01x01 - She's a Good Friend

[bunniefuu]

Two nights after
Christmas, clear and cold

an unhurried and
contented fullness

had settled on a small,
quiet town in Missouri

an unobtrusive little place,

sort of place that
didn't make a fuss,

a town called Troy.

It was December 27th, 2011.

There'd be a fuss tonight.

Troy was about to
make headlines.

The dead woman on the
floor was Betsy Faria.

It was obvious that her
wrists had been slashed.

The blade of a kitchen knife
was still buried in her neck.

A few feet away in the kitchen,

her husband Russ was
on the phone with 911,

sounding hysterical.

Maybe too hysterical.

Yeah, I... I just got home
from a friend's house and...

And my wife... My
wife k*lled herself.

She's... she's...
She's on the floor.

A terrible story too often told.

Dead wife, guilty
husband feigning grief.

Open and shut, a
story like that.

Easy to judge the
book by its cover.

You'd think what
happened on Sumac Drive

was at the hands of Russ Faria,

and you'd be wrong.

Dead wrong.

Enter Pam Hupp.

You know, when people
want you to admit

to something you didn't
do? I can't do that.

I'm not that kind
of person. Mm-mm.

They don't know who I am.

I'm a businesswoman!

I do business all the time.

Flip houses, turn a profit.

I'm real successful.

I'm a pillar of the community.

She's a pillar of the community.

Thanks, Ger! Great guy.

I'm other stuff too:
A loving family woman.

My husband, Mark.

- He thinks I'm a hoot.

My son, Travis.

Owns his own condo
that I financed.

Sarah, from my first marriage.

All: Cheese!

Don't we look great?

Almost forgot!

My mom, Shirley.

R.I.P.

Took care of her
till the very end.

Just like my best friend, Betsy.

Bets had a rough go with cancer,

but I got through it.

I miss ya, Bets.

What happened to Betsy
was hard on me too.

Probably more than anyone.

Except maybe Betsy.

And people still say, "Pam,
she's blah, blah, blah."

But everyone knows
it was her husband.

Did you hear that 911 call?

Wah-wah-wah. What a faker.

And then I get stuck
with his problems?

I had to deal with her
bratty daughters, her mom...

Oh, my God, her mom...

But I was happy to help.

And here we are,

all because I was
such a good friend.

Ah, the friend, the confidant.

And my, my,

such a story she could tell.

- Hello.
- Hey, how ya feeling?

Want me to bring some of those
suckers when I come back?

This time, chemo wasn't bad.

I feel kinda good, actually.

Great, I'm glad.

I was just thinking of that
bad day a couple chemos ago.

You went and played
tennis after.

- Mm.
- I pushed it too hard that day.

Yeah, it took like an hour

to clean all the
puke off the court.

Wouldn't want that going
down at your mom's.

Really, Pam.

I'm good to stay.

- My family's here and...
- See?

That's what I'm worried about.

All those germs when
your white count's low.

Let me feed Mark and Travis,
then I'll come pick ya up, kay?

- Can I come back and get you?
- Is that Russ?

He should just stay out and
play his game. I got ya.

If I wanna go home,

he'll just get me
after his guys' night.

- I don't mind driving.
- I'll come after dinner.

See how you're doing.

Drink lots of water.
I'll see you soon.

Pam?

Oh, have fun playing
karate priest.

I'm a monk with
celestial powers.

Oh, the mundane
moments of every day.

The drinks we buy,

the shops we frequent,

the names we're able
to put to faces.

Oh, we're out of cherry.

- Ger?
- Oh.

Sorry, Pam.

Here you go.

- Thanks.
- Uh-huh.

Oh, hey, Dave.

Happy late Christmas.

Hey, Pam. You too.

Thanks.

- Santa treat you well?
- Nah.

But I wasn't that good
neither.

Maybe next year he'll bring
me a girlfriend, right?

You kidding?

Any girl just needs to get a
look at you in that uniform.

It's the intent behind
the little things we do

that says everything.

This too.

- Bye.
- Bye.

It's those little things

that may turn out to
prove your innocence.

There are things in Troy
one takes for granted.

The bit of history downtown,

the winter chill, and safety,

but certainly not m*rder.

Those chemo rooms are tiny

and there's no place to
be with all these people,

- so I'm stuck standing.
- On your bad leg?

All 'cause her mom's
friend Bobby's there

and everyone thinks she's so
great 'cause she's from Texas

like it's France or something,

and I'm supposed
to be all impressed

'cause that's
where Bobby's from.

Now she wants Bets to
stay at her mom's tonight.

But you're still
gonna go get her?

Well, yeah.

And you're gonna call me
after you drop off Betsy?

Mm-hmm, that's my plan.

- She ready?
- Pam.

I didn't know you
were coming back.

- Yeah, Bobby.
- Bets wanted me to.

She's gotta get to bed.

Win-win.

Now I can hear more about Texas.

- All your barbecue and stuff.
- Huh.

Hey. Where's your coat?

I'm not sure where it is.

Betsy's playing her game.

Why don't you just
stay for a drink?

Sure. I can chill a sec.

Oh, let me take your coat, hmm?

No, I'm good.

You play your game.

My berserker goes
into adrenal rage...

Plus three on all attacks

and attacks the Lord of Entropy.

You can't attack
the Lord of Entropy.

He's a god!

Are you sure you wanna do that?

- No.

Yes, yes, I attack.

Okay, you heard him.

I mean, everybody
roll to attack.

- Jackass.

You get that.

Russ took a nice photo of
us on Christmas morning.

Figured out how to set
the timer and everything.

We're working on it.

I just wish that he
wouldn't smoke in the house.

With you in your condition?

How's the game going?

You know, maybe we just go
ahead and call it a night.

Wait.

No, Mom, I thought you
were staying with us

at Grandma's house.

Well, Pam came all
this way, so...

I'll just see you
tomorrow, sweetie.

Hmm.

That big beanbag is something.

Yeah, grandma got it
for me for Christmas.

- It's called a LoveSac.
- Mm. Hmm.

Wait, something got on it.

Yeah.

I saw that when I came in.

Just asking for
trouble with white.

Let's get these on ya.

Here.

Hey!

I didn't get my hug.

We'll save it for
tomorrow, Mama.

- Aww.
- Yep. See ya, Janet.

It's hard to know when a goodbye

will turn out to be important.

Who would ever
think this goodbye

would turn out to be forever?

Whoa.

You maybe wanna slow
down just a little?

No rush.

Oh, was I speeding?

Oops.

What's the opposite
of night vision?

That's what I got.

- Yeah, I know.
- Russ could've drove me.

Hey, let's watch a movie
at your place, huh?

- It's been a long day, Pam.

I'm tired.

Hmm.

Okay.

Well, just a show, then.

You can't spend enough time
with the people you love.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

I feel like I don't
see Mariah enough

since she started
living with my mom.

The school district
there is so much better.

Well,

me and the kids

just wanted you to know that

Russ has been so sweet.

I know you're not
his biggest fan.

He's a mess.

Lord knows I'm a mess.

That is why it is so good

that you have got
your eye on us.

And that you'll

you'll
help my girls when...

When... oh, God.

I just don't want them to
have too hard of a time.

Here we are.

- Thanks for the ride, Pam.

I promised Mark we'd
call him together

- when we got home.
- Oh.

- Is he okay?
- Yeah.

Let's just call
him.

Sure.

- Great.

Hmm.

Wasn't he expecting you?

Must be away from his phone.

- Oh!
- Hey, it's Mark.

- Leave a message.
- Get ready.

Hey, Mark, it's us.

Just got Betsy home and she's
gonna get all tucked in,

but we just wanted to say hi.

- Happy Christmas, Mark.
- Hope you're good.

Thanks for loaning me Pam.

Those little things,

like a timestamped phone
call, for instance...

- Perfect.
- Can make an alibi.

The question is, will it stand?

.

Hello? I'm worried about ya.

Bets, honestly, I don't know
why you're doing this to me.

You mad or something?

Call me. You better be okay.

A phone can be both
sword and shield.

Each call a strike or a defense.

Janet, I've been trying
Betsy for like a half hour.

No answer. Maybe
her phone's off?

That's not like her, right?

No, it isn't.

Maybe she's mad at
me or something?

Oh, what would she
be mad at you for?

I don't know.

She wanted to watch a
movie until Russ came home,

but I said, "You
just need to rest."

So she said she's gonna
watch TV till he got home

and he was gonna be home in,
you know, like, an hour or so,

so I said "Okay."

- But I would've stayed.
- Oh, God.

I just hope she's not in a
bad place in her head again.

Yeah, I shouldn't
have worried ya.

Just wanted to see if
maybe you knew something.

I'll keep checking,

Leaving a friend's house,
do we notice the time?

Should we?

It's a funny thing, fate.

All just a series of decisions.

Right or left, stay or go.

Welcome to Arby's. What
can I get for you tonight?

- Um...

I'll have the, uh,
chicken bacon Swiss.

Uh, sorry, no.

I'll have the beef
and cheddar melt.

Sometimes one small thing

could make all the
difference in the world.

Sometimes it's
stopping at a light

before a truck barrels
through the intersection.

Actually, two beef and cheddars.

Other times, it's how to satisfy

a case of the munchies.

Oh, thank you.

- Hey, girl.

Why you out here, huh?

Come on.

- Lincoln County 911.
- What's your emergency?

Hello?

Ma'am, I'm gonna need you to
take a couple of deep breaths.

What's your name?

- My name...
- My name is Russell Faria.

Okay, Russell, what is
the address where you are?

1... 1... 130 Sumac.

I... I just got home from
a friend's house, and...

And my wife...

My wife k*lled herself.

She's... she's...
She's on the floor.

O... okay, Russell,

I need you to calm
down, honey, okay?

What did she do? Do you know?

She's got a knife in her neck

and she sliced her arms.

Okay. Is she breathing at all?

- She's dead.

The worst call he
ever had to make,

and Russ had no idea

how much it would
be picked apart.

.

Russell, they're
on their way, hon.

Okay, is there anybody
else in the house?

No.

No, I'm all alone.

Russell, I've got a
couple of officers

out there right now.

Can you do me a favor
and open your front door?

Sheriff's department.

Sir, is there anyone
else in the house?

No.

You said your wife
k*lled herself?

Yes.

Oh, my God, Betsy.

Could you please
take him outside?

Got a female down at 130 Sumac.

Looks to be a definite J4.

Copy that.

Update information at
crime scene, 130 Sumac.

I'm just gonna get
this off of you.

No witnesses as of yet.

County's sweeping
the neighborhood now

to see if anybody saw
or heard anything.

It was 34 degrees in Troy

when Detective Michael Merkel
took Russ' coat for evidence.

Russ' beloved dog, Cicely,

had been mysteriously
left outside the house.

While inside, Captain Mike Lang

and lead detective Ryan
McCarrick got to work.

See the sock hanging off?

Signs of a struggle.

And the knife in her neck?

Doesn't spell suicide.

- You hear that 911 call?
- Totally over the top.

We need to know everything
this guy touched

in the last 24 hours.

The scene will never be as
fresh as it is right now.

- Here's one for ya.
- I didn't see a drop of blood

anywhere on him.

Must've washed it off.

Check every inch
of the bathrooms.

Showers, laundry. Find
where he washed it off.

Hey, this pillow's
in a weird spot.

Where am I going?

We just need you to
come down the station,

answer some questions
about your wife.

Due diligence.

How you liking
your first m*rder?

Honestly, thought it'd
be harder to solve.

We got statistics for
a reason, brother.

Learned that in my
200 hours of training.

This?

Textbook spousal homicide.

The drive to Betsy's was fine.

Oh, my God, Mark, Janet got
Mariah this ginormous beanbag.

The size of a house.

Called a "love
suck" or something?

Those things cost,
like, a $1,000.

If I had beanbag money like that

when I was her age, I'd
have gone to college.

Ugh!

Burned it.

So, Russ, tell me
about you and Betsy.

And you've been
married how long?

12 years.

12 years. That's a long time.

You know, I know
marriages can get messy.

You two had any problems?

We had our bumps.

We were separated.

Didn't get along for
a bit but then we...

We found this new church
and we worked it out.

- Yeah?
- What's your pastor's name?

Mike Shriner.

You go to Morningstar?

You know Mike?

I know Pastor Mike. Great guy.

He's a good friend.

And everything with the family's

been good since then?

Well, uh, normal stuff.

We found out our daughter Lily

stole some money
from Betsy's mom.

There's always something.

Right. Always something.

And she was sick?

Depressed?

Enough to k*ll herself?

She had cancer.

We thought she got rid of it.

She had a mastectomy, but
it spread to her liver.

Now it's in her liver

even though she had
her whole boob removed.

Am I allowed to go
to the bathroom?

Look at him and decide:

Do you see a k*ller?

DA Leah Askey was about
to decide for herself.

- Hey.

Just wait till you hear this.

I thought I told you not
to call me this late.

What if I was home with Chris?

Yeah, but there's been a m*rder.

A homicide, like, a big one.

Okay. And?

Some lady on Sumac got stabbed,

I don't know, 20,

maybe 60 times.

I processed the
crime scene myself

and, uh, we have the
husband here now.

I'll be there first
thing in the morning.

You Miranded him, right?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

You know, hold on one
second for me, okay?

Just hold on one second.

- Sorry.

Russ, how 'bout we make
this easier on both of us,

'cause my patience is...

Sit tight.

- Oh, my God.
- Why would she do this to me?

Hey. Sorry about that.

You know, so much to do
and not enough bodies.

Um, look, somehow...

And bear with me, it's...
It's been a long day, but...

You know, when we bring someone
in here to talk like this,

we gotta run through
their rights with them

and somehow I forgot, okay?

So I'm just gonna run over
this with you real quick.

Right, you have the
right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and
will be used against you

- in a court of law...
- Am I being arrested?

We're just trying to
find out what happened

and you've given us
great information.

But do I need a lawyer?

Only if you did something wrong.

Okay, then.

Do you think I could
get another blanket?

Hello?

Oh, my God, what happened?

Sure, officer, thanks
for the heads-up.

Well, my husband is
working, but I'll be here.

Thanks.

Oh.

Hi. Come in.

I've just been so upset.

Sorry.

Did we catch you at a bad time?

Do you need a second to change?

No, I'm good.

And now's perfect.

Can I get you anything?

- Coffee?
- No, thanks, we're okay.

Thanks for making
the time, Ms. Hupp.

Of course.

I just can't believe it.

You can, um, sit
anywhere.

So what happened to Betsy?

Some kind of accident
or something?

No, she's not accidentally dead.

She's not naturally dead.

What's that mean?

It's an active investigation

so we can't say much,

but we're trying
to figure that out.

Oh.

We both know the
suicide thing is crazy.

They've found 52 stab
wounds on her so far.

No.

No.

- Yeah.
- No!

They haven't been
able to stop counting.

You're not gonna convince
us it was a suicide.

- Betsy! No.

- The truth will come out.

The truth?

Yeah, and this huge weight

will be lifted off
your shoulders.

What?

You mean...

I didn't do this.

- All right. It's okay, bud.

Look, let's go over
your story so far.

You said you didn't
take Betsy home,

that someone dropped
her off, right?

- Who was that?
- Her friend Pam.

She's been helping
us out with Betsy.

- Okay.
- You mind spelling that for me?

H-U...

P-P.

Um, it's a homeless shelter,

- battered women in a church.
- Oh, that's so nice.

So that's my Tuesday nights

and Bets always likes to,
um, help those women with me,

bring them dinner, you know.

I know, honey.

The husbands aren't cooking,

being they're battered
and everything.

- Right.
- So from there,

I go straight to my mom's.

She's going through Alzheimer's.

She doesn't know
what she's saying

or where she is half the time.

That must be hard.

Oh, it is.

And on top of all of that,

I'm driving to Betsy to
all her appointments.

She's got chemo,
whatnot, all her scans,

but her family's
real appreciative.

Her friends were
worried about her.

It would help if you could
tell us more about last night.

You said you got back
to Betsy's at 6:30 p.m.?

Yes.

Here we are.

We left my husband a
voicemail when we got there.

So he should have
that on his phone.

You could ask him.

You called from
inside the house?

No, no, from the car.

Right. And then you just
dropped her outside and left?

Correct.

Thanks for the ride, Pam.

She was tired from the chemo.

She puked her guts out earlier.

Sweet dreams.

I always bring suckers in my bag

to help her with the nausea.

But it must have been a
little later than 6:30.

The drive is what, a half hour?

Um...

I'm so sorry.

My brain gets kind
of funny sometimes.

I get mixed up.

- It's all right.
- Sorry to hear that.

I had an accident at work.

You know, we were
moving the office

and there were
boxes laying around

and I tripped and I fell
into a filing cabinet.

Blah, blah, blah.

You know, got knocked out,
had to have back surgery.

Wow. How's your head?

Your memory, I mean.

Great.

I have to remember everything

for an entire house,
basically, so...

- Mm.
- Hmm.

So we were in the driveway,

chit-chatted for a few...

Would you say it was
less than ten minutes?

Gosh, I don't... I don't know.

I don't know. I'm not sure.

I don't remember.

Between 10 and 20?

Um, could've been, yeah.

Wasn't paying attention though.

I was just trying
to get out of there

'cause with Betsy, you know...

Here we are.

Oh, thanks for the ride, Pam.

Girl, anything for my best
friend in the entire world.

I wish I could
just stay with you.

Girls' night!

Girls' night forever!

She said she didn't have
clothes or anything with her.

She was at her mom's,
I guess, all weekend.

How come she was
staying at her mom's

and not at Sumac Drive?

That's Russ' house.

He wouldn't let her put
her name on the title.

Okay, but do you know why
she'd stay at her mom's?

A lot of it was she
didn't like to drive,

and a lot of it was, um,

she didn't wanna go home.

Pam and Betsy hang
out sometimes.

She likes talking to Pam.

Pam is a good person.

So were they currently separated

and having issues or...

Not right now.

I mean, but that
would change a lot.

They were separated,
gosh, six or seven times

off and on through the years.

He does a lot of pot.

And he smokes in the house,

even with her cancer and all.

Mm-hmm.

And his temper.

That's how come Mariah
moved in with Betsy's mom.

Was he ever violent with Betsy?

I was at their place a lot.

And, um, he's not...

He's not the most, um...

He was kinda not
nice verbally to her.

Mm.

You know the type.

Real aggressive.

He's a
pusher. He's a pusher.

And I just don't
care for his type.

Do you remember if Russ'
car was in the driveway

- when you arrived?
- Uh, yeah.

Here we are.

Thanks for the ride, Pam.

Oh, good, Russ is home.

Looks like it.

And did you go inside at all?

- For a bit.
- She said she didn't go in.

Betsy asked me to.

Um, and, um, she
wanted to watch TV,

but, um, I was
just trying to go.

Were the lights on inside?

No.

The house was dark even
though Russ' car was there?

Um, Russ' car was there

and the lights were off,

which we thought
was kind of weird.

But then she goes...
Uh, she goes,

"Oh, well, Russ is home.

And he left the door
unlocked for me."

And I said, "Well, I better
walk you to the door."

She had a bag, blah, blah, blah,

stuff like that.

Uh, so I walked to the
door and in for just a bit,

- till she could get a light on.
- And could you see...

And then we had to put
her dog out in the yard

'cause he was so annoying.

Aggressive.

I love dogs.

Big dog fan.

But I
just hate that type.

- And then you left?
- Yes.

And then I called
Betsy to make sure

she got to bed okay.

Could we see your phone?

Mm-hmm.

Does Betsy's family know?

Yes, they've been informed.

Mm.

Yeah, see?

Called her when I got home.

You were home when
you called her?

Yep.

Betsy knew I don't
see in the dark

and she wanted me to check in.

And then I ate something,

a piece of pie, whatever,

and then I went and got a shower

and then I called
her mom.

You know what you
should look for is...

Is there was this letter

that Bets was gonna send to me

about Russ putting a
pillow over her face.

- A pillow?
- Yeah.

Russ started playing this game

of putting a pillow
over her face, um,

just to see what
it would feel like.

I don't know if he said,

"This is what it's
gonna feel like

when you die or whatever,"

and then act like
he was kidding.

Yeah.

I didn't really know
him that well though.

I just met him about
three times in ten years.

Yeah.

Hm.

- Yeah, I didn't...
- I didn't know him very well.

- I could not do this.
- Look, buddy.

We're past it,
okay? We're past it.

There's too much
evidence here, Russ.

And hey, being, you know...

Being honest, you're
a church-going man.

You're a church-going man?

- Yes.
- Yeah.

Think of Pastor Mike.

Think what he would say.

He'd believe I didn't do this.

And what about God?

God's in this room
with us right now.

And God knows that
I did not do this.

I could not do this.

I found her like
that when I got home.

We're lied to all
the time, but God,

God knows the truth.

Oh, officers?

Since you're asking
me so much about Russ,

should I be worried?

No, ma'am, we're keeping
him at the station.

They say there's no
right way to grieve.

Pam.

Pam, what's going on?

What are the police doing here?

- Something happened, Minnie.
- Something terrible.

I'll tell you about it later.

I gotta go some place.

Some of us may cry
in times like these,

while others get busy.

He'll break. Not worried.

You were promoted to
Homicide supervisor,

what, a month ago?

Six months ago.

It shows.

You think after that 911
call he'd run out of tears.

- Where's the autopsy report?
- Almost done.

More than 50 stab wounds.
It screams crime of passion.

Yeah, we got a lot of
info from her best friend.

She dropped her
off right before.

Said the guy's
got a real temper.

I mean, who else would do that
to a woman dying of cancer?

And he still hasn't
asked for a lawyer?

Loser doesn't even
know he needs one.

Janet.

Gosh.

I don't know what to say.

I got... I got you this.

It made me think of Betsy.

You know, her heart.

I have one just like it.

Who would do this?

To Betsy?

Well, they're holding
Russ, aren't they?

- Russ?
- Yeah.

Police were asking
all about him.

Is he violent? Did
he get verbal at her?

All that kinda stuff.

Russ wouldn't have...

They still have him down
at the station, you know?

Doesn't look good.

Well, you gonna let me in?

Or if it's just family...

I... I drove all the way here,

- but I... I can go.
- No, come in.

You're family, Pam.

- She's family.
- She's there for you.

She's your neighbor.

She's your friend from church.

She's the one you
never see coming.

But that's the thing about Pam.

.

Did you k*ll Betsy Faria?

No.

You boys want a cookie?

So I take it you
knew Russell Faria.

I didn't really know the guy,

but he seemed sorta...

- a*usive?
- Real a*usive.

That's Joel Schwartz.

We're here for Pam
Hupp's cell data.

Not many men can pull
off a pink pocket square.

Russ started playing this game

of putting a pillow
over her face.

- Who took Betsy home?
- Her friend, Pam.

Why don't you tell me about Pam?

She's a nice lady.

I'm gonna make him pay
for what he's done.

Sheriff's department!

But...

Russell Faria,
you're under arrest.

We need someone who really knows

Betsy and Russ' relationship.

Well, I know
everything about it.

- He k*lled his wife.
- Objection.

Are you gonna object to my
entire opening statement?

If you keep saying
objectionable things, yeah.

- Pamela Hupp lied about

where she was at the
time of the crime.

All these questions are
none of their business.

- Pamela Hupp is not a suspect.
- Yeah, well, she should be.

You're facing life in prison.

The prosecution calls
Pamela Hupp to the stand.

I got it from here.