Truth Be Told (2015) s02e08 Episode Script

There was once a gifted Black girl
who nobody could see or hear.
No matter how loud she yelled,
she was always a girl without a voice.
When Rose Gil was a teenager,
scraping by on the streets of LA,
her talents as a writer
and a visual artist
blossomed into undeniable genius.
But nobody noticed.
Was it because of her gender? Her race?
Was it the mental illness that
was beginning to grip her mind?
Whatever the reason, Rose was invisible.
But the truth is, she did have a voice.
But that voice was stolen by
someone she loved like a sister.
Micah Keith stole Rose Gil's painful
but powerful story of survival
and repackaged it as her own,
knowing that even if Rose
tried to call her out,
she would just be an angry,
unhoused, mentally ill Black woman
that no one would believe.
The audacity is profound.
The damage lifelong.
Besides Rose, there was one other person
who knew of Micah's long con.
Holt Rollins.
He was also privy to the secret
that launched her into the stratosphere,
and it was his job to
protect it at all costs.
Two days ago, Rollins attempted
to silence Rose for good.
Did he act alone to protect
the secret of a woman
to whom he's devoted his life?
Or did he operate on orders from Micah?
One thing seems clear.
The mere possibility of
Rose's story coming to light
was a threat to a woman whose
identity is built on a lie.
On this episode of Reconsidered,
we'll trace two stolen lives.
Rose Gil and Joshua Keith.
Oh. This is a tidal wave. I mean
People shouldn't hear
Rose's story from me.
How am I any different
if I speak for her?
You have to. 'Cause right now
she can't speak for herself.
I'd be on firmer ground if I
hadn't lost the damn recorder.
You're a journalist, Poppy.
You are the recorder.
She didn't tell me what happened
after Josh heard the truth.
Okay. What do you wanna do?
Josh, Ramon, Rose were all targeted
because they knew a side of
Micah she hid from the public.
And we know Holt was
behind all those attacks.
Except maybe Joshua.
Mmm. Holt was just the weapon.
Micah pulled the trigger.
If Rose can't talk, maybe Holt will.
I'll see if I can get you into the jail.
Hey. Mitri's here.
He said if you keep him waiting,
he's gonna take it out of your retainer.
Hey.
Hello.
- I need your signature on that.
- Mmm.
Tell me I will not have to
think about the lawsuit
after this hearing.
- Best-case scenario?
- Please.
The judge grants us a continuance
on the mediation you bailed on.
- Markus got shot.
- Mm-hmm.
You and Alana get in a room, make
nice. An apology wouldn't hurt.
I mean, a lot of times that's all
people want out of a lawsuit.
I'm not apologizing for doing my job.
Well, that ain't best-case scenario.
Mmm.
The judge calling us into the courtroom
for a routine motion to reschedule.
That's not a good sign.
Well, I know you'll work your magic.
Mmm, you save that sugar for the judge.
You go wash that bowl.
- Okay. All right.
- Mm-hmm.
- He give you anything?
- Not really.
I got press calling me day and
night, asking for comment.
- I understand.
- I don't think you do.
I want her in custody. Today.
The DA is ready to bring charges.
This isn't righteous.
Righteous? You wanna
use that word with me?
- I'm not ashamed of anything I've done.
- You should be.
You shouldn't even be a cop.
But here we are.
I told you what would happen if
you let that reporter get involved.
The media is having a field day.
This whole thing is becoming an
embarrassment to the department.
Now, you've had enough time.
Wrap this by the end of the week.
No, I know what it looks like.
I do. Uh, it's Please trust
- Hang up.
- Excuse me. I'm gonna call you back.
- I need to talk to you.
- What is it? I'm busy.
Listen.
For the millions who
think they know her,
Micah Keith's life is an inspiration.
But the visionary artist celebrated
as a beacon of self-empowerment
is not the woman she pretends to be.
On the next Reconsidered:
"Unmasking an Ic"
I know, I heard it. What do
you think I've been doing?
Some of the board members are asking
if they need legal protection.
Because of a podcast?
Holt's arrest is still
playing on the news.
Ramon and Josh's deaths have the
staff concerned for their safety.
Mmm. Poppy's turning
everyone against each other.
This is all her fault.
Are you all right? 'Cause I
need you focused right now.
Maybe I need to slap her
with another lawsuit.
A cease and desist. Libel.
No, Micah? Micah.
There is a meeting with
the board in a few days.
They're questioning your ability
to lead. You listening to me?
Just need to find out
how much she knows.
What she knows about what?
Markus?
Hi, Markus. Zarina.
I heard what happened. I thought
you'd still be in the hospital.
Mm-hmm. He should be.
Well, it's not like the bullet's
gonna get any smaller
laying in a bed.
They left it in?
Yeah, it's done its damage.
There's no use risking
surgery at this point.
And don't even bother telling me
you didn't mean for this to happen.
I didn't ask you to go with Poppy.
Markus, what is she planning?
- Are you fucking kidding me right now?
- Let's go. Let's go.
Is municipal architecture your jam,
or is there another reason
we're meeting here?
Ah, no. I have a deposition
in 15 minutes.
Look
I'm afraid something bad's
gonna happen to Rose.
- I don't think Holt's done with her.
- He's locked up.
But Micah could bail him out.
Rose's story is the reason
Josh and Drew were killed.
Micah would do whatever
it takes to keep that quiet.
What?
I'm placing Rose in custody for
the murder of Joshua and Drew.
- Why?
- Rose was in touch with Josh.
We found a deleted email on Joshua's
account, threatening his life.
She was also cited for stalking
Micah. It got violent.
Micah had to take out
a restraining order.
We believe Rose told Josh her story.
And when Josh stopped her from
going public with her accusations,
she killed him.
Drew was in the wrong place, wrong
time. She panicked. She ran.
- You're making a mistake.
- Well, it's a mistake, or it's my job.
You can get another job.
Haven't seen Aaron
around the shop lately.
He still riding?
He broke his leg cleaning the
rain gutter. Weekend warrior.
I mean, tell him to come play
poker with us at The Knock.
- Okay, I will.
- My client knows her way around a bike.
- Oh.
- Don't you, Ms. Parnell?
Can't remember the last
time I rode, but yes.
Nothing beats that rush.
Oh, shit.
What?
Julia Frank. Big gun.
They call her Ms. Desert Eagle.
Usually only represents
high-profile cases, but it's okay.
Your Honor, my client, Alana Cave.
Alana, this is Judge Sandy Marshall.
Good afternoon, Your Honor.
Thank you.
Shall we begin?
Your Honor, if you will.
The plaintiff has hired new counsel.
Request to postpone today's motion
so that I may speak to
her new representation.
We proceed as scheduled, Mr. Roche.
Ms. Parnell, I've reviewed your motion.
I appreciate the extenuating
circumstances
of your absence last week.
But the fact that you
missed a court date
to engage in a dangerous activity,
risking the safety of those around you,
and without regard for your
obligation to this court
where your professional
conduct is in question
that indicates an egregious
lapse in judgment.
But Your Honor, I I
You requested the
mediation, did you not?
I am denying your
request for continuance.
The discovery phase of this suit
will proceed to deposition as scheduled.
- Don't.
- Alana?
Alana, please. What is this?
It's what I have to do. For my family.
I care about what happened to you.
Believe me, I'm doing everything
I can to do things differently,
so people don't get hurt.
What's my son's name?
You haven't changed.
That's why I'm doing this.
And I'll take all the help I can get.
What was that?
I know her son's name. Henry.
She just caught me off guard,
that's all. Henry Cave.
They're gonna use that
exchange against us.
Now, during your little parley,
did you figure out
how the heck Alana Cave can
afford someone like Julia Frank?
- Hello?
- You hired lawyers in the Cave lawsuit?
- Good evening, Pop-Tart.
- This isn't a game, Micah.
No.
It's survival.
If you let the world know what
I did to Rose, I lose everything.
But you have it coming.
Then why haven't you released
the podcast yet? Why wait?
- I'm working on it.
- You're stalling.
You're trying to punish me.
But what I did to Rose is nothing
compared to what you did.
That's a threat.
It doesn't have to happen like this.
I just wanna find out
who Josh's killer is.
Well, they arrested Rose.
- They think she did it.
- What?
- When?
- Call off the lawyers.
I can't do that.
Then it's survival. As you say.
Should you be driving?
You got a sec?
Yeah.
So, uh
I think I'ma try to press charges
against the cop that shot me.
Okay, a former a former cop
going after the department?
That could be a serious mistake.
- And when this happens again?
- I get it.
But you wanna put your life on display?
'Cause when that machine starts
rolling, it will crush you.
Hmm.
And what about you?
Poppy told me that, uh,
y'all arrested Rose.
And I'm guessing that you're under fire
for not solving the case fast enough.
Look, we either let the
machine crush us
or we do something about it.
- Hey, Herbie.
- Hey, Poppy.
Moss.
Already putting your stamp on things?
Unc took me down to the bike shop.
Y'all have some treasures
gathering dust.
This is a bar, not a museum.
I like it. We got a long history,
and some folks got short memories.
Nobody's forgetting the Capstones.
How you feeling, Daddy?
Same as when I started
that clinical trial.
Ah.
That means you're not getting any worse.
Not that we can tell.
- Can we talk?
- Speak your mind.
Micah knows something that
might blow up my life.
All our lives.
What?
I don't want anybody else to get hurt.
It's bad enough with what everyone
close to me is going through
with this damn lawsuit.
Are you asking my permission to quit?
You need to finish this.
We are strong. We will survive.
She knows so much about all of us.
Which is why she wrapped
you into all of this.
She had a trump card.
Could always keep me in line
with the secrets that she holds.
How does that make you feel?
Like burning it down.
How long is she even staying with us?
Oh. Are you girls okay?
What
What happened? What
are you doing out here?
Go. Go call the police.
Okay. Okay. You're okay.
Are you out here with any adults?
- Her babysitter.
- Where's your babysitter?
It's okay, you can tell me.
What's wrong?
This investigation has
put a vulnerable woman
in a precarious legal position.
She's under suspicion for a crime
I don't believe she committed.
But the truth is,
I can't say for sure that
Rose isn't Josh's killer.
And I can relate to the desperation
she might have felt after being
robbed of her voice.
You have a lot of nerve.
You know you were wrong about Rose.
I know.
Then why are you going after her?
Aames.
Three years ago, I, uh
I got called to a house
out in the Excelsior.
There was a kidnapping
suspect rumored to be there.
The whole thing felt off the
moment I got there, but I, uh
I wanted him.
So I just buried my instincts,
and I dove into the case.
And it went bad. It went real bad.
There was a lot of scrambling,
a lot of ass-covering
after the suspect got
away and a young girl died.
I remember this. It was all over
the news. That was you?
From the outside, yeah.
I was the fall guy.
I took the blame for
department-wide mistakes.
I was fired without
ceremony, so I fought it.
Took the department to court for,
uh, wrongful dismissal, and I won.
They all expected me
to take the settlement,
ride off into the sunset
with my ill-gotten gains.
Mmm.
But you went back to work.
To rub their faces in it every day.
Sounds like something I would do.
Rose is awake.
You wanna speak to her,
be at the hospital
first thing in the morning.
I will stall her transfer
to incarceration.
The department wants this
whole thing wrapped up.
For Christ's sake, Poppy,
just say thank you.
Thanks.
Poppy Parnell, press.
How you feeling?
I wanna finish our conversation.
Can I get you anything? Water?
- Mm-mmm.
- It's okay.
Take your time.
I had never been in such a good place,
finally getting my life back together,
when Joshua invited me to that party.
He invited you to Micah's benefit?
I could see inside the building
where they were having it.
Everyone looked so beautiful.
I saw my work. My art.
Hanging everywhere.
It was It was perfect.
I felt like I was going to a premiere.
Only it was gonna be
the premiere of my life.
My life was gonna be mine again.
He promised that Micah would
tell everybody who I was.
In front of all the
cameras and reporters,
she was gonna admit what she did.
Micah must've got in his head.
He changed his mind.
What do you mean?
After, I waited for him.
He said he needed more time
to get his life in order
before we did anything.
That must've been when he
reconnected with his son.
I think he was getting
ready to leave her,
but somehow she changed his mind.
When I got to the party,
they had security escort
me out like a criminal.
He got what he deserved.
He betrayed me, just like Micah.
Rose, did you see Joshua
after you left the party?
The police said you sent him
emails. Threatened him.
He always got threats.
Because of his documentary.
He was my last hope of someone
speaking up for me.
Excuse me, Officer.
My name is Micah Keith.
I'm an old friend of Rose Gil.
And I was wondering if
I could go in and
- Let her in.
- Rose, I
Let her in.
I'm so sorry this is happening to you.
I didn't want this.
I want you to know that.
I wanted to help people
like you and me.
I will never forget what you did to me.
Hey, you okay?
Poppy Parnell had her eyes
on Owen as the suspect
from day one.
It's plain as day.
She wanted to bury him, and she did.
He killed himself
because Poppy told the
world he was a villain.
She slandered his name,
his reputation, with no consequence.
Why should she get a pass?
I was arrested and searched, but
Poppy didn't order the arrest.
That was all Owen Cave
and his department,
and I'm not gonna sit here
and let you pin it on Poppy.
The fans of Reconsidered dug
up every detail of my life.
You know, I can withstand the scrutiny
of having our private lives
replayed for the public.
But my daughter? She doesn't
deserve that scrutiny.
Okay, thank you for your testimony.
- No touching, ma'am.
- 'Kay.
- Is she dead?
- No.
But she was arrested for
Joshua and Drew's murder.
- But she didn't
- I know.
I guess it's just what it is.
What will happen to her?
That's not our problem.
You need to make sure you have
people around you you can trust.
Why are
Why are you saying that?
I can't always be by your side.
Don't say that.
- It's the truth.
- But
Do you remember when
I gave you one of these?
You were having those panic attacks,
and we just couldn't calm you down?
And I put this on your wrist,
and I'd snap, just to remind
you you were alive.
That you mattered.
Did you love me when
you were married to him?
I will handle this.
Holt.
Please trust me, okay?
Holt. Holt.
Don't say anything.
I need you. Okay?
Let's go.
Holt.
You said Micah would be here.
- Where is she?
- She's coming, I promise.
Is she fit to lead or not?
That's all any of us wanna know.
I can assure you
Or is there someone else who
can take the reins at Shelter?
Um
Me.
If you're asking me if I can do
this job, then the answer is yes.
Yes, I can.
Then let's move on that.
Has the department issued an apology?
Have you spoken to the
officer that shot you?
Were you investigating on your own?
Good afternoon. Uh
First and foremost, I wanna thank
everyone for being here in support.
Last week, while in pursuit of a killer,
I was shot by a police officer.
The bullet is still lodged in my leg.
Now, in light of his negligent actions,
I'm here to say that I'm demanding
that this officer involved
be accountable
for his criminal behavior.
As a former officer myself, this
is not something I take lightly.
But
my duty is not just to the badge,
it's to my community.
It's to my family.
My wife and my daughter.
It's
Come here, sweetheart.
It's my responsibility to restore
her trust in an institution
I was once willing to
lay my life down for.
I thank you for your time.
Hey, Poppy. You got a minute?
What's going on?
Holt's ready to talk. To you.
So I guess whatever I say
to you becomes evidence?
Hmm.
You called me in.
I'm just here to listen to your story.
You've been prosecuting me ever since
you said my name on your show.
You really think there's any chance
I'm gonna get an unbiased jury
after the things that you said?
That wasn't you fleeing the
scene of Ramon's murder?
Wasn't you sleeping with Micah?
Wasn't you who attacked me?
Wasn't you who tried to kill
Rose, got my friend shot?
Exactly what did I get wrong?
Now, you wanted to talk.
So talk.
You have to understand
that everything I did,
I I did of my own choosing.
No one put me up to it.
Okay.
Rose didn't kill Josh and that kid.
How do you know that?
'Cause I did.
Why?
Josh was angry.
Rose told him Micah was just a fraud.
She was scared of what he was
gonna do, so I stepped in.
Finding Micah when I did was like
finding a lifeline.
She could see the brokenness in me,
and she pieced me back together.
Is that what tied you to her?
Is that what tied you?
Micah invented Rose.
And then she set out to change
the world, which she did.
And Josh got jealous.
Josh had his own success.
But he was married to a woman
who was more successful.
The way he shit-talked her,
I had to shut him up.
So you shot him?
Micah used to complain that he kept
a gun hidden in that blue trunk.
So I went in, and I got it.
I'm sorry the kid came in.
I'm sorry what I did to him.
So you regret that?
You're using what happened to Micah
to prove what a righteous
reporter you are.
She told me about you.
What you did.
Drew. That's the kid's name, right?
Prison's where I belong,
if for no other reason than
I took that kid's life away.
I just can't get Holt's
words out of my head.
There's something about
it that just wasn't right.
- Talk to me.
- Well, he was off.
The whole thing was.
I mean, why confess now?
Mmm.
He didn't want Rose
to take the fall for it.
He felt guilty about what
he did. What they did.
Yeah, and he's already going
down for Ramon's murder.
So he confesses to save Rose.
Hmm.
Ah.
The trunk was locked.
He was even detailed enough to
put it in his dollhouse version.
Holt said he took the gun in
the heat of the moment, right?
Mm-hmm.
But there is no way
he would have the
combination to the lock
unless the murder was premeditated.
It's easy enough to find out if he
knows the combination. Ask him.
I'm calling Aames.
So Holt confessed to the murders.
Take the win before the
SFPD takes the credit.
It's not about the case, is it?
I set the table to reveal
something ugly about Micah.
But now it doesn't seem fair to air it.
If Micah's living a lie,
she got all those other
people living a lie too.
It's time for her to come clean.
Folks want the truth from
the people they look up to.
Wasn't it your contention
that my client's late
husband, Owen Cave,
killed Chuck Buhrman and
framed his son for the murder?
If you listen to my podcast, uh,
you'd know my theories evolve as
the facts of a case come to light.
But your theory was wrong, wasn't it?
You falsely and publicly accused
an innocent man of murder.
I drew a logical conclusion.
It's called character assassination,
which apparently you
have no problem doing
even to your best friend, Micah Keith.
Micah has nothing to do with this case.
We'll be entering your current
season of Reconsidered into evidence
to show a pattern of
damaging characterizations
with no evidence to support it.
My client's podcast is reported
from a first-person perspective.
No different than the talking heads
on those cable news networks.
Ms. Parnell shows a willful disregard
for the consequences of
her disturbing allegations.
We all understand that your
show has a personal slant,
but can you honestly say
that you always report
the story that's there
and not the story you and
your fans want to believe?
The only story that
matters is the truth.
Owen Cave had demons no one knew about.
Not even his wife.
In the end, there's no hiding
from the sins of our past.
They come back in
in broken relationships,
compromised integrity
emotional blind spots.
And for Owen Cave
self-destruction.
I am sorry for your loss
but I am not responsible for it.
Alana.
Can I please just have
a moment of your time?
I truly am sorry for
what happened to Owen.
To you. And your son, Henry.
I wanted to blame you for everything.
For destroying the Owen that I knew.
That Owen was a great dad.
It's hard to reconcile
I might not have known
who he really was at all.
I know you didn't mean for it to happen.
But he's still gone.
You were compelling in there.
We can build on that.
When do we go to trial?
Well, that depends on
the judge's docket.
It's gonna be nasty,
but we can win this.
Poppy.
We did good in there.
Let's go get a drink.
- Talk about the next steps.
- Uh, thanks, Mitri.
I'm in the middle of a story.
Rain check?
I'll hold you to it. Good job.
Micah Keith was a friend of mine.
During the course of this
season of Reconsidered,
I discovered things about her that
I never would have imagined.
I believe it's been integral
to my investigation of
Joshua Keith's murder.
But I can't continue to hold my
subjects to a higher standard
than I hold myself.
There was once a gifted
Black girl who
nobody could see or hear.
No matter how loud she yelled,
she was always a girl without a voice.
Her name
was Poppy Parnell.
Micah and I survived some
terrible things together.
That's why I trusted her
longer than I should've.
She was there for the most
horrifying day of my life.
I've come to terms with
what happened, but
I should've spoken my
truth a long time ago.
Take you down here.
I'm gonna show you. Come on.
Oh, get this damn boat.
See, y'all been testing me.
Sit here. Stay right here!
Oh, why is this damn boat so far?
A woman died because of me.
I called her Miss Shirley.
She was my foster mother.
This damn thing is so far. Oh!
Shit. I almost got it now. Come here.
Help!
Help! I can't swim!
Poppy.
Poppy, come help now!
Oh! Help!
I need help!
The oar! I need that oar.
Poppy.
Poppy, help. Come help me now!
Poppy!
Come help! Poppy! Poppy!
Help me!
Where's your babysitter?
It's okay, you can tell me.
What's wrong?
She's dead.
Miss Shirley was a
a cruel woman.
She abused me.
She neglected me. She hated me.
A child.
But she was a human being,
worthy of life, nonetheless.
And I was just a little girl,
too scared and traumatized to save her.
I've carried that guilt my whole life.
That is my truth, ugly as it is.
I know that God has grace for me.
You, my listeners
may be another story.
But I refuse to compromise
my journalistic integrity
because of my past.
I know I'm putting my family
through that same crucible
by laying myself bare.
But
does revealing the ugly side of
human nature have a purpose
beyond higher ratings?
Beyond vengeance?
When it comes to Micah
Keith, the answer is yes.
She stole the life of Rose Gil.
Covering that up got
Joshua Keith killed.
Yesterday, Holt Rollins confessed
to the murders of Joshua and Drew.
He thinks his confession
will spare Micah the ordeal
of having her past exposed
by my investigation.
It won't.
But why?
Why would a man sabotage
his own murder trial
and sacrifice any hope of freedom?
All for a woman he'll
never be able to have.
Is he being played to
hide a darker truth?
The killer may have come forward
but the murder has not been solved.
My name is Poppy Parnell,
and I'd like you to reconsider.
I'm proud of you.
That was worth the wait.
Hey.
He didn't know the combination.
You were right. Holt lied, Poppy.
He didn't kill Josh.
Then who the hell did?