,

but this kind of devotion is

I've never seen anything like it.

[music intensifies]

Thank you.

[softly] Excuse me.

Excuse me.

- Ah!

- Maddy!

Oh, Mea, hi.

Have you met Zyair Malloy?

Come on. I'll introduce you.

- No need.

- Mea, he's been coming here for years.

He's a really nice kid,

but he needs a good lawyer.

Well, this is Chicago,

and we come a dime a dozen.

But I know you.

And your brother's the assistant DA,

and that thing you did for my Vinny.

Can you just talk to him?

Can I have him

call your office, please? Please.

Sure, on one condition.

You send me your strongest drink.

I have to deal with my mother-in-law.

Oh, I understand. [laughs]

- You got it.

- [Mea] Okay. [chuckles]

[Maddy] Through here.

Let me take your coat.

Oh, look! Her Majesty the Queen

has finally arrived!

Don't worry, son,

your second wife will be on time.

[laughs heartily]

Oh, what? What?

No happy birthday for the old lady?

Happy birthday.

[Mom] Thank you.

I mean, not bad for 60, right?

Oh, I want you to meet someone.

This is Jenna. She's a wonderful girl.

Hi.

I mean, I know why

my son liked her so much.

I mean, I wish

she were my daughter-in-law. [laughs]

[Jenna laughs]

Well, now that the queen has arrived,

let's get the dinner out.

I have arranged the seating.

Jenna, you sit here,

and, um Mea, I... I know you won't mind.

I'm sure you and Charlise wanna talk.

You can sit down there.

Mmm!

[chuckling]

Happy birthday, Mom.

Thank you, son! [chuckling]

- [gasps] It's from Mea and I.

- [Mom] Mmm!

You see, Jenna? What a sweet boy he is.

He's always been so sweet.

[Jenna chuckles]

[Mom softly] Those two

aren't doing so well.

What? I'm kidding.

I mean, you know what a catch he is.

[man] Yeah, okay, c'mon.

You just had to outdo

your older brother, huh?

- C'mon.

- [Mom] Oh!

- [man] Now open ours.

- [Mom chuckles, gasps] Oh!

You okay?

Damn. What did I do

to deserve you as a friend?

Oh, I feel the same.

I feel like we're both

knees-deep in our relationships.

- I know.

- [chuckles]

I always wanted

a man who loved his mother.

Well, we did get that, didn't we?

Be careful what you ask for.

Let's just enjoy this. All right?

She is drunk,

and she will be passed out in no time.

Been hitting it hard.

Hmm. When does she not?

What did I miss down there?

[chuckles] Oh, um,

we were just talking about

how lovely this is for your birthday.

I bet you were.

[Charlise chuckles]

Where is my drink?

I don't know why

there are so many paparazzi out here.

Zyair Malloy is in there.

What?

Did I ever tell you

my wife thought it'd be a good idea

to buy two of his paintings?

I wanna get rid of it.

I mean we have to.

I'm prosecuting the case.

You know, clear conflict there.

I mean, what he did to that woman was,

you know, it was awful.

Son of a bitch.

- You don't wanna buy a painting, do you?

- Uh-uh. No, we're good.

That's right. We bought

enough expensive things for the night.

[Mom shouting] Thank you, Maddy! [sighs]

[man] Come on, Mom.

- Yes, take an old woman home, huh?

- [man chuckling]

Oh! I wish you lived closer.

I know, Mom. I know.

We could always move to the city.

You know Ray loves the countryside.

- Mmm! I love you, boys.

- [Kal] Love you too.

Mmm!

[quietly] Jenna, give him a hug.

[Kal] Have a great night.

- [Jenna sighs happily]

- [Mom] Bye, Mea!

[Jenna sighs]

[Charlise] I love you, girl. Mmm.

I will see you at Rumble.

[softly] Yes,

I feel like punching something.

[laughs]

Go on.

Thank you.

Damn. Why is this Bluetooth not playing?

I wish it would just pick up my phone

like it does in the truck or...

No, it should just come on

when I get in the...

["Winnie (End of Me)" playing]

In the car.

Thank you.

I know you're mad about the watch.

And I knew you would say no,

but but it's my mom.

How much was it?

I sold the piano.

Come on!

Look, you don't even play it anymore.

You stopped years ago, and it was just

sat there collecting dust.

And it was mine in the first place.

So yours and mine now.

Is is that where we are?

I'm not trying to fight.

Look, I'll buy you another piano, Mea.

She's done everything for me and Ray,

and now she's dying.

Did your mom invite Jenna?

C'mon, I'm just I'm just trying to make

her last few days happy.

I don't care about Jenna!

I don't want her at all!

She's not you!

No one is you.

You will be the end of me

You will be the end of me

[music stops]

[tense ambient music playing]

[music intensifies]

[Mea] Good morning.

- What's that look for?

- Zyair Malloy is in your office.

What? Why?

Everyone was staring at him out here,

so I put him in your office.

He was supposed to call.

- Should I push your ten o'clock...

- No, no, this won't take long.

Good morning.

Mr. Malloy?

I'm Mea Harper.

Zyair.

Maddy told me that you would call.

Police raided my loft

for the second time this morning,

intentionally damaging

two commissioned works.

That has to be illegal.

Coffee?

No. That stuff makes me crazy.

Not literally.

I did not

k*ll my girlfriend.

[unsettling music playing]

This is my life,

and they're trying to ruin me.

And who would "they" be?

That tender-d*ck DA.

He hates me.

Why would he hate you?

I don't know.

Can you rep me?

Maddy tells me you're the best.

And if he says you're the one

you're the one.

There's a conflict here.

The DA has appointed your case

to the assistant DA,

who is my brother-in-law.

Brother-in-law.

Then I assume you love your husband. Yes?

Imagine if your husband turned up missing,

and everyone blamed you for it.

It's insane. And it's everywhere.

Will you help me?

Mr. Malloy.

Zyair. Please.

I don't tend to make decisions

based on what's popular

- Good.

- or in headlines.

Good. Because they're all lies.

- Our firm has a retainer of seven...

- It doesn't matter.

I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'll take a look at what

the prosecution has and get back to you.

Today?

[Mea] I'll let you know when I can.

[Zyair] Unlock your phone.

Put my number in.

You can leave it with my secretary

on your way out.

Thank you.

I apologize for bargin' in.

[door opens]

[Charlise] Hoo!

- [sighs loudly]

- [Mea] My God!

That was a hard-ass class,

but you barely broke a sweat. [laughs]

It's cold!

But you usually got a little sprinkle

going on on the forehead.

I... Yo, I'm not gonna say anything else.

Oh!

Ooh, speaking of cold

[Mea] No.

Don't do it!

Hi! I'm gonna take a chocolate.

- You feel better now?

- Ooooh!

[chanting] We hate Malloy!

Put him in jail

[Charlise] They march

outside that building every day,

and that woman refuses

to take his paintings down.

Between you and I, Ray is loving this.

He came to see me.

- Who?

- Zyair.

- He wants me to represent him.

- What?

Don't do it.

Charlise, this is what I do.

Promise me you won't.

[Mea sighs]

I I'm just thinking about it.

[protesters] He k*lled her

He can go to hell

Hey.

[sighs] You scared the heck out of me.

Kal.

- What the...

- I was looking at that.

You can't represent him.

Kal, give me the file.

Look, I don't care. I said no.

I'm not having it in the press

my wife is battling for this m*rder*r.

I defend murderers all the time.

Hence, "defense attorney."

Not against my brother.

It's not happenin'.

Oh, look, I'm

What are... [sighs]

[Mea] Pick one.

Tell me which one you will pay,

and then tell me

what you're not gonna let me do.

- Mea, look...

- The house note?

The car note? Your mom's medical bills?

Because God forbid

she should have health insurance.

Are you really saying

this is about my dying mother?!

We send your brother

huge checks for her every month.

And you don't want me

to tell them that you lost your job?

Ugh. Go on. Say it.

You think I'm not?

If you hadn't gone to work so damn high

and reeking of alcohol,

we wouldn't be in this situation.

It's a really good look

for an anesthesiologist.

Kal addicted to his own sh*t.

And now I'm here

trying to hold it all together.

This case will earn me just enough

to get us through the next few months.

So don't tell me

what I will or will not do.

- Mea...

- Pick one.

Mr. Malloy, this is Mea Harper.

[Zyair] Hi.

Please, Zyair.

[Mea] I'd like to meet with you tomorrow

at my office if I could.

I've got some questions

before I can give you an answer.

[Zyair] All right.

I'll have to ditch the paparazzi.

They follow me everywhere.

[Mea] On second thought, I'll come to you.

[Zyair]Take the elevator on the right.

The door is sticky.

[intercom buzzes]

["Walk On By" by Isaac Hayes fading in]

If you see me walking down the street

And I start to cry each time we meet

Walk on by

Walk on by

Make believe

That you don't see the tears

Oh, just let me grieve

In private cause each time I see you

I break down and cry

Oh, baby

[Zyair] Apologies. Just

just one moment.

[music continues]

What do you see?

- First word.

- [sighs]

[Mea] Longing.

Mea is longing.

There's, uh,

water and alcohol on the counter.

Cruise around, please.

It's gotta be helpful for you to see,

being a so-called crime scene and all.

It's my new piece.

It's called She Lives in Notes.

You can actually play it

if you sit at the bench.

You play?

No.

- [Zyair] Does it speak to you?

- How could it not?

What is she saying?

[Mea] It's actually asking

shall we get started?

Please.

What the prosecution has

is pretty damning.

So I need to know

what you have to say about it.

As an artist,

I know that you have an eye for details.

So don't leave anything out.

The things you think are not important

may be the thing

that I need to know the most.

Portofino.

[pen scribbling]

[Zyair] We met in Italy.

Beautiful place,

super romantic.

I was out there on vacation,

longing for inspiration,

met this

Mexican goddess

at a little restaurant.

She was my waitress.

I was there for ten days. We hit it off.

She...

Yeah.

There's a little photo album.

She was a She was a selfie queen.

So always taking photos.

Every day is pretty much documented.

[unsettling music playing]

I saw in the discovery

that the police have your electronics.

But they didn't take this?

Look, all I can tell you is,

for six months, we were inseparable.

And one day, I went to an exhibit

and came back, and she was gone.

[Mea] Have you seen these photos?

There was so much blood

that it seeped down

into your neighbor's apartment below.

The blood type and DNA

matches your girlfriend.

These skull fragments

were found in one of your paintings.

Her skull,

her hair,

her DNA.

And that painting would have been hanging

would have been hanging

there.

And the blood would have been about

here.

Do you wanna explain to me

how this happened?

I don't know.

[Mea sighs]

The painting in this photo is

the prosecution's Exhibit B.

Can you tell me

what the name of that painting is?

- The one with her skull fragments in it?

- Yeah

Hydie was a

was a very silly girl.

And just like I asked you

to name that painting,

I asked her to name this one.

She named it Evil Bitch.

I didn't think that was it,

but we had a laugh about it,

and I just left it.

Just wanted to make her happy.

- And the fragments of her skull?

- Why do you keep... Why... Stop saying that.

- Why do you keep saying that?

- The prosecution is going to say it.

A lot.

- How do you think this happened?

- I don't I don't know, Mea!

What do you...

[chuckles] This is f*ckin' bullshit, yo.

He is gonna k*ll me.

Please, I need to get away from him.

[panting] If you get this, he did it.

He k*lled me. [breathing emotionally]

- [Mea] You hadn't seen this?

- That's not real.

- Why would she record this?

- I don't know.

What about

the $3 million life insurance policy?

I don't know anything about

a $3 million life policy.

I didn't take anything out on her.

I don't know

I didn't k*ll her, Mea.

I am not going to lie to you.

This is going to be an uphill battle.

If I take you on, I have one demand.

You can never

Look at me!

Look at me.

You

can never lie to me.

You have to tell me everything,

no matter how uncomfortable

or insignificant you may think it is.

Of course.

You gonna take me on?

[Mom] Ah, honey, you have got to get

more than takeout in this house.

Look at how my boy is thinning.

[Kal scoffs]

I didn't know we were having company.

[Mom] You're not eating.

You're insulting my cooking.

Mea, c'mon. Mom came after chemo.

Thank you.

The food is great. I appreciate it.

Why do I feel like

there's a "but" in there?

Well in all the years we've been married,

you've never done this.

I thought we'd have

a nice family dinner together.

We were free.

Mom felt up for it.

I have some news I wanna share with you.

I'm running for mayor.

Oh, that's great.

And he's gonna win.

I'm sure.

So what's new with you?

Ah, nothing much.

Same ol', same ol'.

Any new clients?

As a matter of fact,

I am considering repping Zyair Malloy.

[tense music playing]

No. You're not.

[scoffs] Excuse me?

Your brother-in-law

is going to win that case.

He's going to build his campaign

on fighting crime.

Tell 'em, son.

Crime is awful here,

and he's gonna be my poster boy.

So, if my sister-in-law defends him,

well, you see

the dilemma there, right, Mea?

Did you see the discovery?

We are gonna bury him.

If you represent him,

I'll have to recuse myself

because of our family connection, and,

well, that's not something

I'm willing to do.

So you will not represent him.

Well, I hadn't made a decision.

[Mom] No, you have.

We have.

And you're part of this family now,

and we have a say.

So you're not representing him.

[music intensifies]

[Mea scoffs softly]

I wasn't sure if I would represent him.

And now

I have my answer.

[Mom] Wonderful.

Would you like some more lamb?

[music fades out]

[phone ringing]

[Charlise] I'm so sorry.

About what?

Look, Kal called and told Ray

that you're representing Zyair.

He and his mom hit the roof.

I tried to calm them down,

and I told them

you're just thinking about it.

[sighs] Why would you do that?

Well, they were going to find out,

and you know how it gets around here

when they're mad.

And she's sick, so I just

I

I'm sorry, Mea.

It's okay. I'll call you later.

- You're upset.

- No.

Not at all. I'll call you later.

Are you sure?

Yes. I have an appointment.

Okay, call me later.

Yeah, I will.

- Good morning. You're here early.

- Good morning.

I need everything you have

on the State of Massachusetts versus Brown

and Wilson versus the State of New Mexico.

On it.

- Ah, Jimmy should be here any second.

- He's out there already.

Oh, bring him in. And find out

who the judge is on Zyair Malloy's case.

Ask to meet in the chambers

with the prosecution

to talk about a family conflict.

You're repping Zyair Malloy?

You're damn right.

- [Jimmy] Thank you. H-hey!

- [Mea] Hey.

[Jimmy chuckling] Ah, look at you!

- [Mea grunts gently]

- How you doin'? You good?

- Yeah.

- Yeah, you okay?

- It's good to see you. Thanks for coming.

- Yeah.

C'mon. I could hear it

in your voice on the phone.

So what is it?

I need you. I need your help.

Okay.

Can we take a walk? I need some air.

- Yeah.

- Good.

[Jimmy] All right, so what did Kal do now?

Hmm? Am I following him again?

[Mea] No.

- So you guys workin' it out?

- They were just at the coffee shop.

I know. And if it had been anything else,

I would have found it.

I know. You told me about

his drug habit before he lost his job.

I wrestled with that.

I just didn't want you in the dark.

- Always tell me what you find, Jimmy.

- Yes.

You're the best private investigator,

so just tell me.

- Just don't like seeing you hurting.

- Me being in the dark is more hurtful.

Okay. You know how I feel about you,

right? You're like a sister to me.

- I'm okay.

- All right.

So,

how's Kal?

- Don't do that.

- What?

- Don't do what? What I do?

- I know you.

[chuckling] What?

So just tell me.

Fine. Fine. He goes to his rehab,

and then he goes back home.

- I knew you were still watching.

- [chuckling]

Yeah. Yeah. Uh, is he still lying

to his folks about losing his job?

[Mea sighs]

It's a lot, Jimmy.

I know.

My work helps.

- Did you get the information I sent you?

- Yes.

I already started trying to track

the girlfriend's family in Mexico.

And?

Well, strangely, either no one's

ever heard of them, or they're all scared.

Which is common. I should have cell phone

metadata from his and her phones too.

Is that legal?

You know the rules. Don't ask me

any questions, and I'll indemnify you.

- Sorry.

- [laughing] Nah.

The witness list for the prosecution?

Listen, if you really wanna do this,

I'll find anything

and everything I can for you, okay?

But you know what?

You don't seem sure.

Hmm? [laughs] And I know

your brother-in-law has gotta be pissed.

- He's such a d*ck.

- Ah, he is!

- But I'm doing it.

- You doin' it?

Okay, I hope it's because of your gut

and not because you're angry with him.

You always go with your gut, Mea.

Don't change that.

I won't.

So you believe this Zyair guy?

[sighs] Let's

let's see what happens

when we talk to him.

All right. All right.

- All right?

- All right.

What is this?

You're the only firm he can retain?

[sighs] I'm sure there are others,

but he wants my firm, Your Honor.

And as you know,

the defendant has the right

to choose the counsel of his choice.

Of course I know that.

So, Ray, you don't want to...

I would prefer not to recuse myself

if Your Honor would see fit.

- [tense music playing]

- [Mavro] This is your sister-in-law.

She knew I was prosecuting the case,

which I think she took on purpose

just to antagonize my brother,

who has done everything for her.

Well, it's obvious that this, uh animus

will make for terrible bedfellows,

so, um, I think I'm going to allow it.

But if I get a hint of anything improper,

I will refer you both to the bar.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Thank you, Your Honor.

[music intensifies]

So she never told you

where her parents lived in Mexico?

We were actually gonna go visit

when I had a chance to take a break, but

we weren't together long.

And then why did she send that video

to her sister

saying those things about you?

I I didn't even know she had a sister.

I don't know.

Hmm. You didn't know

where her parents live.

You didn't know she had a sister

- I didn't do anything to her.

- [Jimmy] Hmm.

Well, you did something to her.

Yeah?

Sex. Right?

I mean, that was your girl.

Now, don't look at her.

'Cause she's thinking the same thing.

- Of course we had sex, man.

- [Jimmy] Yeah, you had sex. Pretty erotic?

Like your ex?

Let's see what she said, actually.

Let's see. I read somethin'.

Ah, there it is.

"He liked to pull my hair

and make me gag."

"Spit on me."

"He got pleasure when I was in pain."

"He was sadistic."

Hmm. Take a look at that, Mea.

[softly] Yeah. Right there.

"Deep was never deep enough for him."

"If I didn't show pleasure on my face,

he would do things to make me show pain."

"Things like bite my nipples

and choke me until I passed out."

That's so one-sided. That was

that was her thing.

Why you smiling about it?

Listen.

She was she just was

that's how she was.

She was an insatiable woman

'cause she would do the same stuff to me.

She would choke me.

She would bite me,

pour hot candle wax on me.

It was a game.

It was too much for me,

so I had to end it.

That's why she's angry.

- Oh, wait. You ended it?

- [Zyair] I ended it.

She says she ended it,

and you stalked her.

No.

Actually,

it's the other way around.

Ooh, man, you got

a lot of women after you, don't you?

Well, you know, sometimes it's like that.

Okay. Arrogant m*therf*cker too.

I like it, though, personally.

- How the f*ck? What is

- Jimmy

- I'm sorry. I was

- Sorry.

I ended it.

She couldn't take it.

She was trying to take things too far.

I didn't feel comfortable with it.

And that was that.

What's going too far?

Bashing her head in?

Putting her skull in the painting?

- How is this helping me?

- [Mea] Jimmy

What? I'm just He's sitting there

with a smirk on his face. I just

Did you do these erotic things with Hydie?

No, Hydie wasn't that way at all.

Which is why I loved her so much.

It was

much better with Hydie.

I never did anything to hurt her.

So you didn't get high,

and then y'all got into some kinky sh*t

- [Zyair] No!

- Maybe things got a little, you know

- Maybe things got out of control.

- No.

- [Jimmy] That's all I'm suggesting. Maybe?

- [Zyair] No.

[Jimmy] Okay.

- [electronic beeps]

- Well that is my time.

Got a plane to catch. Headed to Mexico

to see how I can help you, kid.

You got any stairs? 'Cause, uh

man, that elevator's some creepy sh*t.

- All right. I'll be in touch.

- [Mea softly] Yeah.

I'll be right back.

[footsteps retreating]

[Mea] Jimmy!

Wait.

All right.

So what do you think?

Well, you read body language

better than experts.

Give me your opinion.

I mean, he wasn't blinking a lot.

His inflections were up

in all the right places.

Voice was pitched right.

That fucker's lying.

That's what I think.

If he's not lying, he is a psychopath.

All right? And he believes his lie so much

that he could he could fool even me.

Crazy, 'cause

- I feel the same way.

- You feel the same way. Yeah. [snorts]

sh*t.

I'll call you from Mexico?

Okay.

- [Jimmy] Adios.

- Hmm.

[ambient music playing]

Zyair?

Zyair?

You're out on bail.

You shouldn't do that.

So turn me in.

The prosecution can request a drug test

at any time.

Do you wanna do

this entire trial from jail?

Mr. Malloy, if I'm your attorney,

no more going out to fancy restaurants

with the paparazzi watching.

No more going out at all

unless you're

dying or trying to get to a hospital.

If you are ever photographed,

you need to be disheveled and look bad.

You need to look like you're in hell.

This is hell, Mea.

I can't for the life of me understand

why Hydie would make that video.

She was my woman.

I feel like all this is just a bad dream.

I feel like maybe if I

dove off this roof, I might wake up.

You're not dreaming.

And that will k*ll you.

Why don't we go back into the apartment?

I'm not suicidal, girl.

That was a lie, Mea.

I'm not a womanizer,

despite what the paper says.

Yes.

I do love sex.

And, yes, I have

done some wild sh*t.

But I've never hurt nobody.

I'm the type of man who loves to see

pleasure on my woman's face, not pain.

Pleasure.

And she knows that.

So why would she lie?

She's not my ex. She's just someone

I was f*cking around with.

Listen, I've heard

everything I need to know.

If there's anything else to find,

Jimmy is the best, and he will find it.

Okay.

Try not to worry.

[line ringing]

[cell phone ringing]

How's Mexico?

Uh, Mexico is the same everywhere.

Meaning how's the search going?

Not so good. I traced the cell phone

to a cell tower

near where the video was sent to,

and, yeah,

there's no families living in the area.

It's all cartel overran, right?

I get as close as I can to the city

where the police said that she was born.

Nobody's ever heard of this Hydie.

Excuse me.

- Well, that's odd.

- Yeah, no, it gets worse.

Uh, there are no birth records

for anyone with that name, Mea.

And to think, like, that an American

could k*ll a beautiful Mexican girl,

and there's no sign of that story here?

C'mon, something's off.

Gimme a couple days.

I'll have a full report.

Um, okay.

Yeah, oh, and there is a

there's a Renee Carter

you really need to ask him about.

Is she on the witness list?

Yeah, I talked to her on the phone.

She's telling me she got a lot to say,

but she won't talk on the phone,

so I'll see her when I get back.

Oh, okay. Well, travel safe. Thank you.

All right. I'll try.

[Kal clears throat]

[tap running]

[Mea] What?

- [Kal] You, uh

- [tap stops]

you remember our honeymoon?

Remember?

When it rained every damn day?

When you kept getting dressed,

and we couldn't even make it to the door?

[sensual music playing]

You, um

you ever think we can get back there?

I know you can't answer that. I know.

This is on me.

But I promise I promise I'm gonna do

everything to get us back there.

Okay?

And I get it.

Um I know why you repped him.

It's totally my f*ck-up.

And I'm sorry. I really am.

I love you with everything.

I gotta get dressed, Kal.

Yeah. Of of course.

[sighs]

[under breath] sh*t.

Who is Renee Carter?

[Zyair] A very bitter person.

[Mea] Did you sleep with her?

Yes.

So is everyone you sleep with bitter?

It may sound arrogant, but

I know what I want,

and I know what I don't.

Sometimes, despite what I tell them,

they think I'll fall in love with them

and stay forever.

She is a witness for the prosecution,

so tell me about her.

[Zyair] She

owns a gallery.

- [pen scribbling]

- Very well-connected in the art world.

Knows everything

and everyone.

I remember

bringing one of my paintings to her

after going to everyone in the city.

They all said no.

She took one look at me

and said yes.

Didn't even look at the work.

It was obvious what she wanted.

She put all my paintings up.

Took me around the country.

Pretty much got me started.

I was young.

I was broke. I was desperate.

I wasn't using her.

I really liked her.

We just had nothing in common.

So, once I got a little traction,

I told her I was moving out.

She got furious.

Wanted to control me.

I didn't like it.

You can relate?

Mr. Malloy

You may as well tell me.

My life is in your hands.

Do you wanna die of lethal injection?

Stay focused.

I am your attorney.

I am not your friend.

No one returns my calls anymore.

I'm sorry. Where was I at? I'm sorry.

[Mea sighs gently]

[Mea] I got married young

to a man that I loved.

It wasn't the fairy tale

that I thought it would be.

Her taking care of you is

something that I can sort of relate to.

[sighs] All right,

I think that's enough for tonight.

[Zyair] Wait, wait, wait.

Hold on. No, no, no, no.

Come here. Come here.

- Oh, no, I...

- Come! Come here.

Please. Just for a minute.

Please. Come here.

Sit down. I wanna show you something.

Sit down.

Sit.

Close your eyes.

Close.

First color that comes to mind

when you think of your marriage.

[scoffs] I don't think so.

[Zyair] Relax. Tell me.

[Mea sighs]

Blue.

[Zyair] Close.

There you go.

[Mea sighs softly]

What do you see the blue making?

Waves?

[Zyair] Waves.

Just let it go. Paint the wave.

That's it. Very nice.

I don't wanna do this.

[Zyair] Trust.

Art is subjective.

I think it's beautiful.

[gasps softly]

I think that's enough for tonight.

I'm gonna miss my train.

[Zyair] Train to where?

I see. It's kinda hard to trust

a cat on trial for m*rder.

I live in Chesterton.

[Zyair] Come.

I'll take you to the station.

[Mea] Oh, no.

I thought you had a car.

I do. This is faster.

I don't think so.

Why?

Well, for one,

I have on a skirt.

So hike it up.

That does not seem appropriate.

You always do what's appropriate?

- Come on, man, just ride side-saddle.

- That does not seem safe.

You always do what's safe?

I got a car.

Come on, it's right here. Come on.

- My ride is pulling up right about now.

- I'll walk you.

No, no. Thank you.

[door opens]

[door shuts]

[Zyair] Come on, please.

Don't question it.

Just let it go.

I think it's beautiful.

[Mea] I don't wanna do this.

[Zyair] Don't think.

Close your eyes.

This is wonderful.

[Mea gasps sensually]

[Kal grunting]

[music fades out]

[Mea] I'm really looking forward

to getting all the information.

- Can you do that?

- On it.

[Mea] Okay, by Thursday.

- Sounds good. All right. Thank you.

- Yes, ma'am.

[Mea] Thursday. Make it Thursday.

Okay. Thank you.

[Kal] Mea.

- [Mea] Hi.

- Hey. Um

You left so early this morning,

I didn't get a chance.

I Uh, thank you. I have a lot to do.

I know. I just told you

I wouldn't stop trying.

Thank you.

Well, uh, I was just coming

to drop these off. I'll, uh

Look, I was thinkin', uh

How about dinner tonight?

No, after therapy.

Okay.

[Zyair] Mea.

Must be your husband.

Zyair.

There's no need for the introduction.

- [Mea sighs]

- Wow.

- My office?

- What happened to meeting at my loft?

I thought it would be better

if we meet here instead,

just to stay focused.

I get it.

So let's go to my office

to discuss the gallery owner.

You know, the paps followed me

all the way here.

[Mea sighs]

I'm sorry.

I thought that was the whole reason

for meeting at my place.

Well, this is better.

Better for who?

I'm trying to do a good job for you.

That's bullshit.

Excuse me?

I don't wanna be here.

This place is uptight.

n*gg*s in suits,

and I don't feel I can open up here.

Meet me at my loft. It's so much better.

Are you taking this seriously?

Are you?

Meet me at my loft.

Mr. Malloy, are you really leaving?

By the way, I see them jeans.

Hello, it's me

It's me, babe

I've thought about us

For a long, long time

Maybe I think too much

But something's wrong

Somethin' here

That doesn't last too long

Maybe I shouldn't think of you

You're a day late.

I shouldn't be here at all.

[music quietens]

- I wanna talk about the other night.

- Mr. Malloy, I don't.

[Zyair] Good. Then listen.

I find you

incredibly attractive.

You turn me on when I see you.

I hug you when I see you because

I love the way you feel.

Love the way the small of your back feels

in my hands.

The way you smell.

Your brilliance.

Your confidence.

All very intriguing,

very attractive.

[Mea sighs]

[Mea sighs]

"Mr. Malloy, the sex m*rder*r."

"Zyair Malloy, an arrogant m*rder*r."

"Zyair Malloy k*lled his girlfriend

so his paintings would go up in value."

"Malloy, the womanizer!"

"Zyair Malloy, he makes women

fall for him and then kills them."

I could go on and on.

So you think I'm running game?

That's what you think of me?

Doesn't matter what I think.

It's what the jury thinks.

So I tell you that I'm attracted to you,

and you throw this bullshit in my face?

I think I need a new lawyer

because everything in your body

says you're attracted to me.

But you won't admit it to yourself

or to me.

I can't trust you.

New lawyer.

[Mea] If that's what you want to do.

But I'll just say this.

Your trial is in a month.

And that'll be hard for any attorney

to get up to speed in such short time.

Admit it. You find me attractive.

That is a lie.

I'm here to try to help you.

Lying to me isn't helping me, Mea.

You have my life in your hands

and can't admit a simple truth.

Mr. Malloy, I can smell the marijuana.

I could smell it

when you came to my office.

I know that you're high,

and it's not helping.

Well, being high brings truth.

Maybe you should try it.

Yeah.

New lawyer.

[tense music playing]

Where are you going?

[Zyair] I need to dance. I'm going out.

[Mea] You cannot be seen

in public dancing.

[Zyair] Where I'm going isn't public.

Get your sh*t. Let's go. I gotta lock up.

Mea. Move!

So is this what you do

when you don't get your way?

Only person who could help me

won't tell me she's attracted to me

or that she believes me.

And I know you are.

I see your breathing change

when I look at you.

Or how you avert your eyes

when I look at you.

Trying to play cool.

Play big girl.

I see you, big girl.

You shouldn't be seen going out.

I told you, I'm not going out.

[music fades out]

["Khavhude (feat. Victyphoon & Mpura)"

by DJ Lag & Mr JazziQ playing]

[sensual moaning]

Wanna f*ck?

I got X.

[Kal] All right, watch this.

I'm coming for you. Mm-hmm.

- Okay, one-on-one.

- [music fades out]

[Kal] All right, then,

why you running? Don't run!

- Okay, watch this. Here you go.

- [joystick rattling]

- Hey.

- [Kal] Oh, I see you know how to hide.

Okay, where you at?

Oh, you think you smart?

You think you smart. Okay... Come on!

[laughing]

Come on, that's not fair. Look... Uh...

All right, okay. C'mon, then.

One-on-one, let's go.

Oh, you think you smart.

All right, let's go now. Okay, wait there.

[laughing]

Uh-uh. Uh-uh. Uh-uh.

Okay, let's go.

[phone ringing]

- This is Mea.

- It's Maddy.

Hi.

Hi. Zyair told me he want another lawyer.

Yes.

I told him that would be a big mistake.

Please, talk to him.

[Mea] He doesn't want me to.

[Maddy] Mea, he is scared out of his mind.

- [Mea] He said that?

- [Maddy] Well, there you have it.

He would never admit that to anyone.

Don't give up on him. He needs you.

[Mea] Maddy, I really have to go.

Maddy told me you wanted to see me.

I wanna apologize about the other night.

I know this is hard for you.

[Zyair] Yes.

I wanted to say that first.

Zyair, I am not some weak woman

that you can seduce.

Yes, my marriage has issues, as do most,

but we will work it out.

And if you wanna fire me, that's fine.

But you won't find anyone better

or anyone who cares as much.

I was just trying to set some boundaries,

that's all.

There's some truth.

Why do you need boundaries?

[intense string music playing]

Um, call me tomorrow

if you want me to represent you.

Hi.

I'm Carrie.

I live next door.

[Zyair] There's no need

to introduce yourself. She's not staying.

[zipper opening]

[music intensifies]

- [switch clicks]

- [elevator whirring]

[music fades out]

[cell phone ringing]

Hi.

Been trying to call you.

It's been a long day.

What's wrong?

Nothing. N... Nothing. Uh, what you got?

Is this about Kal and that girl?

What are you talking about?

[sighs] sh*t.

- [message sent beep]

- What is it?

Check your phone.

Hey, I... I am sorry, kid, okay?

But they're at the Winston, room 714.

- Are you there?

- [scoffs]

Mea? All right, listen, Mea.

I'm back tomorrow, all right,

and I'm coming to you, Mea.

I'm coming right to you, okay? Just...

Hey, hey, listen. Can you talk to me?

- I'll call you back. I'll call you back.

- Please. Just take a breath, okay?

[clears throat] I'll be by my phone.

["And I Drove You Crazy" by BANKS playing]

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

Even though I should've known

It was a bad idea to love you

All I wanted was to lift each other up

All I wanted was to lift each other up

I couldn't validate

Or navigate a way around you

All I wanted was to lift each other up

I never wanted you

To hurt too much to touch

What are you looking for?

Wanted to be your girl

And anything you wanted

Baby, I tried to be

What are you looking for?

Wanted to be your girl

[Mea groans] Stop.

Believe, I tried to be

I drove you crazy

- What are you looking for?

- I drove you crazy, I drove you crazy

- Wanted to be your girl

- I drove you crazy, I drove you crazy

- And anything you wanted

- I drove you crazy, I drove you crazy

- Baby, I tried to be

- I drove you crazy, I drove you crazy

- What are you looking for?

- I drove you crazy, I drove you crazy

- Wanted to be your girl

- I drove you crazy, I drove you crazy

- In any way you wanted me

- I drove you crazy, I drove you crazy

- Believe, I tried to be

- I drove you crazy, I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

And I drove you crazy

[music fades out]

["Unravel Me" by Sabrina Claudio playing]

It's something in the sun or the air

It's making me wanna run

Away from here

I know that you want me

To stay with you, but no

So I'll keep on making excuses

About the sun, the earth, the rays

Our days are numbered

Wired and I'm tired of it

I know you're trying

But you'll never unravel me

Unravel me

Unravel me

Unravel me

Unravel me

Unravel me

Unravel me

Unravel me

Unravel me

Unravel me

[music fades out]

[ambient music playing]

Zyair.

No worries.

It's abstraction.

[Mea gasps]

Oh sh*t.

Come on.

I always saw myself with a woman like you.

[Mea] Honestly,

I always saw myself

with someone spontaneous.

Who makes love to me

the way I wanna be made love to.

Who throws caution at the wind.

Someone like

Me?

Too bad we didn't meet earlier.

Maybe you wouldn't be with him.

And I wouldn't be in all this sh*t.

Where would we be?

Somewhere in love

in the Dominican Republic.

Off the beach in one of those villas.

That sounds perfect.

We'll go when you get me off.

I'll do my best.

Tell me we'll go when you get me off.

We'll go

when I get you off.

[music fades out]

[footsteps approaching]

What the f*ck? Where have you been?

We have been calling you all night

and all morning.

Keep your voices down.

We are in my office.

Yes, I worked very late last night,

so I got a hotel.

What? And you didn't call me?

Mea, I don't like this.

- Neither do I, Kal.

- I don't like this at all!

- [Mea] Keep your voice...

- Who the f*ck you think you're talking to?

Um, she's right. We are at her job.

And now that we know she's okay,

we can leave. Let's go to the Winston.

The Winston?

Azalia said she was feeling very bad,

so we moved her into the Winston

so that she can be closer to the hospital

since we're so far out.

We were all there.

- What room?

- [scoffs] Oh.

So now you wanna know.

[poignant music playing]

Come on, Kal. Let's go.

I'll, um I'll meet you in the car.

You really hate me that much,

you ignore me? sh**t, Mea, I'm tryin'!

What the hell?

Look, we're in counseling.

Look, I thought we were doing better.

Please tell me what's goin' on.

I'm sorry.

You're sorry.

That's all you have to say?

Can we go to my office and talk?

No, I'm good right here. In fact, uh

I can't do this.

Kal.

[stamps foot] sh*t.

sh*t.

[elevator clanking]

[Zyair] Haven't heard from you all day.

- I brought your case files.

- Mea.

[Mea] The rest will be delivered later on.

I spoke to Jason Timsdale. He is great.

I spoke to him this morning.

He has an excellent team.

- Stop.

- And they are ready to take you on.

[Zyair] Stop.

I understand. You're feeling guilty.

You're embarrassed.

You wanna avoid me.

I get it. I already know.

There's no reason for any of that.

No one

will ever know.

Look

I saw that wall you had up

when we first met.

I knew you were feeling me.

But that woman who can hide her emotions

in the workplace,

she can rep me.

I know you can do it.

You can separate the two.

Do you wanna gamble with your life?

Knowing how you feel about me?

Absolutely.

[Mea sighs]

What's more important to me right now

is how I feel about my husband.

- And I can't do this.

- Mea.

- I won't do this.

- Mea, please.

It's too late. You know I need you.

You know I need you.

Please don't do this.

[Mea] I can't.

[Zyair] Mea!

Mea, what am I supposed to do?

[music fades out]

[quavering] I can't believe

I did it, Jimmy.

But you're human, okay?

She was in there 'cause she was sick.

They were all in there!

Ray and Charlise too.

I would never judge you,

and you know that, right?

But I'm judging myself.

I was so stupid!

- I shouldn't have said anything.

- It's not your fault.

[Jimmy] Don't b*at yourself up, okay?

I can't rep him.

- No, no, no.

- But I need the money.

No, no. We're not gonna panic.

You have handled a lot. You got this, Mea.

You can do it.

Don't you lose this because of my mistake.

How do I look at him?

You can do this.

You take a second,

but you can do this. All right?

You just talk to the gallery owner.

She refused to talk to me,

but for whatever reason,

she said she's willing to talk to you.

If you still feel like you can't,

then you drop it.

But you gotta try. Okay?

- Okay.

- All right?

- Okay.

- All right.

Okay.

[Mea sighs]

[chanting] Her blood! Your walls!

Her blood! Your walls!

Her blood! Your walls!

Her blood! Your walls!

Her blood! Your walls!

Her blood! Your walls!

Her blood! Your walls!

Your walls! Her blood! Your walls!

Her blood! Your walls!

Her blood! Your walls!

Her blood! Your walls!

Her blood! Your walls!

Her blood! Your walls!

All you b*tches can go to hell!

Take that.

Her blood! Your walls! Her blood

["Condotta ell'era in ceppi"

by Verdi playing in gallery]

Are you gonna stand there,

or are you gonna come have a seat?

You want one?

[Mea] No, thank you!

Are you judging me

because it's before noon?

Not at all.

[woman] Well,

I've earned this.

I'm Renee Chester Wilson.

Mea Harper.

I know who you are.

He likes you!

You f*ckin' him yet?

I beg your pardon?

[Renee] Yeah, you are.

He's good.

And he has a real sizable package,

like the snake that he is.

You wanted to talk to me.

Yes, honey.

I wanted to share with you who he is.

Look at these walls.

There's Basquiat, Warhol,

Jon Moody,

Sam Gilliam,

Mark Bradford,

and Derrick Adams.

He didn't belong on these walls.

Those b*tches out there want me

to get rid of all of his paintings.

Not a chance.

He's gonna make me rich one day.

Well,

rich er.

I helped him.

And as soon as things

started going well for him,

it was bye-bye, old broad.

The world awaits.

I can understand

how that kind of betrayal can feel.

You can't understand nothing.

You're not even 50. You have no idea.

Well, with that being said,

is there anything else you wanna say?

There's a lot I can say, sugar.

What do you wanna know?

- Was he ever violent towards you?

- [laughs]

[sighs]

You're going there.

I don't understand.

I... If you wanna defend him

in that way, okay.

No, he was never violent.

But that's not how a snake works.

A snake is never violent

when they're stalking their prey.

It's only when they get

right into striking distance

that they can become very violent.

Was he ever

within striking distance with you?

No.

He got what he wanted, and he was gone.

He charmed me.

I told him I was angry with my ex,

and he sat me down in front of an easel

and made me paint.

He said, "Close your eyes,

and tell me what color you feel."

So I said,

"Blue."

And he made me paint waves.

Then he asked me,

"Are you angry?"

And I said, "Yes."

And then he said,

"Well, that feels like red to me."

So there I was

with this canvas of blue waves

and red lines.

It was a mess. And you know what he did?

No, I don't.

He finished it.

And he put it on the canopy over the bed.

And one morning,

I looked up, and there was my face.

Bigger than life.

I was the canvas

that he played with until it was done.

But there are many canvases.

Many layers, darling.

Look at your face.

[Renee laughing]

[laughing intensifies]

- [music intensifies]

- [inaudible chanting]

[music intensifies]

[Renee's laugh echoing]

[music climaxes]

[music fades out]

[elevator whirring]

[elevator clanks]

[tense string music playing]

- Hey.

- [Mea] Hey.

[Zyair] I've been calling you.

[Mea] Yeah, I was out.

[Zyair] You know

feeling good about all this.

It's all your fault.

[music becomes unsettling]

I haven't felt relaxed like this

in a long time.

Baby, you all right?

Mea?

Mea, wait!

[music becomes dramatic]

[Zyair] Hold on, it's not what you think.

Mea, please.

- Let me explain. It's not what you think.

- You need another lawyer! I quit!

I only did that because of the video.

[Mea] I'm done.

[Zyair] Mea, please.

You know it's too late.

I need you, M... [softly] Oh my God

So you take down the painting of me,

painted that "die, bitch,

you ruined my life," and put it back up?

[softly] It's not what you think.

What do you want me to do, Mea?

What do you want me to do?

Mea.

[Mea grunts]

Mea.

- [Mea] Start the elevator!

- Mea.

[Mea] Start it!

What we had the other night

[Mea] Start the elevator.

[Zyair] I only have one card to play.

If you are talking about

telling my husband, I will tell him.

I'll go to the prosecution,

Judge Brodan, the bar.

That painting is enough to bury your ass!

- That's not what I'm saying.

- The f*ck are you saying?!

Just that I love you.

You are so full of sh*t.

[Mea sobbing gently]

Start the f*cking elevator.

Start the f*cking elevator!

[elevator clanks, whirs]

[Kal] Hey. What's goin' on?

Hi.

What's goin' on?

Kal.

Come 'ere.

[tense music plays]

[Mea sighs]

[indistinct whispering]

Kal, I need to tell you something.

You were with him for over an hour

on the drive here. Couldn't tell him then?

Can we talk in private?

[Azalia] No.

Whatever you need to say,

you can say to all of us.

Yeah.

Tell him where you were the other night.

All night long.

- Kal, please...

- He's not talking to you.

- Kal.

- What did I say?

- [sighs] Let's all just calm down.

- [Ray] You, shut up!

Nobody needs to calm down.

I am mad as hell.

After all that my son has done for you,

you buy these expensive suits,

and he has to work overtime

to pay for them. It's insane.

- [Mea scoffs]

- [Azalia laughs] You don't deserve him.

[Kal] You wanna tell me where you were?

Tell him.

And be honest.

Honest?

Is that what we're doing?

I lost my job.

What?

She's been supporting me the whole time.

[gasps softly] And I'm in rehab.

- [quietly] Kal, what are you saying?

- It's all her fault.

She put too much pressure on you.

She doesn't deserve you.

[Ray] I got a call from the court

saying you went to see the judge,

and you're off the case

because of an inappropriate relationship

with your client.

Wanna tell him that?

[Kal] What did you mean by that, Mea?

Where were you that night?

[Kal breathes shakily]

[softly] I spent the night with Zyair.

[quavers] Did you f*ck him?

[quietly] Yes.

I knew it! Oh!

f*ck! f*ck! f*ck!

- f*ck, man!

- [Ray] Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

[Azalia] You need to leave!

- [Ray] I got you.

- I'm sorry.

I said, you need to leave!

Get the f*ck outta here,

you f*cking bitch! Get out!

Get outta this house!

- Get out!

- [Ray] I got you.

- I got you.

- [Azalia] We got you, baby.

I didn't do anything wrong, Mom

[Mea sobbing] I'm so sorry.

I know.

[Ray] Charlise.

Get in here. The kids are crying.

[tropical music playing in beach bar]

[man 1] The forecast for today

is more sun.

It looks like

it will be a warmer-than-normal week.

In other news,

Chicago District Attorney Ray Harper

announced a breakthrough

in the Zyair Malloy case.

With more analysis on the case,

here's Channel 10's legal team,

Judy Walker and Jim Forrester.

[man 2] Yes, in a surprising turn,

Zyair Malloy has agreed to a deal

with the prosecution

that will give him

the opportunity to be eligible for parole.

So doesn't this mean

no trial and no answers?

Usually, when these types

of deals are made,

the defendant has to confess

and tell where the body is.

Is that a part of this deal?

No. Surprisingly enough,

DA Harper did not ask for that,

which is shocking.

I'm sure we'll be hearing from her family.

Yes, that is strange.

Thank you very much, Brandon.

[line ringing]

- [Mea] Hi.

- Hey! Hey, I've been trying to call you.

Yeah, I just got on a plane.

I needed to clear my head.

Hey, you talk to Kal?

No.

He doesn't wanna talk to me.

You need to call him, Mea.

Why? What did you do?

He's been going to counseling.

Let me give it some time. I just need

a second to sit in all of this.

All right. I love you, girl.

Love you, Jimmy. Thanks. Bye.

Bye.

[ambient music playing]

[music intensifies]

[music becomes unsettling]

[Mea] 'Scuse me.

Yes, ma'am?

Hydie.

- Uh...

- You're Hydie.

Ah [Mexican accent] I'm sorry.

No No speak English.

- [Mea] You're alive!

- [music becomes dramatic]

[Mea] You're gonna talk to me!

- Why are you running?

- I am not who you think I am.

- You're coming to the police with me.

- No. No!

[Mea] sh*t!

[Hydie yelps]

[music subsides]

[Hydie gasping hysterically]

Oh my God!

[sucks in air] Ah! sh*t.

[music fades out]

[line ringing]

- It's me. I had to get another phone.

- Are you okay?

Uh [spluttering] Is Ray around?

Can you put him on the phone?

Yeah, but he doesn't wanna speak to you.

Please put him on the phone.

- Who is it?

- Mea.

What do you want?

Yeah, Zyair is innocent.

What?

I just saw

the woman that he supposedly k*lled.

[scoffs] What are you talkin' about?

I saw her. She's working at the resort

that I'm staying at.

I'm at the police station,

but they aren't much help.

[scoffs] This sounds ridiculous.

You have an innocent man in jail.

I'm supposed to believe you

after what you did to Kal?

You don't have to believe me.

Well, tell the police.

I'm telling you, they're not much help.

An investigator I'm working with

is on a plane, and when he lands,

- I'm gonna have him come and find her.

- Where are you?

I'm in the DR. Santo Domingo.

Mea.

This looks bad.

What do you mean?

You slept with him.

You wanna help him, let me get

one of my investigators out there.

- No. She'll be gone by then.

- And what are you gonna do to stop her?

I'll get one of my guys

on the plane right now. Just

come home.

Okay? Come come here, to the house.

Kal's here.

Mea, he's been worried sick without you.

- No, Ray, I...

- Come.

- Your mother doesn't want me there.

- Look, I'll talk to her.

I need to get off the phone.

Let me get my guy on the plane.

Just come to the house.

Okay.

- [phone beeps]

- Goddammit!

- You.

- Mom.

Is Kal here?

He was in the city earlier,

but he's on his way.

Did you reach your investigator?

Landing as we speak.

Hey, don't worry.

We'll find her, okay?

Okay.

[cell phone buzzing]

I'm sorry, I have to take this.

Yeah. Go on.

- [Jimmy] Hey.

- [Mea] Hey, did you get my message?

Yeah, s... so she's alive?

Yeah.

Hey, where are you?

At my brother-in-law's house.

- Is his mother there?

- Yeah.

Okay, listen. Mea, I know I f*cked up

with the whole Kal thing.

I need you to trust me here, all right?

I want you to check your email.

[buttons tapping]

- [unsettling music plays]

- [gasps softly]

You're kidding.

I know it's illegal,

but I had to make it up to you somehow.

[Mea gasps softly]

Okay?

[Mea gasping softly]

You hear me?

- [to herself] I can't

- Mea?

Can you hear me?

Hell... f*ck!

[tense music playing]

[music intensifies]

- [Azalia] Mea?

- Yes?

Can you help me to the counter? This...

This chemo, it just makes me so sick.

- [Azalia gasps]

- [phone cracks]

[Azalia] Oh, I

[insincerely] I don't think

your phone is working anymore.

I'm sorry. It just it makes me so weak.

[sighs] Thank you, dear.

[chair scraping floor]

Thank you.

- Everything okay?

- [Azalia] Yeah.

Here. Made you a drink, Mea.

[unsettling music plays]

- Thank you.

- [Ray] Yeah.

Kal should've been here by now.

Yeah. I'll call him. You enjoy your drink.

You wanna help me get this meal ready?

- Sure.

- [Charlise] Uh, you can wash those.

[Azalia] Oh! You won't be needing that.

I'll cut them.

[unsettling music plays]

- You haven't touched your drink.

- What did your clerk say?

- Think our investigator found her.

- Okay.

Great.

Tomorrow we'll talk to Judge Brodan, and

[sighs] we'll see about

getting that man out of jail.

Why can't we just hit the judge tonight?

No. Come on, Mea. This is family time.

[Azalia] Yeah, it's family time!

[Mea] Ray read your email.

Go on. Read it!

Who got you this? Jimmy? Your PI?

- You mean, Mom, you don't have cancer?

- No, son.

And tell her why.

We cooked all of this sh*t up.

I won sympathy for my votes.

I just don't know

why it took you so long to figure it out.

Does Kal know about this?

It would break his heart.

- Let's toast to family! [chuckles]

- [Ray] Mm.

Here's to Charlise,

who decided to sleep with

a penniless, desperate artist.

I am so sorry, son.

Ray, I...

Oh, shut the f*ck up.

[scoffs] My boys are so good

to both of you,

and you two

cheat with the same f*cking guy?

I don't believe this.

Oh, I begged Kal not to marry you.

I know that you set Zyair up.

I think you should let it go.

[Ray laughing]

[Mea] Charlise, get the kids.

Let's get out of here, okay?

C'mon.

[Azalia] s*ab her.

[Ray] Do it.

- No. I won't. I won't. I wo...

- [Mea] Charlise

- Now.

- [Mea] Charlise.

[Charlise sniffs]

- No.

- [Ray] C'mon.

You can do it.

[Mea] Char...

[music intensifies]

[music becomes dramatic]

[Azalia screaming]

[Ray groaning]

[metal cracks, rattles]

[Mea] sh*t. Charlise! Please!

Charlise

sh*t!

C'mon! C'mon!

[g*nsh*t cracks]

[Ray panting] Honey, what are you doin'?

DA's have incredible security.

That's bulletproof glass.

The f*cking Kn*fe down.

Get his keys.

Get his keys. Get his keys. Run!

[Azalia] No!

- [Azalia grunts]

- [sickening squelch]

[music intensifies]

[Mea groaning] sh*t!

- [unsettling squelch]

- [Ray cries out]

[Mea] sh*t.

[Mea yelps]

[Ray growling]

[music fades out]

- [Mea grunting]

- [ignition failing]

[dramatic music playing]

Help! Please!

Stop! Stop!

Please! Please! Please!

- Mea! Mea! What are you... What are you...

- Kal!

- Baby, what you...

- We gotta get outta here.

Wait. What are you talking about?

- [shouts] Ray is in on it!

- Wait, what?!

Charlise was sleeping with him.

- Baby...

- We have to go.

- Baby, look. Breathe.

- No.

- Let's just go! He tried to k*ll me!

- I need you to calm down.

Who tried to k*ll you?

Baby, please talk. C'mon.

- I need you to breathe.

- Call the police!

[Kal] C'mon. Get in the car.

Yeah, 911?

Okay, yeah, I have an emergency, please.

Yeah, I need the police.

[softly] It'll be okay. Yeah, please.

They're asking me what happened.

What happened, Mea? Mea, what happened?

I'm asking her questions,

but she's not answering.

Can you just send somebody

to 345 on Highway 57?

Yeah. Yeah, send somebody.

Okay, look, they're on the way.

Okay? It's gonna be all right.

It's gonna be all right.

- Why are you going to the house?

- We have to wait for the police.

- They tried to k*ll me!

- Mea, come on!

[phone ringing]

Uh Yeah, 911?

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, all right, all right. Yeah.

[Ray through speaker] She figured it out.

I need you to bring her back here.

Now.

Get her back here!

[unsettling music playing]

Don't look at me like that.

You know, my mom told me

you would do this.

I had no idea

you'd fall for him like Charlise did.

You're both so damn stupid.

Ray told me

I'll never be good enough for you. Never.

He told me to b*at your ass

to just... to get you in line.

- [Mea breathing deeply]

- But I said no.

I said I wanted to try it the sweet way.

But my mom was so right.

That sh*t would never work with you.

Why?

Because you're weak?

The f*ck did you just say?

That's why I was with him.

A man

with money and success.

[Kal punches dashboard]

He is nothing.

[Mea scoffs softly]

[Mea] If you only knew.

That's right. You can look at me here.

See, that was

a decision of mine. See that?

What are you doin'?

Get off, bitch!

[horn screeching]

[music fades out]

[man echoing] Oh my Lord, are you okay?

Ma'am, are you okay?

[siren wailing]

Debbie, we are on the scene where we are

told DA Raymond Harper has been arrested

for covering up evidence in a crime

along with a number of other charges.

We are also being told that this is all

in connection with the Zyair Malloy case.

The attorney general

has issued a statement

saying they are investigating this case,

as well as several others.

And our sources have revealed

all of the evidence that was presented

to the state's attorney against him,

apparently in an anonymous email,

gave several details on the nature

of the crimes that were alleged.

They are scheduled to hold

a press conference to brief the public,

and you can believe

Channel 7 will be there.

[woman] How does it feel to be free?

[man] Are you angry at the prosecution?

["Walk On By" by Isaac Hayes playing]

[woman] Sir, please look this way!

[man] Are you

are you angry at the prosecution?

How does it feel to be free?

- Long overdue.

- Are you angry at the prosecution?

I'm angry at any system

that can allow this to happen.

Who would you like to

thank the most for this?

Mea Harper. I'm told she's the reason

why the truth got revealed.

Which one of y'all got a close-up?

I appreciate you, Mea.

Yeah.

If you see me walking down the street

And I start to cry each time we meet

Then walk on by

Walk on by

Make believe

That you don't see the tears

Oh, just let me grieve

In private cause each time I see you

Just can't help myself

I break down and cry

Oh, baby, walk on by

[music fades out]

[ambient music playing]

[music fades out]

[dramatic music playing]

[music subsides]

[music fades out]

[sensual music playing]

[music fades out]