Burden of Truth (2018) s02e04 Episode Script

I'll be at the motel for two days.
Let me know.
Just listen, OK? Actually listen to me for once.
"For once"? It's Taylor.
She's borrowing the car to go to Millwood.
Mind if I join you actually? I wanna go visit my mom.
Yeah, sure.
- You're staying at Wendy's? - No.
I'll stay at the motel.
I'm talking to you and I decide when I go, Dad.
- Let go of me! - It's your dad.
They found him in his room.
Come in.
Coffee's hot.
Take as much time as you need.
They're expecting me.
All right.
That's him.
That's my father.
The last time we spoke was so awful.
I know I shouldn't fixate on it, but I can't I can't stop thinking about it.
- I know.
- I just wish I could go back and do things differently.
Joanna, don't be so hard on yourself.
You can't be nice to me right now.
I'm sorry.
I don't know how else to be.
I'm sorry.
I'm just, uh I, uh, have to get to the police station.
They want me to make a statement.
- I'll go with you.
- I said I'm fine - It's no bother.
- I'll walk.
Thank you.
Joanna anything you need, I'm here.
Good job, boys.
So, someone got the jump on him and smacked him with a bottle of booze.
Unopened bottle of booze.
The cap and seal were found still intact in the broken bottle neck.
He didn't even get to enjoy a last drink.
Doesn't look that way unless this was bottle number 2.
- They think he was inebriated? - Tough to say.
We'll know more when the tox screen comes back.
You'd have to get that angle just right.
I mean, people don't normally die from a knock on the head.
Meaning the killing was unintentional.
Or a crime of passion.
Which would suggest that Hanley knew his attacker.
You got the toast; I'll do the coffee.
- Yeah.
- Sorry.
It's been a while since I had someone in the kitchen.
Hey, Mom, why don't you sit down.
Let me make you breakfast for once.
- All right.
- OK.
So, um how's Molly been feeling? Aaah, the same.
She's liking Winnipeg? Yeah.
A bit too much.
She's got a whole new circle of friends, but I mean, it's good to see her happy again.
Hey, uh Hey, Mom - There's something I gotta talk - There's something I gotta talk to you about.
You go first.
I saw him last night, my father.
I'll get rid of whoever that is.
Gerrilynn Spence? You know it's me, Jason.
I'm gonna need you to come down to the station with us, - answer a few questions.
- What's this about? They can tell you more back at the station, Ma'am, but I am gonna need you to come with me now.
Sure, just give me a minute.
I need to grab my purse.
Mom, what do they want? Stay here, OK? I'll call you if I need you.
There's only been three suspicious deaths in Millwood, and the RCMP was brought in on all of them.
They're not better than us.
We don't know what happened here, alright? When we get the coroner's report back, we'll have a clearer picture what we're dealing with, we'll be able to make a decision then.
Alright, they found the wallet in his room.
Any money in it? Cash and cards still there.
That rules out a smash and grab.
Maybe it was a "time's up" type of deal, - Millwood style.
- One of his women did this? If not a woman, could be her husband.
Good point.
You turn over every stone, a crab is bound to crawl out.
We got this.
Teddie, hey.
I was just about to call you.
Great job on the Lovand case, Joanna.
You really turned it around.
They've reached out for a sit-down, and I think that they are scared to go to trial now - because of you.
- My father died.
Oh, my God! - Joanna, I'm so sorry.
- Thank you.
I, uh I have a couple of things I have to deal with here in Millwood, - and - Yes, of course! And then I will be back to work.
No, don't worry about it.
I will take care of Lovand and Noah and anything else that comes up.
You just take as much time as you need.
- No, I wanna be back.
- I insist.
No, this should not take long.
I will be back in a day or two.
It wasn't self-defense if he had his back turned.
- Ms.
Hanley.
- It's Chang.
Great.
Uh, I'm sorry for your loss.
I appreciate you coming down.
Right this way, please.
Your father had a lot of enemies.
You're sure this was homicide? It's certainly pointing that way.
How did he die? Looks like blunt-force trauma.
He took a blow to the back of the head.
- With what? - A bottle of booze.
A big one.
- I'm sorry, do you need a minute? - No, I'm good.
Was he in pain? Single blow to the head, happened fast.
Did he tell you he was gonna be in town or what he was doing here? Any idea who might have done this to him? Like you said, throw a stone in this town and you'll hit someone with a grudge against him.
We're gonna need a list.
Ben Matheson.
My father threw him under the bus during the Matheson Steel case.
He lost everything.
But I can't imagine him doing something like this.
That lawsuit destroyed my life.
Do I blame Hanley for that? Sure, maybe.
You think I had something to do with this? Where were you last night between 8 and midnight? I was at The Boot all night.
A lot of people saw me.
I can get you a list or you could just talk to Lou, I was sitting at the bar.
I know you think I had something to do with this.
What do you mean by that? Because I was at the motel.
A lot of people were staying at the motel, Shane.
But were a lot of people supposed to stay in that room? What are you talking about? Look, I know I don't exactly have a squeaky-clean record, and it's no secret that the guy was a douche, but I didn't do it.
We're not saying you did, son.
Yeah.
It's like I told the officer last night.
I didn't see or hear anything.
There's no need to worry.
Sorry, I just get nervous talking to police.
Of course.
You know who doesn't? Bad guys.
We just want to know what you saw last night, Taylor.
I didn't see anything.
I did hear an argument though.
- Between? - A man, I guess that was David Hanley, and some woman.
You hear what was being said? - No.
- Did you hear anything else? Anything more after the argument? - Any type of struggle? - No.
Sorry.
It all died down by the time the pizza guy came.
Any idea what time that was? Uh, I don't know, 9-ish? Can you talk about the women in your father's life? I'd rather not.
It's no secret your father was a fan of the ladies.
- You can't have been oblivious to that.
- I don't know what to tell you.
We just want to talk to you about your, uh, relationship with David Hanley.
It was a lifetime ago.
- You knew he was in town? - I'm the mayor, not a psychic.
Can your office handle - this investigation? - 100%.
- Because if this goes sideways.
- It's not gonna happen.
And you're sure you shouldn't bring in some backup on this? Hey, I'm the one asking the questions here, Mayor.
Where were you last night? I was hosting a fundraiser at the Booster Club.
Anybody see you there? Yeah.
The 55 people I delivered a speech to.
Last time you were in town, didn't someone give you a big old shiner? Amy Carr.
And why would she haul off and do that? She was upset about what happened with her sister.
- Erin? - Yeah.
- What did you do to Erin? - Nothing.
It was a message.
For your father? - Where were you last night? - I was home watching reruns of Say Yes to the Dress.
I am guilty of that.
- Were you alone? - Yeah.
What were you doing at Gerrilynn Spence's place last week? I was working.
She asked me to appraise her house.
She wanted to sell? That's right.
But the house isn't listed.
I guess she changed her mind.
Or maybe you two cooked up a different plan.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Two ex-girlfriends of David Hanley Well we weren't conspiring if that's where this is going.
We only want to determine what happened last night.
I'm sorry.
I can't help you with that.
Where do you think you're going? Am I under arrest? No, Ma'am.
Well then, you can't keep me here.
You let me know when you catch whoever did this.
I'd like to send them a gift basket.
Of course I was angry, but I had other recourse.
- We filed a civil suit.
- Wow! Now, those are some fancy words.
Your lawyer teach you those? A lot of people saw that stunt you pulled at The Boot.
I argued with him; I didn't kill him.
- But you were angry.
- Yes.
- I already told you that.
- You threw a glass at his head.
Yeah.
A couple of tables actually cheered.
But you missed.
Maybe you went back to the motel to finish the job? I didn't kill him.
We have and eyewitness account of an Indigenous woman fleeing the scene.
That plus broken glass at the motel.
Seems like we have a running theme here.
Look, we got into it at the bar, and that's the last time I saw him, OK? I swear.
- I was working all night! - You didn't take a break then? Yes.
Uh, no.
- I took my break.
- How long? I don't know, 10 minutes maybe.
You sure you didn't stretch it a bit? - Head over to the motel? - No! Look I'm sure you didn't go there with the intention of killing him.
I didn't go there, period.
You just wanted to finish the argument you started at The Boot, things got out of hand.
- It happens.
- You know what? I don't have anything more to say.
SIT DOWN, Ms.
Spence! Sit down! When are you people gonna learn some respect? I want to talk to my lawyer.
You hear me?! I want to talk to my lawyer! I'm detaining you in connection with the murder of David Hanley.
What? - Luna.
- Where's Mom? Um Uh David Hanley died last night.
He was murdered.
Your mom's being held for questioning.
- She didn't do it.
- I know.
- I need to see her - No, no.
Hey, hey, you can't go back there right now.
I'm telling you, she didn't do it.
She didn't do it.
She didn't do it! They strip searched me, Billy, and they took all sorts of pictures.
It's supposed to be for your own protection.
- Well, it sure doesn't feel that way.
- In case of police brutality.
You sit tight.
Don't say a word.
They haven't charged you with anything; it's clear they don't have a case.
Can you call Luna and explain what's going on? She knows.
She's right outside.
Do you want me to bring her in? No.
I don't I don't want her to see me like this.
He's cutting corners, jumping to conclusions.
He's dangerous.
If you want me to stick my neck out for you, I need more.
A man was murdered, and a potentially innocent woman may be blamed for it, an Indigenous woman.
I know the history of this town.
With all due respect, my history and your history in this town are pretty different, Mayor.
We're on the same team, Owen.
Just bring me something I can use.
Joanna! Joanna.
What are you doing here? Uh, I-I drove in with Taylor this morning.
Uh, my mom, she didn't do what they're saying.
They're talking to a lot of people, - I'm sure it's just a formality.
- She didn't kill him! - Hey, hey.
- Are they done? Can I see her? No, not yet.
Luna, I talked to her.
It's gonna be OK.
I'm gonna do everything I can - to get her out of here.
- I want to see her.
No, no, not right now.
She asked that you head out to my place.
Just lay low for a bit.
OK? I'll call you the second we know anything.
OK.
But you'll take care of her, right? You have my word.
How did my father react to Gerrilynn's civil suit against him? You know I can't discuss the case with you.
- Why not? He's dead, Billy.
- He's not my client.
She has motive.
She probably had opportunity.
Joanna, a lot of people in Millwood had motive and opportunity.
Yes, but how many of those people pressed charges against him and had those charges thrown out? That would make me pretty angry.
You know her you can't think she did this.
I don't know what to think.
She didn't do it.
Hey.
The coroner's report came back.
Give me the CliffsNotes version.
Uh, no defensive wounds other than the head trauma.
There's no other signs of a struggle.
Pulled a bunch of prints off the murder weapon.
They're running those.
And, interestingly, they found skin underneath his fingernails.
They're running the DNA.
So, it's good news.
Exonerates Gerrilynn.
How do you figure? You saw the pictures, she doesn't have a mark on her.
Well, no visible signs of struggle, but that skin could be from the last woman that Hanley had sex with.
What? So you're saying Gerrilynn went over and killed him after some other woman had sex with him? No, I'm saying I don't know what happened in that motel.
And neither do you, Owen.
I'm keeping her until the DNA is back.
Hi.
You've reached Molly.
You know what to do.
Hey, it's me.
Again.
It says here Billy Crawford's the lawyer on record Obviously.
I'm his partner and I want to speak to our client now! I want to know what happened to my father.
Just tell me the truth, and I'll leave.
Joanna, you you you have to believe I could never I I would never.
He was your dad, and you loved him.
I loved him too once.
You don't say a word to anyone without Billy here, got it? OK What are you gonna do? I'm gonna find out who did this and help get you out of here.
- Who are you? - Shane?! It's-it's me, Taylor.
Taylor Matheson? You shouldn't be sneaking around out here, I could have hurt you.
I'm sorry.
I was just looking for my yearbook.
Being home has made me kind of nostalgic.
Billy told me no one was here.
Why is your stuff in my brother's garage? You probably heard that my parents were splitting up.
No No, I didn't.
I'm so sorry.
That sucks! Yeah, it does.
Billy was nice enough to let me keep my stuff here.
Bad time to show up in town.
What with the murder and everything.
I know.
That's crazy, right? I was supposed to stay in that room.
- What? What do you mean? - Last night, I asked for that room; they said it was taken.
That's super creepy.
Stay here.
Let me check this out.
Luna! - Are you OK? - Tay, I-I I'm sorry.
Stupid, stupid question.
- You good? - Yeah, we're good.
Watch your backs out there, eh? - Who's that? - That's Billy's brother.
Come on, let's get you inside.
Taylor Taylor, my dad - I know.
- My mom, they're holding her - for questioning.
- What?! They think she's somehow connected.
No, there's no way she did it.
Sometimes, you don't know, Luna, what people are capable of.
- What are you saying? - Nothing.
I'm not I just I didn't believe that my dad would poison the town, but he did.
I'm sorry, Luna.
This isn't coming out the way that I want it to.
I'm just nervous.
Being home, it's been a lot.
I'm sorry.
I shouldn't have bailed on you the other night.
No, it's OK.
I had to go down to the police station to answer some questions about what I heard at the motel last night.
Oh, what did you hear? An argument between him and some woman.
- Did you hear what they said? - No.
No.
It was muffled.
Not much help I guess.
Check 1-0-4.
You jeopardize this entire investigation, you realize that? Nobody saw me.
What was in the coroner's report? No way.
Doesn't that look like fresh blood to you? And your guys missed it.
Things are being missed, Owen.
This investigation is amateur hour.
The coroner found DNA under his nails.
Whoever killed him likely got scratched in the process.
And cut.
- You have to test that blood.
- Oh, we will.
Please tell me you didn't touch anything in here.
Don't worry, I'm not nearly as sloppy as the Millwood PD.
How did you find that down there? My father would never use motel towels.
Ever.
He always brought his own.
Check his stuff.
He has a monogrammed set.
And there is one towel missing.
Someone was bleeding and left with one of those towels.
- This is huge, Joanna.
- I know.
You have to get Mercer off this investigation.
He's not experienced enough.
We have to find who did this.
We will.
Now why don't you stick to your job, counselor, and let me do mine.
I have been calling you so much I feel like a stalker.
Don't say that.
It's my fault.
I've been I've been stupid.
No, you haven't.
We're both just trying to figure stuff out.
I can't believe he's dead.
Are you OK? Uh I don't really know how I am supposed to feel.
I'll jump on a bus.
I can be there in a few hours, OK? No, don't.
I just I-I want to get out of here, but I need to make sure that my mom's OK first.
Yeah, of course.
So, uh, I'll call you when I know more.
Yeah.
I'm really glad I finally got ahold of you.
Me too.
I'm sorry I haven't been around more.
That stops now, OK? I love you, Lu.
I love you too.
- Thanks for coming.
- Of course.
I'm sorry about how I was earlier.
Hey, let's not start apologizing.
It'll set a bad precedent.
I believe Gerrilynn's innocent.
I found new evidence at the crime scene.
You broke into the crime scene? - Billy, keep your voice down.
- What were you thinking? I was trying to help your client.
She doesn't need that kind of help.
Her alibi checks out, and I have this.
- He tried to pay her off.
- Yeah.
So why wouldn't she cash it first? Jesus! I'd want that kind of money for a getaway, wouldn't you? - Yeah, definitely.
- Hey.
Can we talk about the bit where you broke into a crime scene? Billy I just think you might be a little close to this.
No, I'm fine.
Come on, let's go get your client out.
She's not going anywhere until the DNA comes back.
That's what David Hanley offered Gerrilynn to drop the civil suit.
This is nothing to prove she didn't kill him.
So why didn't she cash it? I don't know, maybe she was insulted by the offer.
It's gonna be hard to prove to a jury that anyone around here would be insulted by half a million dollars.
Plus, I have two coworkers willing to give sworn statements that Gerrilynn took one 10-minute break, all night.
Not nearly enough time to get to the motel and to kill him and then get back.
Without a scratch on her, I might add.
No motive, no opportunity, no defensive wounds.
Tell your client not to leave town.
You should probably lay low for a bit.
Mercer's gunning for you.
- Thank you.
- You got it.
Thanks for helping me.
And again, I just want to say I'm sorry.
Come on, let's get you home.
It's been a long day.
Diane wants to meet us at The Boot.
You up for that? I could really use a drink.
Have you notified everyone you need to? - Do you need me to call anyone? - I don't think so.
I spoke to the partners at CTS, and, um I called my mom.
Oh, honey, that must have been Yeah.
Yeah, complicated.
I know how strained things were between you and your dad.
Strained is an understatement.
Get back to me as soon as you get the results.
Thank you.
Nothing was ever easy with him.
I mean, even now, I want to just bury him, and I can't even do that.
Sorry.
That was the police.
Still no word on the forensic results.
I would feel a hell of a lot better if Mercer wasn't in charge of this thing.
- I think we all would.
- It's out of our control.
We need to focus on the facts.
When I spoke to Taylor about her statement, she said she had no idea the argument she heard even involved your father.
Wait, Taylor was a witness? Yeah, she was staying at the motel.
She came in last night? As far as I know.
I have to go.
Um, - thanks for the drink.
- Wait.
What? Where are you going? Why did you lie to me? What? You told me that you and Taylor came in this morning, but you and I both know she was here last night.
He told me to go home, and I followed him into the room.
We started fighting.
And then when he threatened to call the cops, I grabbed for his phone - and that's how I got these - But then you left? - Yes.
- And you never went back? No.
I told you.
OK.
So you got in a fight with him, left and then an hour or so later, someone else killed him? Why do you say it like that? - Like what? - Like you don't believe me.
Luna, you lied to me.
Because he's your dad! I didn't want you to think that I had anything to do with what happened to him.
Mercer told me that they have a witness that saw an indigenous woman leave the room, so it's only a matter of time before they piece two and two together.
Where are you gonna go? I don't know.
South? It'll look worse for you if you run.
You have to go to the police and tell them what you just told me, explain exactly what happened.
No.
See, you're acting like she's you.
The rules are different for us.
If she goes in there, she's not coming out.
If she runs, she will never stop.
You have to get out in front of this because you know when that DNA comes back, it's gonna place her at the scene.
Luna, I can protect you.
Can I sleep on it? Of course, baby.
The decision is yours.
Oh, no.
I'll make the couch.
Is Luna with you? - No, she isn't.
- Then where the hell is she? Oh, dammit! - Sam.
- There we go.
I want to thank you for all the work you've done so far Oh, don't patronize me! I understand it's a high-profile case, Alison Sam, blood that wasn't the victim's was missed at the crime scene.
How can you possibly know that? It's not your concern.
I want the RCMP brought in on this.
I already told you that was unnecessary! And I'm telling you this town can't handle any more negative press.
Look, this is my investigation to run! For now.
You can be replaced.
Hey, everything OK in here? She thinks she can come in here, threaten me, threaten my job? Well, let me tell you something, that door swings both ways.
- Now is not the time to panic.
- No, no, no, no, I don't panic.
I close cases.
Luna? I'm ready to go to the station and tell them what happened.
- You're sure, baby? - Yeah.
You're making the right decision.
Luna Spence We were just going to come down to the station You're under arrest for the murder of David Hanley.
Luna is a witness.
You don't need to cuff her! - No, no, no, no! - Gerrilynn.
Gerrilynn.
- Are you insane?! No! - Shh, shh, shh.
- We'll get out of there, OK? - What are you doing?! - Just relax.
- You're gonna be OK.
- Get off of me! - Owen, I've got her! No! No! No.
- She has the right to counsel.
- You can't keep us out.
I'll call you when she's been processed.
Hi.
You've reached Molly.
You know what to do.
Hey, it's it's me.
Uh, it's Luna.
Umm I I accidentally got your car impounded.
Maybe Taylor can get it and drive it back.
Umm they think I did it, Molls.
They They think I killed him, but I didn't.
I swear, I swear I didn't do it.
I just really, really need to hear your voice.
I just really, really need to hear your voice.
OK.
We need a plan.
The evidence is circumstantial, but still it doesn't look good.
Luna's gonna need the best defense we can give her.
Are you listening? I know my representing her is an ethical breach, and I know we need a plan, but But first, you have to listen to this.
Guys like David get off with nothing, But not this time.
I don't know how, but he's gonna pay for what he did.
He's gonna get what's coming to him.
Message deleted.