Handshake (2021) Movie Script

1
Ah, fuck.
Shit.
Fuck. You motherfucker.
Stop! Stop, you
piece of shit!
Dammit, come on, stop, man!
You stop.
Shut the fuck up!
Fuck.
The fuck?
Fuck.
Go get him.
Jesus Christ, you're
getting in the water now?
You can't catch me, man.
I'm like the wind.
More like a stale fucking fart.
Get the fuck out of there.
Why don't you come get me?
Go fuckin' get him.
Shit.
This isn't you, Corey.
Gun toting?
No shit it's not me. It's you.
You think I want to be out here
chasing your dumb ass around?
I just need a
little bit more time.
No, fuck time, man.
You had more than
enough already.
I don't know what
to tell you then.
You're just gonna have to
have your guy take a shot.
Fuckin' finally.
Wait, don't.
Hey, don't fuckin' touch me.
What the fuck do
you mean don't?
Now is the time,
man, it's perfect.
Look around you,
there's nobody here.
Hey, does anybody care if
we shoot this motherfucker?
No?
Great, now I shoot him,
his dead-ass body
drops into that river
and floats down to the
who-fuck-cares how far.
Before anyone even
finds his fucking body,
we bounce, that's it.
That's a fuckin' swish.
Yes, it is.
So what, you're just
gonna let him go?
So we can do this
all over again?
No way, man. I'm tryin'
to fuckin' kill somebody.
That's the only reason
that I came out here.
Let's just wait him out.
And then what,
we torture him?
No, that's a great idea.
I don't think you
should be using
the word torture.
No, yeah, that's
what we're gonna do.
We're gonna fuckin'
torture his ass.
You hear that, river man?
-Torture?
-Yeah.
Yeah, you.
Fuck that.
See ya.
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
-Fuck.
-Yeah.
Well, he's gone.
Yeah.
"Yeah."
Yeah.
Don't call me anymore.
Oh, hey, man.
Sorry.
You okay?
Yeah.
You sure?
Yeah, just all wet.
What the hell
are you doin'?
I, uh, fell in up there.
Are you with someone?
Uh, not really, no.
Well, I lost my phone.
Fuck.
Well, uh...see ya.
All right, uh,
sorry, I, uh...
I don't suppose I could
get a ride from you
whenever you're done here.
Ride?
Where to?
Helena.
From there?
Yeah.
Yeah, sure.
Great. Thank you so much.
Uh, I can just wait
up by the tracks
and just kind of dry
off until you're done.
I got a towel
in the truck.
Let me go up
there with you.
Well, you don't
have to do that.
Didn't mean to, like,
mess up your whole day here.
Ah, it's okay.
Just starting out anyway.
I think you scared
all the fish away.
Oh, man, I'm sorry.
Appreciate it though.
What's your name?
Devin.
I'm Bill.
Burdick.
You'll have to let
me buy you a beer
when we get back to Helena.
Won't say no to that.
Hopefully I'll be like
halfway dry by then.
Even when I am dry, I'm
gonna be fuckin' shivering.
Probably burn up out here too.
I wish I had my sunhat.
You want some sunblock?
No, thank you though.
You're very prepared.
I step out to check the
mail and I get a sunburn.
Yeah, pale people problems.
Hey, you have a, uh,
phone I could borrow?
Just to let my girl
know what's goin' on.
Yeah, here.
Cool.
Thank you.
Shit.
Just trying to remember
her number, you know?
It's kind of hard to remember
people's numbers now.
Uh...
Your call will be forwarded
to an automated
voice message system.
Erica, message, beep.
Hey, Erica, it's me.
Uh, lost my fuckin' phone,
so that's why I'm
callin' from this number.
Um...
Yeah, yeah.
I got tied up with
some stuff today.
Um, just finished doing
that for a little while.
Anyways, I should
be home fairly soon,
couple hours or something.
All right, bye.
Thanks, man.
Yeah.
You, uh, you in some kind
of trouble or somethin'?
Well, you're not, like,
law enforcement or anything,
are you?
No.
No.
It's fine if you
don't want to tell me.
I'll give you a
ride either way.
Well, it's just I, uh,
I lost some weed
for this one guy.
And I'm not like a drug
dealer guy or anything.
This was just, like,
this one-time thing.
It was this buddy I used
to know in high school.
I ran into him.
And he was talkin' about
how he was needing help
selling some stuff off,
and I guess I sort of, uh,
talked myself into it.
You lost it?
Yeah.
I was at this house party.
And I was selling
it and, you know,
I was having a couple
drinks while I was there.
And, um, I don't
know what it was,
but, man, that
second drink
just like knocked me
the fuck out, you know?
And like I don't
black out when I drink,
but somethin' was
goin' on with this one.
Yeah, the lights went out,
and then I woke up
about three hours later
on the guy's lawn,
and my backpack was gone.
Yeah, luckily my pants
were still on though.
Asshole was still tight.
You really don't want to
give me a ride now, do ya?
No, no, it's fine.
You're just, um,
you're very free
with your vocabulary.
So you think it was an accident,
you passing out at that party?
Yeah.
What?
Well, you don't
think it's possible
that someone targeted you?
Why would they do that?
Well, you're at a party
with a bunch of people.
Someone sees you with
a bunch of marijuana,
selling it right out
in the open, right?
They see an opportunity.
Take advantage.
Hm, I don't know.
You're kind of
making it sound like
it's some whole big
conspiracy or something.
I mean, I really think I
just grabbed the wrong drink.
How much of this
stuff did you lose?
Just like a couple pounds.
They're saying
it's $2500 worth.
Now they're acting all hard
like they're gonna kill me
over $2500 worth of weed.
I told them I had
a bunch of money
stashed way
the fuck out here
and they actually
believed that,
like anyone stashes money
anywhere in real life.
But, uh...
Yeah, then I just
kind of decided
to part ways with
'em back there,
and here we are.
Did that happen just now?
Yeah.
Are they still
around here then?
Probably not.
They're not too disciplined.
Fuckin' stupid
is what they really are.
Well, the stupid ones are
the ones you gotta worry about.
You about ready?
Yeah, if you still
wanna give me a ride.
Yeah, it's fine.
I'm happy to.
Don't forget your jacket.
So this osprey is like hovering
over our boat for hours,
and it's just sort of like
lingering, hovering, scanning,
and then finally it gets tone
on something in the water,
like it gets locked
into something.
And so it does this
swooping dive bomb thing
and it like reaches
into the water
and it snatches up this,
uh, pretty good size fish.
So we're kind of
keeping our eye on it
as it flies
closer to the shore,
and it gets higher
and higher and farther.
We see this black shape
emerge in the air.
It has like a white
head and white tail.
And it's like a bald eagle.
-Oh, wow.
-Yeah.
And this bald eagle is
kind of following the osprey,
he's kind of like
chasing it down.
And they get closer
and closer and closer,
and then finally
they kind of--
there's this little collision,
and then when they come away,
the bald eagle has the
fish in its talons now.
It stole the fish from
this osprey in midair.
Jesus.
Starts flyin' away with it.
It was badass.
Oh, man.
My fuckin' shoes stink.
I'm sorry about that.
I hadn't noticed.
What's this thing?
Oh, my daughter
made that for me.
It's a Clark's Nutcracker.
Huh.
Cool.
So, like, what's your deal?
What do you do?
Well, let's see.
Besides battle depression?
No, I, uh,
I ran my own company
for about 12 years
as a financial consultant.
Did some advising,
some speaking,
a little real estate,
spec stuff, housing.
Eh.
That got me.
Market crashed and
the economy tanked.
I lost a lot of money.
I lost a lot of client money.
Sorry to hear that.
Yeah.
I had a DUI situation recently
that kind of killed
some job prospects,
so, uh, I just try to
come up with creative ways
to forget about the
personal financial ruin.
Creative ways like,
uh, fly fishing?
Eh, not much of an angler.
That spot back there,
my dad used to take
me when I was a kid.
I wanted to go back but
I could never find it.
I always thought it
was north of Craig,
and it finally dawned
on me to try going south.
Hm.
And I found it.
And that's where
you ran into me.
Hm.
Well, congratulations
to the both of us, right?
Yeah.
Meanwhile I got a
wife and kid at home
that think everything's
all right with Dad.
Do they, uh, not know
about your money situation?
Well, they know I'm unemployed.
They don't know that I'm about
half a million dollars in debt.
Half a million?
Damn, dude.
Have to buy you a beer now.
We already got beer.
Oh.
Look at you.
You're a fuckin' lamb, dude.
-Can I have one?
-Help yourself.
Thanks.
I wouldn't mind
stoppin' off though.
Maybe grabbin' a bite
to eat or somethin'.
Yeah?
That's cool with me.
I'll buy.
Whatever works.
So, if you don't
mind me asking,
these guys you
owe money to,
how do you plan
on paying them?
Do you have another source
of income besides the, uh...
Drug dealing?
Yeah, no.
Like you, I am also jobless.
Yeah, the drug dealing thing,
it was just a one-time thing.
I mean, that's not what I do.
What else have you done?
I mean, are you
pursuing anything, career?
Uh...not really.
Do a lot of construction work.
But I'm just kind of not
cut out for physical labor.
I'm just not built
for it, you know?
I mean, look at
these hands, you know?
I've got surgeon's hands.
There you go.
You could be a surgeon.
Yeah, right.
Can you just sign up for that?
Can I start you off with
something to drink today?
Um...
-Do you have Miner's Gold?
-Yeah, we do.
All right, I'll do one.
-And just water for me, thanks.
-Okay.
This is my daughter.
She made the Nutcracker.
Cool.
Why a Nutcracker?
Like what even is that bird?
It's like a camp robber.
We had one that used
to hang out on our deck
trying to eat the cat food.
My daughter became
very curious about them.
Almost obsessive.
They're fascinating birds
because they depend on
the white pine tree,
the seeds,
as a food source.
And the white pine tree
depends on the Nutcracker
to spread its seeds.
It's a codependent,
symbiotic relationship
between two completely
different life species.
Hm.
Oh.
And during the
summer and fall,
the Nutcracker
buries caches of seeds
into the ground.
And months later
in the winter,
after covering
thousands of miles,
they can remember the exact spot
where they buried those seeds,
even under two,
three feet of snow.
And they always bury
more than they can eat
so that the leftovers,
still in the ground,
have essentially
been planted,
grow into trees.
The bird's renewing
its food source
without even knowing it.
I find it fascinating.
I could see you're bored.
No, no, I'm not bored.
All right, are we
ready to order?
Yeah.
Nothin' for me.
Nothing?
Bill, buddy,
this was your idea.
Like what?
I can't win with this guy.
All right, I think
I'm gonna get a, uh,
grilled cheese sandwich
on white with fries.
And, uh, what kind
of soup do you have?
We have vegetable,
beef, and tomato.
I'll do, uh, tomato, a cup.
And is there anything else?
Well, uh, I was actually
thinkin' about, like,
asking you out
on like a date,
but, uh, you probably
wouldn't want to
or you're, like,
super busy all the time
or you're like
washing your hair a lot,
or you like have
a scary boyfriend
or something like that.
Uh, no.
"No" to all of those things,
or "no" you don't want
to go out on a date?
Just a general
no to all of it.
All right.
I'm glad I didn't actually
officially ask then,
'cause that would
be awkward, right?
You shouldn't do that.
This is a workplace for her.
So? If she's offended,
she can spit on
my grilled cheese
or squirt Visine in
my soup or something.
It all evens out.
But you're putting
her in a position
where she has to do
something like that
to even things out,
and that's not right.
I think you overthink things
a little bit too much, Bill.
I'm just joking
around with her.
That's the problem
and my point.
Joking to you is
not jokin' to her.
All right, well,
whatever it is to her,
I have too much
respect for her
to assume that her entire
day is gonna be ruined
by some stupid shit
that I say to her.
I mean, for all you know
she's back there right now
creaming her shorts
to a mental image of me.
That's definitely
not happening.
You know what they say
about women, right?
That...women are like condoms.
Yeah, women are like condoms.
They spend more time
in your wallet
than they do on your dick.
Dude, your face.
You need to lighten up.
Didn't you say
you have a girlfriend?
Yeah, speaking of nutcrackers.
And how does she feel
about these views
you're sharing with me?
Listen, I'm just lucky
she lets me out of my kennel
every once in a
while, all right?
You don't have
to worry about her.
What does she do?
She's a paralegal.
She works at
a law office downtown.
She's actually got her
shit pretty together,
definitely more so than me.
I, uh...
I spend a lot more
time in her purse
than she does
in my wallet,
I gotta admit.
Now it begins
Devin.
Now that you're gone
What if I told
you I know a way
for you to get
the money you need
to pay those guys back?
What have you done
Okay.
I'm guessing I have
to do something.
Yeah.
Uh-oh.
Here we go.
It's not what you're thinking.
Yeah, well, I have a pretty
wild imagination, Bill.
It's nothing sexual.
-Is it legal?
-Does it matter?
Has that stopped you?
This is my life
All right, so what is it?
I don't want to
get into it here.
We can talk about
it in the truck.
Not sure I want to get back in
the truck with you now, Bill.
You're gonna want to.
You're gonna want
to hear this out.
Love you again
And just trying to stay
Oh but you try to go
I try to pretend
It's over and--
This is gonna sound bad.
Just don't say anything for
a minute after I tell you.
Just let it sink in.
It feels stupid
to say aloud,
but there's no other
really clear way to put it.
I want you to kill me.
Can I say something now?
Okay.
-What the fuck?
-I need to be killed,
and I need it to
look like murder.
-Why?
-Insurance policies.
My family, my debt would be
completely taken care of.
I would do it myself, but--
-Okay.
-It won't pay off
if it's suicide.
I mean, even an accident
won't pay what I need.
It has to be murder, to
look--to look like murder.
I've been planning
this for a while,
but I've had problems
finding someone
to facilitate it.
Now, you help me with this,
I have some liquid
money in bank accounts
that I can give to you,
more than enough
to pay your debt.
We'd make it look
like a robbery,
make sure you
don't get caught.
There are no ties between us.
This doesn't--this
doesn't feel right.
Devin, do you believe
that I'm serious?
Can you look me in the eyes
and believe that I'm serious?
Yeah.
I knew there was something
weird going on with you,
no offense.
It's this fuckin'
depression I'm ridin', man.
It goes one direction, down.
You think you hit bedrock,
but it just keeps goin'.
Now we're where we're at now.
All right, so,
I don't do murder.
No, it's not murder.
I want you to do this.
It's assisted suicide.
You're doing a good thing
for me and my family.
They're prepared.
We've come to terms.
If it's not you that does
it, it'd be somebody else.
All right, so when
would you want to do this?
As soon as possible.
Talking like a couple days or?
No, like today, like right now.
Now?
No, dude, no way.
I can't do this now.
-I need some time--
-No, you don't get time.
The more we interact,
the more we plan,
the more it'll look planned.
It's gotta be spontaneous,
spur of the moment,
a chance encounter.
It--like--
like what actually
happened between you and me.
Look, that's why
this is so perfect.
These circumstances,
the way we met.
It's meant to be.
Come on, you--
You have to do this.
Look.
I get it.
This is fuckin' crazy.
But it's real
and it's happening.
Because if it doesn't,
I don't know what I'm
gonna do, you know?
I can't say I don't go
home to the wife and kid
and really...
...really do somethin'
bad to them, you know?
So you should
keep that in mind.
Their sake.
Because I don't know
what I'm gonna do.
In one minute, I'm
gonna start this truck
and I'm gonna drive
away from here.
If you don't wanna be
a part of this, get out.
Find your own way home.
But if you're in the truck
when I drive away,
you're comin' with me
the rest of the way down.
I apologize for my urgency.
Like I said, I've had a hard
time finding someone to do this.
Met a guy in Great Falls,
but he kept flakin'.
Go ahead and look
in that glove box.
Now look in the envelope.
It's $1,000.
I had it all ready
for the last guy,
fuckin' chicken.
I can get you another
couple hundred today.
All right, so, um,
so how's this gonna work?
When we get into town,
we'll find a nice spot.
Somewhere out of the way
where no one'll see us,
but not too far out of the way
where I can't be found after.
You have any ideas? I'm not
too familiar with Helena.
I thought you were from here.
Ah, no, Great Falls.
Well, this is like
way out of your way.
It doesn't matter now.
When we find the place,
you're gonna bind my
hands behind my back
with one of those zip ties.
You're gonna use this.
Go ahead, take it.
Get a feel for it.
So you want me to, uh,
cut you or stab you?
Mm, something like that.
We'll figure it out.
I'm not gonna slit
your throat, all right?
I couldn't do that.
I don't want that either.
You're not gonna
have to do anything
you're uncomfortable with.
I'll do all the work.
I mean, I've done
some crazy shit before,
but this is like...
You'll be fine.
All I need for you
is to tie my hands.
Are you sure you don't want
somethin' a little less brutal,
like a choking
or a shooting?
No.
It's gotta be
as brutal and raw
and senseless
as possible.
I want the stabbing.
It's what I deserve.
All right.
I just wanna show you
that the PIN number
I gave you is real.
That's another $200,
so you know my word is good.
There's a little less than
$4,000 left in the account.
That's all the liquid
money I have to my name.
It's yours.
All right, so, uh,
beer cans and...
Yeah, the beer cans
and the towel, yeah.
Right or left?
Uh, go right.
Yeah, there's some
fairgrounds down here
that might work
out pretty good.
Not busy then?
Nah, it's pretty dead
most nights there.
You ever, uh, talk to a shrink
about any of this stuff,
maybe get on some meds?
Please don't try to
talk me off the ledge.
No, I'm not.
I'm just trying to, uh,
I don't know, relate.
I want to address my problems,
not fog them with drugs.
And you think this
is the best way
to address your problems,
to kill yourself?
Yes.
You got any final
requests or anything?
Like what?
A cigar?
I was thinking more like a
piece of ass or something.
No.
Well, that's a fuckin' bummer.
I really wanted to
get you a piece of ass.
What's this?
It's a duck pond.
Ducks?
Last fuckin' thing
I'm ever gonna hear.
Here.
And remember: 1322.
Got it.
I'm gonna call my wife
and let her know.
Need me to step outside?
No, no, stay here.
Hi, honey.
Yeah, no.
Nah, I didn't have
much luck today.
Yeah.
Hey, uh, listen,
I was on my way back
and my tire blew out.
Yeah, I got a guy here
who's gonna help me change it.
Okay?
Yeah.
I'll be fine.
Just tell Morgan I love her
and I'm sorry I missed her.
Okay.
Love you.
Bye.
Sorry about that.
Oh, man, don't be sorry,
but I just thought--
Let me see your
driver's license.
Why?
Just let me see it.
Just, uh, need to
check your address.
Why?
'Cause we're at
the point now
where if you don't
go through with this,
like if you tie me up and
run out on me or something,
I'm gonna track you down and
I'm gonna fuckin' kill you.
And I'm gonna kill
your fuckin' girlfriend.
Hey, man, you don't have
to talk to me like that.
-You understand?
-Yeah, but you don't have to--
-Yeah, but do you understand?
-Yes!
Yes, I do.
But you don't have
to talk to me like that.
Like what do you--
You just got off the
phone with your wife
and you're talkin'
to me like that?
Like what the fuck
is wrong with you?
Life sets traps everywhere.
The things you think
you love can become traps.
Work, a deal, family.
Wife, kid.
And then you wake up
one day and you realize
that the thing you thought
you loved is a fuckin' trap.
And when you're in it,
man, the love
I had is gone.
It's out there somewhere.
I'm out there too.
Right now.
I'm like the
opposite of a ghost.
My spirit's gone but
my body's still here.
Everything that
has ever happened
and everything that
ever will happen
is happening right
now at this moment.
We just can't see it.
We're stuck with this
time thing, you know?
The illusion of time.
Let's go.
Grab those gloves.
-These gloves?
-Yeah.
Here, roll your window up.
Gardening?
Now, listen, you're
gonna want to wipe down
all your fingerprints, okay,
inside and outside,
when you leave, all right?
Wipe everything down.
Here's your sweatshirt.
You're gonna wanna
take that with you.
Yeah, hang on.
All right, what am I doin'?
You're gonna wipe down
all of your fingerprints,
inside and out.
Yeah.
Anywhere you might have touched.
Um...
Yeah, the cooler.
All right.
Okay, that's good.
Now, Devin, listen.
All I need you to do
is just hold the blade
in the middle of the
steering wheel, okay?
That's it.
-Just hold it firm, steady.
-All right?
-Okay?
-Yeah.
All right, now
grab a zip tie
and tie my hands
behind my back.
A little tighter.
Yeah, that's good.
Now grab the zip
ties, the bag,
and put it in
your pocket.
You're gonna need
to dispose of them.
All right.
Get the knife?
Yes.
Oh, the knife.
All right, good.
And look, you're gonna
wipe that down too,
right now, 'cause you're
gonna leave it here.
All right.
All right.
Now, I'm gonna slam
my body onto the blade.
I just need you
to hold the blade,
that's all you have to do,
just hold it
straight, tight.
All right. What
about the horn?
I disconnected it.
All right.
-All right?
-Yeah.
-Like that?
-Yeah.
Okay.
Here we go.
It's not deep enough, man.
It's gotta go deeper.
Come on, hold steady.
-Ready?
-Yeah.
Come on.
-Shit.
-Just--Jesus, grab it!
It fell down.
-Come on.
-Dammit.
Come on.
Dude, you have one job.
Hold the--hold
the fuckin' knife.
-I'm fuckin' holdin' the knife.
-Hold it straight.
-I'm holding the fuckin' knife.
-Let's go!
All right, well,
then go fuckin' deeper.
God dammit, this
isn't workin', man.
-No, it's not.
-What am I paying you for?
-Just--
-What do you want me to do?
-I'm holding the knife.
-Just do it, do it.
-Do what?
-Just stab me.
Do it, just fuckin' stab me.
Stab me, god dammit,
stab me, stab me, stab me!
Motherfucker!
It's stuck.
Shit.
Fuck.
Come here, come here.
Okay, come over here.
Come here.
Lily.
Come here.
Okay, sit.
Down.
Yeah.
What's that?
Oh.
Come here.
Okay, come here.
No, come here.
Lily.
Come here, come here,
come here, look.
Yeah!
Sit.
Okay, follow me, come on.
Good girl. Wait, come back,
come back, come back.
Wait, stop, stop, stay.
Good girl.
Okay, sit.
Yeah.
Come here.
No.
Yeah.
Are you ready?
Are you ready for this?
Did you get my voicemail?
No.
You've been here all night?
Yeah, why? Was I
supposed to be somewhere?
No.
Wait, come back,
come back, come back.
Lily, look at the treats.
I'm gonna throw some
shit in the laundry.
Oooh, can you get this?
Sit.
Stay.
Oh.
Yeah.
Laundry and a shower.
That's classic
cheater behavior.
Yeah, you caught me.
Couldn't let you smell
my clothes or my dick
'cause of all the banging
I've been doing all day.
Yeah, I thought so.
I actually know
what that's like
'cause I've also
been banging all day,
like so hard.
Like the whole neighborhood.
Oh, you finally fucked
the neighborhood.
Congratulations.
It was very fulfilling.
Um, one thing though,
when you do your banging,
can you try to not do it
in like a swamp or whatever,
because your shoes
fuckin' stink.
Had to put 'em outside.
Hey, you got it, no
more swamp fucking.
Cool.
Lily, get down.
Hey.
Come on, get down.
Come on, let her
stay on the bed.
Not tonight.
Aw, why not?
Come on, get.
No, not tonight.
Come on, come on.
Oh, Lily, I guess he's only
sleepin' with one dog tonight.
Ooh, yeah, get him, Lily.
All right.
Okay, fine.
There you go.
Sorry, Lily.
That fuckin' dog
needs a yard.
Then get her one.
Well, maybe I will.
With what?
This is the police.
Tell us where
the drugs are.
Dildo.
Boo, bitch.
Are you fucking
serious right now?
That doesn't look
very centered to me.
What?
Hey, hey, I'm tryin'--
Why do you have to
keep fuckin' with me?
I'm trying to pay you back.
Here, check the envelope.
Don't fuck with me first.
It's all there, $2500,
plus a little bit
of extra gas money
for the little
field trip that we took.
Where'd you get this?
A friend.
You don't have a friend.
All right, well, are
we squared away then?
Can you check it
and just make sure?
Are we good?
All right, I'll
take that as a yes.
Now, since I'm here,
and since we're
cool and everything,
I was wondering if maybe,
possibly I could
get like a little...
Oh, did you need some
more drugs to, oops, lose?
All right, if you're
just gonna like--
Look, we can keep fuckin'
with each other back and forth,
or we can turn
around and walk out
of each other's
lives forever.
Let's do that.
Okay. But I just
want to make sure
that we're like
legit, truly okay.
Like you're not
gonna come chase me
with like a guy with
a gun whose weird.
Like can we
squash this shit
and just shake
hands like gentlemen?
-Yeah.
-Yeah?
Let's do that.
We're cool.
We're good.
Dumbass.
Hey.
Uh, I'm at this girl's place.
Yeah.
Yeah.
1077, right?
But the guy's
in the back.
Yeah.
Okay.
Thanks.
Oh, right,
I'm sorry.
Devin?
Devin, what are you doing?
Just sitting here.
Did you wet the
bed or something?
What?
It's like the sheets
are all wet on your side.
Just a dream.
Just go back to sleep.
What, did you have a sweaty
little dude dream last night?
Hey, what are you
doin' on my laptop?
You mean your "jacktop?"
Ah, just goin' through some
of your search history here.
Some filthy shit
you're into.
Fuckin' gross.
Decided to open
Pandora's Box,
didn't you?
Probably found
my ultimate fantasy website,
EmployedBoyfriends.com.
You're fuckin' mean.
Oh, hey, babe, we
have, uh, church today.
Church?
Yeah.
I don't go church.
Why would I do that?
Because I signed
us up for offering.
Come on, you have to.
Seriously?
Yeah, I wouldn't
lie about church.
It's Sunday.
God dammit.
All we have and all
we are comes from God,
our Creator, our
Redeemer and Sustainer.
Each breath we take,
the strength to
take each step,
everything is
a gift from God.
Let us offer back to God our
tithes, gifts, and offerings
as a way of thanking God
for the countless gifts
God has blessed us with.
Would the ushers
come forward
to take the morning's
tithes, gifts, and offerings.
Can you hold this?
Praise on high
the Holy Ghost
Amen
Hey, you okay?
Yeah, yeah.
What happened in there?
I don't know, I just
got like super dizzy
and like nauseous.
Yeah, you're
like sweating.
How do you feel now?
I feel better.
Pretty much went away
as soon as I walked out.
You're not trying to
get out of this, are you?
If I was trying
to get out of this,
I'd be less
stupid about it.
Passing out in front
of a bunch of seniors.
Well, what do you wanna do?
Do you wanna go
back in or go home?
-Yeah.
-Yeah, let's go.
-Thank you.
-Yeah.
Excuse me?
Can I help you?
Okay, hussle Huck.
Come, Huck!
Here, here.
Yes Huck.
Stay.
Come here.
Yeah.
-Hey.
-Hey.
-Aw.
-Who's this?
This is Dash.
This is Marsha's dog.
Well, yeah, she
blew out her knee,
so I'm running him today.
Cool.
Here.
Here, here,
here, here.
Can you take
that outside?
Why?
'Cause there's no
drinking in here.
Get up, get up.
It's embarrassing.
Come on.
Good luck.
Devin!
Mm. Turkey noodle
soup, my favorite.
Melatonin finally kicked in.
Did you know the guy
that got killed
at the fairgrounds?
Bill Burdick?
Mm...
Why would I know him?
He's from Great
Falls or whatever?
How would I know him?
Like, why would
you ask me that?
Because you called
me from his number
the day he died.
Where'd you get that?
A sheriff's deputy
came into my work today
and asked me about it.
They asked me about
a phone call that I got,
and...they showed me
pictures of you.
-Pictures of me?
-Yeah.
You, at ATM machines.
There was even one
of you two together
at an ATM machine.
They asked me if
I knew who you were
from the photo.
I told them that
I wasn't sure.
Do they plan on
talking to me,
did they say?
Yeah.
Do they know that I'm
staying here with you?
I don't know.
Probably.
So you did know him, then.
And you just sat here
and lied to me about it?
Well, what do
you think, Erica?
Do you think
that I'd do that?
You think that I would
just kill somebody
for their money?
I don't know!
I mean, tell me, tell me.
What am I supposed
to think?
They said that
you were with him
the day he died,
and you've been
acting really strange
ever since it happened.
Devin, the say that
you were the last person
to see him alive.
So tell me, what am I
supposed to think?
Where are you going?
Yeah, hi, I'd like
to speak to someone
about the death
of Bill Burdick?
So, you come in
off the street
and you say you were
at the crime scene
with the victim.
Okay.
Tell me something
about it.
Okay, what do
you want to know?
Something you'd only
know if you were there.
Say...what was
the murder weapon,
for example?
Well, it wasn't murder,
I just want you
to know that,
and that I didn't
do anything, but, um...
he died, uh,
it was a knife.
-A knife.
-Yeah.
What kind of knife?
I don't remember,
exactly, um...
I know it had
a black handle
and it was like
a flip-up style.
Where would we have found it?
-The knife?
-Yeah.
Um...
Still in his chest.
Okay.
Moving forward.
You have the right
to remain silent.
Anything you say
can and will be
used against you
in a court of law.
You understand that, correct?
-Yeah.
-Okay.
You have the right
to an attorney.
I don't have an attorney.
Well, one can be provided.
Okay.
'Cause you're
gonna need one.
We're gonna be placing
you under arrest,
regardless of how this goes.
I'm just letting you know.
Yeah.
Yeah, I get that.
I mean, I don't think I'm
gonna need one, though,
right now, so.
All right.
Whenever you're ready.
All right, this is
gonna sound...stupid?
I'm just, like,
trying to think
of the best way to...
describe what happened.
Well, what do you
mean, "stupid"?
Just wanna tell you,
just don't say anything
for, like, a minute.
Just kinda let it sink in.
Okay.
Anytime you're ready.
It's all right.
This whole thing,
it was like an
assisted-suicide
type of situation.
It was like a Kevorkian
type of thing.
And I assisted with it.
And how did you
assist in his death?
He wanted to die in
a very specific way.
He wanted it to look
like a stabbing,
and so, he needed somebody
to tie his arms
behind his back
and hold a knife
to the steering wheel,
and then he did the rest.
And so, that's what I did,
but, um, I didn't kill him.
All right, Devin,
just so you'll know.
Four different
kinds of questions.
One question describes
what the test is about.
There's gonna be
three questions
directly related to what
you've been charged with.
There's gonna be
three lie questions.
Those are questions
that I will initially
ask you to answer truthfully
and then direct you to lie.
You have to lie
by answering no
and react appropriately.
So I have to lie
to those questions.
By answering no.
The lie questions start
with "Did you ever..."
Okay.
They're the only questions
you're allowed to lie to.
All other questions
on this test
you must answer truthfully.
Do you understand
I won't ask any
unreviewed questions?
Yes.
Is your home in Montana?
Yes.
Did you ever violate a rule?
Mm...yes.
All right, Devin,
you messed that up.
When I ask you a question
that starts with
"did you ever,"
your instructions are
to lie by answering no.
You've gotta do it.
This is your test
and my instructions
are important for you.
-So you got it?
-Got it.
You gotta answer no.
So we're gonna go back
to that last question.
Is your home in Montana?
Yes.
Did you ever violate a rule?
Yes.
Devin, you messed up again.
Answer this question
truthfully.
At any time in your life,
did you ever violate a rule?
-Truthfully?
-Yes.
-Yes.
-Okay.
On the questions that
start with "did you ever,"
you need to lie
by answering no.
I thought that's what I did.
All right.
Sorry.
All right, so we're going
back to that question.
Is your home in Montana?
Yes.
Is your first name Devin?
Yes.
Do you live in Helena?
Yes.
Did you ever make one mistake?
No.
Are you the person
who cut that man?
No.
Did you cut that man?
No.
Was it you who cut that man?
No.
Please remain still.
This test sequence
is complete.
Hi, Devin.
I'm Kristin Dunkle,
I'm with the public
defender's office.
I've been assigned
to your case.
Have a seat.
You doing okay in here?
Yeah, I guess, so far.
Okay, so what's
going on right now
is that the state
is still deciding
what they're gonna
charge you with.
I can push for
negligent homicide,
but I think, with the
attention on the case,
it's best to prepare
for the worst,
which would be
deliberate homicide.
Deliberate homicide?
Yes--basically, murder.
Well, once they
land on a charge,
I'm gonna see what
I can get for you,
but any deal is
probably gonna yield
a sentence of
20 years to life
with a possibility of parole.
Good behavior,
I can get you out
the lower end of 20.
-So I'd be pleading guilty.
-Correct.
Yeah, but I didn't kill him.
Okay, so...what?
He wanted to die,
and he wanted me
to help him die,
so that's what I did.
I didn't do anything wrong
so I don't understand
why they would want
to charge me with
homicide or whatever.
I mean, did you not
read my statement
that I gave to the police?
I did read the statement.
It says right here
he asked you to kill him,
and we're supposed
to believe that?
I mean, I know it
sounds fuckin' stupid,
but it's what happened.
Okay, um...I'm sorry.
Are you planning on
pleading not guilty?
Yes!
Okay, if you do that...
All right, no, you should
not be doing that,
because you could be
facing the death penalty.
Okay, I'm sorry.
I'm just a little
bit confused.
If you're planning
on pleading not guilty,
why have you been
speaking with the police?
Well, 'cause
they're the police.
I mean, they bring me in,
they ask me questions.
Like, what else am I
supposed to do?
Uh...remain silent?
You know that right of yours
they read when
they arrested you?
Yeah, but, like,
I'm not trying
to hide anything.
I'm just trying to cooperate.
All I did was tell
them the truth.
Okay, well it doesn't matter
if you told the truth.
What matters is
if they believe it,
and they don't believe it.
I read it, I didn't
believe it,
because it's not
a believable story.
Look, a man
was found bound
with his arms
behind his back
stabbed to death
and you admit you were there.
You had to understand that
there were consequences
even if your involvement
was limited.
The physical evidence
of this case supports
murder overwhelmingly,
and your story does
nothing to disprove it.
In fact, you story does
more to incriminate you
than it does to exonerate you,
because you put
yourself on the record
at the scene of the crime.
I mean, look at it this way.
At the very least,
you're an accessory.
You're also a witness,
not to mention a beneficiary,
because of the ATM withdrawals.
Look, I'm suggesting
once again we listen
to what they have to offer
and you take a deal.
We're talking about
the death penalty.
We have to plead guilty.
Devin Michael Fowler,
you have been charged with
the deliberate homicide
of William Burdick.
On the charge of
deliberate homicide,
how do you plead?
Not guilty.
Oh, fuck, Devin.
You know that I didn't just
kill this guy for
his money, right?
I mean, if I was
gonna do that,
I would do that and
then just admit to it,
and then I wouldn't look
like such a fuckin' idiot.
Why did you take the money?
That looks so bad.
He wanted me to take it.
It was, like,
part of the deal.
Uh, he said that I could
take whatever I needed
from his bank account.
And you didn't think
you were gonna get caught,
like, going to all those ATMs?
How could I?
It's just
surveillance footage.
Like, it's all
grainy and shitty.
You can't positively
identify anybody
based off that.
Plus, like, I wore a hat.
My God. Devin.
What?
It's the fuckin' phone call.
It's what ties me to
the whole fucking thing.
If I hadn't have
made that call,
they would have no idea
who the fucking blurry guy
on the footage is.
You know, I almost
forgot your number?
Like, I could
barely remember it
when I made the call?
And now it's the
reason I'm in here.
I just...
I can't believe you
fucking fell into this.
Yeah, well, neither
can anyone else.
I mean, the police, you...
Fuckin' lie detector
doesn't even believe me.
When did you take a polygraph?
Uh, when they were
questioning me.
Was Dunkle with you?
No. This was before.
Goddammit, Devin!
Why--why would you do that?
'Cause I'm a fuckin'
idiot, all right?
I get that I shouldn't
have talked to anybody.
This is why you don't
wait a fucking week
to call me.
I could have helped
you through this.
Well, I don't want
you to feel like
you have to be
here helping me.
I'm not gonna let
you go through this
on your own, okay?
And I talked to Dunkle.
It sounds like she could
use some of my help.
Yeah, but this
could be bad for you.
I'm here, okay?
That's that.
Why did you take my coat?
I don't know,
I just grabbed it.
Well, hopefully,
I'll get it back.
I'm sorry.
Well, how's Dunkle?
She's all right, I guess.
I don't know about
that hairstyle, though.
Devin, don't do that.
What?
Her fucking hairstyle?
No. They did the same
thing to Marcia Clark
for the O.J. trial
and it was bullshit.
Yeah, and she
lost, didn't she?
At least you didn't get one
of those ponytail lawyers.
Or a balding ponytail lawyer.
Why don't those guys
ever get shamed
for what they look like?
I don't know how you managed
to get yourself in here, Erica,
but keep in mind,
these are not conjugal visits.
So I need you both
to be professional
at all times, okay?
-Okay.
-Okay.
Now, Devin,
in order to build this case,
we're gonna have to
examine and touch on
some of the mistakes
you've made.
So I'm gonna need you
to just toughen up
when I do that, okay?
Okay.
Erica?
Devin.
We think you should
reconsider your plea.
Think about doing a deal.
'Cause unless you
change your story--
I'm not pleading guilty.
Unless you change your story,
we won't win this.
It's unwinnable.
Devin, this is your life.
I didn't kill him!
And I'm not gonna
say that I did.
I don't care if
I get a life sentence
or if I get
the death penalty.
Real easy to say
that right now.
Well, I just said it
and I'm gonna keep saying it,
so stop asking.
Right now,
it may not seem like
there's a big difference
between 20 years and death,
but trust me, Devin, there is.
Twenty years from now,
you could be sitting in there
looking back at
this very moment--
You guys have me fuckin'
locked up forever already.
I'm saying it
for the last time.
I'm not gonna sign up
for some guaranteed
prison sentence
and admit to something
that I didn't do, period.
So can we move on, please?
I'm sorry, I gotta--
I can't be in here.
She's right.
We won't win.
Did you seriously
just say that out loud?
Aren't you my lawyer?
Yeah, as your lawyer,
I'm gonna work
my ass off for you.
But it's also my job
to prepare you mentally
for all outcomes.
Now.
The only approach we
really have with this case
is to call into question
the definition of homicide
as it applies
to what happened.
I mean, the evidence
is pretty limited.
There's no DNA at
the crime scene.
There's no bloody clothes,
there's no eyewitnesses.
All they have
is the phone call
and the ATM withdrawals.
And of course, your
sworn statement, Devin.
-I just--
-I know, I know.
Even if it was the truth,
it doesn't matter.
Your sworn statement makes
their entire case for them.
The judge isn't gonna
just throw it out.
You're unwilling to recant,
you're unwilling to pursue
an improper interrogation,
so they're going
to destroy you
with your own words.
The defendant
was unemployed.
He was desperate.
He came across
William Burdick
and he saw an opportunity.
This was essentially
an abduction.
He confronted Mr. Burdick
and he forced him
against his will
to drive him back to
Helena where he lived.
Forced him to withdraw
a large sum of money,
presumably to confirm
his ATM PIN number,
continuing on to
a secluded location
near the defendant's home.
There, he proceeded
to stab William
eight times in the chest.
He was killing him for money.
He took his ATM
card, his cash,
and proceeded to
all but liquidate
his bank account
in subsequent days.
He was spending
Bill Burdick's money
less than 24 hours
after his death.
Devin Fowler is guilty
of deliberate homicide.
You must find him guilty.
Abducted--it's bullshit.
When you stopped
at the restaurant,
that would be the
only time anyone saw
both of you together, correct?
Yeah.
Is there anyone at all
that would remember you?
The waitress?
We will not deny
that the defendant
was at the scene.
We will not deny
that the defendant
was involved in the
death of Bill Burdick.
What we will deny
is that Devin Fowler
killed Bill Burdick.
We will prove that
this is not a homicide
and that the deceased
actually solicited
his own death,
and that he used
Devin Fowler,
exploiting his kindness
for his own gain.
He was a professional motivator,
a motivational speaker.
This is what he
did for a living.
He plied the defendant
with alcohol,
he pressured him intensely,
he lied to him.
And for what?
"What could he possibly gain?"
you might be wondering.
Money.
Life insurance money
for his family.
And how much debt was
Mr. Bill Burdick in?
Uh, I don't have the
figures in front of me,
-but--
-I do.
Sheriff Campbell,
Exhibit 9.
Summary of Bill Burdick's
accumulated debt.
Can you go ahead and please
look over those figures
and tell me if
those look correct,
based on your investigation?
Uh, yes, these are correct.
And can you read out loud
the total sum of debt?
$484,022.
Thank you.
And how much money
did Mr. Burdick's wife
and children stand to claim
off the life insurance policies?
Uh...approximately
$1.2 million.
Wow!
That's a lot of money.
And, Sheriff Campbell,
did you deliver
the unfortunate news
to Mrs. Burdick?
In the presence of
another officer, yes.
And can you describe
her reaction to the news?
Objection, Your Honor.
His assessment
of her reaction
is subjective and
irrelevant to the case.
Sustained.
Sheriff Campbell,
do you know why
Mrs. Burdick isn't
present here today--
or any other day
of the trial,
for that matter?
-Objection.
-Sustained.
-Mrs. Dunkle?
-I'm sorry, Your Honor.
I'm just wondering out loud
why we haven't heard
a peep out of
the deceased's wife.
I guess I have no
further questions.
The waitress remembers you.
She said you hit on her.
No.
Didn't happen.
Nah, I was just joking
around, if anything.
She's 19, asshole.
But she remembers him?
Yeah.
What about Burdick?
She said he looked scared.
What?
Burdick? She said
Burdick looked scared?
No.
No fucking way.
Oh my God, no!
There's no fuckin' way--oh!
No. She's just, like--
she's gotta just
be saying that
'cause she knows
what happened, like,
after the fact.
There's like no fuckin'
way he looked scared.
What do you think?
Does she hurt us or help us?
Well, she didn't see him
with a gun to his head
or a knife at his throat.
Was the defendant holding
Mr. Burdick at gunpoint?
Did he have a gun?
Uh, not that I saw, no.
-A knife?
-No.
So he wasn't holding
him against his will
in any way that
you could see?
Not, not that I saw.
But Mr. Burdick
looked scared, you say.
-Yeah.
-How so?
Like--like scared.
Yeah, scared like how?
How would you describe
a scared expression?
Um--I don't know, I...
I mean, he was
looking kind of--
Looking what?
Worried?
Oh, so he was
looking worried.
Not necessarily scared.
Objection, Your Honor,
this is just semantics.
Your Honor, I'm just
trying to point out
the subjective nature
of her observation.
Continue.
So the defendant coulda
just been worried.
Now, how would you
describe the difference
between worried and scared?
Um...I--
Based on the wounds,
point of entry, the placement,
the depth, and the
force required,
it is my conclusion
that the wounds
could not have been
inflicted upon the victim
as described by the defendant.
Would you say the chaotic,
varied nature of the wounds
would indicate
force being inflicted
onto the body in
a stabbing motion?
Yes.
We'll get a second opinion.
Yeah, I mean, aren't there
guys out there for hire
that'll just,
like, side with us?
Hm, they're not free.
Who wants to pay for that?
Based on my findings,
the wounds were
absolutely consistent
with Devin's story.
So it is possible
for the deceased
to have received these wounds
by lunging into a knife
in a fixed position?
Yes.
Such as was placed
on the car steering wheel.
Correct.
Sheriff Campbell,
after hearing the
defendant's story,
did you go back and check
the deceased's vehicle?
Yes.
And did you check the horn?
Yes.
Had it been disabled?
Yes.
Hm.
There's no way of knowing
when the vehicle's
horn was disabled,
is that correct?
-Yes, that's correct.
-So it's possible
the defendant could
have disabled it
after the murder.
Yes, it's possible.
There's no way of knowing.
Thank you.
You know, Burdick
actually mentioned
he actually tried
to get someone else
before me to do this
for him in Great Falls.
-What?
-Did you tell the police?
No, I forgot till just now.
Devin!
Yeah, but like...
if the guy is
still out there...
Yeah, that's huge.
We coulda used this
way earlier than today.
Yeah. Sorry.
Did he describe
the guy at least?
No, nothing beyond
what I just told you.
Uh, he was just, like,
some guy that he had
tried to get to do it.
The guy was bilking
him for money,
like, stringing him along,
but then he just ended up
basically flaking on him.
But if he's still
out there somewhere
and it's real...
Yeah, maybe I could
talk to Campbell?
Maybe we could put
a piece about it
in the newspaper up there.
He might come forward.
Did your brother show
any signs of depression?
None whatsoever.
Uh, really...we
were really tight.
He was the most stand-up
guy you ever met.
So when the defense says
this was all a case
of assisted suicide...
It's ridiculous.
It's sickening.
There's a special
place in hell
reserved for that
table right there.
Guy's own fuckin' family
didn't even know him.
Oh--where are we with
the Great Falls mystery man?
Nowhere.
The Tribune ran
a couple pieces
but nobody came forward.
Yeah, why would they?
I don't know, what are we--
how else are we
supposed to find him?
Running out of time, guys.
Is there anything else
we haven't covered here?
Well, I know you don't
wanna hear this, but, uh,
I still think I should
take the stand.
Well, I'm still not
putting you on the stand.
If they hear what happened
directly from me--
Mr. Fowler, did Mr. Burdick
ask you to kill him?
Answer the question, please.
Remember, you're under oath.
See? You're already
overthinking it.
It already looks bad.
And if you were to be honest,
the answer would have to be yes.
The defense rests.
By his own admission,
Devin Fowler tied
the victim's hand
behind his back,
held the murder weapon
against the steering wheel
while he threw his chest
into it multiple times.
That's according to him.
That alone, by the most
liberal definition,
is homicide.
That alone, by the strength
required to hold a blade steady
while it's being plunged
into a person's chest,
is enough to
constitute homicide.
We don't even have
to prove that
Devin Fowler is a liar.
We don't have to
do that for you,
ladies and gentlemen.
The evidence is
already insurmountable.
But the defense's
insidious attempts
to try and humanize
this completely
malicious and inhumane act
is an insult and a disgrace
to the family and the
friends of the victim.
And to this courtroom.
He stabbed him eight
times for money.
Devin Fowler is
not a murderer.
He has displayed absolutely
no violent behavior
in his past.
He wasn't looking to
kill anybody that day.
He's not some
money-grubbing lunatic.
He's a kid who needed a ride
and willing to
help a stranger,
and that stranger used him,
exploited him for
his own personal gain.
Bill Burdick would
not have died that day
if he hadn't have
wished it so.
Bill Burdick's life was
not in Devin's hands,
it was in his own.
Devin Fowler was just
the instrument that he used,
the cliff to jump off of.
Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,
this is not a homicide.
You must rule not guilty.
Mr. Foreman, has the
jury reached a verdict?
Your Honor, we have.
Bailiff, could you collect
the verdict, please?
Thank you.
Will the defendant
please stand
for the reading
of the verdict?
"In the case of the People
of the State of Montana
versus Devin Michael Fowler,
we, the jury, find
the defendant guilty
of deliberate homicide."
The defendant is now
remanded to the custody
of the sheriff.
I'm so sorry, Devin.
We will set a date
for sentencing
in the near future.
Here, this way.
Lily finally won a ribbon!
Her first one.
Don't look at me like that.
Like what?
Just don't do that.
-Do what?
-Fucking talk to me like that.
I would like to have
a real human interaction
with you when I'm here,
not some flippant,
passive-aggressive attitude.
Is that possible?
Yeah, sure,
absolutely no problem.
Why are you such an asshole
to me every time I come here?
I mean, what does
that do for you?
Does it make you feel good
to treat me like shit?
It'd make me feel good if
you stopped coming here.
Okay.
What about what I want?
I mean, have you ever
thought about that?
Have you ever
thought about me?
Maybe you should just sit
here through these visits
with a big smile
on your face for me
because of all
the fucking time
that I've put into you.
All the fucking time
you put into me?
-Yeah.
-Yeah, it's wasted.
Although, you know,
being part of
a high-profile murder case
definitely didn't hurt
your little law career.
Okay, Devin, yeah,
because that was
my master career plan
the whole time
we were together.
Date a murderer.
Oh, and now that you
don't need me anymore,
now you're trying this whole
weak, sullen,
push-me-away routine?
First of all--
first of all,
don't expect me to feel
fuckin' sorry for you
'cause your feelings are hurt.
When we're done here,
you get to walk out
and go home.
Where the fuck am I again?
Oh, how could I forget?
'Cause it's all about
you, all the time.
It's not about me!
If it was about me,
I would want you
to come here every day
and visit me and
support me and love me.
I'd fuckin' love that.
Believe it or not,
I'm actually thinking
in your best interest
when I treat you like shit.
Because I think
that at this point,
that's gonna be
the only thing
that gets it
through your head
that you're wasting
your time with me.
Clearly, I've been a complete
fucking waste of your time.
Again, where are we right now?
You're not a prison wife,
so get the fuck outta here.
Get the fuck outta here.
Devin...
-Be gone!
-No, I love you!
I love you!
You don't love me;
I'm just something
for you to take care of.
I'm like the dog
or something.
I'm like Lily.
That's not true.
Something for you
to take care of.
'Cause you're like a saint
and I'm just like
a fucking...
a fucking clown.
That's not true.
Devin.
Devin?
Devin!
Your Honor,
the prosecution
seeks a sentence
of no less than death.
Thank you.
Your Honor,
based on the non-traditional
circumstances of this crime,
of which we've
illustrated during trial,
I recommend strongly
that you do not sentence
this man to death.
Thank you.
I'll never see my son
again because of you.
His children will never
see their daddy again
because of you.
Do you have any idea
what carnage you have
brought to our family?
You can rot in prison
and burn in hell.
To Amy, to Morgan,
to my sister,
to everyone in my family
that you damaged?
For what?
For what? Money?
He was full of life.
He was full of love,
and you took it all away.
He loved Amy and Morgan
more than anything
in the world.
He would never,
ever leave them.
I know Devin.
I know him better than
anyone in this courtroom.
Better than anyone who's
ever passed judgment on him.
Or soon will.
I truly know him,
and I feel lucky,
because I think
it's rare in life
to really, truly
know someone.
He doesn't have a huge family
or an extended support system
pleading with you
and telling you
what I'm telling you
right now about him.
It's just me.
I'm not trying to pull
at your heartstrings.
I'm just trying
to give you an idea
of the kind of person that
they want to put to death.
He's not a violent person!
He's not a danger to society!
He's never committed
a violent crime.
So I'm asking you,
I'm begging you,
please...just
don't take his life.
Thank you.
Mr. Fowler, do you wish
to address the court?
Yes.
I want to say sorry to
the family and friends
of Bill Burdick.
I'm sorry for their loss
and for what I did,
whatever you think that I did.
I definitely think that
I should be punished,
but I don't think
that I should have
my life taken from me,
because Bill Burdick is
where he wanted to be
right now,
and I don't think that he
would want this for me.
I wish I'd lied
from the beginning,
I should have lied.
Then none of us
would be here
and the family
wouldn't be feeling
the anger and the pain
that they feel.
So again, I'm sorry
for what happened.
Thank you.
Will the defendant please
rise for sentencing?
Mr. Fowler,
your continued refusal
to accept responsibility
for this horrible crime
and your continued
disrespect of the victim
is truly unsettling.
You know what you did.
You killed this man.
I hereby sentence you
to life in prison
without the possibility
of parole.
Bailiff, take
this man to prison.
Hi, uh, Mr. Fowler.
Sorry, um...
I don't, uh...
It's hard for me
to explain exactly--
exactly why I'm here.
It's okay.
I think it's your dad
finding new ways to haunt me.
He showed me
a picture of you.
You, uh, made the Clark's
Nutcracker, right?
The what?
The paper bird ornament
that was hanging on
the mirror of his car.
You made that, right?
Oh. I-I don't know.
Maybe, if he said so.
Um, it's been a long time.
Yeah. Sorry.
Don't apologize, please.
I'm not here for that, okay?
The last thing I need to
hear is another "I'm sorry."
You understand?
Yeah.
It, uh, it gets very old.
And I wanted to let you know
I'm not here to
make you feel guilty
or anything like that, I...
Devin, I...
I wanted to come
in here face to face
to tell you that
I believe your story
about what happened.
What do you mean,
you believe my story?
What does that mean?
I've spent some time
studying the case
the last couple years
and remembering that time,
and my mom,
the way she was
about it, she...
She's never come
out and said it
but I know it's true.
She's not happy
about me being here,
I can tell you that,
but I had to come.
'Cause I also think
you saw a side of my dad
that no one else had
ever seen, and...
I'd like you to
tell me about it,
if you can.
And you think that's
gonna be helpful for you?
Yeah, well, my thing is,
like, people...
When people talk about
him 'cause he died,
they only have
good things to say.
Nice things, happy
memories and stories,
which is fine, but it's...
it's not all a
person is, you know?
That doesn't help me
understand him.
So just anything
he said that day
from the time
you were with him
about that side of him
would be helpful,
if you remember.
If I remember?
That's all I think about.
Um...
He talked about
being depressed.
He'd said, "Depression
is like a ride,
and I think I'm
on that ride now."
He talked about being
scared of himself,
of what he might do
to other people--
like, he could do, like,
physical harm, maybe.
Like, that's how deep
his thing went.
The place on the
river where we met
meant something to him.
I think he had said
something about
his dad taking him there
when he was a kid.
Do you know where it is?
Do you think you could
tell me where it is,
describe it to me?
Yeah.
Uh...
Uh, there's a dirt road
that runs between
Craig and Wolf Creek.
You take the road
south from Craig,
about a mile down on the left,
there's, like, a dirt road
that leads down to the river.
There's, like, a wooden gate.
That's where it was.
It's pretty gutsy coming
in here all by yourself.
How old are you?
Twenty-one.
What do you do?
I'm going to school right now.
What school?
Montana State.
Bobcat.
So what do you
think of my dad?
Do you hate him?
Do I hate him?
Uh...
I mean, I try not
to hate anybody.
Um, but there's
anger for sure.
Do you think he wanted
you to get caught?
Well...
Having me in here
definitely goes
a long way towards
making sure the, uh,
insurance check clears.
But, um, at the same time,
there are other things
that kinda go against that,
like why would he
make me wipe down
all my fingerprints?
Why would he make me
throw away the beer cans
that I drank?
False reassurance?
Make you trust him more?
Maybe.
I mean, I'm never gonna know.
I can go over it again
and again in my head,
but, uh, there's no answer.
I mean, at a certain point,
I'm just gonna have to pick.
I'm gonna have to decide,
and that sucks.
I know you don't
wanna, like hear this,
but, um...
I'm still...sorry.
Please, don't.
Seriously, don't.
I should be apologizing
to you for what he did.
-No.
-He did this to you.
No.
He wanted you to get caught.
-You don't know that.
-He used you.
You don't know that.
You're not a violent criminal.
You would have never
done anything like this
-if it wasn't for him.
-It doesn't matter!
I had a choice.
I could have done
something else.
I could have,
like, walked away.
I could have,
like, helped him.
That's what you were doing.
You thought you
were helping him.
This is not how I thought
this was gonna go.
You coulda just come in here
and, like, let me have it
and just, like, call me
a bunch of names or something.
Like, you gotta come
in here and, like,
feel sorry for me?
I was meant to be in here.
It was meant to be, I'm
supposed to be in here.
You don't know, you just
said you don't know.
I'm the one he did
it for, right,
so shouldn't I
get to decide?
He was wrong and
he was a coward,
and he ruined your life
for my benefit.
And I wouldn't...
I wouldn't be able
to live with myself
if I didn't come
in here to tell you
how sorry I am,
and that I...
I wouldn't want that,
I-I wouldn't wish
that on anyone.
Morgan...
Life sets traps
everywhere.
You coming in here and
feeling sorry for me
and getting hung up
on this whole thing,
that's a trap that
you can't fall into.
You actually have the option
of forgetting
about all of this
and moving on with your life.
You have to do that.
Do you hate him?
Well, there was a time when
you didn't hate him, right?
Or at least when
you could answer no
to that question?
A time when things
were simple?
Well, that's
happening right now.
Everything that's ever happened
and everything
that ever will happen
is happening right now.
It's just not happening here.
It's happening
out there somewhere.
Ten light years
from the Planet Earth
right now in this very moment,
your dad is alive,
casting his line out
onto the Missouri River,
and I'm out there,
running around free,
doing stupid shit.
We're meeting on
a riverbank...
...and we're friends.