The Girl from Plainville (2022) s01e04 Episode Script

1 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 think she knew he was gonna kill 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 goddamn 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, suicide and even assisted suicide, 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 fucking 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 GUNSHOT.]
- [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 kill 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 suicide 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.
Fuck, 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 - Fuck Lynn.
It's not her truck.
Isn't even your truck.
For fuck's sake, it wasn't even Coco's truck.
It's my goddamn truck, and I'll sell it if and whenever I goddamn please.
I don't wanna have to look at it anymore, Dad.
CONRAD SR.
: What does it matter? How are fucking 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 fucking example of whatever the fuck 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.]
Fuck! [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 suicide 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 murder? JOE: Well, it's not murder.
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 fucked up.
It's not fucked 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 shoot herself yet never even touches the gun.
- 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 killed himself.
If I'm Cataldo, I just figured out Conrad's motive for killing 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 fucking 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 fucking 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