I'm Gillian. I'm the girlfriend.
Shane didn't mention
that he had a girlfriend.
Oh, not Shane.
[laughs] Keith.
I get this from
a little boutique
down in Miami, and I
just love the name of it.
It's called Crimson Whimsy.
She is obviously one
of my father's minions.
Hello?
Hi. It's Hazel.
Hazel? [laughs]
When I was on the road,
there was this one place
that I used to stay
on the way home.
It was called "Pioneer Falls."
I had a alibi.
I was working on the graveyards
at the warehouse back then.
They changed their whole story.
Said Heather died at 8:00.
I clocked in at 9:00.
She was gonna be a star.
Soon as she got over
her stage fright.
But if she smoked half a joint
exactly, then she could perform.
GABRIELA: You know that
wrench makes you nervous.
DNA will make this a
whole different ball game.
You finally ready
to support Elijah
getting a stay and a hearing?
Heather's DNA is on the wrench.
Callaway's calling
a press conference.
The State of Texas
now believes that Elijah Carter
and Keith Jesperson
acted together
as coconspirators in
the r*pe and m*rder
- of Heather Richmond.
- [crowd shouting]
[indistinct chatter]
[siren wails in distance]
Okay.
Guys, my dad's on the phone.
I'm gonna put you
on speaker, okay?
Tell them what you told me.
KEITH [over phone]:
There's not much to tell.
I never met Elijah
a day in my life.
Callaway is a liar.
He's just trying to
save his own a*s.
IVY: Would you say that
- on camera?
- DENISE: I'll say it.
That man's done looking
after my daughter,
I'm done looking after him.
Is that your daddy on the phone?
Mr. Jesperson?
This is Denise Richmond.
You k*lled my daughter?
Yes, ma'am.
And where are you right now?
I'm in the Oregon
State Penitentiary,
uh, it... uh, I'm
working in the kitchen.
Um, but I have a
lookout, so we can talk.
So, you got a job,
then? Friends?
Yes, ma'am. Uh...
it's not paradise, but
I'm comfortable enough.
DENISE: Well...
we will rectify that.
IVY: Thanks for calling.
I know you didn't want to.
Thank you for doing that.
Did you get, uh, the
present that I sent you?
The picture of Brendan?
I didn't ask you to do that.
Nobody and no one
hurts my little girl.
I'm gonna hang up.
♪
- JOSH: Hey, k*ller.
- You scared me.
Yeah, that was
kind of the point.
It's a nice little
hiding spot, though.
I didn't even know
it was down here.
Thanks.
- Want to see what he sent?
- Yeah.
JOSH: Yeah, we can probably
get, like, $250 for that.
She's one of his victims.
For real? Oh. [scoffs]
Then let's double it.
See her earrings?
- Mm-hmm.
- He said he kept them,
in a vent at this motel
called Pioneer Falls.
He said he kept something
from all his victims,
'cause he wanted to return
them to their families.
Do you know where the motel is?
He said near a town
called Hermiston?
Pioneer Falls?
JOSH: Um...
Yeah, Pioneer Falls Motel.
It's in Hermis...
Hermiston, Oregon?
That's, like, four hours away.
Yeah.
Uh, well, you
know, we should go.
Let's go after lunch tomorrow.
After lunch?
What about school?
Man, f*ck school.
[both chuckle]
Come on.
You look great, Denise.
I shine up fine when I need to.
MELISSA: All the
time, all right?
Okay, we're good.
- You guys all set?
- Yeah. Good to go.
- Okay.
- I'm actually gonna have you look at Ivy for this.
IVY: Actually,
let's have you look
at Melissa.
Even if I ask a question,
just keep your
eyes on her, okay?
MELISSA: Denise,
can you tell us
who you are and why
you're talking to us?
- My name is Denise Richmond.
- MELISSA: Mm-hmm.
DENISE: My daughter Heather
was m*rder*d in 1995.
Up until a few days ago,
I trusted District
Attorney Craig Callaway,
believed that he had
convicted the right man.
But now that Heather's
blood has been found
on Keith Jesperson's wrench,
I guess that's a
game changer for me.
Right now, I believe
Keith Jesperson
likely k*lled my daughter,
alone.
So, either Callaway knows
something that I don't,
or he's just another man who
can't admit when he's wrong.
♪
[phone buzzes]
[lock clicks]
HAZEL: Hey.
You didn't bring any clothes?
Way to advertise
that we're cutting.
Get in the back, Eva.
[car door closes]
[engine starts]
DENISE: This was when she
really started singing.
And her voice was
magic, even back then.
- Who's that firecracker?
- [laughs]
- DENISE: That is my mama.
- Ooh.
Grandma Lorelai.
Heather idolized her.
She got all her music
talent from her, too.
And her middle name, right?
Uh... yeah, that's right.
Um, is Heather's tattoo
a nod to Grandma
Lorelai, too, then?
Yeah, um, in fact, she got
that same symbol carved
into the back of her guitar,
you know, like, on the neck.
[sniffles]
Like her own personal
logo. [chuckles]
Um... uh...
- [laughs]: Oh, God. Yep.
- MELISSA: That one,
I love her little teeth.
Love that.
Aww, she looks so happy.
Yeah.
♪ ♪
IVY: I think you're
wearing her out.
No, no, I'm fine,
it's just, uh...
you know, it-it's her
birthday this week, so...
You know what? Why don't
we, why don't we cut here?
We've got enough. Uh...
You've been so generous, Denise.
MELISSA: Denise?
I'm so sorry if we upset you.
No, it's fine. It
just, you know,
- it sneaks up on me sometimes.
- Yeah.
Would you mind if we
scanned a few photos?
Uh, then we'll leave you be.
Yeah, of course.
How about some tea?
- Oh, please. Yeah.
- Yeah.
[sniffles]
- You want...
- That's a great one.
- Yeah. Here you go.
- Yeah.
MELISSA: I love this. Okay.
- Here you go, Ivy.
- Thank you.
- Okay.
- Thank you.
Who's Ziggy?
Uh, this says, "November
That'll be Ziggy's Basement.
Yeah, it's a, it's a
music bar in Dallas.
They had open mic nights,
that sort of thing.
Tyler and I are gonna head to
that Ziggy's Basement place.
- I want to get some B-roll.
- I'll come with.
- [phone buzzing]
- Gabriela's calling.
Hey, Gabriela. We're
all here. What's up?
The CCA granted
Elijah a hearing.
- Oh, my God. Finally.
- [laughs]
The DNA match on the wrench
definitely made the difference.
What about the
stay of execution?
No stay, but they
fast-tracked the hearing.
It's in two days. I'll present
everything we have then.
This hearing is a huge win.
It means we actually have
a shot at a new trial,
thanks to you two.
Listen, I got to
run. We'll talk soon.
Okay. All right. Thanks. Bye.
- Come on.
- Thank God.
- Good job.
- Oh. [groans] You, too.
[sighs]
I'll high-five you.
- [laughs]
- [laughs]
CALLAWAY: Mr. Jesperson.
- [door closes] - I'm District
Attorney Craig Callaway.
Uh, Warden Valeri
was kind enough
to let us use his office.
You can sit him there
and take the cuffs
off so he can eat.
[clears throat]
You think a sandwich
can make me forget
that you told the whole
world I was a liar?
CHAVEZ: No glass.
The warden okayed this himself.
Why don't you have
a seat outside, sir?
Just take a well-deserved break.
- [door opens]
- [clears throat]
[door closes]
He knows that... [coughs]
I could just smash that
bottle and slit your throat
before he could
get back in here.
But... [clears throat]
...I didn't want to
ruin my TV privileges.
[chuckles]
Because you're a man
who sees things practically.
Mmm.
So, which was it?
Elijah k*lled her and
you dumped the body,
or the other way around?
You know, usually I'm a
sour cream and onion guy,
but this-this... good. Mmm.
Help me understand something.
You let Mr. Carter waste
away for almost 30 years,
and then, you wake
up one morning,
and... what, you have a
sudden attack of conscience?
Well...
old age.
It does funny things to a man.
[chuckles]
I need you to write
an amended confession.
You write what I need,
you get to live
out your days here,
where you got your TV and
your job and fresh air
and guards who get you phones.
Mmm.
If not,
I'm happy to extradite
you to Texas,
formally charge you
with capital m*rder.
Guys on death row,
they're in a box 23 hours a day.
No fresh air, no job.
No g*dd*mn phones.
You know, most guys
lose their mind.
You'll, uh, you'll
spend the next 30 years
listening to them scream.
Look, I'm not gonna
be there for 30 years
because I have a needle
in my arm coming.
What is this, a death wish?
Executions take a long time
to get on the calendar,
and I happen to be
tight with the guy
who does the schedule.
Yours'll take decades
to come around.
But if I change my story,
my little Missy won't like that.
You think she's gonna come
down to Texas to see you
once this is done?
It's a one-time
offer, Mr. Jesperson.
[sighs]
What, just...
[clears throat]
Oh.
I am so rude.
I completely forgot to ask
about your daughter Madison.
I-I think she's a sophomore
at UT Austin, right?
It's best to leave my
family out of this.
You think that you got
me all figured out.
No.
I know you,
your secret.
You put the wrong man
away, and you know it.
[swings root beer]
And I am out of the
secret-keeping business.
["Happy" by Jenny Lewis &
The Watson Twins playing]
♪ So happy ♪
♪ Happy ♪
♪ Oh, so happy... ♪
♪ Happy ♪
♪ Oh, oh-oh, oh ♪
♪ So happy ♪
♪ Happy ♪
♪ Oh, oh-oh, oh ♪
♪ So happy ♪
♪ So happy. ♪
♪ ♪
[birds singing]
VICTORIA: This place is
like a literal crime scene.
I thought it was open.
Hazel probably
didn't even check.
He said it was Room 17.
♪ ♪
JOSH: You okay?
You seem kind of pissed.
Maybe I am.
At me?
For what?
SUMMER: What's going on?
Nothing. We should just go.
VICTORIA: Hazel!
We found something.
[Summer sighs]
This place is so disgusting.
No, it's cool.
It totally has m*rder vibes.
HAZEL: 17 isn't here.
SUMMER: Oh, good.
I'm so glad we drove four
hours for no f*cking reason.
EVA: I'm starving.
Can we go eat?
Yeah, I'm-I'm hungry, too.
Wait, look.
VICTORIA: See?
Total m*rder vibes.
HAZEL: He just stayed
here. He didn't k*ll here.
That you know of.
Do you think it's this vent?
I think it's stuck.
Do you guys need help?
No.
Where'd you get the Twinkie?
Mm. Oh, the office.
You know those are
ancient, right?
JOSH: Twinkies?
Nah, nah. Dude, Twinkies can
survive an apocalypse.
They're like c*ck,
but they're food.
There's nothing in here.
Then maybe someone
else found it first.
Or maybe it's in
a different room.
It was 30 years ago.
He might've mixed up the number.
[knock at door]
Hey, you got a minute?
Sure. Yeah.
We need to talk.
Yeah, what's... what's going on?
I'm sorry, Ben,
but I'm pulling
my recommendation.
And corporate agrees.
You're not the right fit
for regional manager.
Not the right fit?
Based on what?
You've been distracted.
You ran out in the middle
of a staff meeting.
You've taken multiple
days off, Ben.
But, William, I've had
a lot going on at home.
Which is exactly why it's
not a good time for you
to add more responsibility
to your plate.
Okay?
So, are you... are you
recommending someone else?
Yes.
Judy.
Judy?
I hired Judy, William.
I-I taught Judy
everything that she knows.
[sighs] That
doesn't matter, Ben.
Doesn't matter?
Does it matter that you
were screwing your assistant
when you had my job?
Because I thought
that it did. I
thought that it did,
but I kept that secret
for you for years.
Ben, you're lucky
you even have a job
because the board
wants you gone.
Gone? For what? For...
For your father-in-law.
What the hell does he
have to do with anything?
A lot.
We thought the story
would be gone by now,
but it just keeps
getting bigger.
People keep talking
about it. It's a problem.
Do you know what our
customers want from us, Ben?
They want safe and
they want boring.
They don't want to invest
their life savings with
Ted Bundy's g*dd*mn son-in-law.
I'm sorry.
I really am.
[door opens]
[door closes]
Well, looks like the
one in the picture.
Good, 'cause Adele
already booked us
an hour of Ziggy's time, so...
Let's sh**t some B-roll
and get drunk.
Oh, dang. That is rank, dude.
Oh.
[flies buzzing]
- Oh, God.
- Mmm-mm, no.
Give me another key.
Yeah, I'm coming with you.
There's no vent in this one.
How could you be mad at this?
Holy sh*t.
- HAZEL: Is that a bird?
- VICTORIA: Yeah.
No, that's my cue.
I'm gonna go check
the last room.
This whole thing was pointless.
Well, I mean, it
doesn't have to be.
What are you doing?
Trying to kiss you.
It smells in here.
So what?
I like you.
I mean, is that,
like, not obvious?
No, if you like me,
then why is your
girlfriend here?
No, come on.
Summer's my ex, okay?
She's not my girlfriend.
Then why did you bring them?
I mean, I... I don't know.
They're your friends. Like...
No, they're your friends.
Okay, you think that
I came all the way out
in the middle of nowhere
on some m*rder*r's
scavenger hunt
for Summer?
You can kiss me now.
["Sister Golden Hair"
by America playing]
♪ Well, I keep on
thinking about you ♪
- Wow.
- ♪ Sister Golden Hair surprise ♪
- IVY: Nice place.
- ♪ And I just can't ♪
- MELISSA: Yeah.
- ♪ Live without you... ♪
- Where is he?
- That's some deer.
IVY: Hello. Hi.
ZIGGY: Oh!
Y'all must be from Dr. Greg.
Yes. I'm-I'm Ivy.
Nice to meet you.
You must be Ziggy?
The one and only.
- [laughs]
- So the girl on the phone said
that you were covering
an old m*rder?
Yes. Uh, her name
was Heather Richmond.
She was an aspiring singer
from Jefferson.
- And you think she sang here?
- IVY: We're not sure,
but we thought we'd see
if you recognized her.
ZIGGY: Mm.
MELISSA: This is her picture.
ZIGGY: Yeah, yeah.
You know, faces come and go.
But, hey,
if I heard her voice, now,
that I would remember, yeah.
Heather never recorded, sadly.
Well, do you know
when she was here?
Uh, November 1994.
Oh. Well, in that case,
let's have a look.
Step into my office.
Any luck?
Nope. Checked everything.
Oh, well. You guys want to go?
Yeah. Can we please go eat?
Yeah.
Oh, uh, there was
a bag of jewelry
in the office, in a locker.
With earrings, kind of looked
like the ones from the drawing.
What? Why didn't
you say anything?
Uh, because I don't
actually care.
Are you being serious, Summer?
Where were the lockers?
[sighs] I'll be right back.
♪ ♪
[engine starts in distance]
[tires screech]
Hey! Wait!
Wait!
♪
- Okay.
- Holy VHS.
Yeah. I always had a problem
moving into this
century. [chuckles]
I've been recording
open mics since '89
and just kept at it.
I mean, you never know
when the next Dolly's
gonna come through, right?
[chuckles softly] So, uh, '94.
- IVY: Yeah.
- What'd you say her name was, again?
- MELISSA: Heather Richmond.
- Mm-hmm.
ZIGGY: Hmm.
Sorry. No Heather Richmond.
Well, it was worth a shot.
- Uh, Ziggy, uh, do...
- Wait.
What about Lorelai?
Hmm.
'Kay...
Well, what do you know?
- Lorelai. Yeah.
- [exhales] You're amazing.
She was the second
act of the night.
[line ringing]
[call beeps off]
[line ringing]
SUMMER: Nope, there's
no way that place is...
- EVA: So creepy.
- It was gross.
- JOSH: Disgusting.
- [Summer laughs]
EVA: Oh, it's Hazel.
SUMMER: No, f*ck
her. Hang up...
[shivers, sniffles]
[sniffles]
f*ck! [crying]
[guitar playing "Hold
On" by Wilson Phillips]
WOMAN: ♪ I know this pain ♪
♪ Why do you lock yourself
up in these chains? ♪
♪ No one can change your
life except for you ♪
♪ Don't ever let anyone
step all over you ♪
♪ Just open your
heart and your mind ♪
♪ Is it really fair ♪
♪ To feel this way inside? ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ Someday, somebody's gonna ♪
♪ Make you want to turn
around and say goodbye ♪
♪ Until then, baby, are
you gonna let them ♪
♪ Hold you down
and make you cry? ♪
♪ Don't you know? ♪
♪ Don't you know
things can change? ♪
♪ Things'll go your way ♪
♪ If you hold on ♪
♪ For one more day ♪
♪ Can you hold on... ♪
[line ringing]
This is Keith.
Hello? Grandpa?
♪ Hold on for one more day ♪
I need your help.
MELISSA: She was so good.
ZIGGY: She was good.
I remember her now.
She got even better.
Wait. She came back?
ZIGGY: Oh, yeah.
February 18, 1995.
- The night of the m*rder.
- 1995, 1995.
Okay, three, three,
three, three, three.
Four, four, four.
Heather didn't have
a joint in her
pocket that night.
She had
half a joint.
Jackie said Heather
always smoked
half a joint before a show.
How did we not
put that together?
[chuckling]: I know, I know.
- ZIGGY: Here she is.
- [Ivy exhales]
[indistinct chatter on video]
That's what she was
wearing the night she died.
This is the night that she died.
I'm Lorelai.
I just finished
writing this one.
I hope you like it.
[applause]
[playing soft ballad]
♪ She walks around pretending ♪
♪ She don't know who I am... ♪
MELISSA: So she did write it.
♪ Her fear of me is... ♪
She sure had something,
that's for sure.
So she saw Elijah,
she came here to
play, then what?
She hitchhiked home
and that's when my
dad picked her up?
[groans] Okay, right, but...
how did she get here?
I-I mean, okay, maybe
she drove herself,
and then, then, broke
down on the way home?
But her car was in the lot,
so why drive back to the park?
W-What time is...
♪ Angry, sometimes... ♪
Oh, my God. Pause
it. Please, pause it.
MELISSA: Ziggy.
Is that the real time?
Oh, yeah.
Open mic's Saturday
night. 9:00 to 10:30.
♪ ♪
Is this enough?
I think it is.
Am I missing something?
Elijah clocked into
his job at 9:01 p.m.
And he was there all night.
After 9:01 p.m., he
has an airtight alibi.
That's the whole reason why
the cops built their
timeline around the idea
that she must have been
k*lled between 8:00 and 9:00.
But now we know
that she was alive
at 9:33, which means that Elijah
could never have k*lled her.
[Ivy laughing] We did it.
[laughing]: We f*cking did it.
[insects trilling]
[vehicle approaching]
[breathing shakily]
♪ ♪
You're Keith's friend?
Get in.
[jingling]
So, what were you
doing out there?
Chasing Keith's ghosts?
I guess.
My friends and I drove out there
to see if he left some of
his stuff there, but...
they ditched me.
DRIVER: That's f*cked up.
You gonna do something about it?
Do something?
Like what?
I'm just saying,
Keith's gonna ask.
He doesn't like weakness.
How do you know him?
Writing a book about him.
You ever read In Cold Blood?
Hmm?
Well, it's gonna
be big like that.
Here.
HAZEL: "Unmasked:
"The True Story of
the Happy Face k*ller
by Ennis Breeze."
So you're Ennis?
Mm-hmm.
Finished the draft,
was ready to start sending
it out to publishers...
you know, agents and sh*t...
then he goes and comes
out with this new victim.
[sighs]
[inhales sharply]
Want to interview
you for the book.
Well, your mom, too.
I think you owe me
that much, don't you?
♪ To the angel on my shoulder ♪
♪ Please don't trouble me ♪
♪ Was it worth it? ♪
[sighs]
♪ Oh, baby, that depends ♪
♪ She talked some
new beginnings... ♪
BEN: Hey. How was Eva's?
HAZEL: Just leave me alone.
BEN: What? Hazel.
Hey. Hazel.
What is going on here?
[door slams]
Excuse me.
HAZEL: Leave me alone.
Sweetie, open up
the door, please.
♪ I'll make amends... ♪
Hey.
Did something happen with Eva?
Sweetheart, please open
the door. Let me in.
Hey, are you okay?
♪
[muffled crying]
♪ ♪
IVY: Tell us what's
next for Elijah.
The hearing's tomorrow, and, um,
my hope is that we present
all this new evidence
and Elijah's
granted a new trial,
and he's found not guilty.
MELISSA: Do you think
there is a chance he could
walk free with what we have?
There's only two scenarios
where someone walks
after a hearing.
One is coming in with DNA that
definitively rules Elijah out,
which we don't have,
or the D.A. admits
that he wrongfully
incarcerated the accused,
and then, the judge agrees
and then they both sign
off on exoneration.
But that's unlikely.
Callaway is what's known
as a "innocence denier."
And I wish I could say that
he's the exception to the rule,
but that's just not the case.
IVY: And sorry, but...
w-what's the
worst-case scenario?
The worst-case scenario is
we don't get a new trial
and Elijah is
ex*cuted in 41 days.
Okay. Uh... let-let's
take a break.
Okay.
I need a new battery.
Oh, I'll get it.
- One hot brick, coming up.
- Thanks, pal.
♪ ♪
What is this?
I don't know, uh, lipstick?
Yeah, it's called
Crimson Whimsy.
You can only find it at
a tiny boutique in Miami,
but I just found it under the
desk in your guest bedroom.
Was Gillian here?
You better start
at the beginning.
[phone ringing]
JOYCE: This is Joyce.
KEITH [over phone]: Hi, Joyce.
Who is this?
Uh, your brother Elijah,
uh, is in prison for a
m*rder that I committed.
They call me Happy Face.
I k*lled Heather Richmond,
and I'm ready to come clean.
MELISSA: How long
ago was this?
About three months ago.
Oh, my God.
Okay.
Um...
why did he call you?
He said he would need my help.
- To do what?
- Well, he wouldn't say at first,
but he said that
someone would come here
and explain everything to me.
And that's how this got here?
GILLIAN: Joyce.
I'm Gillian.
My heart breaks
just looking at you.
Can I come in?
You don't call him,
he'll call you.
And how do you fit
into all of this?
I believe I have an opportunity
to help right a grave wrong.
Oh, uh, one more thing.
Do you have any case files
that you could share?
[Gillian laughs softly]
Wow.
Do you mind if I
take some photos?
If he did it, then why?
- [stammers] - Heather
happened a long time ago.
Keith's k*lled a lot of women.
Sometimes he gets
the details confused.
And if he gets anything wrong,
a confession could be worthless.
Oh, my gosh. I'm so sorry.
MELISSA: So my dad is lying.
What? No.
Keith k*lled Heather.
This doesn't change that.
- You're kidding, right?
- Okay. Let's slow down.
Joyce, other than
sharing the files,
did you do anything else
for Keith or Gillian?
Um...
I carved the happy face
on the tree at the river.
You what?
He called one night and...
said he needed something
visual for the media.
But it looked old.
Well, he told me to use
this stuff, uh, tung oil.
Said it would age it,
um, a-and he explained
exactly what tools to use,
and I just...
I did what he asked.
It was just a mark on a tree.
I wasn't hurting anyone.
I had no idea about
the show, about you.
I thought he was gonna
confess to the police.
Okay, I-I need to know
what else you did for him.
What else he asked.
Uh, that was it, I swear.
I-I, um, I-I carved
the happy face
uh, I-I shared files with
Gillian and that was it.
Does Elijah know?
No.
And he never will, right?
[whispering]: Joyce.
This is really, really bad.
Y'all have seen
what I'm up against.
What do you expect me to do?
I told you he was lying day one.
Okay, Melissa, we
don't know that.
We have no idea what else
she's hiding from us, Ivy.
We have to tell
Gabriela everything.
- No, we don't.
- Yes, we do. What if she's blindsided at the hearing?
Okay, no. Absolutely not.
We are not getting this
far and not finishing this.
Yes, Joyce f*cked up,
but it's not like the other
side plays by the rules,
so why should we?
And nothing that she
did changes the fact
that Heather was m*rder*d when
Elijah was at work, period.
And the beauty of
this alibi video
is that it has nothing
to do with your father.
Or you.
This is about Elijah,
his life and his death,
and I'm not about
to f*ck with that.
And neither are you, okay?
Okay. Okay.
[Ivy exhales]
[phone buzzing]
Yeah?
Yeah, this is Ben Reed.
Do you know who I am?
- Should I?
- I know who you are.
You are a lowlife who writes
trash about people online.
Hey, is this about Melissa?
No, this is about you harassing
my daughter, m*therf*cker.
Hey, hey, I didn't
harass anyone, all right?
If you're looking for a scoop,
for another pathetic story,
you don't approach a minor.
There are rules about
that, you f*cking vulture.
Okay, so, fine, all
right, so next time,
I'll leave her there
on the side of the road
in the middle of f*cking
nowhere in the dark.
What are you talking about?
Yeah, yeah, her
friends ditched her.
Did you know that, huh?
What, did she call you,
father of the year?
No, she didn't.
You're saying she called you?
Was this two nights ago?
Hello? Hello?
f*ck.
[indistinct chatter]
♪ ♪
Okay, hey. Go sit?
- I'll come and find you in a bit, okay?
- Yeah.
Okay.
Hey.
Hey, Melissa.
MELISSA: How you holding up?
- Good to see you again.
- You, too.
[people chatting softly]
♪ ♪
- Twelve.
- [lock buzzes]
GUARD: All right, open 12.
♪ ♪
- Hey.
- Did they let you see him?
They wouldn't let me see him
and they wouldn't let him
change into the clothes
I brought him, either.
I don't want the judge
to see him like that.
Hey, hey. It's
okay, don't worry.
All right?
- [lock buzzes, latch clicks]
- [door opens]
[anxious whispering]
All right.
BAILIFF: All rise for the
Honorable Judge Wilkins
At this time, we'll
go on the record
for a hearing in the
court of criminal appeals
ex parte Elijah David Carter.
Are both sides ready to proceed?
The applicant is
ready, Your Honor.
The State is ready, Your Honor.
JUDGE WILKINS: Very well.
Go ahead, Ms. Moreno.
Thank you, Your Honor.
As you know, I have
submitted several writs
over the previous weeks with
various pieces of evidence
we will present to the court.
But today, only two
pieces of evidence matter.
Here, you'll see
Heather Richmond
performing at Ziggy's Basement,
a-a rock club in Dallas.
You'll note that the
time stamp is 9:33 p.m.
and the date is
February 18, 1995,
both of which have
been authenticated
by forensic experts.
Ms. Richmond is onstage
for about five minutes,
then walks off-camera and
meets her untimely death
sometime between 9:45
and 5:00 a.m. the
following morning,
when her body was
found at Chicory River.
In this video,
it's also 9:33 on
February 18, 1995,
and this person here
is the applicant, Elijah Carter.
While Ms. Richmond is
in Dallas, singing,
Mr. Carter is more than two
hours away in Jefferson,
starting his 12-hour shift at
the food distribution center.
Mr. Carter's supervisor,
the security guard
on duty that evening,
as well as two coworkers,
will all testify
that he did not
leave this building
until 9:00 a.m. the following
day after his shift.
In fact, he stays in this frame
for the next 12 hours,
cataloguing inventory,
except for two breaks
to the restroom
and his half-hour break,
but guess what?
The break room also
has surveillance.
Should I let the next
so I can fully establish my
client's alibi, Your Honor?
I think we get the picture.
I will also present DNA evidence
and a confession that
identify another suspect,
Keith Jesperson, a
convicted serial k*ller,
but I believe these
two videos alone
show that my client is innocent,
that his incarceration is a
gross miscarriage of justice,
that he deserves a new trial.
Does the State wish to rebut
the defense's initial statement?
Yes, Your Honor.
Your Honor...
we support the defense's
request for a new trial.
- [gavel thuds]
- JUDGE WILKINS: Quiet.
The D.A. may wish to support
a new trial, but I don't.
I'd like to vacate
this conviction.
I believe this evidence is
proof of actual innocence.
And if the D.A. agrees,
I'd like to release
Mr. Carter on signature bond.
Mr. Callaway, do
you oppose release?
The State does not
oppose, Your Honor.
[exclaims, sobs]
JUDGE WILKINS: Mr. Carter,
the higher courts
will need to make this official,
and I will make sure they do.
This court owes you
more than an apology.
Least I can do is let you
walk out of here a free man.
[choked up]: Thank... thank...
- [sobbing]
- [Joyce sobs]
GABRIELA: You ready to go?
I'm...
I'm sorry. [chuckles]
What do I do?
Just sign your name.
- I'm sorry.
- GABRIELA: That's your bail.
You sign right here
and you're free to go.
BAILIFF: That's it. That's it.
[Elijah crying quietly]
♪
[clicks mouse]
♪ ♪
[line ringing]
KEITH: This is Keith.
Hello? Who is this?
[hangs up receiver]
[ringing]
[ringing]
♪ ♪
CROWD: Elijah! Elijah!
Elijah! Elijah! Elijah!
[chanting continues]
[crowd cheering]
[applauding]
How do you feel, Elijah?
Uh, I think, um, you know,
I-I can't believe it.
And I f... I just feel blessed.
Uh, I feel grateful.
REPORTER: Do you
feel vindicated?
I do, uh...
Justice was served.
I-I feel blessed to be able
to begin this new
chapter of my life.
What are you gonna do now?
Uh, I guess I'm gonna...
Hell, I don't know, man.
I'm gonna... [laughs]
I'm gonna go home with my sister
and, uh, uh...
- maybe eat some barbecue.
- [laughter]
- [applause, cheering]
- ELIJAH: And, uh...
Callaway? Wait.
Melissa, you come to gloat?
No, I...
...wanted to say thank you for
doing the right thing.
I did what had to be done.
What about my dad?
Will he...
Will he end up on death row?
I'm not pressing charges.
What? Why not?
I've decided I'm withdrawing
from the next election.
It's time to let some
new blood take over.
What does that mean?
My successor
will decide whether or
not to charge your father.
Although, my bet is
that a new D.A. won't
want to start out
with a reminder of this
office's past failings.
Look, your father is...
He's gonna be in prison
for life either way, right?
He'll die there. It's
where he belongs.
[phone buzzing]
Hey.
Guess what?
Elijah's out. They, uh,
they just released him
and he walked out of the
courthouse a free man.
That's great, that's great.
I-I'm so happy for you.
Ben, I know that...
this was hard on
all of us and...
This is why we did
it, right? This is...
This is why we did
it and-and we did it.
So, I'm gonna come home
now and we're gonna...
Melissa, just stop.
We have a problem.
Hazel has been
talking to your dad.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪