Bull (2016) s03e22 Episode Script
Pillar of Salt
1 Open the door! Open the door! Please, please! She isn't breathing! Please! - Where do I take her? - Down the hall, - Where do I take her? - to the right.
Right.
Clear out.
Oh, my God.
I got cardiac arrest! Code team, code team.
And what's the little girl's name? Uh, uh, L-Lizzie.
Lizzie Newton.
And she's your daughter? Yes, yep.
Well uh, my she's my stepdaughter.
And how old is she? She's, she's three.
Three, almost-almost four.
Is she breathing yet? Did you get her to breathe? And when did your stepdaughter's symptoms first appear? A-About, um, oh, about three hours ago.
She was throwing up, and-and then she stopped, and it, it seemed like she got whatever it was out of her system.
And then, and then she settled down and went to, went to sleep.
- And then? - And-and then about 30 minutes later, I went in to check on her and her-her breathing seemed funny, so, uh, we jumped in the cab and came here And then, when we were on the way here, her br I just, I can't I couldn't hear her breathing at all.
And so then I g I stopped and I g I just gave her CPR Can you tell me about these bruises? What? What bruises? David, call me as soon as you land.
I think you're gonna have to come back.
I'm at the hospital and something is wrong with Lizzie.
Really wrong.
She, she seemed fine this morning.
She was fine all day.
I-I gave her onion soup for dinner, and she asked f-for more, sh and so I gave it to her.
And then she wanted a third helping, and I said no.
'Cause I I didn't want her to make herself sick.
So then she got mad She threw a tantrum and she started biting into her little beanbags and throwing them and and then Kyle, my newborn, the he's my five month old, he woke up and he started crying and And where is your son now? Uh, he's-he's with my neighbor.
She came over so I could bring Lizzie here.
Look, look I Look, can-can I please go check on my daughter now? - Just a few more questions.
- Look, I-I will tell you guys whatever you want to know, I just need to be with my little girl.
I need to go and check on her.
Oh, my God.
How's Lizzie? Can I see her now? I am very sorry, Mrs.
Newton.
We did everything we could.
No! No! You see this? Not enough the little girl's dead, not enough they've already decided she did it.
They had to go and give her a nickname.
- "The SoHo Step-Monster.
" - Hmm.
Maybe it's just me.
There's times the world just gets so dark.
The thought of coming into work every day, dealing with a dead child, and this evil woman, whoever she turns out to be.
Oh, okay.
Somebody had a bad weekend, didn't they? You want to tell your Uncle Bully all about it? Izzy's getting divorced, again.
Oh.
Oh.
Benny.
I'm sorry.
My dad's weeping in his grave.
Now my sister's not married, I'm not married, there are no grandkids.
Read about this dead child I know one thing has nothing to do with the other, I know I'm just babbling.
- Is she doing all right? - I don't know.
I do not know.
- She's not returning my calls.
- Well My aunt told me, after church yesterday.
I've been depressed ever since.
Okay.
So, here's the good news.
Your depression will pass and your sister's gonna survive, 'cause that's just who she is.
I mean, lest we forget, she survived being married to me.
Mm.
And if she was in a bad marriage, she's getting out, which is all you can hope for.
You sure this is where he wanted to meet? It's 10:00 in the morning.
Places like this aren't open.
No, no.
He's a hedge fund guy.
Investor in this place.
Thanks for agreeing to talk to me, for seeing me here.
The apartment's still a crime scene.
There's yellow tape everywhere, and stuff.
Lizzie's things.
It's not a problem, Mr.
Newton.
You have our condolences.
Now can you tell us about your wife? About her relationship, your relationship, with your daughter? I don't know.
What is there to tell? The minute that Lizzie was born I don't really know how to describe this.
The truth is I was hoping for a boy.
Had games of catch in my head, I guess.
And then, there she was.
She.
And I thought she was the most magical creature I'd ever seen.
I would race home from work every day.
Stopped playing golf on the weekends.
Get up early in the morning and just run into her room.
I just lived for her smell.
After my marriage fell apart, I met Angela.
I explained to her when we started dating t-that Lizzie and I were a package deal.
And, uh, I have to tell you, I'm pretty sure Lizzie was the part of the package Angela fell in love with first.
Gentlemen, a world does not exist where that woman would hurt that child.
We hear that.
Last we checked, arraignment is this afternoon.
I just want to prepare you, even if they are willing to entertain bail, it's gonna be an enormous number.
I don't care.
I just want her home.
I can't do this.
I can't bury my daughter without her.
Okay, so, let's talk about the medical examiner's report.
Are you aware they're saying your daughter died from a lethal overdose of salt? I mean, that's not something you see every day.
I don't know what to tell you.
It's not like she ever reached for a saltshaker.
And we certainly didn't salt her food.
She's three and a half, for God's sakes.
Mr.
Newton, the second-degree murder charge means the District Attorney's office doesn't think this was an accident.
They believe that your wife force-fed your daughter something, and that it was intentional.
Because they don't know her.
She adored that child.
When we got married, Angela quit her job.
Wouldn't even discuss having a nanny.
And even when Lizzie started to become difficult, she was so patient with her.
She was more patient than I was.
How do you mean, difficult? Tantrums, ripping up things, and her appetite got crazy.
She would eat till she made herself sick, and then if we denied her more food, if we said no, throw another fit.
- This was recent? - Yeah.
Started with the baby.
As soon as Angela brought Kyle home from the hospital.
You ever think about taking her to a specialist? That wasn't gonna happen.
I share custody, and it wasn't what you'd call an amicable divorce, so as soon as I started mentioning that Angela and I had some concerns about Lizzie, my ex wasn't having it.
She blamed it on the baby.
On me, for having a baby, for getting married so soon, having a child so soon.
It was all too much for Lizzie.
Anyway, that was her theory.
Lizzie was always fine at her house, or so she said.
Look.
I hear that you two are the best.
How do I get you to say yes? My office will call you.
We'll need some signatures, a retainer.
But you can do this, right? You can get my wife out of there? Bring her home, forever? I need her.
Our little baby needs her.
Well, there are no guarantees, Mr.
Newton, but we will do everything we can.
See you in court this afternoon.
You surprised me in there.
Feeling better? Sun starting to come out in your world? What can I say? I'm a sucker for a man who loves his wife.
Mrs.
Newton, I'm Dr.
Jason Bull, this is Benjamin Colón.
We met with your husband this morning and he hired us to help you mount a defense.
In about an hour, we're gonna go upstairs to arraignment court where you will be charged, and Mr.
Colón, acting as your attorney, will attempt to win you bail.
Okay.
Can I ask you about the salt? I'm sorry? Maybe you haven't heard, but the medical examiner is claiming that your stepdaughter died of a lethal ingestion of salt.
I read your statement to the police about the soup.
But two bowls of soup, 20 bowls of soup, that's still not enough salt to kill her.
Do you have any ideas how Lizzie might have taken in so much salt? Not really.
I mean I guess the only thing I can think of is yesterday morning, I found her in the pantry, and she had knocked over a shelf full of stuff, like, cereal and spices.
Uh, she could've gotten into the salt then.
I mean, at the time, I just thought she was making a mess.
Let me ask you a question.
Your husband mentioned that Lizzie's behavior went through a fairly significant change when you and your newborn son came home from the hospital.
And I'd be curious to know, do you think that those changes were from her side of the relationship, or do you think that maybe you changed when you finally became a mother? When I "finally" became a mother? What did you say your name was? Bull.
Dr.
Jason Bull.
Doctor if you're gonna represent me, I need you to understand that I became a mother over two years ago when Lizzie first came into my life.
My Lizzie.
Well, nice work today, Mr.
Colón.
Please.
All I did was get our client off on $5 million bail.
Um I think I'm gonna get off on this corner, sir.
I'll take the train uptown.
Big plans? Having dinner with my aunt.
- Hmm.
- What can I tell you? - I'm a glutton for punishment.
- Well Hi, this is Izzy.
Please leave a message.
Hey, it's Jason.
Uh I know you asked me not to call, but I just heard about everything going on in your life and I just wanted you to know that I was here.
That's it.
Call if you need to, ignore if you need to.
Mañana, iguana.
Okay.
Here we go.
Nice to see you boys again.
Last minute addition to the festivities.
Hmm.
An updated witness list.
Who's Susan Grey? She's nobody.
Actually, she's nice.
She runs a Baby Jingles class I took Lizzie to.
How long did Angela and Lizzie Newton attend your Baby Jingle classes? Almost a year.
Angela was pregnant when she first started bringing Lizzie.
Uh, then after the baby was born, she stayed away for a month or so, and then she started bringing both children.
And how would you describe Angela's relationship with Lizzie? Good.
And early on I thought it was real good.
So, what changed? Well, after Angela had Kyle I don't know, maybe it was because Kyle was her own baby "Her own baby"? How do you mean? Kyle was hers.
He came out of her.
Lizzie came with her husband.
Objection.
Calls for a conclusion.
Sustained.
Jury will disregard.
So, how was Mrs.
Newton's behavior different with her daughter? It was just different.
She just seemed irritable with Lizzie.
I heard her snap at her a bunch of times.
Did she yell at her? Yes.
Is that why you reached out to the police after Lizzie died? No, I reached out to the police because of something Angela said.
Something she said the day before Lizzie died.
And what was that? Well, she showed up late to class that day.
I guess Lizzie threw up and made a big mess in the cab on the way over and Angela had to clean it up and you know, the baby was screaming and anyway, it was like, a whole thing Objection.
Hearsay.
Facts not in evidence.
Sustained.
Again, jury will disregard.
So.
What did you see or hear when Mrs.
Newton finally arrived with the children? Well I could see that Angela was upset.
And she told me Lizzie was behaving like the kid from The Exorcist and she didn't know how much longer she could take it.
And then she said "I actually came this close to just leaving her in the cab.
" Talk to me.
I have nothing good to say.
Taylor, on the other hand, just e-mailed you something she says Benny's gonna want to see before he does his cross.
Good morning, Ms.
Grey.
Just a couple of quick questions.
Now.
Judging from what you've witnessed, you think it's easy? Juggling a difficult toddler and a five-month-old baby? - Of course not.
- I bet you've heard all kinds of crazy things coming from stressed-out, sleep-deprived moms, haven't you? Of course I have.
But I've never heard anyone say they wanted to just leave their three-year-old in a strange cab.
And I've never heard anyone say anything like that just hours before their child died.
Duly noted.
You know, with that in mind would you mind looking at a recent social media post I believe you made? You write that, Ms.
Grey? Yes.
And would you mind reading it out loud to the court? Sure.
"If my idiot neighbor doesn't stop "blocking the hallway with his Is that the bad word? - Yes.
- Oh, that's all right.
You don't have to say it; I'm sure we could all make out what it is.
Start over, please.
"If my idiot neighbor doesn't stop blocking "the hallway with his blank-ing bike, - I'm going to shove it up his" - Ooh.
That's all right.
You don't have to say that, either.
Now.
You wrote that, didn't you? - I did.
- All right.
So if your neighbor winds up dead, do you think you should be prosecuted for his murder? That's all right, that's all right.
I'll withdraw the question.
Sometimes we say things we don't mean when we're tired and frustrated, don't we? No further questions, Your Honor.
You ready for a riddle? Excuse me? What sits and listens and just turned green? Don't do this to me.
You're gonna make my head explode.
One down.
11 to go.
Mrs.
Valerian.
Your husband joining us this morning? Uh no, uh, he's out of town for a couple of days.
And thank you so much for seeing me so early this morning.
I just need to be back downtown before court starts.
Oh, no worries.
So I've got everything right here.
Okay, look, um Here's the thing, I'm not naive.
I froze those eggs almost eight years ago, actually.
I completely understand if they are past their sell-by date.
Your eggs are fine.
Your eggs are frozen, and they're just fine.
So is your uterus, so is your body chemistry.
You're an excellent candidate for in vitro.
Oh, my God.
Seriously? Unfortunately, your husband's tests are much more problematic.
Hmm.
You all right? It was infidelity.
Pardon me? My sister's marriage? Izzy's marriage? - The reason it fell apart? - Ah.
Infidelity.
- I want to kill her husband.
- Benny My aunt told me the night before last.
It's been rolling around in my brain ever since.
Benny, marriage is really complicated, and almost impossible to understand unless you are on the inside of it.
And between you and me? It's not a spectator sport.
You should leave it alone.
I know.
I will.
I'm just venting.
Well, good.
'Cause if you did murder that guy, I wouldn't know who to call, 'cause the best lawyer I know would be behind bars.
So, Mrs.
Newton, you were David Newton's first wife? Yes.
Lizzie was my daughter.
I gave birth to her.
Now, it's been said by others that Lizzie could be a challenging child.
Was that your impression? Honestly, no.
Lizzie was I used to call her my portable joy machine.
Always smiling, always alert.
Always paying attention.
She had these big eyes.
I swear, they were wide open the minute they put her on my chest in the delivery room.
She didn't want to miss a thing.
Sorry.
And to the best of your knowledge, she was always like that? Obviously, when David left, it was difficult for everyone.
She got upset once in a while, but that was to be expected.
He was an enormous part of both of our lives.
And then, he wasn't.
Now once you and David were divorced, you shared custody.
Is that correct? Yes.
I had Lizzie every other week.
It was a big adjustment for both of us.
And how did Lizzie deal with that? Objection.
Calls for state of mind.
I'll rephrase.
How did you deal with that? Well, I missed Lizzie terribly when she wasn't with me.
But it was also hard because, as much as I trusted David, I didn't know his new wife.
I didn't know Angela, and suddenly, she was spending all this time with my daughter.
More time than David, who actually traveled a lot.
More time than me.
I work for a living.
I mean, this Angela person was the primary caregiver on the weeks that they had Lizzie.
Okay.
So, aside from your lack of familiarity with Angela, was there anything specific about her parenting that concerned you? Yes.
She did things.
Disciplinary things that I did not agree with.
Like what? Well, one Sunday I picked up Lizzie and she was crying inconsolably.
I asked her what was wrong, and she stuck out her tongue and showed me a red pepper flake.
She said Angela made her put it there because she was bad.
Objection.
Hearsay.
Your Honor, she said that the child was crying.
This is clearly an exception to the hearsay rule.
This is excited utterance.
I agree.
Objection overruled.
You may continue, Ms.
Lake.
So, Angela punished your daughter by forcing her to put something in her mouth? That's what she told me.
I have no further questions, Your Honor.
Red pepper on a three-year-old's tongue, huh? A red pepper flake.
- Mm.
- It's some kind of behavior modification she read about on her pediatrician's blog.
Apparently, she caught Lizzie eating some lip balm and wanted to put a stop to it before the little girl got sick.
And how am I supposed to get to that in my cross-examination? You push.
Just got to hit her with both barrels.
No, Bull, come on.
She's a grieving mother.
I don't want to push.
It's a high-risk move.
The jury could turn on us.
Trust me.
We've got another grieving mother to worry about, and if we don't do our job, she's going to jail.
Now, Mrs.
Newton, you mentioned that you don't actually know your ex-husband's new wife all that well.
Would you mind telling me why that is? I Well, I don't know.
I mean, is that a realistic expectation? We just haven't spent that much time together.
Okay, but isn't it true that Angela has been in a relationship with your ex-husband for over two years? Again, is that a realistic expectation? She's not someone I chose to bring into my life.
In fact, her arrival into my life has caused me considerable heartache and sadness.
Understood.
But two years sounds like plenty of time to get to know someone.
Especially someone who's spending so much time - with your child.
- Objection.
Counsel is testifying.
Sustained.
Ask a question, Mr.
Colón.
All right, uh, l-let me ask you this.
Isn't it true that you felt replaced by my client? That, in your mind, she took your husband, took your daughter, took your family? I did not feel replaced by Angela, I was replaced by Angela.
And don't you think that might be coloring your testimony, with regard to my client and her guilt or innocence in this matter? - Objection.
- Fine.
Fine, fine, Your Honor.
I'll withdraw the question and ask another.
Do you have any idea why my client put a red pepper flake on Lizzie's tongue? Because she didn't really like my daughter? Because it's cruel, - because she's cruel.
- Were you aware of Lizzie's enormous appetite? I'm sorry.
Lizzie did not have an enormous appetite.
Not at my house.
Were you aware that she liked to eat lip balm? God, no.
Were you aware that the red pepper flake idea was one that she got from her pediatrician? Who is, of course, also your pediatrician? No.
I wasn't aware of that.
Thank you.
I have no further questions at this time, Your Honor.
You were right.
Coming back at the first Mrs.
Newton hard made a real difference.
- I'm sorry I ever doubted you.
- No, I get it.
You're a decent man, Benny Colón.
I, of course, am not similarly afflicted.
Uh-oh.
Here we go.
Izzy's husband ex-husband.
Ex-husband to be.
I'm gonna take this outside.
Go easy on him.
Prosecution's about to rest.
We're up, and I'm here to tell you, we got our work cut out for us.
Do you want me to prep Angela? No, we can't put Angela on the stand.
She's too young, too pretty.
She looks exactly like the threat every married female juror lives in terror of.
Who's that leave? The husband? I can prep him.
Get him to talk about how good a mother Angela was to Lizzie? I w I wish there were something that would demonstrate Uh, some kind of What if we got our hands on some videos? Some mementos of things they did together? Some pictures of a birthday party, or Christmas? Yeah.
That kind of thing.
You think you could round up something like that? Something David could show the jury that would demonstrate Angela's love for that little girl? Yeah, I'll go to the Newton's house tomorrow, see what I can find.
Can I have the office, please? For a minute? I'd like everyone to leave the office so that I might speak to Bull alone, in private.
So, how'd your call go? It went.
Turns out, he wasn't cheating.
Swears on the Bible he loves her.
Oh, hey.
Well, that's good news.
That's a relief, right? Who knows? Maybe the marriage still has a chance.
I don't think so.
Turns out, my sister cheated on him.
Really? Doesn't sound like Izzy.
It was Izzy who told him.
Wow.
Have you no regard for anything or anyone other than yourself? Other than your appetites? Excuse me? You made love to my sister during my father's funeral? The man hadn't even been in the ground an hour.
- Benny Benny! - What kind of an animal are you? Izzy and her husband were already having problems.
You knew this.
She was upset.
Of course she was upset.
We had just put my father in the ground! She was vulnerable.
You took advantage of her.
Wait, wait, wait! I didn't take advantage of anyone.
Izzy was upset, okay? And she's a grown woman.
I probably shouldn't tell you this, but she kissed me first.
- Take that back.
- What? Take that back.
What are you, 11? "Take that back"? - Benny! - Don't you "Benny" me! Okay, okay.
I'm done with you.
I'm done with this place! I will finish the case like a professional, but the second it's done, I am out the door.
Out the door! Oh, Benny.
Benny.
Come on, I'm begging you.
Grow up.
You grow up.
You grow up.
Oh! Oh, goodness.
He split your lip.
Does it hurt? Only every time my heart beats.
Could you get me some alcohol? Of course.
Here.
Give me your lip.
What-what are you doing? I didn't mean that kind of alcohol.
It's after 11:00.
Aren't we supposed to be in court? I asked Benny to file for a one-day continuance.
And why would you do that? - Where is Benny? - Told me he was gonna be working from home today.
All right.
Anything else I need to know? Actually, tons.
So I got this scrapbook this morning from the Newtons' house.
It was in Lizzie's room.
I was thinking maybe the father could show it to the jury? It's clearly homemade.
It looks like Angela made it just for the little girl.
You can tell that thing took a lot of time, but it looks like it's been through hell.
I'm not sure that's gonna send - the right message to the jury.
- It's funny.
Everything in Lizzie's room looked like it had been through hell.
Her rug was torn, the wallpaper was was coming apart.
I even saw a little hole in one of the couch cushions where the stuffing was pulled out.
These look like teeth marks to you? Tiny ones? Have you ever heard of "pica"? Pica.
It's quite rare and difficult to diagnose.
Kids with pica will eat all kinds of things: dirt, chalk, paper, erasers, paint, hair.
Even light bulbs.
Light bulbs? Huh.
But Dr.
Sommerville, those aren't foods.
And according to the medical examiner, this child died from consuming a lethal amount of salt.
I know it's confusing, but experts believe that the mineral quality of the salt actually satisfies the pica cravings.
But would pica explain the consumption of nearly six teaspoons of salt? Yes.
Sadly, there have been a number of reported cases of lethal salt overdoses in children who suffered from pica.
Accidental overdoses? Oh, yes, yes.
All of them entirely accidental.
So, in your expert opinion, do you believe that Lizzie Newton suffered from pica? Yes.
Thank you.
No further questions, Your Honor.
Dr.
Sommerville, did you examine Lizzie Newton? No, I did not.
Oh, so, you never examined this child, and yet you are rendering a diagnosis.
Well, I often consult in cases where I don't meet personally with the patient.
But just to be clear, you never witnessed Lizzie eating wallpaper or chalk or an abundance of salt, did you? No, I did not.
Look, I know we both said a lot of things we didn't mean the other night I meant everything I said.
Benny, we're dying in there.
Yeah.
We need someone other than Angela who can testify that Lizzie was eating all that crazy stuff.
That's what we need.
That's what we don't have.
And I don't know where you're gonna find one of those.
I know you're still in mourning.
Yes, I am.
Yes, I am.
And yet you chose to eviscerate me in court the other day.
Did you think that after the death of my daughter, I was beyond suffering? I am sorry, Mrs.
Newton.
You knew your daughter was having issues, didn't you? I understand why you don't want to think about it.
You don't want to think she ate that salt on her own.
Maybe you didn't put it all together.
Three good parents and a pediatrician.
Everyone missed it.
But if you don't say something soon a woman who loved your daughter very, very much is going to prison for something that's not her fault.
Angela was the first one to suspect something was wrong with Lizzie.
I didn't want to see it.
I guess I didn't want to accept that she might know my own daughter better than I did.
Was there ever an occasion when you witnessed Lizzie eating something that wasn't food? In the park, I caught her eating chalk.
Twice.
And then dirt.
I brushed it off as something kids do.
I told myself it wasn't a problem.
Bull? Still no word? The jury or Benny? I told you he's working from home, and asked that we not call unless it's word that the jury is back.
Are you okay if I go? Greg's coming back tonight.
He was supposed to have landed already, but his plane keeps getting delayed.
I just want to be there when he gets there.
Sure.
Hey, you.
I finally made it.
Mm So, talk to me.
I want to hear all about it: schedules, dates, how it works.
What we have to do.
I was walking around the airport tonight, and there were kids everywhere.
Strollers, people carrying them in backpacks, buying 'em stuff at the gift shop And I thought, a year from now, that's me.
What? I changed my mind.
You changed your mind? Don't hate me.
Oh, honey I could never hate you.
Oh, my gosh, don't even think that.
You are my everything.
You're my everything.
Has the jury reached a verdict? We have, Your Honor.
"In the case of "The People of the State of New York v.
Angela Newton "for the crime of murder in the second degree, "we the jury find the defendant not guilty.
" Oh, my God.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
You want a ride? Nah.
I'm good.
Hello, stranger.
My brother said I'd find you here.
Where can I take you? Where are you going? To hell, clearly.
I'm sorry about your divorce.
I'm sorry about all the pain and the role I apparently played in it.
I lost you, now I've lost your brother.
You sure you want to ride with me? You haven't lost my brother.
Well, not permanently.
He's just a real hardhead, especially about family.
He'll be back.
Hmm.
How can you say that? How do you know? I'm pregnant, you big Bull.
What? I think maybe you're stuck with both of us.
He's gonna be an uncle, and you're gonna be a daddy.
A daddy.
Have you forgotten how to kiss? - Wait a second.
- No.
I won't.
Right.
Clear out.
Oh, my God.
I got cardiac arrest! Code team, code team.
And what's the little girl's name? Uh, uh, L-Lizzie.
Lizzie Newton.
And she's your daughter? Yes, yep.
Well uh, my she's my stepdaughter.
And how old is she? She's, she's three.
Three, almost-almost four.
Is she breathing yet? Did you get her to breathe? And when did your stepdaughter's symptoms first appear? A-About, um, oh, about three hours ago.
She was throwing up, and-and then she stopped, and it, it seemed like she got whatever it was out of her system.
And then, and then she settled down and went to, went to sleep.
- And then? - And-and then about 30 minutes later, I went in to check on her and her-her breathing seemed funny, so, uh, we jumped in the cab and came here And then, when we were on the way here, her br I just, I can't I couldn't hear her breathing at all.
And so then I g I stopped and I g I just gave her CPR Can you tell me about these bruises? What? What bruises? David, call me as soon as you land.
I think you're gonna have to come back.
I'm at the hospital and something is wrong with Lizzie.
Really wrong.
She, she seemed fine this morning.
She was fine all day.
I-I gave her onion soup for dinner, and she asked f-for more, sh and so I gave it to her.
And then she wanted a third helping, and I said no.
'Cause I I didn't want her to make herself sick.
So then she got mad She threw a tantrum and she started biting into her little beanbags and throwing them and and then Kyle, my newborn, the he's my five month old, he woke up and he started crying and And where is your son now? Uh, he's-he's with my neighbor.
She came over so I could bring Lizzie here.
Look, look I Look, can-can I please go check on my daughter now? - Just a few more questions.
- Look, I-I will tell you guys whatever you want to know, I just need to be with my little girl.
I need to go and check on her.
Oh, my God.
How's Lizzie? Can I see her now? I am very sorry, Mrs.
Newton.
We did everything we could.
No! No! You see this? Not enough the little girl's dead, not enough they've already decided she did it.
They had to go and give her a nickname.
- "The SoHo Step-Monster.
" - Hmm.
Maybe it's just me.
There's times the world just gets so dark.
The thought of coming into work every day, dealing with a dead child, and this evil woman, whoever she turns out to be.
Oh, okay.
Somebody had a bad weekend, didn't they? You want to tell your Uncle Bully all about it? Izzy's getting divorced, again.
Oh.
Oh.
Benny.
I'm sorry.
My dad's weeping in his grave.
Now my sister's not married, I'm not married, there are no grandkids.
Read about this dead child I know one thing has nothing to do with the other, I know I'm just babbling.
- Is she doing all right? - I don't know.
I do not know.
- She's not returning my calls.
- Well My aunt told me, after church yesterday.
I've been depressed ever since.
Okay.
So, here's the good news.
Your depression will pass and your sister's gonna survive, 'cause that's just who she is.
I mean, lest we forget, she survived being married to me.
Mm.
And if she was in a bad marriage, she's getting out, which is all you can hope for.
You sure this is where he wanted to meet? It's 10:00 in the morning.
Places like this aren't open.
No, no.
He's a hedge fund guy.
Investor in this place.
Thanks for agreeing to talk to me, for seeing me here.
The apartment's still a crime scene.
There's yellow tape everywhere, and stuff.
Lizzie's things.
It's not a problem, Mr.
Newton.
You have our condolences.
Now can you tell us about your wife? About her relationship, your relationship, with your daughter? I don't know.
What is there to tell? The minute that Lizzie was born I don't really know how to describe this.
The truth is I was hoping for a boy.
Had games of catch in my head, I guess.
And then, there she was.
She.
And I thought she was the most magical creature I'd ever seen.
I would race home from work every day.
Stopped playing golf on the weekends.
Get up early in the morning and just run into her room.
I just lived for her smell.
After my marriage fell apart, I met Angela.
I explained to her when we started dating t-that Lizzie and I were a package deal.
And, uh, I have to tell you, I'm pretty sure Lizzie was the part of the package Angela fell in love with first.
Gentlemen, a world does not exist where that woman would hurt that child.
We hear that.
Last we checked, arraignment is this afternoon.
I just want to prepare you, even if they are willing to entertain bail, it's gonna be an enormous number.
I don't care.
I just want her home.
I can't do this.
I can't bury my daughter without her.
Okay, so, let's talk about the medical examiner's report.
Are you aware they're saying your daughter died from a lethal overdose of salt? I mean, that's not something you see every day.
I don't know what to tell you.
It's not like she ever reached for a saltshaker.
And we certainly didn't salt her food.
She's three and a half, for God's sakes.
Mr.
Newton, the second-degree murder charge means the District Attorney's office doesn't think this was an accident.
They believe that your wife force-fed your daughter something, and that it was intentional.
Because they don't know her.
She adored that child.
When we got married, Angela quit her job.
Wouldn't even discuss having a nanny.
And even when Lizzie started to become difficult, she was so patient with her.
She was more patient than I was.
How do you mean, difficult? Tantrums, ripping up things, and her appetite got crazy.
She would eat till she made herself sick, and then if we denied her more food, if we said no, throw another fit.
- This was recent? - Yeah.
Started with the baby.
As soon as Angela brought Kyle home from the hospital.
You ever think about taking her to a specialist? That wasn't gonna happen.
I share custody, and it wasn't what you'd call an amicable divorce, so as soon as I started mentioning that Angela and I had some concerns about Lizzie, my ex wasn't having it.
She blamed it on the baby.
On me, for having a baby, for getting married so soon, having a child so soon.
It was all too much for Lizzie.
Anyway, that was her theory.
Lizzie was always fine at her house, or so she said.
Look.
I hear that you two are the best.
How do I get you to say yes? My office will call you.
We'll need some signatures, a retainer.
But you can do this, right? You can get my wife out of there? Bring her home, forever? I need her.
Our little baby needs her.
Well, there are no guarantees, Mr.
Newton, but we will do everything we can.
See you in court this afternoon.
You surprised me in there.
Feeling better? Sun starting to come out in your world? What can I say? I'm a sucker for a man who loves his wife.
Mrs.
Newton, I'm Dr.
Jason Bull, this is Benjamin Colón.
We met with your husband this morning and he hired us to help you mount a defense.
In about an hour, we're gonna go upstairs to arraignment court where you will be charged, and Mr.
Colón, acting as your attorney, will attempt to win you bail.
Okay.
Can I ask you about the salt? I'm sorry? Maybe you haven't heard, but the medical examiner is claiming that your stepdaughter died of a lethal ingestion of salt.
I read your statement to the police about the soup.
But two bowls of soup, 20 bowls of soup, that's still not enough salt to kill her.
Do you have any ideas how Lizzie might have taken in so much salt? Not really.
I mean I guess the only thing I can think of is yesterday morning, I found her in the pantry, and she had knocked over a shelf full of stuff, like, cereal and spices.
Uh, she could've gotten into the salt then.
I mean, at the time, I just thought she was making a mess.
Let me ask you a question.
Your husband mentioned that Lizzie's behavior went through a fairly significant change when you and your newborn son came home from the hospital.
And I'd be curious to know, do you think that those changes were from her side of the relationship, or do you think that maybe you changed when you finally became a mother? When I "finally" became a mother? What did you say your name was? Bull.
Dr.
Jason Bull.
Doctor if you're gonna represent me, I need you to understand that I became a mother over two years ago when Lizzie first came into my life.
My Lizzie.
Well, nice work today, Mr.
Colón.
Please.
All I did was get our client off on $5 million bail.
Um I think I'm gonna get off on this corner, sir.
I'll take the train uptown.
Big plans? Having dinner with my aunt.
- Hmm.
- What can I tell you? - I'm a glutton for punishment.
- Well Hi, this is Izzy.
Please leave a message.
Hey, it's Jason.
Uh I know you asked me not to call, but I just heard about everything going on in your life and I just wanted you to know that I was here.
That's it.
Call if you need to, ignore if you need to.
Mañana, iguana.
Okay.
Here we go.
Nice to see you boys again.
Last minute addition to the festivities.
Hmm.
An updated witness list.
Who's Susan Grey? She's nobody.
Actually, she's nice.
She runs a Baby Jingles class I took Lizzie to.
How long did Angela and Lizzie Newton attend your Baby Jingle classes? Almost a year.
Angela was pregnant when she first started bringing Lizzie.
Uh, then after the baby was born, she stayed away for a month or so, and then she started bringing both children.
And how would you describe Angela's relationship with Lizzie? Good.
And early on I thought it was real good.
So, what changed? Well, after Angela had Kyle I don't know, maybe it was because Kyle was her own baby "Her own baby"? How do you mean? Kyle was hers.
He came out of her.
Lizzie came with her husband.
Objection.
Calls for a conclusion.
Sustained.
Jury will disregard.
So, how was Mrs.
Newton's behavior different with her daughter? It was just different.
She just seemed irritable with Lizzie.
I heard her snap at her a bunch of times.
Did she yell at her? Yes.
Is that why you reached out to the police after Lizzie died? No, I reached out to the police because of something Angela said.
Something she said the day before Lizzie died.
And what was that? Well, she showed up late to class that day.
I guess Lizzie threw up and made a big mess in the cab on the way over and Angela had to clean it up and you know, the baby was screaming and anyway, it was like, a whole thing Objection.
Hearsay.
Facts not in evidence.
Sustained.
Again, jury will disregard.
So.
What did you see or hear when Mrs.
Newton finally arrived with the children? Well I could see that Angela was upset.
And she told me Lizzie was behaving like the kid from The Exorcist and she didn't know how much longer she could take it.
And then she said "I actually came this close to just leaving her in the cab.
" Talk to me.
I have nothing good to say.
Taylor, on the other hand, just e-mailed you something she says Benny's gonna want to see before he does his cross.
Good morning, Ms.
Grey.
Just a couple of quick questions.
Now.
Judging from what you've witnessed, you think it's easy? Juggling a difficult toddler and a five-month-old baby? - Of course not.
- I bet you've heard all kinds of crazy things coming from stressed-out, sleep-deprived moms, haven't you? Of course I have.
But I've never heard anyone say they wanted to just leave their three-year-old in a strange cab.
And I've never heard anyone say anything like that just hours before their child died.
Duly noted.
You know, with that in mind would you mind looking at a recent social media post I believe you made? You write that, Ms.
Grey? Yes.
And would you mind reading it out loud to the court? Sure.
"If my idiot neighbor doesn't stop "blocking the hallway with his Is that the bad word? - Yes.
- Oh, that's all right.
You don't have to say it; I'm sure we could all make out what it is.
Start over, please.
"If my idiot neighbor doesn't stop blocking "the hallway with his blank-ing bike, - I'm going to shove it up his" - Ooh.
That's all right.
You don't have to say that, either.
Now.
You wrote that, didn't you? - I did.
- All right.
So if your neighbor winds up dead, do you think you should be prosecuted for his murder? That's all right, that's all right.
I'll withdraw the question.
Sometimes we say things we don't mean when we're tired and frustrated, don't we? No further questions, Your Honor.
You ready for a riddle? Excuse me? What sits and listens and just turned green? Don't do this to me.
You're gonna make my head explode.
One down.
11 to go.
Mrs.
Valerian.
Your husband joining us this morning? Uh no, uh, he's out of town for a couple of days.
And thank you so much for seeing me so early this morning.
I just need to be back downtown before court starts.
Oh, no worries.
So I've got everything right here.
Okay, look, um Here's the thing, I'm not naive.
I froze those eggs almost eight years ago, actually.
I completely understand if they are past their sell-by date.
Your eggs are fine.
Your eggs are frozen, and they're just fine.
So is your uterus, so is your body chemistry.
You're an excellent candidate for in vitro.
Oh, my God.
Seriously? Unfortunately, your husband's tests are much more problematic.
Hmm.
You all right? It was infidelity.
Pardon me? My sister's marriage? Izzy's marriage? - The reason it fell apart? - Ah.
Infidelity.
- I want to kill her husband.
- Benny My aunt told me the night before last.
It's been rolling around in my brain ever since.
Benny, marriage is really complicated, and almost impossible to understand unless you are on the inside of it.
And between you and me? It's not a spectator sport.
You should leave it alone.
I know.
I will.
I'm just venting.
Well, good.
'Cause if you did murder that guy, I wouldn't know who to call, 'cause the best lawyer I know would be behind bars.
So, Mrs.
Newton, you were David Newton's first wife? Yes.
Lizzie was my daughter.
I gave birth to her.
Now, it's been said by others that Lizzie could be a challenging child.
Was that your impression? Honestly, no.
Lizzie was I used to call her my portable joy machine.
Always smiling, always alert.
Always paying attention.
She had these big eyes.
I swear, they were wide open the minute they put her on my chest in the delivery room.
She didn't want to miss a thing.
Sorry.
And to the best of your knowledge, she was always like that? Obviously, when David left, it was difficult for everyone.
She got upset once in a while, but that was to be expected.
He was an enormous part of both of our lives.
And then, he wasn't.
Now once you and David were divorced, you shared custody.
Is that correct? Yes.
I had Lizzie every other week.
It was a big adjustment for both of us.
And how did Lizzie deal with that? Objection.
Calls for state of mind.
I'll rephrase.
How did you deal with that? Well, I missed Lizzie terribly when she wasn't with me.
But it was also hard because, as much as I trusted David, I didn't know his new wife.
I didn't know Angela, and suddenly, she was spending all this time with my daughter.
More time than David, who actually traveled a lot.
More time than me.
I work for a living.
I mean, this Angela person was the primary caregiver on the weeks that they had Lizzie.
Okay.
So, aside from your lack of familiarity with Angela, was there anything specific about her parenting that concerned you? Yes.
She did things.
Disciplinary things that I did not agree with.
Like what? Well, one Sunday I picked up Lizzie and she was crying inconsolably.
I asked her what was wrong, and she stuck out her tongue and showed me a red pepper flake.
She said Angela made her put it there because she was bad.
Objection.
Hearsay.
Your Honor, she said that the child was crying.
This is clearly an exception to the hearsay rule.
This is excited utterance.
I agree.
Objection overruled.
You may continue, Ms.
Lake.
So, Angela punished your daughter by forcing her to put something in her mouth? That's what she told me.
I have no further questions, Your Honor.
Red pepper on a three-year-old's tongue, huh? A red pepper flake.
- Mm.
- It's some kind of behavior modification she read about on her pediatrician's blog.
Apparently, she caught Lizzie eating some lip balm and wanted to put a stop to it before the little girl got sick.
And how am I supposed to get to that in my cross-examination? You push.
Just got to hit her with both barrels.
No, Bull, come on.
She's a grieving mother.
I don't want to push.
It's a high-risk move.
The jury could turn on us.
Trust me.
We've got another grieving mother to worry about, and if we don't do our job, she's going to jail.
Now, Mrs.
Newton, you mentioned that you don't actually know your ex-husband's new wife all that well.
Would you mind telling me why that is? I Well, I don't know.
I mean, is that a realistic expectation? We just haven't spent that much time together.
Okay, but isn't it true that Angela has been in a relationship with your ex-husband for over two years? Again, is that a realistic expectation? She's not someone I chose to bring into my life.
In fact, her arrival into my life has caused me considerable heartache and sadness.
Understood.
But two years sounds like plenty of time to get to know someone.
Especially someone who's spending so much time - with your child.
- Objection.
Counsel is testifying.
Sustained.
Ask a question, Mr.
Colón.
All right, uh, l-let me ask you this.
Isn't it true that you felt replaced by my client? That, in your mind, she took your husband, took your daughter, took your family? I did not feel replaced by Angela, I was replaced by Angela.
And don't you think that might be coloring your testimony, with regard to my client and her guilt or innocence in this matter? - Objection.
- Fine.
Fine, fine, Your Honor.
I'll withdraw the question and ask another.
Do you have any idea why my client put a red pepper flake on Lizzie's tongue? Because she didn't really like my daughter? Because it's cruel, - because she's cruel.
- Were you aware of Lizzie's enormous appetite? I'm sorry.
Lizzie did not have an enormous appetite.
Not at my house.
Were you aware that she liked to eat lip balm? God, no.
Were you aware that the red pepper flake idea was one that she got from her pediatrician? Who is, of course, also your pediatrician? No.
I wasn't aware of that.
Thank you.
I have no further questions at this time, Your Honor.
You were right.
Coming back at the first Mrs.
Newton hard made a real difference.
- I'm sorry I ever doubted you.
- No, I get it.
You're a decent man, Benny Colón.
I, of course, am not similarly afflicted.
Uh-oh.
Here we go.
Izzy's husband ex-husband.
Ex-husband to be.
I'm gonna take this outside.
Go easy on him.
Prosecution's about to rest.
We're up, and I'm here to tell you, we got our work cut out for us.
Do you want me to prep Angela? No, we can't put Angela on the stand.
She's too young, too pretty.
She looks exactly like the threat every married female juror lives in terror of.
Who's that leave? The husband? I can prep him.
Get him to talk about how good a mother Angela was to Lizzie? I w I wish there were something that would demonstrate Uh, some kind of What if we got our hands on some videos? Some mementos of things they did together? Some pictures of a birthday party, or Christmas? Yeah.
That kind of thing.
You think you could round up something like that? Something David could show the jury that would demonstrate Angela's love for that little girl? Yeah, I'll go to the Newton's house tomorrow, see what I can find.
Can I have the office, please? For a minute? I'd like everyone to leave the office so that I might speak to Bull alone, in private.
So, how'd your call go? It went.
Turns out, he wasn't cheating.
Swears on the Bible he loves her.
Oh, hey.
Well, that's good news.
That's a relief, right? Who knows? Maybe the marriage still has a chance.
I don't think so.
Turns out, my sister cheated on him.
Really? Doesn't sound like Izzy.
It was Izzy who told him.
Wow.
Have you no regard for anything or anyone other than yourself? Other than your appetites? Excuse me? You made love to my sister during my father's funeral? The man hadn't even been in the ground an hour.
- Benny Benny! - What kind of an animal are you? Izzy and her husband were already having problems.
You knew this.
She was upset.
Of course she was upset.
We had just put my father in the ground! She was vulnerable.
You took advantage of her.
Wait, wait, wait! I didn't take advantage of anyone.
Izzy was upset, okay? And she's a grown woman.
I probably shouldn't tell you this, but she kissed me first.
- Take that back.
- What? Take that back.
What are you, 11? "Take that back"? - Benny! - Don't you "Benny" me! Okay, okay.
I'm done with you.
I'm done with this place! I will finish the case like a professional, but the second it's done, I am out the door.
Out the door! Oh, Benny.
Benny.
Come on, I'm begging you.
Grow up.
You grow up.
You grow up.
Oh! Oh, goodness.
He split your lip.
Does it hurt? Only every time my heart beats.
Could you get me some alcohol? Of course.
Here.
Give me your lip.
What-what are you doing? I didn't mean that kind of alcohol.
It's after 11:00.
Aren't we supposed to be in court? I asked Benny to file for a one-day continuance.
And why would you do that? - Where is Benny? - Told me he was gonna be working from home today.
All right.
Anything else I need to know? Actually, tons.
So I got this scrapbook this morning from the Newtons' house.
It was in Lizzie's room.
I was thinking maybe the father could show it to the jury? It's clearly homemade.
It looks like Angela made it just for the little girl.
You can tell that thing took a lot of time, but it looks like it's been through hell.
I'm not sure that's gonna send - the right message to the jury.
- It's funny.
Everything in Lizzie's room looked like it had been through hell.
Her rug was torn, the wallpaper was was coming apart.
I even saw a little hole in one of the couch cushions where the stuffing was pulled out.
These look like teeth marks to you? Tiny ones? Have you ever heard of "pica"? Pica.
It's quite rare and difficult to diagnose.
Kids with pica will eat all kinds of things: dirt, chalk, paper, erasers, paint, hair.
Even light bulbs.
Light bulbs? Huh.
But Dr.
Sommerville, those aren't foods.
And according to the medical examiner, this child died from consuming a lethal amount of salt.
I know it's confusing, but experts believe that the mineral quality of the salt actually satisfies the pica cravings.
But would pica explain the consumption of nearly six teaspoons of salt? Yes.
Sadly, there have been a number of reported cases of lethal salt overdoses in children who suffered from pica.
Accidental overdoses? Oh, yes, yes.
All of them entirely accidental.
So, in your expert opinion, do you believe that Lizzie Newton suffered from pica? Yes.
Thank you.
No further questions, Your Honor.
Dr.
Sommerville, did you examine Lizzie Newton? No, I did not.
Oh, so, you never examined this child, and yet you are rendering a diagnosis.
Well, I often consult in cases where I don't meet personally with the patient.
But just to be clear, you never witnessed Lizzie eating wallpaper or chalk or an abundance of salt, did you? No, I did not.
Look, I know we both said a lot of things we didn't mean the other night I meant everything I said.
Benny, we're dying in there.
Yeah.
We need someone other than Angela who can testify that Lizzie was eating all that crazy stuff.
That's what we need.
That's what we don't have.
And I don't know where you're gonna find one of those.
I know you're still in mourning.
Yes, I am.
Yes, I am.
And yet you chose to eviscerate me in court the other day.
Did you think that after the death of my daughter, I was beyond suffering? I am sorry, Mrs.
Newton.
You knew your daughter was having issues, didn't you? I understand why you don't want to think about it.
You don't want to think she ate that salt on her own.
Maybe you didn't put it all together.
Three good parents and a pediatrician.
Everyone missed it.
But if you don't say something soon a woman who loved your daughter very, very much is going to prison for something that's not her fault.
Angela was the first one to suspect something was wrong with Lizzie.
I didn't want to see it.
I guess I didn't want to accept that she might know my own daughter better than I did.
Was there ever an occasion when you witnessed Lizzie eating something that wasn't food? In the park, I caught her eating chalk.
Twice.
And then dirt.
I brushed it off as something kids do.
I told myself it wasn't a problem.
Bull? Still no word? The jury or Benny? I told you he's working from home, and asked that we not call unless it's word that the jury is back.
Are you okay if I go? Greg's coming back tonight.
He was supposed to have landed already, but his plane keeps getting delayed.
I just want to be there when he gets there.
Sure.
Hey, you.
I finally made it.
Mm So, talk to me.
I want to hear all about it: schedules, dates, how it works.
What we have to do.
I was walking around the airport tonight, and there were kids everywhere.
Strollers, people carrying them in backpacks, buying 'em stuff at the gift shop And I thought, a year from now, that's me.
What? I changed my mind.
You changed your mind? Don't hate me.
Oh, honey I could never hate you.
Oh, my gosh, don't even think that.
You are my everything.
You're my everything.
Has the jury reached a verdict? We have, Your Honor.
"In the case of "The People of the State of New York v.
Angela Newton "for the crime of murder in the second degree, "we the jury find the defendant not guilty.
" Oh, my God.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
You want a ride? Nah.
I'm good.
Hello, stranger.
My brother said I'd find you here.
Where can I take you? Where are you going? To hell, clearly.
I'm sorry about your divorce.
I'm sorry about all the pain and the role I apparently played in it.
I lost you, now I've lost your brother.
You sure you want to ride with me? You haven't lost my brother.
Well, not permanently.
He's just a real hardhead, especially about family.
He'll be back.
Hmm.
How can you say that? How do you know? I'm pregnant, you big Bull.
What? I think maybe you're stuck with both of us.
He's gonna be an uncle, and you're gonna be a daddy.
A daddy.
Have you forgotten how to kiss? - Wait a second.
- No.
I won't.