01x04 - Can't Fight This Feeling

Episode transcripts for the TV show "The Girl from Plainville". Aired: March 29, 2022 –; present.*
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Based on the true story of Michelle Carter's "texting-su1c1de" case, exploring her relationship with Conrad Roy III and the events leading up to his death, and, later, her conviction of involuntary manslaughter.
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01x04 - Can't Fight This Feeling

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CONRAD: Previously on The
Girl from Plainville...

GORDON: Michelle Carter texts
her friends for three days,

telling them her boyfriend's
missing, maybe dead.

She was in contact with
him the whole time.

You she knew he was
gonna k*ll himself?

She was telling him to do it.

Why? Why did she
lie to her friends

about not knowing
where Conrad was?

To Natalie something.

She told him to get
back in the truck.

It is practically a
g*dd*mn confession.

I don't know why I said that.

[both laugh]

LYNN: It's your responsibility
to set a good example.

- You're right. I get it.
- Pinkie swear?

[dramatic music]

MICHELLE: So that's
the main couple.

Rachel and Finn.

SUSIE: Are those two together?

MICHELLE: They start
off as friends,

and then they
eventually get together.

I love you.

♪ ♪

GORDON: I think we've got
a manslaughter charge here.

This kid has a
history of depression.

♪ ♪

[Conrad panting]

[tense music]

♪ ♪

Mom, I just did
something stupid.

I-I want her to come
back. I'm scared.

[retches]

♪ ♪

Why?

I-I-I don't know.

You scared me.

If you die, I die.

- I-I won't do it again.
- I'm so sorry.

[sniffles]

I promise. I do.

[sniffles]

[phone ringing,
indistinct chatter]

The hospital wants
to commit him.

To a mental institution?

- It's not up to us.
- Doctor said.

And when he gets out,

we need to get him help.

Therapy.

He needs to get back to school.

Back to work.

- I'm not asking you.
- I'm telling you.

I need you with me on this.

TERESA: What was
Conrad's state of mind

leading up to his passing?

He had his ups and downs.

But he was doing better.

Much better.

So we thought.

Any trouble at home
stemming from the divorce

that might have affected
Conrad emotionally?

It's not like he
threw us a party.

Nobody's happy about divorce,
even if it's the right thing.

He left us all notes.

I-I really don't know what
else there is to know.

Are either of you
familiar with a girl

named Michelle Carter?

Yeah, of course.

And, um, what the nature of
her and Conrad's relationship?

Apparently, they were
boyfriend-girlfriend.

But we didn't find out
about that until after.

KATIE: And, uh, have you been
in communication with her

since Conrad passed?

Yeah, a little.

Why do you ask about her?

We're just trying to piece
together what Conrad's life...

Coco.

I'm sorry?

- You keep saying Conrad.
- His name is Coco.

Of course, apologies.

Anything else about
Coco's homelife

that might help
us piece together

why he may have taken his life?

No.

[somber music]

PERSON: The guys tell me
you go to King Philip.

PERSON: I-I-I went to Franklin.

Captain of the football team.

Hated playing you guys. [Laughs]

GAIL: Michelle, Mr. Cataldo
is speaking to you.

Uh, y-you're probably wondering

why the cops took away your
phone and your computer.

I spoke to some
contacts at the DA,

and they've opened an
official investigation

into your connection with
the death of Conrad Roy.

- Why?
- JOE: I'm still looking into it.

But, um, the ADA that
they've got working the case,

Katie Rayburn, she's tough.

And she's not gonna bring
charges unless she's got

something solid enough
for an indictment.

What do you mean?

What is he talking about?

Um, let's just, um,
listen to him, Michelle.

I'm sure he'll tell us.

JOE: It... it means I-I
wouldn't be surprised

if they bring charges.

What?

JOE: But... but, listen to me.

But I didn't do anything wrong.

I know, and it's my job to
get those charges dismissed.

What I see here is
fairly open-and-shut.

The young man, he
took his own life.

Now, su1c1de and even
assisted su1c1de,

it's not illegal in the
state of Massachusetts.

So we've got that on our side.

Do you, um... Do
you watch football?

'Cause I-I represented
some of the Patriots.

Yeah, so I'm gonna
take care of you

just as good as I
took care of them.

Michelle, we've got
something called

attorney-client privilege.

Do you know what that is?

Good, so if there's anything
that you wanna tell me

that maybe you don't want
your mom or dad to hear,

that's fine.

We can ask them to leave.

I don't have
anything to tell you

because I didn't
do anything wrong.

- Okay.
- MICHELLE: Really, I think this

is just a big misunderstanding.

JOE: You know, I'm sure it is.

Can I just get a new phone?

I can just text Lynn and
explain everything...

No, no, no, no, under
no circumstances

are you to talk to Lynn Roy.

We don't need to complicate
things any further.

In fact, I don't want
you contacting anyone

that has anything to
do with this case.

You hear me?

Stay off of everything...
Phones, computers, everything.

What am I supposed to do?

Uh, r-read a book.

["Can't Fight This Feeling"
playing over speakers]

♪ I can't fight this feeling ♪

[phone buzzes]

♪ Any longer ♪

♪ And yet I'm still
afraid to let it go ♪

[dramatic music]

♪ What started out
as friendship ♪

♪ Has grown stronger ♪

[phone buzzes]

♪ ♪

[indistinct chatter]

♪ ♪

[Backstreet Boys' "As Long as
You Love Me" playing over radio]

SINGER: ♪ I can't get you out ♪

♪ Of my head ♪

[laughs]

SUSIE: ♪ Don't care what is
written in your history ♪

BOTH: ♪ As long as
you're here with me ♪

♪ I don't care who you are ♪

♪ Where you're from ♪

♪ What you did ♪

♪ As long as you love me ♪

♪ Who you are ♪

♪ Where you're from ♪

♪ Don't care what you did ♪

[rain pattering]

CO: Hey. Here, give it to me.

[Co grunts]

So?

My roommate trimmed his
toenails with his teeth.

Oh, so you fit right in.

[chuckles]

Do a lot of talking in there?

All I did was talk.

CO: You feel better,
though, yeah?

Yeah.

So maybe you keep it up.

What? CO: Talking.

To a therapist or

you know, whatever.

I'm good.

Maybe

there's no harm in trying it.

Yeah? For a little bit?

Mean a lot to your mom.

What about you?

Like I said, mean
a lot to your mom.

I told her I'd
never do it again.

And I meant it.

I missed your laugh.

[engine turning over]

[door clicks open]

[door slams]

You're back.

[sighs]

I'm fine.

Dad'll tell you about
my roommate's toenails.

[laughing] Okay.

What do you want for dinner?

Um, anything, long as
it's not on a tray.

I can manage that.

I'm gonna go, uh,
throw my stuff down.

Okay. Welcome home.

CO: I talked to him.

He says he doesn't wanna
keep going to therapy.

He said he would tell
me if he needed it.

I'm sure you presented the
idea with great enthusiasm.

Lynn, I f*cking asked him.

LYNN: [muffled] I asked
you to do one thing!

CO: And I asked him, all right?

He said no.

I don't know what else
you want me to do here.

LYNN: I asked you
to do one thing.

CO: I'm out of here.

[door slams]

[rap music playing over earbuds]

[knock at door]

RAPPER: ♪ Last
play, game point ♪

♪ Yeah, this is where I shine ♪

Hey.

CONRAD: Hey.

RAPPER: ♪ This right here,
we're going history ♪

♪ My victory's in sight ♪

Would you please not
be weird around me too?

RAPPER: ♪ I'm a
different opposition ♪

♪ Better listen,
I'm a menace, yeah ♪

If I tell you Jay Cole sucks,

are you gonna try
to do it again?

[chuckles]

- [imitates g*nsh*t]
- [chuckles]

RAPPER: ♪ All I do is motivate ♪

♪ All I do is take it back ♪

♪ Check the score,
check your face ♪

♪ I decided it's for real ♪

♪ Uh, I check the score ♪

[door clicks shut]

♪ We just born different ♪

♪ I tried to tell
'em all before ♪

♪ That we gon' get it ♪

♪ You know we gon' get it ♪

♪ 'Cause we in
the zone, get it ♪

♪ Yeah, uh, I check the score ♪

[phone buzzes]

CONRAD: Do you even care about

what's been happening to me?

What's been happening to you?

Uh, I was in the
hospital for two weeks.

Why?

Because I'm weak
and I'm sensitive

and I'm not even sure why you
like me in the first place.

- Was it like therapy?
- I tried to k*ll myself.

I'm so sorry.

I'm not the person
you thought I was.

I should have been
there for you.

I just have a messed-up head.

No, you don't.

I get it.

And I'm here for you.

I love you.

KATIE: Say we put Coco's
parents on the stand,

have them tell the jury
what a good kid he was,

how he worked for
the family business,

got his captain's license,

scholarship to Fitchburg State.

Make the jury understand
he was just a normal kid

until he meets Michelle Carter.

TERESA: Sure.

- What?
- Feels thin.

Ugh, feels like it's
begging to be blown up.

Um... TERESA: Mm-hmm.

Let's get an
investigator on the Roys.

I don't want any surprises.

You hear the Carters
retained Joe Cataldo?

Yeah, you ever gone
up against him?

Never knew how many
times one man could drop,

"I represented some
of the Patriots,"

into any given conversation.

Yeah, well, he may be loud,
but he's not an idiot.

He knows as well as we do,

there's no law against assisted
su1c1de in Massachusetts.

You worried about
the indictment?

No, indictment's easy.

We need motive.

TERESA: Well,
we've got the texts

showing the three
versions of Michelle:

One to Coco urging him
to go through with it,

one to the friends

acting like she doesn't
have a care in the world,

and one to the other friends

in which she's lying about
her missing boyfriend.

Well, you don't sound convinced.

I still think
attention-grabbing texts

are a long way away
from manslaughter.

Mm. We'll talk to the others.

- Dinner's ready.
- Thanks, Coco.

f*ck, Sydney, I'm
sorry. Sorry, honey.

It's okay, Dad.

My dad called me by my
sister's name all the time.

[chuckles]

[door clicks shut]

I think it's time we
sell the truck, Dad.

What truck?

What do you mean, what truck?

- Lynn and I talked about...
- f*ck Lynn.

It's not her truck.
Isn't even your truck.

For f*ck's sake, it
wasn't even Coco's truck.

It's my g*dd*mn truck,
and I'll sell it

if and whenever
I g*dd*mn please.

I don't wanna have to
look at it anymore, Dad.

CONRAD SR.: What does it matter?

How are f*cking the dots
not connecting for you?

You gotta put your
feelings aside.

- It's just a thing.
- Here we go.

- Oh, where are we going?
- CO: I don't know.

You being the shining
f*cking example

of whatever the f*ck
you wanna be that day.

What does that even mean?

What's... where are you going?

- CO: I can't do this.
- Where you going? Hey.

Come on, get back here

and finish what you started.

You coward.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[grunting]

f*ck!

♪ ♪

[bat cracks, indistinct chatter]

MICHELLE: Green
apple, your fave.

SUSIE: Oh, my God, yes.

I'm gonna tear through
this in one inning.

[phone buzzes]

[bat cracks]

[phone buzzes]

What's wrong?

Me and my mom have
been nonstop fighting.

About?

She's just being super strict.

She doesn't want me staying
up late texting you anymore.

She was like, "You don't do this

with any of your other friends."

She said that?

She went through the phone bill

and, like, pointed to
every time we talked.

But you're not gonna stop
talking to me, right?

Of course not. Come on.

So we still hanging
out after practice?

I mean, I want to.

I just have to check
with my mom first.

RAPPER: ♪ Ace town,
head on west ♪

♪ Big dog, and I'm
going for the net ♪

♪ Hey, and these souls do
anything for the check ♪

♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪

♪ Do it for the clout ♪

♪ I'ma bring 'em out ♪

- [muffled]
- You only need a capful.

Otherwise you'll
smell like potpourri.

- Huh?
- Huh?

♪ ♪

Then you have to separate
the light and dark colors.

Otherwise this T-shirt
turns this one pink.

Ma, I got it.

♪ ♪

LYNN: I don't know how
you listen to that.

- It's like poetry.
- The words just

flow.

There's no getting tripped up.

No one gets caught
up on, you know,

what they're gonna say next.

Maybe you can make me a tape.

Oh, my God, a tape. A tape?

Ma, it's not 1995.

I'll make you a playlist.

♪ ♪

The meds are helping.

♪ ♪

Just a capful, then
you're all set.

♪ ♪

[door clicks shut]

TERESA: Michelle Carter: "Did
you delete the messages?"

Conrad Roy: "Yes, but you're
going to keep texting me."

Michelle Carter: "No,
I'm not gonna sleep

until you're in the car
with the generator on."

Your client sent those
text messages, Mr. Cataldo.

It's all right there
in the indictment.

Assisted su1c1de isn't
illegal in Massachusetts.

Right, but what we have here
isn't your client assisting.

She's masterminding.
That's manslaughter.

We'll see.

- I'd save it for trial.
- We're here to negotiate bail.

- $2,500 cash.
- Agreed.

No phone, no internet,
no social media.

No internet, fine, but my
client needs to be able

to contact her immediate family.

- She's got no record whatsoever.
- Agreed.

- Okay.
- See you tomorrow.

Bright and early.

JOE: A grand jury
has indicted Michelle

for involuntary manslaughter.
DAVID: Okay, you told us

this wasn't a big deal,
nothing was gonna come of it.

Now she's being
charged with m*rder?

JOE: Well, it's not
m*rder. It's manslaughter.

DAVID: Manslaughter.
Right, okay.

JOE: Yeah, there's a difference.

A mediocre prosecutor
can't swing a dead cat

and not secure an indictment.

The grand jury only hears
the prosecution's side.

I'm not there to defend
you, to tell your side.

Then let me tell my side.

GAIL: Are we getting a
copy? JOE: Yeah, yeah.

You can make sure they get a
copy of that before they leave.

Now, tomorrow Michelle
is gonna turn herself in

- to police custody.
- What?

- I didn't do anything wrong.
- JOE: You'll be in and out.

You'll be in and out.

- This is insane.
- DAVID: Okay, so wait.

This... so if she's convicted,
what kind of a sentence

is she facing?

A charge like this?

Up to 20 years.

DAVID: 20 years? GAIL:
That's ridiculous.

JOE: But it's
never gonna happen.

GAIL: She's just a...
DAVID: Mr. Cataldo!

GAIL: It's never gonna happen?
JOE: It's never gonna...

If I had been in the room-
this is a grand jury.

This is completely different
than going to trial.

DAVID: You promised us...
GAIL: She's a child!

Just let me...


Just let me tell my side.

Um.

Uh, I need to ask you something.

Um.

The prosecution is
basing their case

on a text that you
sent to a friend,

a text that they view is
an admission of guilt.

Michelle, when you were
on the phone with Conrad

the night of his death,

did you... did you tell him
to get back in the truck?

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

What are you doing
on my computer?

Just...

HAYDEN: You're not supposed
to use a computer at all.

- Mom and Dad told me.
- Five more minutes.

To do what, stalk
Natalie and Cassie,

who don't even like you?

♪ ♪

FINN: ♪ I can't fight
this feeling any longer ♪

♪ ♪

♪ And yet I'm still afraid ♪

- ♪ To let it go ♪
- [humming]

FINN: ♪ What started
out as friendship ♪

♪ Has grown stronger ♪

♪ I only wish I had the
strength to let it show ♪

♪ ♪

♪ And even as I wander,
I'm keeping you in sight ♪

♪ You're a candle
in the window ♪

♪ On a cold, dark
winter's night ♪

♪ And I'm getting closer ♪

♪ Than I ever thought I might ♪

♪ ♪

♪ 'Cause I can't fight
this feeling anymore ♪

♪ I've forgotten what I
started fighting for ♪

♪ It's time to bring this
ship into the shore ♪

♪ And throw away the oars ♪

♪ I can't fight this
feeling anymore ♪

♪ Life has been such a
whirlwind since I saw you ♪

♪ I've been running round
in circles in my mind ♪

♪ And it always seems that
I'm following you, girl ♪

BOTH: ♪ 'Cause you
take me to the places ♪

♪ That alone I'd never find ♪

♪ And even as I wander ♪

♪ I'm keeping you in sight ♪

♪ You're a candle
in the window ♪

♪ On a cold, dark
winter's night ♪

BOTH: ♪ And I'm getting closer ♪

♪ Than I ever thought I might ♪

♪ And I can't fight
this feeling anymore ♪

♪ I've forgotten what I
started fighting for ♪

♪ Even if I have to
crawl upon the floor ♪

♪ Come crashing
through your door ♪

♪ Baby, I can't
fight this feeling ♪

♪ I can't fight this
feeling anymore ♪

NEIGHBOR: Michelle?

You all right?

Yeah.

CONRAD: What are we doing here?

- Getting my oil changed.
- What do you think?

CONRAD: What am
I supposed to do?

Think about all the things
we don't talk about.

Things that are too
hard to talk about.

I told Mom I don't
want to go to therapy.

And that's fine.

But you need something,

'cause whatever you're
doing ain't working.

We all just want you
to feel better, Coco.

Life's tough.

Gotta find something
that makes you happy.

Are you saying I don't
have any purpose?

JANICE: Everyone's
got a purpose, Coco.

You just gotta figure out
whatever the hell it is.

'Cause when you do,

everything'll clear up.

All those problems

gone.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

Yeah.

Yeah.

♪ ♪

I'm here.

Why is your life a joke?

I don't know.

Just feel like it's f*cked up.

It's not f*cked up, though.

You don't know
what I'm thinking.

MICHELLE: Then tell me.

♪ ♪

I started to realize
that I'm not doing

as great as I thought I was.

I can't hide it
anymore. I can't...

I can't pretend
everything's okay.

Everything's not okay.

And it's all just gotten worse
since I started talking to you.

I'm making things worse for you?

CONRAD: No, no, no.

No, I just mean that...

With me, in my head.

You scared me.

I thought you meant I
was making it worse.

Like, I'm trying
to better myself.

Thinking about getting
my captain's license.

Trying to just
focus on the future.

Doing something with myself.

But it's... it's pointless.

You know what? You're right.

You're not great.

You're better than great.

You're one of the greatest
guys I've ever met.

You're special, Conrad.

I wish you could see
yourself how I see you.

CONRAD: I don't deserve you.

You do deserve me.

You deserve the very
best of everything.

♪ ♪

I love you, Michelle.

SUSIE: Conrad again?

MICHELLE: Yeah.

Wait.

Did he say he loves you?

Did you tell him you love him?

Yeah.

Why?

Mm, we say it to each other.

That's different.

Conrad, I don't know.

I mean...

I feel something with him.

Not the same as with
you but something.

He gets me.

So do you, so...

It just gets... confusing.

Oh.

Do you think you can be in
love with two people at once?

[door clicks open]

Susie, enough. It's late.

You need to get
inside and go to bed.

Michelle, call your mom.
She needs to pick you up.

Now.

I'll walk.

♪ ♪

[indistinct chatter]

♪ ♪

Hey.

What are you doing here?

I was just checking in
to make sure you're okay.

I called you and texted
you, like, a million times.

My mom took my phone away.

Oh.

She doesn't want me
talking to you anymore.

Why?

She read our texts.

Went through all of our
messages on Facebook.

Everything.

So?

So?

She thinks you're
obsessed with me.

Well, I'm... I'm not.

I'm not into girls, Michelle.

I'm not into you.

♪ ♪

You just need to get over me.

Wait, Susie.

♪ ♪

Is Susie okay?

Yeah, she just has the flu.

[sniffles]

[engine turning over]

KATIE: I'll celebrate when
we secure a guilty verdict.

TERESA: You consider
this celebrating?

I need to find a case

where the defendant
was found guilty

of homicide by counseling
but without the accused...

Accused party present.

I pulled some cases.

People versus Campbell.

Guy gets his girlfriend
to sh**t herself

yet never even touches the g*n.

- Served time.
- Great.

TERESA: I can't imagine what
it's like to lose a kid.

And then to be able to
blame someone for that loss?

Is that what we're
doing, blaming her?

Yeah, that's what we're doing.

Are you having second thoughts?

I'm not gonna bullshit you.

Setting precedent
doesn't happen very often

and for good reason.

I know you know this,

but there is a lot at
stake with this one.

Nah, just my career,

the future of an
18-year-old girl,

the hopes of his
family and hers.

Piece of cake.

PERSON: Evening, ladies.
Think I found something.

2013, Conrad Jr. and his son

got into a physical altercation.

Conrad III was sent to the
hospital with a concussion.

Dad was arrested
and court-ordered

to attend counseling,
which he hasn't completed.

He's on probation because of it.

This was a few months before
Conrad k*lled himself.

If I'm Cataldo, I
just figured out.

Conrad's motive for
k*lling himself.

And it is not Michelle Carter.

The jury can't see this.

[crowd cheering over speakers]

Oh.

[sports announcer
speaking indistinctly]

I think the Sox are
gonna win this year.

You gonna make a bet?

- $50 on the Sox.
- CONRAD SR.: $50?

- Show me the cash.
- Ah, it's at home.

Huh. Right.

And the check is in
the f*cking mail.

[laughs]

Check the slot, old man.

[scoffs, wheezes]

[laughs]

I'll give you "old man."

[sports announcer
speaking indistinctly]

Come on, come on.

Come on, come on,
come on, come on.

Follow me.

Where we going?

I got something to show you.

What is it?

CONRAD SR.: Ugh.

You know what a surprise is?

♪ ♪

[thunder rumbling]

That's...

That's mine?

Yeah.

It's all yours.

♪ ♪

Go get... get in... Get
in the f*cking thing.

[chuckles]

- Go.
- Thank you.

Well, get outta here.

♪ ♪

[phone buzzes]

♪ ♪

CONRAD: I'm dead serious.

MICHELLE: I am too.

I'd love it.

♪ ♪

We can start over.

Finally be happy.

Buy a house.

CONRAD: I'll have my
captain's license.

I can find work on boats.

But my own boat,
not my family's.

MICHELLE: I don't have
any money right now.

But I'll find an amazing job

so we can buy the house sooner.

CONRAD: The people out
there are so chill.

Everybody's different.

MICHELLE: We'll find
friends we actually like

that get us too.

CONRAD: And travel the world?
MICHELLE: And get married?

CONRAD: Hmm. Maybe.

MICHELLE: And have kids?

I want five.

Five boys, to be exact.

CONRAD: Ambitious.
We'd have to practice.

A lot.

MICHELLE: And then
grow old together.

CONRAD: Until we're raisins.

I love you.

Say it back.

I love you.

[camera shutter
clicking, light buzzing]

PERSON: Turn to your left.

[camera shutter clicks]

To the right.

[camera shutter clicks]

Turn towards me.

[St. Vincent's "Every
Tear Disappears"]

Chin up, eyes forward.

♪ ♪

ST. VINCENT: ♪ Oh, a smile ♪

♪ Is more than showing teeth ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Oh, it's not the potion ♪

♪ It's the magic that I see ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Every tear disappears ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Every tear disappears ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Oh, the more that I struggle ♪

♪ Oh, the deeper in the pit ♪

♪ ♪

♪ If I can show a hand ♪

♪ Then I can show a fist ♪

♪ Call the 21st century ♪

♪ Tell her, "Give us a break" ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Every tear disappears ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Every tear disappears ♪

♪ Oh, and what about the pain ♪

♪ Don't ask me how, I
just know that it fades ♪

♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪

♪ Every tear disappears ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Every eye is a seer, oh ♪

♪ ♪
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