Law & Order (1990) s24e17 Episode Script
A Perfect Family
1
In the criminal justice system,
the people are represented
by two separate, yet
equally important groups:
the police, who investigate crime,
and the district attorneys,
who prosecute the offenders.
These are their stories.
Let's go, Bridge. You're
going to make me late.
Sorry. I didn't like my outfit.
So that's the solve?
What do you mean?
I mean, you're dressed for Miami, kid.
It's what girls wear, Dad.
All right, you can all get
hypothermia together, I guess.
[KEY FOB CHIRPS]
And hey,
from now on, let's get up
a little bit earlier, OK?
Sorry, the group chat
blew up last night.
Tragic.
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
You don't take me seriously.
No, I don't take group chats seriously.
Because you gotta deal with
criminals and corpses all day?
One last time.
X squared plus 8X plus 16 equals 0.
X is?
Negative 4.
Yeah, you got this.
I hope so.
No, it's not about hope or luck.
You studied hard.
Every battle is won
Before it's fought. I know.
Exactly.
So you just stay
focused and do your best.
You're going to crush this, kiddo.
Come here.
Love you.
- [SIRENS WAILING]
- [INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Jesus. A kid?
- How old?
- Not sure.
I'm guessing 12 or 13.
We don't have an ID.
Just this from her backpack.
All right.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Jalen's still sick.
It's just me and you.
- My God, she's a baby.
- Yeah.
It's, like, a 30-foot drop.
Big fall for a little body.
Yeah, she fractured some ribs,
plus her skull, which caused
the cerebral hemorrhaging.
You think she might have jumped?
The guy who called 911 said
there was some sort of altercation.
Thinks someone pushed her.
She's wearing an Apple
Watch and a gold necklace.
It doesn't look like
someone tried to rob her.
An iPhone in the side pocket.
[TENSE MUSIC]
A half-eaten bagel from
Sal's and a day planner.
Anything on the agenda?
♪
"Happy Friday."
♪
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
I set up every day at 7:00.
Usually see the girl on her
way to school around 7:20.
You told police she was arguing
with someone this morning?
Yeah, heard her up there
getting upset with someone.
Can you describe this person?
Medium height.
Dark coat. Dark hat.
- Man? Woman?
- Can't say.
Did you actually see
the girl get shoved?
No, I was down here unloading my fruit.
You can't see the High
Line from behind the truck.
But when the truck pulled away
You saw the body?
She was lying there,
blood around her head.
I called 911.
You know this girl's
name, where she lives,
where she goes to school?
No, but she walks past me every morning
coming from downtown.
There's only one set of
steps downtown from here,
at Gansevoort Street.
There's a Sal's Bagel there too.
Thank you.
We are very sorry to
inform you that the cashier
at the bagel store down the street
identified your daughter Emily Chapman.
Why? I don't understand.
She was found dead this morning
next to the High Line.
What?
Were these your daughter's belongings?
Uh I
no, this isn't possible.
If it's all right, we do have
some questions that we need
- [DOOR CLICKS]
- Mel? Mel?
The precinct called, left a message.
Something about Emily.
What's going on?
- I don't
- Honey.
- What's going on? Come here.
- No!
Emily's 12.
Our oldest.
We have, uh had three girls.
Was Emily having any problems lately?
No.
She was a great kid.
Smart. Happy.
Any issues at school?
Nothing serious.
Run-of-the-mill mean
girl-type stuff, but no.
If there's any reason to believe
that she might have jumped
Not a chance.
She was strong.
Oh, God, how are we
going to tell Amanda?
Hey. Hey. It's OK.
Amanda's our ten-year-old.
- She and Emily were very close.
- [BABY CRYING]
She's on her way home
from school right now.
I'll be here. It's OK.
[BABY CRYING]
Ugh, I'm sorry.
I have to feed the baby.
I've been home all morning
trying to get her to take a bottle.
Sophie's seven months.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
If you think of anything
else that might be helpful.
Thank you.
[CRYING]
Emily's been with us since
she was six years old.
Always willing to roll up her sleeves,
- work hard.
- [SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
No sense of entitlement
despite her family being
Loaded?
Her father runs a hedge
fund, and he has been
- very generous to the school.
- Mm.
Was Emily having any problems
in school that you know of?
No.
Well, her father mentioned
that she was having
some mean girl issues.
Do you know anything about that?
Middle school is an emotional minefield.
Emily was a thoughtful
and sensitive girl.
I think she just couldn't understand
how anyone could be so cruel to her.
Well, who was being so cruel?
Do you have a name?
Gabby Feliciano.
She trashed Emily's locker a week back.
Tore up her posters and her notebooks.
Emily and I were besties
since kindergarten.
Then a few months ago,
she starts ignoring me,
stops inviting me over.
You see her on the way to school today?
No.
You sure about that, Gabby?
Positive.
I was at my psychologist's office
this morning until 11:00 AM.
OK, we're going to need
that name and number.
My parents are convinced
I have anger issues.
Because you trashed Emily's locker?
Dr. Kay thinks it's more
about insecurity and jealousy
because Coach Redmond
liked Emily more than me.
Who's Coach Redmond?
The new volleyball coach.
He's really hot. Looks
like Timothée Chalamet.
Emily was his favorite.
What do you mean by that?
He picked her out of nowhere
to be the main setter.
He gave her private
practice sessions too.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
I'm not seeing the Timothée
Chalamet thing here.
Well, you're not a 13-year-old girl
stuck at a single-sex school.
Does our coach have a record?
Nope, and no civil suits.
He joined Liberty Girls Volleyball
this year after a two-year stint
in an all-girls school in Boston.
Before that, he coached a girls'
volleyball club up in Maine.
So he doesn't stay put for long.
Yeah, and he only coaches young girls.
So do we have any kind
of electronic trail
between him and our vic?
Nothing in her call or text logs.
But she did have a Quickchat account,
and there was a long streak of messages
between her and someone named Coach.
Were they all deleted?
They auto-deleted after 24 hours.
But actually, I think we
can read her last message.
It was sent this morning
an hour before the murder.
"Sorry, Coach, I can't do this anymore."
♪
Let's go.
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[WHISTLE BLOWS] Come
on, girls. Game speed.
Hey.
Quickchatting with a 12-year-old?
Excuse me?
Emily Chapman.
You've been Quickchatting with her
for 20 days straight now, huh?
How dare you suggest
Spare me your outrage, Coach, all right?
Because I'm really not in
the mood for it right now.
What happened, huh?
That text she sent you this
morning really piss you off?
What are you talking about?
Emily is dead.
What?
[SIGHS] Emily.
I was worried about her.
Did she
We found her underneath
the High Line this morning.
What makes you think she
might have killed herself?
Something was going on
at school or at home.
She wouldn't confide.
So yeah, I got a little
more involved in her life.
With private coaching sessions
and disappearing messages on an app
with a known pedophile fan base, huh?
I offered her one-on-one coaching.
Thought maybe she just
needed some attention.
She sent you a text this morning
an hour before she died.
"I can't do this anymore."
So it doesn't seem
like Emily was enjoying
all of this attention that
you were showering upon her.
No, she meant the private workouts.
Her mother thought I was corrupting her.
Yeah, I can't imagine why a
mother would have a problem
with this relationship.
You don't happen to have
an alibi for this morning
between 7:00 and 7:30 AM?
I was home.
- By myself.
- [SCOFFS]
Well, the jury's really
going to love that.
We'll be in touch, Coach.
Well, he knows all the right
buzzwords, that's for sure.
Mm-hmm, caring and empathetic coach.
Girls fall for it all the time.
Say for the moment that
we believe Coach Redmond.
It seems like there's a possibility
that something's off at home.
No, he's deflecting.
He's blaming the parents, the family.
I mean, that's how these pricks operate.
Either way, I think we should
talk to the mom one more time.
All right.
You know what?
I just want to make one stop first.
[SIREN WAILING]
Hey, I thought you
weren't supposed to be
checking your phone in school.
Did you really send me a
"Bridge, I need to talk to
you ASAP" text as a test?
No, I really need to talk to you.
Wait, is everything OK?
- Is Mom
- No, no, no. Everything's fine.
Everything's fine.
Look, I'm sorry if I haven't been taking
your problems seriously.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
I mean, you know that if
there's ever anything wrong,
you can talk to me, right?
You know, if I'm not paying attention
or if I'm checked out
or if I'm just being
an idiot or something,
I mean, you just you
keep talking, all right?
♪
You promise?
♪
Bad day at work?
♪
Yeah, a bad day.
Can I get you some coffee?
I don't know where the filters are,
but I know we have some.
We're OK.
We just have a few more questions.
OK.
Derek had to run out for a minute,
and the baby's been crying.
Honestly, it's just a couple questions,
if that's all right.
Yeah.
[SNIFFLES]
How was Emily doing here at home?
Was everything OK?
What do you mean?
Was she having any problems
with her sister Amanda,
with her dad, with you?
It's it's always hard
to bring a new baby into the home.
I think Emily and Amanda were
both feeling kind of ignored,
but, I mean, she seemed fine.
We spoke to her volleyball coach.
Coach Redmond?
Yeah, what'd that creep have to say?
Not a fan, huh?
He is a grown man who
spends way too much time
talking to a 12-year-old girl.
And the other day, I see
him near our building.
He was here?
Like, you think he was stalking her?
Yes. Yeah, he was obsessed.
Did you file a police report?
No, I confronted him
and I told him I knew what he was up to.
But he lied and said he
was just getting coffee.
That's why you wanted to yank her
from the volleyball club?
Exactly.
I didn't need dark
intentions around my child.
Dark intentions?
♪
Yeah, I'm really good at
sensing people's true motives.
I'm sorry, can I ask why you
didn't mention this earlier?
I my mind I can't explain it.
My mind just kind of
switched to something else,
to my to my other girls,
Amanda and Sophie.
They're all that matter.
♪
Anything more on Coach Redmond?
I've been scouring video
from outside the coffee shop
where Melinda Chapman saw him.
No evidence this guy was
anywhere in the vicinity
the morning of the murder.
So Mom thinks the coach
is an obsessed creep,
but we can't put him
anywhere near the Chapmans'
or the High Line that morning.
I respect a mom's intuition.
OK, keep looking, but
we're going to need
some actual evidence.
Wait a second. Check this out.
Look who was outside the
coffee shop at 7:40 AM.
Five minutes after the 911 call.
[TENSE MUSIC]
Good morning, guys.
You must be Amanda.
Hey, I can't really talk right now.
Oh, this will just take a second.
Need a little
clarification on something.
Would you mind stepping
over here with me?
Yeah. Mom, will you
watch them for a second?
- I got it.
- OK.
How can I help?
Well, yesterday you mentioned
that you were stuck at home
with the baby all morning.
Yeah, that's right.
So at the time of Emily's death,
7:20, 7:30 AM, you were
Why are you asking?
Oh, well, we just, you
know, have to cross off
certain scenarios, eliminate suspects.
Just a matter of protocol.
Right.
Well, I was home, so you can
go ahead and cross me off.
If you don't mind
Actually, you know what? I do mind.
Because we've got video of you
out on the street that morning.
That's you, black coat, burgundy hat,
in front of the coffee
shop a block from your house
not five minutes after
the 911 call came in.
♪
I want a lawyer.
I think that'd be a good idea.
♪
What's going on?
Hey, I love you, all right?
Keep an eye on Sophie, all right?
It's OK.
♪
Come on, Lieutenant, haven't
you heard of mommy brain?
My client had an
innocent slip of memory.
Tell her, Melinda.
Yeah, I ran out for baby wipes.
Totally forgot.
Are you really going to
grill a sleep-deprived mom
of a seven-month-old
whose daughter was just murdered
over a blurred recollection?
You're right.
I mean, I remember the first
few months with an infant.
The days are blurry and
everything is just foggy.
So we got ahold of some
additional surveillance video
to remind your client what
she was doing that morning.
So that's you right there at 7:08,
leaving your apartment
building a few minutes after
your husband left with Emily,
wearing that same dark
coat and burgundy hat
we saw you wearing near the coffee shop.
And we found some more
video of someone wearing
the same coat and hat
entering the High Line at 7:20,
just minutes before Emily died.
♪
And then this last one.
We tracked down all of the buses
parked on 10th Avenue,
near where Emily was killed,
and we found some dash cam footage
♪
Of you pushing your
daughter over the railing.
Does that jog your memory,
or do you want to stick
with the baby wipe story?
My client is done here.
That's one way to put it.
♪
[DOOR CLICKS]
Melinda Chapman, stand up
and place your hands behind
your back. You're under arrest.
I mean, what kind of
woman kills her own child?
A saint.
♪
[REPORTERS CLAMORING]
- How did she plea?
- Not guilty, as expected.
Are you seeking the death penalty?
New York outlawed the
death penalty years ago.
Is it true that Melinda was smiling
throughout the entire arraignment?
No comment.
Melinda may have been
abusing her daughter
I have no comment. We're
still investigating.
- Thank you. I have no comment.
- Why are you hiding the facts?
- Thank you.
- Why are you hiding the facts?
We have a right to know why
this monster killed her daughter.
It's funny, the reporters
thought I was deflecting,
that I didn't want to tell them
why Melinda killed her daughter.
But I still truly have no idea.
Apparently, she was a great mom,
great wife, great friend.
No suspicious emails or texts
between Emily and her either.
Nothing that can explain
this act of violence.
Good news is, we don't need motive.
We don't have to establish
why Melinda killed Emily.
We just need to prove that she did.
[PHONE CHIMES AND BUZZES]
That is her attorney.
Plans to change Melinda's plea.
Not guilty by reason of insanity?
Legally, it's a stretch.
But based on what her attorney told us
and the defendant's medical records,
it's clear she had been struggling
with postpartum depression
prior to the murder.
The victim was 12 years old.
Yes, but there was a baby in the house,
a seven-months-old sister.
But the mother killed
Emily, her oldest daughter?
Yeah, I'm not an expert
in how this works, Nick.
All I'm saying is, there
is credible evidence
that Melinda sought psychiatric help
prior to the murder.
Have one of our
psychiatrists evaluate her.
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Let's see how real her postpartum is.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
I need to see Sophie, please.
Please, can I see my baby?
We can't let you do
that right now, Melinda.
But she's OK?
Yes, she's fine.
OK.
Do you know why you're here, Melinda?
In jail?
Yeah, because I had to protect my baby.
- Protect Sophie?
- Mm.
From what?
From Emily.
I couldn't just let it happen.
Let what happen?
Let Emily kill her.
♪
Emily was going to kill her sister?
That's that's why I did what I
but she's safe?
Sophie's OK?
Yes, she's home with your husband.
[WHIMPERS]
What made you think
Emily had this intention
to kill her sister?
The voice told me.
This voice
do you still hear it?
All the time. [CLEARS THROAT]
I'm hearing it right now.
What's it saying?
♪
He doesn't think you're here to help.
♪
That poor woman.
Look at her.
She could be a very good actress.
It's possible, but we haven't been able
to find a single logical
reason for this murder
except for her being mentally ill.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
I have some more work to do,
but it's clear she's struggling
with severe mental illness.
There's no chance she's faking it?
Not in my opinion, but you should check
with any other mental
health professional
she might have consulted
prior to the murder.
♪
I met Melinda a week before
her daughter passed away.
She called our intake line
early one morning very upset.
Said she thought demons were
being sent to kill her baby
and that her daughter Emily
was one of those demons.
Right.
And this this was all
due to postpartum depression?
No, this was full-on
postpartum psychosis.
The depression escalated and triggered
the presentation of an
underlying mental condition
she never knew she had.
So she came here to your
office, and then what?
I evaluated her and
immediately recommended
she check into our day
hospital in Midtown,
where we'd monitor her, medicate her,
help look after Sophie
while she recovered.
The condition is treatable.
So what happened?
Her husband wasn't interested.
He thought I was making
a big deal out of nothing.
I tried to persuade
Melinda to stay, but
Did you prescribe medication?
Zyprexa. It's an antipsychotic.
I told her she needed to take it.
But he ripped it up
right in front of me,
said he didn't believe in psych meds.
When our detectives talked to Melinda,
they said they didn't
see any sign of psychosis.
Patients can have moments of lucidity
interrupted by bursts of
what a layman would call total insanity.
The condition doesn't announce
itself to the outside world.
But her husband knew.
I promise, he's the one responsible
for that girl's death.
♪
Both psychiatrists
believe she's struggling
with postpartum psychosis
seven months after she gave birth?
Apparently, this disease
can last a year or longer.
OK, well, for now, let's concede
that she's struggling with
some form of mental illness.
Doesn't mean we should
accept her insanity plea.
She lied to the police.
She lawyered up.
Proves she knew right from wrong.
Maybe.
Either way, Sam and I both feel
that the husband is
actually more culpable.
The husband?
How's that?
We talked to three of
her closest friends.
They all confirmed Derek is
very intense and controlling.
Former Navy SEAL. All of that.
He actively prevented
Melinda from taking
antipsychotic medication
prescribed by a doctor,
knowing that she was hearing voices,
was talking about demons
And that she presented
a legitimate threat
to her children's lives.
So you want to go after him for what,
criminally negligent homicide?
Man two.
That's a big swing.
No, that's the right move, Nick.
This could set a dangerous precedent.
Legal insanity is an
incredibly high threshold.
If what we've heard is true,
then Melinda was clearly
suffering from severe psychosis.
She literally thought her daughter Emily
was trying to kill her baby.
How is that not legal insanity?
And if it isn't, well, that's on us,
because it damn well should be.
We should be trying to help
Melinda, not crucify her.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
You're right.
And this father,
if he truly could have
prevented this tragedy
and didn't, he needs to pay.
Based on a review of the evidence
and conversations with medical experts,
we are prepared to
accept your insanity plea.
We also intend to charge your
husband with manslaughter,
which means we will
need your cooperation.
What what do you mean?
We want you to tell the jury
what actually happened
that Derek prevented you from getting
the psychiatric help that you needed.
♪
So you want to send Derek to prison?
He needs to be held accountable.
That means no.
I have two little girls
at home, and they need him.
If you continue to get better,
you'll be able to go home pretty soon.
Look, Ms. Chapman, the fact is,
Derek committed a crime.
His actions helped cause
your daughter's death.
♪
So what do you want me to do?
♪
The voices started a few
weeks after Sophie was born.
Can you be more specific?
It's hard to explain, but
it's like someone else was in the room.
And I couldn't see him,
but he would talk to me,
and I knew that he loved me.
I'm not religious, but it
was like I was talking to God.
And he was telling me, warning me,
that demons were trying to kill my baby.
Was your husband aware you
were hearing these voices?
Yes.
And what was his reaction?
He said that they would go away.
- Did you ask for help?
- Yes.
And was he supportive?
Not really.
Derek doesn't believe
in therapy or medication.
- Did you ever see a psychiatrist?
- Once.
Derek and I talked to
someone named Dr. Burns.
What did she recommend?
She said that I should
be admitted to her clinic
and start taking an
antipsychotic immediately
Zyprexa.
Did you follow her advice?
No.
Why not?
Like I said,
Derek doesn't believe
in medication or therapy.
Is there a reason for this?
I think it has to do with his mother.
She committed suicide when he was 16,
and he blamed it on the
medication she was taking.
Why did you listen to your husband?
Why didn't you just
take the pills anyway?
Because I I was confused.
I wasn't well. I was ill.
And I didn't want him to divorce me.
Divorce you?
Why'd you think that
was even a possibility?
Because he said it was,
if I took the antipsychotic
or went to the clinic.
[INDISTINCT WHISPERING]
Can you please tell us the circumstances
surrounding your daughter Emily's death?
♪
The morning that Emily died,
the voice was particularly
loud and persuasive.
It was the most real thing in my mind.
And
it told me that demons were
going to kill my baby, Sophie,
and that my daughter Emily
was one of the demons.
I found that hard to believe,
but the voice said
that's how demons present,
as pretty, kind, caring.
If they're young and innocent
and you love them,
that's how they succeed.
I know it's hard to comprehend,
but I literally thought
that my beautiful daughter
Emily was a monster
and that she was going
to kill her little sister.
[CRYING] That's why I
Thank you, Ms. Chapman.
I have nothing further.
♪
Ms. Chapman, you've accepted a plea
with the district attorney's
office acknowledging
that you are legally insane, correct?
That's correct.
And legal insanity means
that you can't tell the difference
between right and wrong.
You can't discern truth
from hallucination.
- Correct?
- Yes.
So your testimony
today about your husband
is meaningless.
Objection.
Sustained.
Ms. Wallace?
Derek didn't physically
prevent you from seeking help,
did he?
No.
He didn't lock the door or
handcuff you to a railing?
No, of course not.
So when you said Derek didn't allow you
to get help, that's not true, is it?
I suppose, but he
definitely did not want me
to take the antipsychotic
or go back to that clinic.
He didn't want you to.
That's a lot different than
preventing you, isn't it?
What I'm getting at is
that you and only you
chose not to go to the motherhood clinic
or call for another prescription.
That is correct.
But I was not well.
But now you are?
Yes.
I'm taking the medication that I needed,
and I feel a lot more like myself.
That's great.
But it doesn't excuse what you did
or justify the blame you are
trying to pawn off on Derek.
I'm just telling you what happened.
What happened?
And by that, you mean
killing your daughter Emily?
Yes.
This is you
in this video obtained by police?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
Yes, that's me.
♪
And just so we're clear,
you and only you
pushed her off the High Line,
30 feet to her death?
♪
Yes.
No further questions.
People rest.
♪
Would you describe yourself
as being perceptive?
Someone capable of sensing problems,
danger, imminent violence?
Yes, definitely.
And why is that?
It's just how I'm wired.
And prior to my career in finance,
I served in the navy.
What division?
Navy SEALS, Special Operations.
So I've been trained to
sense danger and react
to potential threats.
Did you perceive that
your wife was suffering
from severe mental illness?
No.
Did you think she posed a
danger to herself or your family?
Of course not.
If I thought for one second
any of my children were in danger,
I would have done something about it.
Mr. Chapman, why do you think
Melinda killed your daughter Emily?
When Sophie was born,
Mel began to resent the other kids.
She was feeling overwhelmed,
said nothing was about her anymore,
that no one was paying attention to her.
And Emily and Mel were always fighting.
She kept saying that life would
be much easier without Emily here.
I think she killed Emily
because she was tired
of all the stress, all the fighting,
and she wanted to put
the focus back on herself.
And not because she was suffering
from postpartum psychosis?
No, she was just using that psychobabble
to justify the fact that she is
a selfish and evil human being.
♪
That bastard has no shame.
The jurors aren't stupid.
They know he's lying.
Maybe.
Well, it turned into
a "he said, she said."
And problem is that she has admitted
under oath to being legally insane
and killing her daughter.
If we cross him, he'll just keep lying.
Well, now what?
We find someone else to testify
someone who can help us prove
that Derek witnessed Melinda's psychosis
up close and personal.
Someone who can
prove that he knew his
wife posed a threat.
Like his daughter?
Yeah.
Amanda, after Sophie was born,
did your mom's behavior change?
Yeah. She started acting weird.
Weird how?
Can you give us an example?
It's OK.
She was just
like, she'd be packing our lunches
and then start talking to
someone who wasn't there.
So your dad noticed it too?
Yeah, he said that if we ignored it
that it would go away.
♪
[CLEARS THROAT]
Amanda, we would like
you to say that in court.
- Why?
- Mandy.
Sweetheart. Sweetie.
How about you go start on
that new puzzle we just got?
♪
Are you saying you want her to testify?
Well, it's important that the jury knows
that Derek was aware of Melinda's
struggles with mental health.
Emily would still be here
if he had just taken it more seriously.
Amanda can make sure
he is held accountable.
But Amanda, she's ten.
She cries so much at
night that she can't sleep.
She's started saying things like
she shouldn't be here
anymore if Emily isn't.
Blames herself for this.
So I'm worried.
I'm worried about her
getting up there in court,
laying blame on her father.
♪
[DOOR CLICKS]
♪
We have an offer
one that will spare your
daughter from having to testify.
OK, let's hear it.
Mr. Chapman pleads guilty to man two.
We will recommend a sentence
of three to five years.
Why on Earth would he accept that?
Like I just said, if he pleads guilty,
we won't have to call his daughter
as an impeachment witness.
We understand that
Amanda is in a fragile
[BANGS ON TABLE]
You're leveraging my ten-year-old
daughter for a guilty plea?
- Control your client.
- Don't look at her.
- Talk to me. I'm right here.
- Derek. Derek.
Derek, please sit down.
You need to sit down.
Yes or no?
Look, the only thing that
matters to me right now
is that I make it home to
look after my two daughters.
I'm not pleading a damn thing.
And there's not a jury in this city
that is going to convict me,
with or without Amanda's testimony.
We'll see about that.
Yeah, we will.
Really, that pin?
Navy SEALs?
Is that a joke?
What the hell do you
know about the navy?
- No, you're a coward.
- Excuse me.
I'm going to file a complaint.
Oh, file whatever the hell you want.
- Your client is a disgrace.
- Sam, enough.
I earned this pin, thank you.
OK. That's all right.
[DOOR SLAMS]
He's either a cold-blooded bastard,
or he's calling your bluff.
Or both.
Will the daughter's
testimony put us over the top?
Well, she can discredit
Derek's testimony.
She can also help us prove that he knew
his wife was severely ill.
But?
Sounds like you're
ambivalent about calling her.
Her grandmother alluded to the girl
having suicidal thoughts.
And what happens if you don't call her?
We probably lose.
So sweeten the plea?
If he knows we're worried,
it'll just make him more confident.
You really think this Navy
SEAL is going to let you
put his daughter on the stand?
It looks that way.
Well, then again, this
guy doesn't actually
believe in psychological trauma,
so this is probably pretty easy for him.
I mean, we're talking about
a guy who literally thinks
psychoactive drugs are evil.
[SIGHS]
Maybe that's your angle.
What do you mean?
People call Amanda Chapman.
Are you really going to do this?
Poor kid's going to spend the
rest of her life in therapy,
talking to shrinks, experimenting
with different medication.
You already lost one daughter.
Mr. Price?
Yeah.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
Please state your name.
My name is Amanda Chapman.
Are you related to the defendant?
To the man sitting at that table?
Yes. He's my daddy.
♪
Amanda, in the weeks and months
leading up to
♪
Your Honor, we actually have
no questions for this witness,
and we ask that she be dismissed.
♪
OK, Amanda, you may be excused.
♪
You can go home now.
♪
I couldn't.
♪
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,
have you reached a verdict?
We have, Your Honor.
On the charge of manslaughter
in the second degree,
how do you find?
We find the defendant, Derek Chapman,
- not guilty.
- [CROWD MUTTERING]
- Oh, thank you, God.
- [BANGS ON TABLE]
Order, please.
Jury, thank you for your service.
The defendant is free to go.
[GAVEL BANGS]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
There she is.
Daddy!
Hey, hey.
♪
Son of a bitch got off easy.
No. He knows what he did.
He knows that he is responsible
for his daughter's death.
♪
It's a life sentence.
♪
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[WOLF HOWLS]
In the criminal justice system,
the people are represented
by two separate, yet
equally important groups:
the police, who investigate crime,
and the district attorneys,
who prosecute the offenders.
These are their stories.
Let's go, Bridge. You're
going to make me late.
Sorry. I didn't like my outfit.
So that's the solve?
What do you mean?
I mean, you're dressed for Miami, kid.
It's what girls wear, Dad.
All right, you can all get
hypothermia together, I guess.
[KEY FOB CHIRPS]
And hey,
from now on, let's get up
a little bit earlier, OK?
Sorry, the group chat
blew up last night.
Tragic.
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
You don't take me seriously.
No, I don't take group chats seriously.
Because you gotta deal with
criminals and corpses all day?
One last time.
X squared plus 8X plus 16 equals 0.
X is?
Negative 4.
Yeah, you got this.
I hope so.
No, it's not about hope or luck.
You studied hard.
Every battle is won
Before it's fought. I know.
Exactly.
So you just stay
focused and do your best.
You're going to crush this, kiddo.
Come here.
Love you.
- [SIRENS WAILING]
- [INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Jesus. A kid?
- How old?
- Not sure.
I'm guessing 12 or 13.
We don't have an ID.
Just this from her backpack.
All right.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Jalen's still sick.
It's just me and you.
- My God, she's a baby.
- Yeah.
It's, like, a 30-foot drop.
Big fall for a little body.
Yeah, she fractured some ribs,
plus her skull, which caused
the cerebral hemorrhaging.
You think she might have jumped?
The guy who called 911 said
there was some sort of altercation.
Thinks someone pushed her.
She's wearing an Apple
Watch and a gold necklace.
It doesn't look like
someone tried to rob her.
An iPhone in the side pocket.
[TENSE MUSIC]
A half-eaten bagel from
Sal's and a day planner.
Anything on the agenda?
♪
"Happy Friday."
♪
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
I set up every day at 7:00.
Usually see the girl on her
way to school around 7:20.
You told police she was arguing
with someone this morning?
Yeah, heard her up there
getting upset with someone.
Can you describe this person?
Medium height.
Dark coat. Dark hat.
- Man? Woman?
- Can't say.
Did you actually see
the girl get shoved?
No, I was down here unloading my fruit.
You can't see the High
Line from behind the truck.
But when the truck pulled away
You saw the body?
She was lying there,
blood around her head.
I called 911.
You know this girl's
name, where she lives,
where she goes to school?
No, but she walks past me every morning
coming from downtown.
There's only one set of
steps downtown from here,
at Gansevoort Street.
There's a Sal's Bagel there too.
Thank you.
We are very sorry to
inform you that the cashier
at the bagel store down the street
identified your daughter Emily Chapman.
Why? I don't understand.
She was found dead this morning
next to the High Line.
What?
Were these your daughter's belongings?
Uh I
no, this isn't possible.
If it's all right, we do have
some questions that we need
- [DOOR CLICKS]
- Mel? Mel?
The precinct called, left a message.
Something about Emily.
What's going on?
- I don't
- Honey.
- What's going on? Come here.
- No!
Emily's 12.
Our oldest.
We have, uh had three girls.
Was Emily having any problems lately?
No.
She was a great kid.
Smart. Happy.
Any issues at school?
Nothing serious.
Run-of-the-mill mean
girl-type stuff, but no.
If there's any reason to believe
that she might have jumped
Not a chance.
She was strong.
Oh, God, how are we
going to tell Amanda?
Hey. Hey. It's OK.
Amanda's our ten-year-old.
- She and Emily were very close.
- [BABY CRYING]
She's on her way home
from school right now.
I'll be here. It's OK.
[BABY CRYING]
Ugh, I'm sorry.
I have to feed the baby.
I've been home all morning
trying to get her to take a bottle.
Sophie's seven months.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
If you think of anything
else that might be helpful.
Thank you.
[CRYING]
Emily's been with us since
she was six years old.
Always willing to roll up her sleeves,
- work hard.
- [SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
No sense of entitlement
despite her family being
Loaded?
Her father runs a hedge
fund, and he has been
- very generous to the school.
- Mm.
Was Emily having any problems
in school that you know of?
No.
Well, her father mentioned
that she was having
some mean girl issues.
Do you know anything about that?
Middle school is an emotional minefield.
Emily was a thoughtful
and sensitive girl.
I think she just couldn't understand
how anyone could be so cruel to her.
Well, who was being so cruel?
Do you have a name?
Gabby Feliciano.
She trashed Emily's locker a week back.
Tore up her posters and her notebooks.
Emily and I were besties
since kindergarten.
Then a few months ago,
she starts ignoring me,
stops inviting me over.
You see her on the way to school today?
No.
You sure about that, Gabby?
Positive.
I was at my psychologist's office
this morning until 11:00 AM.
OK, we're going to need
that name and number.
My parents are convinced
I have anger issues.
Because you trashed Emily's locker?
Dr. Kay thinks it's more
about insecurity and jealousy
because Coach Redmond
liked Emily more than me.
Who's Coach Redmond?
The new volleyball coach.
He's really hot. Looks
like Timothée Chalamet.
Emily was his favorite.
What do you mean by that?
He picked her out of nowhere
to be the main setter.
He gave her private
practice sessions too.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
I'm not seeing the Timothée
Chalamet thing here.
Well, you're not a 13-year-old girl
stuck at a single-sex school.
Does our coach have a record?
Nope, and no civil suits.
He joined Liberty Girls Volleyball
this year after a two-year stint
in an all-girls school in Boston.
Before that, he coached a girls'
volleyball club up in Maine.
So he doesn't stay put for long.
Yeah, and he only coaches young girls.
So do we have any kind
of electronic trail
between him and our vic?
Nothing in her call or text logs.
But she did have a Quickchat account,
and there was a long streak of messages
between her and someone named Coach.
Were they all deleted?
They auto-deleted after 24 hours.
But actually, I think we
can read her last message.
It was sent this morning
an hour before the murder.
"Sorry, Coach, I can't do this anymore."
♪
Let's go.
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[WHISTLE BLOWS] Come
on, girls. Game speed.
Hey.
Quickchatting with a 12-year-old?
Excuse me?
Emily Chapman.
You've been Quickchatting with her
for 20 days straight now, huh?
How dare you suggest
Spare me your outrage, Coach, all right?
Because I'm really not in
the mood for it right now.
What happened, huh?
That text she sent you this
morning really piss you off?
What are you talking about?
Emily is dead.
What?
[SIGHS] Emily.
I was worried about her.
Did she
We found her underneath
the High Line this morning.
What makes you think she
might have killed herself?
Something was going on
at school or at home.
She wouldn't confide.
So yeah, I got a little
more involved in her life.
With private coaching sessions
and disappearing messages on an app
with a known pedophile fan base, huh?
I offered her one-on-one coaching.
Thought maybe she just
needed some attention.
She sent you a text this morning
an hour before she died.
"I can't do this anymore."
So it doesn't seem
like Emily was enjoying
all of this attention that
you were showering upon her.
No, she meant the private workouts.
Her mother thought I was corrupting her.
Yeah, I can't imagine why a
mother would have a problem
with this relationship.
You don't happen to have
an alibi for this morning
between 7:00 and 7:30 AM?
I was home.
- By myself.
- [SCOFFS]
Well, the jury's really
going to love that.
We'll be in touch, Coach.
Well, he knows all the right
buzzwords, that's for sure.
Mm-hmm, caring and empathetic coach.
Girls fall for it all the time.
Say for the moment that
we believe Coach Redmond.
It seems like there's a possibility
that something's off at home.
No, he's deflecting.
He's blaming the parents, the family.
I mean, that's how these pricks operate.
Either way, I think we should
talk to the mom one more time.
All right.
You know what?
I just want to make one stop first.
[SIREN WAILING]
Hey, I thought you
weren't supposed to be
checking your phone in school.
Did you really send me a
"Bridge, I need to talk to
you ASAP" text as a test?
No, I really need to talk to you.
Wait, is everything OK?
- Is Mom
- No, no, no. Everything's fine.
Everything's fine.
Look, I'm sorry if I haven't been taking
your problems seriously.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
I mean, you know that if
there's ever anything wrong,
you can talk to me, right?
You know, if I'm not paying attention
or if I'm checked out
or if I'm just being
an idiot or something,
I mean, you just you
keep talking, all right?
♪
You promise?
♪
Bad day at work?
♪
Yeah, a bad day.
Can I get you some coffee?
I don't know where the filters are,
but I know we have some.
We're OK.
We just have a few more questions.
OK.
Derek had to run out for a minute,
and the baby's been crying.
Honestly, it's just a couple questions,
if that's all right.
Yeah.
[SNIFFLES]
How was Emily doing here at home?
Was everything OK?
What do you mean?
Was she having any problems
with her sister Amanda,
with her dad, with you?
It's it's always hard
to bring a new baby into the home.
I think Emily and Amanda were
both feeling kind of ignored,
but, I mean, she seemed fine.
We spoke to her volleyball coach.
Coach Redmond?
Yeah, what'd that creep have to say?
Not a fan, huh?
He is a grown man who
spends way too much time
talking to a 12-year-old girl.
And the other day, I see
him near our building.
He was here?
Like, you think he was stalking her?
Yes. Yeah, he was obsessed.
Did you file a police report?
No, I confronted him
and I told him I knew what he was up to.
But he lied and said he
was just getting coffee.
That's why you wanted to yank her
from the volleyball club?
Exactly.
I didn't need dark
intentions around my child.
Dark intentions?
♪
Yeah, I'm really good at
sensing people's true motives.
I'm sorry, can I ask why you
didn't mention this earlier?
I my mind I can't explain it.
My mind just kind of
switched to something else,
to my to my other girls,
Amanda and Sophie.
They're all that matter.
♪
Anything more on Coach Redmond?
I've been scouring video
from outside the coffee shop
where Melinda Chapman saw him.
No evidence this guy was
anywhere in the vicinity
the morning of the murder.
So Mom thinks the coach
is an obsessed creep,
but we can't put him
anywhere near the Chapmans'
or the High Line that morning.
I respect a mom's intuition.
OK, keep looking, but
we're going to need
some actual evidence.
Wait a second. Check this out.
Look who was outside the
coffee shop at 7:40 AM.
Five minutes after the 911 call.
[TENSE MUSIC]
Good morning, guys.
You must be Amanda.
Hey, I can't really talk right now.
Oh, this will just take a second.
Need a little
clarification on something.
Would you mind stepping
over here with me?
Yeah. Mom, will you
watch them for a second?
- I got it.
- OK.
How can I help?
Well, yesterday you mentioned
that you were stuck at home
with the baby all morning.
Yeah, that's right.
So at the time of Emily's death,
7:20, 7:30 AM, you were
Why are you asking?
Oh, well, we just, you
know, have to cross off
certain scenarios, eliminate suspects.
Just a matter of protocol.
Right.
Well, I was home, so you can
go ahead and cross me off.
If you don't mind
Actually, you know what? I do mind.
Because we've got video of you
out on the street that morning.
That's you, black coat, burgundy hat,
in front of the coffee
shop a block from your house
not five minutes after
the 911 call came in.
♪
I want a lawyer.
I think that'd be a good idea.
♪
What's going on?
Hey, I love you, all right?
Keep an eye on Sophie, all right?
It's OK.
♪
Come on, Lieutenant, haven't
you heard of mommy brain?
My client had an
innocent slip of memory.
Tell her, Melinda.
Yeah, I ran out for baby wipes.
Totally forgot.
Are you really going to
grill a sleep-deprived mom
of a seven-month-old
whose daughter was just murdered
over a blurred recollection?
You're right.
I mean, I remember the first
few months with an infant.
The days are blurry and
everything is just foggy.
So we got ahold of some
additional surveillance video
to remind your client what
she was doing that morning.
So that's you right there at 7:08,
leaving your apartment
building a few minutes after
your husband left with Emily,
wearing that same dark
coat and burgundy hat
we saw you wearing near the coffee shop.
And we found some more
video of someone wearing
the same coat and hat
entering the High Line at 7:20,
just minutes before Emily died.
♪
And then this last one.
We tracked down all of the buses
parked on 10th Avenue,
near where Emily was killed,
and we found some dash cam footage
♪
Of you pushing your
daughter over the railing.
Does that jog your memory,
or do you want to stick
with the baby wipe story?
My client is done here.
That's one way to put it.
♪
[DOOR CLICKS]
Melinda Chapman, stand up
and place your hands behind
your back. You're under arrest.
I mean, what kind of
woman kills her own child?
A saint.
♪
[REPORTERS CLAMORING]
- How did she plea?
- Not guilty, as expected.
Are you seeking the death penalty?
New York outlawed the
death penalty years ago.
Is it true that Melinda was smiling
throughout the entire arraignment?
No comment.
Melinda may have been
abusing her daughter
I have no comment. We're
still investigating.
- Thank you. I have no comment.
- Why are you hiding the facts?
- Thank you.
- Why are you hiding the facts?
We have a right to know why
this monster killed her daughter.
It's funny, the reporters
thought I was deflecting,
that I didn't want to tell them
why Melinda killed her daughter.
But I still truly have no idea.
Apparently, she was a great mom,
great wife, great friend.
No suspicious emails or texts
between Emily and her either.
Nothing that can explain
this act of violence.
Good news is, we don't need motive.
We don't have to establish
why Melinda killed Emily.
We just need to prove that she did.
[PHONE CHIMES AND BUZZES]
That is her attorney.
Plans to change Melinda's plea.
Not guilty by reason of insanity?
Legally, it's a stretch.
But based on what her attorney told us
and the defendant's medical records,
it's clear she had been struggling
with postpartum depression
prior to the murder.
The victim was 12 years old.
Yes, but there was a baby in the house,
a seven-months-old sister.
But the mother killed
Emily, her oldest daughter?
Yeah, I'm not an expert
in how this works, Nick.
All I'm saying is, there
is credible evidence
that Melinda sought psychiatric help
prior to the murder.
Have one of our
psychiatrists evaluate her.
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Let's see how real her postpartum is.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
I need to see Sophie, please.
Please, can I see my baby?
We can't let you do
that right now, Melinda.
But she's OK?
Yes, she's fine.
OK.
Do you know why you're here, Melinda?
In jail?
Yeah, because I had to protect my baby.
- Protect Sophie?
- Mm.
From what?
From Emily.
I couldn't just let it happen.
Let what happen?
Let Emily kill her.
♪
Emily was going to kill her sister?
That's that's why I did what I
but she's safe?
Sophie's OK?
Yes, she's home with your husband.
[WHIMPERS]
What made you think
Emily had this intention
to kill her sister?
The voice told me.
This voice
do you still hear it?
All the time. [CLEARS THROAT]
I'm hearing it right now.
What's it saying?
♪
He doesn't think you're here to help.
♪
That poor woman.
Look at her.
She could be a very good actress.
It's possible, but we haven't been able
to find a single logical
reason for this murder
except for her being mentally ill.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
I have some more work to do,
but it's clear she's struggling
with severe mental illness.
There's no chance she's faking it?
Not in my opinion, but you should check
with any other mental
health professional
she might have consulted
prior to the murder.
♪
I met Melinda a week before
her daughter passed away.
She called our intake line
early one morning very upset.
Said she thought demons were
being sent to kill her baby
and that her daughter Emily
was one of those demons.
Right.
And this this was all
due to postpartum depression?
No, this was full-on
postpartum psychosis.
The depression escalated and triggered
the presentation of an
underlying mental condition
she never knew she had.
So she came here to your
office, and then what?
I evaluated her and
immediately recommended
she check into our day
hospital in Midtown,
where we'd monitor her, medicate her,
help look after Sophie
while she recovered.
The condition is treatable.
So what happened?
Her husband wasn't interested.
He thought I was making
a big deal out of nothing.
I tried to persuade
Melinda to stay, but
Did you prescribe medication?
Zyprexa. It's an antipsychotic.
I told her she needed to take it.
But he ripped it up
right in front of me,
said he didn't believe in psych meds.
When our detectives talked to Melinda,
they said they didn't
see any sign of psychosis.
Patients can have moments of lucidity
interrupted by bursts of
what a layman would call total insanity.
The condition doesn't announce
itself to the outside world.
But her husband knew.
I promise, he's the one responsible
for that girl's death.
♪
Both psychiatrists
believe she's struggling
with postpartum psychosis
seven months after she gave birth?
Apparently, this disease
can last a year or longer.
OK, well, for now, let's concede
that she's struggling with
some form of mental illness.
Doesn't mean we should
accept her insanity plea.
She lied to the police.
She lawyered up.
Proves she knew right from wrong.
Maybe.
Either way, Sam and I both feel
that the husband is
actually more culpable.
The husband?
How's that?
We talked to three of
her closest friends.
They all confirmed Derek is
very intense and controlling.
Former Navy SEAL. All of that.
He actively prevented
Melinda from taking
antipsychotic medication
prescribed by a doctor,
knowing that she was hearing voices,
was talking about demons
And that she presented
a legitimate threat
to her children's lives.
So you want to go after him for what,
criminally negligent homicide?
Man two.
That's a big swing.
No, that's the right move, Nick.
This could set a dangerous precedent.
Legal insanity is an
incredibly high threshold.
If what we've heard is true,
then Melinda was clearly
suffering from severe psychosis.
She literally thought her daughter Emily
was trying to kill her baby.
How is that not legal insanity?
And if it isn't, well, that's on us,
because it damn well should be.
We should be trying to help
Melinda, not crucify her.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
You're right.
And this father,
if he truly could have
prevented this tragedy
and didn't, he needs to pay.
Based on a review of the evidence
and conversations with medical experts,
we are prepared to
accept your insanity plea.
We also intend to charge your
husband with manslaughter,
which means we will
need your cooperation.
What what do you mean?
We want you to tell the jury
what actually happened
that Derek prevented you from getting
the psychiatric help that you needed.
♪
So you want to send Derek to prison?
He needs to be held accountable.
That means no.
I have two little girls
at home, and they need him.
If you continue to get better,
you'll be able to go home pretty soon.
Look, Ms. Chapman, the fact is,
Derek committed a crime.
His actions helped cause
your daughter's death.
♪
So what do you want me to do?
♪
The voices started a few
weeks after Sophie was born.
Can you be more specific?
It's hard to explain, but
it's like someone else was in the room.
And I couldn't see him,
but he would talk to me,
and I knew that he loved me.
I'm not religious, but it
was like I was talking to God.
And he was telling me, warning me,
that demons were trying to kill my baby.
Was your husband aware you
were hearing these voices?
Yes.
And what was his reaction?
He said that they would go away.
- Did you ask for help?
- Yes.
And was he supportive?
Not really.
Derek doesn't believe
in therapy or medication.
- Did you ever see a psychiatrist?
- Once.
Derek and I talked to
someone named Dr. Burns.
What did she recommend?
She said that I should
be admitted to her clinic
and start taking an
antipsychotic immediately
Zyprexa.
Did you follow her advice?
No.
Why not?
Like I said,
Derek doesn't believe
in medication or therapy.
Is there a reason for this?
I think it has to do with his mother.
She committed suicide when he was 16,
and he blamed it on the
medication she was taking.
Why did you listen to your husband?
Why didn't you just
take the pills anyway?
Because I I was confused.
I wasn't well. I was ill.
And I didn't want him to divorce me.
Divorce you?
Why'd you think that
was even a possibility?
Because he said it was,
if I took the antipsychotic
or went to the clinic.
[INDISTINCT WHISPERING]
Can you please tell us the circumstances
surrounding your daughter Emily's death?
♪
The morning that Emily died,
the voice was particularly
loud and persuasive.
It was the most real thing in my mind.
And
it told me that demons were
going to kill my baby, Sophie,
and that my daughter Emily
was one of the demons.
I found that hard to believe,
but the voice said
that's how demons present,
as pretty, kind, caring.
If they're young and innocent
and you love them,
that's how they succeed.
I know it's hard to comprehend,
but I literally thought
that my beautiful daughter
Emily was a monster
and that she was going
to kill her little sister.
[CRYING] That's why I
Thank you, Ms. Chapman.
I have nothing further.
♪
Ms. Chapman, you've accepted a plea
with the district attorney's
office acknowledging
that you are legally insane, correct?
That's correct.
And legal insanity means
that you can't tell the difference
between right and wrong.
You can't discern truth
from hallucination.
- Correct?
- Yes.
So your testimony
today about your husband
is meaningless.
Objection.
Sustained.
Ms. Wallace?
Derek didn't physically
prevent you from seeking help,
did he?
No.
He didn't lock the door or
handcuff you to a railing?
No, of course not.
So when you said Derek didn't allow you
to get help, that's not true, is it?
I suppose, but he
definitely did not want me
to take the antipsychotic
or go back to that clinic.
He didn't want you to.
That's a lot different than
preventing you, isn't it?
What I'm getting at is
that you and only you
chose not to go to the motherhood clinic
or call for another prescription.
That is correct.
But I was not well.
But now you are?
Yes.
I'm taking the medication that I needed,
and I feel a lot more like myself.
That's great.
But it doesn't excuse what you did
or justify the blame you are
trying to pawn off on Derek.
I'm just telling you what happened.
What happened?
And by that, you mean
killing your daughter Emily?
Yes.
This is you
in this video obtained by police?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
Yes, that's me.
♪
And just so we're clear,
you and only you
pushed her off the High Line,
30 feet to her death?
♪
Yes.
No further questions.
People rest.
♪
Would you describe yourself
as being perceptive?
Someone capable of sensing problems,
danger, imminent violence?
Yes, definitely.
And why is that?
It's just how I'm wired.
And prior to my career in finance,
I served in the navy.
What division?
Navy SEALS, Special Operations.
So I've been trained to
sense danger and react
to potential threats.
Did you perceive that
your wife was suffering
from severe mental illness?
No.
Did you think she posed a
danger to herself or your family?
Of course not.
If I thought for one second
any of my children were in danger,
I would have done something about it.
Mr. Chapman, why do you think
Melinda killed your daughter Emily?
When Sophie was born,
Mel began to resent the other kids.
She was feeling overwhelmed,
said nothing was about her anymore,
that no one was paying attention to her.
And Emily and Mel were always fighting.
She kept saying that life would
be much easier without Emily here.
I think she killed Emily
because she was tired
of all the stress, all the fighting,
and she wanted to put
the focus back on herself.
And not because she was suffering
from postpartum psychosis?
No, she was just using that psychobabble
to justify the fact that she is
a selfish and evil human being.
♪
That bastard has no shame.
The jurors aren't stupid.
They know he's lying.
Maybe.
Well, it turned into
a "he said, she said."
And problem is that she has admitted
under oath to being legally insane
and killing her daughter.
If we cross him, he'll just keep lying.
Well, now what?
We find someone else to testify
someone who can help us prove
that Derek witnessed Melinda's psychosis
up close and personal.
Someone who can
prove that he knew his
wife posed a threat.
Like his daughter?
Yeah.
Amanda, after Sophie was born,
did your mom's behavior change?
Yeah. She started acting weird.
Weird how?
Can you give us an example?
It's OK.
She was just
like, she'd be packing our lunches
and then start talking to
someone who wasn't there.
So your dad noticed it too?
Yeah, he said that if we ignored it
that it would go away.
♪
[CLEARS THROAT]
Amanda, we would like
you to say that in court.
- Why?
- Mandy.
Sweetheart. Sweetie.
How about you go start on
that new puzzle we just got?
♪
Are you saying you want her to testify?
Well, it's important that the jury knows
that Derek was aware of Melinda's
struggles with mental health.
Emily would still be here
if he had just taken it more seriously.
Amanda can make sure
he is held accountable.
But Amanda, she's ten.
She cries so much at
night that she can't sleep.
She's started saying things like
she shouldn't be here
anymore if Emily isn't.
Blames herself for this.
So I'm worried.
I'm worried about her
getting up there in court,
laying blame on her father.
♪
[DOOR CLICKS]
♪
We have an offer
one that will spare your
daughter from having to testify.
OK, let's hear it.
Mr. Chapman pleads guilty to man two.
We will recommend a sentence
of three to five years.
Why on Earth would he accept that?
Like I just said, if he pleads guilty,
we won't have to call his daughter
as an impeachment witness.
We understand that
Amanda is in a fragile
[BANGS ON TABLE]
You're leveraging my ten-year-old
daughter for a guilty plea?
- Control your client.
- Don't look at her.
- Talk to me. I'm right here.
- Derek. Derek.
Derek, please sit down.
You need to sit down.
Yes or no?
Look, the only thing that
matters to me right now
is that I make it home to
look after my two daughters.
I'm not pleading a damn thing.
And there's not a jury in this city
that is going to convict me,
with or without Amanda's testimony.
We'll see about that.
Yeah, we will.
Really, that pin?
Navy SEALs?
Is that a joke?
What the hell do you
know about the navy?
- No, you're a coward.
- Excuse me.
I'm going to file a complaint.
Oh, file whatever the hell you want.
- Your client is a disgrace.
- Sam, enough.
I earned this pin, thank you.
OK. That's all right.
[DOOR SLAMS]
He's either a cold-blooded bastard,
or he's calling your bluff.
Or both.
Will the daughter's
testimony put us over the top?
Well, she can discredit
Derek's testimony.
She can also help us prove that he knew
his wife was severely ill.
But?
Sounds like you're
ambivalent about calling her.
Her grandmother alluded to the girl
having suicidal thoughts.
And what happens if you don't call her?
We probably lose.
So sweeten the plea?
If he knows we're worried,
it'll just make him more confident.
You really think this Navy
SEAL is going to let you
put his daughter on the stand?
It looks that way.
Well, then again, this
guy doesn't actually
believe in psychological trauma,
so this is probably pretty easy for him.
I mean, we're talking about
a guy who literally thinks
psychoactive drugs are evil.
[SIGHS]
Maybe that's your angle.
What do you mean?
People call Amanda Chapman.
Are you really going to do this?
Poor kid's going to spend the
rest of her life in therapy,
talking to shrinks, experimenting
with different medication.
You already lost one daughter.
Mr. Price?
Yeah.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
Please state your name.
My name is Amanda Chapman.
Are you related to the defendant?
To the man sitting at that table?
Yes. He's my daddy.
♪
Amanda, in the weeks and months
leading up to
♪
Your Honor, we actually have
no questions for this witness,
and we ask that she be dismissed.
♪
OK, Amanda, you may be excused.
♪
You can go home now.
♪
I couldn't.
♪
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,
have you reached a verdict?
We have, Your Honor.
On the charge of manslaughter
in the second degree,
how do you find?
We find the defendant, Derek Chapman,
- not guilty.
- [CROWD MUTTERING]
- Oh, thank you, God.
- [BANGS ON TABLE]
Order, please.
Jury, thank you for your service.
The defendant is free to go.
[GAVEL BANGS]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
There she is.
Daddy!
Hey, hey.
♪
Son of a bitch got off easy.
No. He knows what he did.
He knows that he is responsible
for his daughter's death.
♪
It's a life sentence.
♪
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[WOLF HOWLS]