Coroner (2019) s04e04 Episode Script

1 "Authorized interview report?" DENNIS: Dr Thompson wants us to fill one out after any contact we have.
I had his back, he had mine.
That's not what Detective Abed said in his report to Professional Standards.
[GUNSHOT BLASTS, SHELL CLINKS.]
We should celebrate.
It's a Rage Room.
[VASE SHATTERS.]
[BREATHES HEAVILY.]
Sharing information with police officers and talking to family isn't bias.
Praying over bodies, talking to a survivor? Oh, I'm concerned you are blurring the lines.
[BIRDS CHIRP.]
[DIRT SCRAPES.]
[INSECTS BUZZ.]
[BIRDS CHIRP.]
[TOMATO THUDS LIGHTLY.]
[INSECTS BUZZ.]
[DOOR CREAKS OPEN, THUDS SHUT.]
Mom? How are we out of lettuce? Mom?! Yeah? How are we out of lettuce? What? Oh, what are you doing? I'm saving my tomatoes.
So, is uh yeah, is-is this lettuce? You run an online food kitchen, and you don't know what lettuce looks like? Not when it's in the ground.
Grab it by the stem.
- [CLEARS THROAT.]
- Whoa, hey, that is a cabbage! That's a cabbage, that is - Here, back up.
- No.
Yes.
Here.
You ever uh you ever think about going to culinary school? Culinary school would just make me like everybody else.
Right, I'm-I'm unique, I'm self-taught.
Yeah, but you know, there's, there is more to running a business than just, - you know, making a menu.
- I know.
After all, you did almost kill my assistant.
Mom, don't [EXHALES.]
Don't worry, okay? I got this.
[FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
You know parenting is worrying, right? It's like watching your heart walk around outside of your body.
Sounds gross, and unsustainable.
It's terrifying.
- [CELL PHONE CHIMES.]
- [EXHALES.]
SERENA: Mama! Mama! Mama! Mama! Mama! Mamaaaaaa! Mama! MAX: No! [MAX SOBS.]
[SOBS INCONSOLABLY.]
[SOBS ECHO.]
- [DONOVAN SIGHS.]
- Hey.
What do we have here? Ten-month-old infant.
Simon.
They tried to resuscitate him on the way to the hospital, but, um This job, some days.
Uh, the kitchen was fully stocked, baby food, everything, so it looks like Simon and his sister's basic needs were taken care of.
There's no choking hazards in the crib, either.
Did you see any signs of abuse when you examined the body? Uh, well, he was pale and dehydrated, but there was no visible bruising or signs of illness.
So many of these infant deaths I've worked have been ruled "undetermined.
" Well, infant autopsies can be tricky.
Evidence of illness or injury can be Can be subtle.
MAX: I need to bring his giraffe stuffie! I have to find it! I need to find it! [SOBS.]
The ER doctor declared Simon deceased.
No, he-he can't go anywhere without it! [SNIFFLES.]
He can't! Just can't.
Where did you last see it? Last night.
I-I would-I wouldn't let him take it in the bath.
I just He didn't understand why.
You know that look kids get? When life is unfair? I think so, yeah.
Let me help you find it, okay? [SOBS.]
Okay.
[SOBS.]
Where is it? Do you know who found him? His mother.
Max Williams.
She manages at her local grocery store.
Is there anybody else in the picture? - She have a partner? - Single parent.
[SHARP EXHALE.]
Imagine going through this alone.
A lot of marriages don't survive the death of a child.
Yeah, my parents' didn't.
[FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
Just tell them to wait until I find Simon's giraffe.
Okay? Why didn't I just let him bring it in the bath? - Oh! - I didn't let him.
- Is this it? - No, that's a tiger.
[SOBS.]
Yeah, it's a tiger.
- [SLAMS DOOR.]
- Oh God! No! [SOBS.]
Where is it? No! It couldn't [SOBS.]
I can't Where is it? [ZIPPER RASPS.]
Oh God, I just [SOBS.]
It's okay.
I [SOBS.]
Where is it? Oh God! Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? [SOBS QUIETLY.]
- What time did you find Simon? - Um Maybe 6:30, uh Serena and I were reading.
Um, enjoying the, the quiet before Simon woke up.
Okay.
Do you remember, was he breathing? [SOBS QUIETLY.]
No.
And was he warm or was he cool to the touch? - He was-he was warm.
- He was warm, okay.
Oh my God, he was, he was still so warm.
And when I I called the ambulance, but The ER doctor said He said we were too late.
[SOBS.]
Max, do you remember, was he on his back or was he on his chest when you found him? [SOBS, GASPS.]
Oh God! Oh, it was me! Was it Did I forget to put him on his back? Was that me? Is that-is that what happened? Is that what happened? Was he sick at all? Yes-no.
Yes.
No, no.
He had colic.
Colic? Isn't he a little old for colic? No.
The doctor said he was within range.
[SOBS QUIETLY.]
[SIRENS WAIL IN THE DISTANCE.]
[LOW HUM OF DISTANT POLICE CHATTER.]
Max? What time did you put him down? Uh Maybe uh, seven.
Seven.
Okay.
And did you check on him at all? No, I don't I don't know why I didn't.
No, wait, I did.
Um I posted about it.
That's at dinner.
And That's him asleep.
[SIGHS.]
May I? Yeah.
The baby has his own social media account? He had a thousand followers.
Um, I wanted to start him early, so he could have that.
The time stamp says 7 p.
m.
, but is that when you put him down or when you checked on him? [SIGHS.]
When I checked on him.
[CAR RUMBLES UP.]
You-you can't be here, this is a crime scene.
[CAR SHUTS OFF.]
Okay.
[CAR DOOR OPENS, SLAMS SHUT.]
Cassidy James.
Child Welfare Agency.
Donovan.
What are you doing here? You can't just barge into a sensitive interview like that.
CWA has an open file on Max Williams, I'm surprised you're not more interested in what we know.
Okay, just-I know this is a heated case, but we just need to pause for a second.
Why did they open the file? Two days ago someone called in an anonymous tip to CWA that Simon had been crying for days.
Police did a welfare check, but left, convinced the baby had colic.
Okay, we just searched the scene, and nothing stood out as suspicious.
Except that Simon is dead.
We can still get Serena to safety.
There's no proof that she's at risk.
Proof is for trial! CWA needs to be safe, not sorry.
Okay, this wouldn't be the first time that your agency's profiled a Black family.
That's not what's going on here.
All I need is a coroner ruling of parental neglect.
Yeah, well, I need to pursue all evidence.
I mean, there's witness interviews, medical history, autopsy, Child Welfare.
If you rule Simon's death accidental and you're wrong, Serena could be next.
Well, if I rule neglect and I'm wrong, then I'm gonna re-victimize a family that's grieving.
I need time.
We need to get this right.
Okay? There's no room for mistakes.
Thank you.
Excuse me.
[DONOVAN SIGHS HEAVILY.]
What was that about? [SIGHS HEAVILY.]
Cassidy is My ex-wife.
WOMAN: Here let me just Do you like this one? [BREATHING HEAVILY.]
I don't know where it is! - I just don't know where it is.
- Hey Max, - Serena shouldn't be here for this.
- I just Is there somewhere she can go? She's safe with me, and um I'm not gonna let her out of my sight.
Okay.
I know she is, Max, but the Child Welfare Agent said that she has to go somewhere else, until we figure out what happened to Simon.
Child Welfare? No.
No! Look, is there, is there someone you trust? A family member or a friend? She's never spent a night without her brother.
And I'm all she has left.
Okay.
Hey Then help me keep her close.
Uh Andrea, next door.
She baby-sits when I have to work nights at the store.
- Okay.
- SERENA: Mommy! - [APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
- [SIGHS.]
[SOBS QUIETLY.]
[SNIFFLING.]
I'm sorry.
[SOBS.]
Normally I come over to avoid messing up the kids' routine.
You're close with the family.
There's nothing I wouldn't do for them.
Both of them.
And for Max? How do you feel about her? I Wouldn't raise a child on social media, personally.
Simon and Serena didn't have much of a say on whether or not their whole childhood was public.
It obviously wasn't for them.
You think Max liked the attention? I think what was inside the pictures didn't exactly reflect what was outside the frame.
[EXHALES.]
- [KNOCKS.]
Hey.
- Hey, what's up? [DOOR OPENS, SLAMS SHUT.]
[INDISTINCT POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
So how'd it go with the babysitter? Oh, she implied that Max was too obsessed with social media to parent her child.
It's not exactly a glowing character reference, huh? Ah, people tend to blame each other during a crisis.
But if Simon wasn't getting the medical attention he needed, that's a contributing factor.
See, I don't think that's it.
Look at this.
Max took Simon to the doctor an awful lot.
She would post about each visit.
She got tons of support online.
Parents would weigh in with tips and ideas.
Like, hundreds of times a day.
Was she looking for help with Simon? Trying to crowdsource a diagnosis? Or I could've guessed, she was getting a hit of dopamine for every sympathy post.
Yeah, we need to talk to that doctor.
Jenny'll want Simon's full medical record, so I'll get her to meet me there.
Yeah, I'll uh I'll text you the address.
All right, thanks.
Hey Mac, um Are you-are you gonna ask Waylen to reassign me? Let's just keep it professional, man.
We don't need to be more than that.
Cool.
Yeah.
- Catch you later, man.
- All right.
[DOOR SLAMS.]
[ENGINE HUMS.]
[SIREN WAILS IN THE DISTANCE.]
Dr.
Morrow, Max said that your diagnosis was colic.
Which I explained will go away on its own.
Could Simon's colic have been masking another illness? What's going on, Detective? Simon was found dead this morning.
I had no idea.
We're gonna need to see all of his medical records, so that I can determine cause of death.
[GRUNTS WITH EFFORT.]
Are those all for Simon Williams? He was in here all the time.
I treated him for irritability, then lethargy, then constipation, all normal baby ailments.
His immune system was more than a match for.
But, Max catastrophized every sneeze and sniffle, pushing me for a more extreme diagnosis.
So I started treating her for anxiety.
Simon wasn't sick.
Max is.
What was she like when she'd come in here? She was taking selfies with the staff, bringing in cookies, try to pass herself off as medically knowledgeable.
So, you're saying that she was medically over-involved? Would she make recommendations for surgeries, for treatments? Yes.
She was worried about him not gaining weight fast enough.
I thought she was just attention starved, being a single mom, but uh But looking back This is a textbook case of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
So every time that Simon would get sick, she'd get praised online for it.
And Simon had to keep getting sicker and sicker to keep that up.
You think she went too far.
I knew she was sick, but, I never thought she would hurt him.
RIVER: No clean breaks or injuries.
DENNIS: I'm not seeing any trace of a virus, either.
What about asphyxiation? No, no evidence of cyanosis in the tissues.
You failed to fill out your interview form again, Jenny.
The tox screen in yet? Uh, yeah, clean for uh, barbiturates, amphetamines, and opioids.
Nothing from his vomit and urine samples.
Okay, let's widen the search for the weird stuff.
Ipecac could've caused the vomiting.
Or maybe Mom was dosing him with her anti-anxiety meds.
I'll add anxiolytics to the tox screen.
Add any documented agents in Munchausen by Proxy.
How did you know we were pursuing Munchausen by Proxy? Dennis, are you updating Eli on my case? I asked him to keep me apprised.
Don't do that, don't ask him to report to you behind my back.
You have long chats with the bereaved mom, who is suspected of poisoning her own kid, yet you refuse to fill out your emotional bias form.
I am not biased.
I am investigating Munchausen by Proxy, as well as half a dozen other things.
Okay, so either get on board or get out of my autopsy.
[CLIPBOARD THUDS.]
Fill out your damn form.
[DOOR CREAKS OPEN AND SHUTS.]
It must have been hard, I mean, caring for a sick child all by yourself.
[SOBS QUIETLY.]
Yeah.
Except for online, where you finally found the support you needed.
[LAUGHS DRYLY.]
You're tracking me online? This is a death investigation.
You're investigating me? Like, I Had something to do with my baby's death? Simon's pediatrician claims you may have contributed to it, yes.
Oh no, I-I took him to the doctor, I-I took him over, and over, and over! Yes, and each time you were praised online for caring for a sick child.
No.
No, no, no, no, because Because I made-I made a chart of-of his symptoms, and-and the dates with ev-everything.
I All of it! And the doctor wouldn't even look at them! And you're blaming me?! You're blaming me! Me! Child Welfare wants to put some more distance - between you and Serena.
- No! No, no, no! [SOBS.]
You're gonna take her away.
Trust me, there's nothing I want less.
But you have to talk to me.
Were you trying to cure Simon yourself? [SIGHS.]
I think I need a lawyer.
[CHALK SCRAPES.]
DONOVAN: Did you ever see Max give Simon any medication, or treatments that weren't prescribed to him? No, I would never let that happen.
Serena is safe with me.
You don't need to place her with a stranger.
I'd adopt her.
That's a much longer conversation than we have time for right now.
But I can offer her everything she needs.
Her own room, Sunday school, all the things she's never had before.
The situation is more difficult, now that we have a medical witness against Max.
Okay.
What do you need me to say? DONOVAN: Did you have any concerns, about Simon's health, or well-being, or that Max might be hurting him? I already called CWA once, about my concerns, I'm not sure how much more I can add, unless you give me a hint.
This is your anonymous source against Max? Why'd you withhold that? I wasn't sure there was anything wrong.
I wanted Child Welfare to sort it out, but if there had been, I would've been there, for those kids.
Yeah, waiting in the wings to adopt them.
I think we've heard enough.
Okay, wait! Wait.
Serena could've had a real family! With a dad! I mean, my boyfriend, he's still not ready for kids, but he already loves her.
Wait! I want you to go with these nice people, okay? I'll come find you.
Don't be scared.
- You okay? - Yeah.
You wanna come with me for a little bit? Yeah.
Are you hungry? - Yeah.
- Yeah, you are? Me too, actually.
Maybe we'll go get something to eat together.
What do you think about that? - Yeah.
- Yeah? There you go.
[ANDREA SOBS.]
- [DOOR SLAMS.]
- What a mess.
You have to throw out her statement, - and her call.
- Done.
And get Serena back to her mother.
That's just one witness, not my whole case.
We still don't know what killed Simon, and I'm not about to take any chances with Serena.
No, I'm glad you're here.
We were always good in a crisis.
At least we had that.
[FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
[SIGHS HEAVILY.]
[LOW HUM OF CHATTER.]
Dr.
Cooper? Simon's blood work came back, negative for anxiolytics.
Great, I'll add that to the list of leads we don't have.
[SIGHS HEAVILY.]
[TRAFFIC RUMBLES.]
[HORN BLARES IN THE DISTANCE.]
I'm not Team Eli.
I didn't mean to Uh, snitch.
- I'm sorry, Dr.
Cooper.
- Dennis, there is no Team Eli.
I love this job, and I can't lose it.
You're not gonna lose your job.
It was Eli who acted inappropriately.
I think it's the case.
I've never seen him like this.
[SIGHS.]
Well Simon's symptoms are so broad, they're of no use, I mean, irritability, lethargy, vomiting, uh, constipation, off-pallor Almost anything could've caused those symptoms.
Yeah.
Hey, did River do a blood test for genetic defects? First thing she did, but, it was negative.
It's the same thing I would've done, if I was his doctor, but There's no blood panel.
anywhere, in any of his files.
Maybe it got lost? DR.
MORROW: Do you know how painful it is, to take a blood sample from an infant? How hard it is, to take blood, from those tiny veins? I do, and I know you don't do a panel for minor symptoms, but How many times did Max bring Simon in? I don't torture babies with unnecessary tests, because a woman spends too much time on WebMed.
He didn't look like he was in that much pain to me.
Okay, and you saw him for what, 30 minutes at a time? I mean, she's his mother, she's with him 24/7.
I would've done a panel.
- I am a doctor.
- So am I! - And we can make mistakes.
- I didn't make a mistake.
It's no wonder that she turned to social media to get help.
She is a single mother, with a child in distress.
And you just dismissed her.
[LATCH CLICKS OPEN.]
ELI: I thought you were interviewing the doctor.
So what, you just thought you'd just slip in there, while I wasn't there, and Check over my math? [WATER RUSHES.]
Dr.
Morrow neglected Simon because he didn't believe Max's story, so everything he reported is suspect.
- He violated his oath.
- He did.
[WATER SHUTS OFF.]
[PAPER RUSTLES.]
I could shove his medical licence down his throat! That case when you were younger, the one that convinced you never to get emotionally involved, it was an infant case, wasn't it? More than one.
When I was an intern, my mentor was a brilliant pathologist.
Passionate.
Dedicated.
But he cared so much, when a child died, he needed someone to pay.
He reinterpreted the science to match his bias? Science I provided.
Oh.
Hence the forms.
[DEEP INHALE.]
I'll have Alphonse lock me in my office while you finish this.
- Baby cases mess me up.
- No.
Eli You care.
I can use all the brains I can get on this.
[BIRDS CHIRP.]
[BLANKET RUSTLES.]
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
There you are.
Hey, have you seen Ross? Nope He's out.
That means we have the whole house to ourselves.
[LAUGHS.]
- Why? What's wrong? - Nothing.
I just, I need, to check in at the flower shop.
- Why? - You know, I have to start thinking about reopening now that everything's calmed down out there.
You know, I've left it, for so long.
Well, it doesn't make sense, I mean, we've only just convinced Jenny that uh, you could stay here.
I know, but she's avoiding me.
Well, go easy.
She had to get used to you not being here, and that's pretty much all she's known.
I'm trying, to make up for lost time, I'm trying to look after the house, I'm trying to look after you.
- Oh, I'm a chore? - No, I Of course not.
I want to be with you.
And I [SIGHS.]
I-I want us all to be a family.
Well, maybe she feels you've got one foot out the door already.
[HORN HONKS.]
Oh look, there's Ross.
- See ya.
- Okay.
[DOOR CREAKS OPEN AND SHUT.]
RIVER: Anemia might explain Simon's off-colour.
Right, let's test for that as well.
If the tox screen was negative, maybe the baby ingested something.
DENNIS: If he swallowed something, and he passed it, he could have internal injuries.
Wait, are you guys seeing what I'm seeing? It's here, and also there.
Increased density on the distal radius.
Could that be a growth arrest line? Here too, on the acetabuli.
Okay, so growth arrest lines and anemia, I mean, could he have Could he have died of heavy metal poisoning? I'll call the lab and confirm it.
Great, thank you.
Heavy metals come from environmental exposure, like lead paint or old pipes.
We don't test for lead in tox screens anymore, because it was phased out decades ago.
Yeah, I know.
Max's house is new, so it's unlikely that they were exposed to anything like that.
If it's environmental, why aren't Max and Serena sick? Okay, we need to figure out anywhere that Simon went without them, daycares, playgrounds.
It can't be either of those or other kids would be getting sick too.
Maybe they are.
- [FILES THUD.]
- All right! We are looking for growth arrest lines, uh, that coroners may have missed if they didn't know to look for them.
Any positives go here.
[FILM RUSTLES.]
I found seven more cases in Ontario, all undetermined.
And in two of the cases, the parents are going to trial.
DONOVAN: Are you saying Max is innocent? I think so.
DONOVAN: Y-You have to be sure.
We just split up Max and Serena.
Now that she's in the system, CWA won't release her, unless we prove Max is not responsible.
I know, need to find out what Simon was exposed to.
Hey, I'm gonna call you back.
The lab confirmed high concentrations of lead in Simon's blood.
Sometimes, your ideas are not terrible.
Sometimes your apologies are.
Part of my charm.
Any leads on how Simon was exposed? Well, uh, Alphonse asked the attorney prosecuting the other cases to stop by.
See if the decedents have anything in common.
[SIGHS.]
We need to find this, Cooper, - or more children could die.
- I know.
The Crown Attorney from the Garza case is here to see you.
That's great, thank you.
[SIGHS.]
[READYING EXHALE.]
Hi.
Hi.
Hey, I need two coffees.
Thank you.
You look good.
Thanks.
Um, Clark is here? Yeah, uh, he's just here, helping on a case.
Do you know how he likes his coffee? Cream, no sugar.
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
- Hey.
- CLARK: Hi.
[JENNY SIGHS.]
Here.
How are you? Uh I'm good.
I'm sorry for not reaching out, you know, I had I didn't know Um, thanks for coming in on such short notice.
Yeah, well, threatening my case is certainly one way to get my attention.
Or, you could consider it opposition research.
I mean, how do you know the defense isn't gonna Come up with the same conclusions I did? Eric Garza is guilty, of killing his 18-month-old son, Leo.
Are you reinterpreting his autopsy? [COFFEE MUG THUDS.]
[SIGHS.]
This band of density, is a growth arrest line, in Leo Garza's femur.
Same as my decedent, and six other cases, all have the same results.
My experts say it was infanticide.
Leo died underweight and malnourished, and he was completely fine before his parents split.
And we have motive.
Dad couldn't cough up the thousands in child support.
These parents didn't kill their children.
- It's heavy metal poisoning.
- From where? Toronto? Lead pipes and paints have been banned for 50 years.
That's why I called you.
I need to figure out how these kids were exposed, otherwise more children will die.
If Garza's lawyer finds out that I'm even entertaining this theory, - he'll have the case thrown out.
- I wouldn't call you in on a whim.
[SIGHS.]
I'm ordering food.
You have until I finish this meal.
What about daycares? Simon went to Happy Baby in Mississauga.
Nope, Leo's daycare was in Parkdale.
What about nannies? Ah, his nanny was his next-door neighbour.
I'm almost done, Cooper.
Clock's ticking.
Okay, I know you're not gonna let an innocent man go to jail, because you're done your food.
The only reason why I'm even entertaining this theory, is because it's you.
I meant because, you know, I respect your brain.
What about the mom? Why are you so focused on Eric Garza? Leo was fine until Dad got custody.
Where does the dad work? A bakery on Queen West.
I'm done my lunch, and my thorough opposition research.
Time's up, Cooper.
Wait.
[PHOTOS RUSTLE.]
Food.
Heavy metals from pesticides and industrial waste build up in the soil, and they can be absorbed into the food chain.
I recognize that logo.
You think Leo and Simon were eating contaminated crops? Well Contamination, in one vegetable is manageable for adults, but, concentrate that into a baby food jar There's lead in the baby food? The building looks new.
Yeah, I think the contamination is happening in the fields.
[LOW HUM OF DISTANT CHATTER.]
[CARS HONK IN THE DISTANCE.]
JENNY: And you grow all of your own produce on your farm? All of it.
We're a farm-to-jar operation.
Totally closed supply chain, and all of it is plant-based.
Okay, what kinds of pesticides and fertilizers do you use? Nothing that Canadians haven't been eating, for decades, - if you're worried about that.
- Well, it can get absorbed into the soil, and then end up in the food chain.
Pesticides save us 30% of our crop every year, easy.
What about heavy metals we're seeing in fields now? Yeah, a lot of that's naturally occurring.
Well, it's dangerous for developing brains.
Which is why we test all of our raw ingredients for pesticide residue, and heavy metals.
Great.
I'm gonna need to see those tests.
Of course.
Here you go.
Thanks.
Here This is our latest creation.
Beets.
"Pump Up the Beets.
" - Cute.
- Yeah, parents get a kick out of the names.
Dads especially.
"Taters Gotta Tate" is our bestseller.
I'm sorry, uh, these all just say, "Comply with all standards.
" Yes, because we take rigorous precautions.
Okay, I'm gonna need to see the raw test data.
I'm sorry, I can't help you with that.
Okay, well, if that's how you wanna do it, my next call is gonna be to the Food Inspection Agency, and I'm gonna get your entire line recalled.
- Okay, that's a bit harsh.
- And I'm gonna test every surface.
Every crop, every jar.
Okay, okay, now, there's no need, Dr.
Cooper.
My guys can get you everything you want.
Great.
Thank you.
You really do have a passionate side.
That surprises you? I've missed you.
[DOOR CREAKS SHUT.]
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
Hmm! [RUSTLING.]
- PEGGY: What'cha doing? - Oh I wonder if I might get some help, please.
What I'd like to do, is I'd like to uh, build an arrangement for the love of my life.
What's the occasion? No occasion, really, I just wanna I just want to send her a message that I am not the man, I was When she left.
We're not the same people we were.
No.
I found my way back to you, but Now But now I'm the one who's leaving you.
When you left, I couldn't breathe.
It was a very I couldn't breathe for months.
And I would have this, beautiful, hazy moment, every morning when I woke up, before I remembered you, and everything.
I used to live for that split-second of relief.
I don't think I can go through that again.
I'm still here.
I'm still here.
[SIGHS.]
[LIGHT KISS.]
Is the house still empty? Yeah.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
[PAPERS RUSTLE.]
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
- Hey.
- Hi.
Half-caf, oat milk, latte.
You know my coffee order.
Well, it looks like you've been busy.
Yeah, um Okay, so, it's all clean.
What? Yeah, even everything I, I subpoenaed.
And the baby food from Max's house, is clean.
What about the testing data? Complies with all standards.
This is the only thing Leo Garza and Simon Williams have in common.
Yeah, so, I guess your case is safe.
Don't.
I'm not that kind of prosecutor.
I want the truth.
Yep, I know, but I don't, I don't have it.
I don't want Max to lose Serena, but I can't definitively say that she's innocent unless I know, what poisoned Simon.
[STRESSED EXHALE.]
Look, I gotta I gotta go meet Donovan, and Max, and tell her Tell her I don't know.
Here, uh, don't forget your coffee.
Right.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Thank you.
[SHARP EXHALE.]
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
So what's it like, working with Cassidy? Huh, I never thought we'd be able to be in the same room together again.
Yeah? What'd she do, throw your telescope in the lake? Oh, that, and she stole my dog.
That's low.
Yeah, Lexie, this little Boston Terrier, with this huge, unmistakable grin.
And you can't explain to a dog, why you're not around anymore.
Always killed me.
- Awww! - [KNOCKING.]
Simon died of heavy metal poisoning.
But we're not sure yet how he was exposed.
I knew something was wrong.
A lot of the time it's hard to detect, until later in life, when the child, struggles cognitively.
What about Serena? Um, is she sick, too? Child Welfare Agency tested her, - she's negative.
- [RELIEVED EXHALE.]
Okay.
And we don't think you have anything to do with Simon's death, but, CWA wants to have a family court hearing, to prove, that Serena's not at risk.
No, but-but she needs me now! She ju-she just lost her brother.
[SOBS QUIETLY.]
I tried, so hard, to be a good mom.
When Serena was born, I [SIGHS.]
I gave her all the sweet things, and she never developed a taste for vegetables.
But with Simon, it was broccoli, as soon as he could eat baby food.
I I wanted him to love the things that would make him strong.
- You know? - Max, the, uh Broccoli baby food, do you remember the brand? Uh, it was Nature's Favourite.
Nature's Favourite doesn't have a broccoli product.
Could it be something else? Uh, it's called, "Broc and Roll.
" It was Simon's favourite.
I've been up to my elbows in cute baby food names all day, I-I think I would've remembered that one.
Um, they-they brought a Huge shipment into the store about a month A couple months ago.
I bought uh, two cases on sale.
But I haven't been able to find it since.
What if it was discontinued? What if it was a bad batch, and they sold off the evidence? Then we wouldn't have anything to test.
Uh I-I have one.
Um I keep it in here for emergencies.
[SIGHS.]
[ZIPPER RASPS.]
[RUSTLING.]
"Broc and Roll" tested positive, for lead, cadmium, and arsenic, well over the maximum amount, I mean, even for adults.
I still can't figure out how it got there, though.
I had a detective do some digging.
A demolition company paid Cole Hanes, to dump leftover dirt on his property.
Well, federal inspectors are headed over there now.
I mean, they're gonna recall the entire product line.
I don't know if they'll find anything that can help us, I mean, I tested everything myself and it came back clean.
Do you think they knew they had a contaminated product on the market? All they tested the raw ingredients, but not the final concentrated product, I mean, maybe they didn't wanna know? Well, you subpoenaed their test results, and there's no data for "Broc and Roll" anywhere.
Right.
Max's food is evidence that they scrubbed it.
We got 'em.
I'll drop the charges against Eric Garza and the other parents.
[SIGHS.]
A lot of things have changed around here.
[CHUCKLES.]
Yeah.
But some things haven't.
[SIGHS.]
Yeah, I didn't um I didn't really expect to To feel anything Between us.
I never stopped feeling.
Look, Clark, I can't give you what you need.
It's not what I need.
It's what you want.
What do you want right now? I wanna feel.
[PASSIONATE INHALE.]
[ELI'S CUT-OUT THUDS.]
[TRAFFIC RUMBLES.]
[DOOR CREAKS OPEN.]
Mama! Hey! Hi! Oh God! [LAUGHING AND CRYING.]
Muah! Hi.
When is Simon coming home? Uh Well Okay.
Okay.
[CRYING QUIETLY.]
[SIGHS HEAVILY.]
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
How have you been? Pretty good.
Except for a cancer scare, a few months back.
- Cancer? - Yeah, you know, radiation, and surgery, but that was to repair a hole in my spine that was exacerbated by a suspect attack.
Nothing could ever beat you, McAvoy.
You look good too, and I can't quite put my finger on it.
Yeah.
I've been doing this amazing life-coach thing now, learning to take responsibility for my actions.
Speaking of which, there is somebody here who would like to see you.
[DOOR OPENS, PANTING.]
Lexie! [LAUGHS.]
- Hi! How are you? - [LEXIE BARKS.]
[GASPS.]
Ohhhh! So good to see you! That grey looks good on you! [LAUGHS.]
[LEXIE PANTS.]
[CONTENT EXHALE.]
It's It's good to see you.
- [SIGHS.]
- [LEXIE WHIMPERS.]
[CHUCKLES.]
[CAR RUMBLES.]
[GRAVEL CRUNCHES.]
[BRAKES SQUEAK.]
[ENGINE CUTS OUT.]
[CRICKETS CHIRP.]
- [DOOR OPENS.]
- JENNY: Ah! [SIGHS.]
- [DOOR SHUTS.]
- Where were you? Dad and Peggy asleep? Yeah.
Oh, what are we doin'? Are we drowning our sorrows, or are we celebrating? I, got a terrible review on a FoodScouts order.
Come on.
Come on, say it, I know you want to.
Say "I told you so.
" No.
I think they're missing out.
[OWL HOOTS IN THE DISTANCE.]
[LAUGHS WRYLY.]
I don't know, I mean, I can I can handle a little heartbreak, but uh Yeah, we're gonna need some more wine.
We are in luck.
- No way! - Because Yeah, guess what I picked up on the way home.
- Oh! Psychic! - Tah-dah! I'll go get the bottle opener.
No, don't, you You really cannot find a thing in that Post-It-Note house.
Okay, well, how are we gonna open the bottle, genius? Give it to me and find out.
Come on, I have a method.
- Okay, now, give me your shoe.
- Absolutely not.
- Use your own shoe.
- It has to have a heel on it.
I literally can't.
Give me your shoe, come on.
Oh! All right.
You've never seen me do this? - No.
- Kid stuff.
Can you be careful with those? Ross! Okay, no there's no need.
It's really easy.
And I need to sort of, just like that.
Ross, those are really expensive! It's coming, don't worry! - Ross, what are you doing? - We're gonna get it, any minute now.
- Oh! Look! - It's ruined! We're good.
Oh my God! PEGGY: What are you doing out here?! Be quiet! You're going to wake up Gordie.
[GASPS.]
Oh, anybody want some vino? Daaaad! - Woo hoo! - [BOTH LAUGH.]
- Now, is that a genius idea? - [ALL LAUGH.]
Look, clean off, no bits.