Interrogation (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Det. Dave Russell vs Eric Fisher 1983 - full transcript

I need an ambulance. Hurry.

My mom--
she's fucking dying, okay?

Just get over here.

Please! Let me out!

I need to see her!

I need
to see her.

Fuck!

I need to wash my hands!

I need to wash my fucking hands!

Please.

My mom! My mom!
Back away
from the door.



Is my mom--
How's my mom?

As soon as we hear anything,
I'm gonna let you know.

Okay?
Okay.

Now have a seat.

All right, just let me...Okay? Have a seat.

I'm gonna remove
those handcuffs.

You think you can handle that?

My name's
Detective Russell.

I'm the lead investigator.

I need for you to help me
understand what happened.

Talk to me.

I don't know.

I don't know what happened.

When I got there, she was,
she was...
No. No.



From the beginning of your day.

Take me through it.

Everything,

before you went
over there.

Eric...

Start of your day.

I, I, I-I woke up...

It's 6:32 in the a.m.

here in the City of Angels...really, really early.

73 degrees, Thursday,
the tenth day of March,

Cloud cover over
the entire L.A. basin.

The smog report says if you're
gonna be outside today, baby,

do not breathe the air.

Steely Dan, right?

Fusion bullshit,
sells like crazy.

You gotta be 18.

I will be, soon.

Okay? And I'm-I'm-I'm,
I'm a really hard worker.

I need a job.

Fill out an application.

Bring it back
on your birthday.

Thanks a lot.

Yeah, rock on!
Could I have your autograph?

...was "Come On Eileen"

by Dexy's Midnight Runners.

Killer track.

I could listen to that all day.

That's how I got fired
from my last job.

Shit, man.

My rear... my...

my rear shocks, broke.
So I went back

to my apartment to change

and, um, get some tools.

D-- No.

No.

No, I went back to my--

to my parents' house.You sure?

- Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
- No, my mom,

my mom keeps a, a jack
in the garage.

Mom, it's me.

I just need to get
into the garage.

I need to fix my car.

Mom, you there?

Mom?

My God, Mom!
Mom! Mom! Mom!

Shit. Mom?

Mom, say
something.

Shit, okay.
No, Mom...

I- I got to, I got to,
I got to...

I got to take these
knives out of you, okay?

I'm sorry.

Okay.

That's-that's, that's one.
I got, I got to

I got to take
one more out, okay?

It's gonna help you
breathe, okay?

Okay, Mom,
you got to breathe!

Mom, you got to breathe!
You got to breathe, Mom!

What the fuck is it?

What the fuck?

Shit, Mom!

Yes, help me, please.

I need an ambulance,
right now.

No, do not put me on hold!

She's fucking dying, okay?
Just get over here!

Dad! Dad, yeah,
something-something's happen,

something's happen,
something's happened to Mom.

Um, I need, I need you, I need
you, I need you to come home.

Is somebody here?!

What the fuck?

What kind of monster
would do that?

Smash her head in for what,
like, 150 bucks?

How do you know?

Know what?

How much money she had?

Grocery money, my, every,

every Wednesday my dad
gives her 150 bucks cash.

You searched the entire house?

Who would do that to her?

But you didn't go
into your bedroom?

No, I was about to.-

You think your mom
went in there?

Why? When? When?Today.

You think your mom went
into your bedroom today?

She doesn't go in there.

Besides, I said the
door was closed.

Why?

What, did you find something?

Stay with me.

After the empty wallet...
then what?

Where are you?!

No! Okay... just...

Please, please!

Just hurry, please!

Fuck!

Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!

Stop! Please!

Where were you?!

All right, hurry,
hurry, come on!

Come on, hurry! Come on!

She's over here! You got
to help her, come on!

Come on, come on.

Come on, come on,
come on, come on! Guys...

What the fuck are you doing?
You got to help her!

You want us to save your mom?Yes, I do!

Then back the fuck up
and let us save your mom.

She needs fucking air, asshole!

Get the fuck off of me!

What the fuck?!

Help me!

You need
to calm down!

Watch your head.

Let me out!

Let me out!

Shit.

Mom? Mom!

Mom! Mom!

Where are they taking her?

Hey! What the fuck?!

I need to go with her!

I need to go
with her!

Go with her! Fuck!

Can I help you, sir?Yes, I'm Henry Fisher.

This is my house.
Dad!

Dad! Dad!

Why is my son in the patrol car?If you'd like to see him,

I can take you to him.Dad, let me out!

Let me out, get me out.

Eric, what...?

They weren't
fucking helping her!

Listen, Eric, I-I've got
to go to the hospital.

Okay, I'll go, I'll go. I'll go
with you. I'll go with you.

No, you can't.
You have to stay here.

Just, just, um, just answer
their questions.
No.

No, no, no, no, no, no. Dad...

You need to stay here.

Eric!

You're their
only witness.

But I need, I need to see her,
I need to see her.

I got to go, okay?No, don't go, don't go.

I'll find you later.Don't, don't, no, no, no, no!

Don't go!

Don't go! Don't go!

Don't, don't!

Dad, don't fucking leave me!

Dad!

I swear to God, whoever did
this, they're fucking dead.

They're fucking dead.
She better fucking live.

She better live, she better...

fucking live-- it's
fucking homicide!

It's a homicide,
homicide, homicide--

Have you ever been in trouble
with the cops before?

My hands! I need, I just,
I need to wash...

I need to wash my hands.

You ever been here before,

in this
police station?

No.

You sure about that?

I stole some money, okay?

That's-that's as, that's as far
as my crime life...

goes.

Who'd you steal from?

My parents, okay?

It's why they made
the house, you know,

crime-proof.

Hey.

When was the last time
you used drugs?

What day is it?

Thursday.

It...

It's Thursday.

Tuesday.

Tuesday, I took a couple
of hits off-off a joint.

I did.

And since then, no speed,

no smack, PCP...?

No, I told you,
I told you, okay?

I told you I went to rehab

and I fixed that.

But...

I've listened to everything
you've said to me.

And I'm gonna be completely

honest with you,
Eric.

You're full of shit.

Hey! Hey, Officer?

Says he saw her through
the living room window.

Didn't have a key,
so he pulled it and climbed in.

You cleared the house?
Yeah.

After the paramedics,
he went after us hard.

We had to restrain him.

Partner says he's
been mumbling about

some group of
strung-out hippies.

What, like some kind
of Manson thing?

The kid's dusted,
maybe coked up.

Walk me
through the scene.

Wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait!

Wait, let me out!

Let me out,
I'm-I'm calm now.

I'm calm now!

I'm calm!

I'm very
fucking calm now!

Show me where you walked,
and anything you touched.

Body was here-- feet and head.

Kid said he pulled
the knives out himself

to help her breathe.

You didn't step in any blood?

No.

Nothing broken?

Nothing tossed,
no signs of ransacking?

Just the purse?

That's right.

We got this over here.

Locked when
you cleared the house?

Yes, sir.

Somebody really likes peacocks.

Put some light
on that?

Only forced entry.

Everything else,
untouched.

Just the open
front door.

Other doors
are locked.

And one set of footprints.

His.

The neighbor said the mom
and the kid fought like

cats and dogs.

I told her you'd need
a full statement.

So, what's it look like
at the hospital, partner?

Doc says she's not
gonna make it.

Dying declaration?Possibly.

If she regains
consciousness.

Blunt force trauma.

Probable C.O.D.

This is a self-solver--
screwed-up kid, drugs.

Her car keys are in his bedroom.

Knock-down
drag-outs, she said,

until she kicked him out.

Murder weapon?

Take your pick.

It's...

Baseball trophy-- his--

kitchen knives,
his fucking workout bar.

Lots of firepower.

Maybe he had help.
Rage.

It's a crime of passion,
it's personal.

I had a felony battery with him
a couple months ago.

And he got off
on a he said/she said VRP.

The reject.

I'm gonna put him
in the box.

You're taking lead?

Have ourselves a frank,
man-to-piece-of-shit

discussion about exactly
what he did to her.

That sounds like a yes.

You're gonna get
the cop-out?

Yeah, before fucking dinner.

You have the right
to remain silent.

If you give up the right
to remain silent,

anything you say can
and will be used against you

in a court of law.Am I under arrest?

Well, you should be.

You understand
these rights?

Yes.And you choose to give up
these rights?

Yeah, well, if I don't, you're
gonna f-fucking lock me up!

Just tell the truth.

Be that much closer
to soap and water.

Okay, you want to talk?
You want to talk? Okay, go.

Go!

Is that a yes?
Yes.

Ask your fucking questions!

What kind
of burglar

breaks into a house
to steal 150 bucks,

and then bothers
to lock the doors?

How can I fucking know that?

If I looked through
that window and I saw my mother

lying on the floor, I'd get
in there pretty damn fast.

And that's what I did.

No. No.

You pulled the louvers
from the window,

and you stacked them neatly.

You don't know my mother, okay?
She can get real angry.

And the pliers.

You ran back to get
them from your car?

Yes. Yes.
I needed them

to pull
the fucking louvers.

But the only footprints
I found were headed in?

I don't know!
Look harder, man!

I did, I ran out!

Then why weren't there
any footprints headed back

out the other way?I don't know!

Jesus, man!

What, do you really
think I would do that?

Like, kill my own mother?

She took care of me.

Yeah.
She gave me money.

She gave me groceries.

Why weren't you
living with her?

My parents thought
it would be better

if I had my own place
for a while.

You had a room.

A nice room at your parents'.

So, let's talk about that room.

Why didn't you search it?

Because my mom
never goes in there.

You were looking
for an intruder.

Why didn't you look there?

I don't know, man!
I just, I didn't!

So why do you say your mom
never goes in there?

Because it's myroom.

Then how did her car keys
end up on your desk?

They didn't.

What are you talking about?
No, they didn't-- you're lying!

How did they get there?They're not.

They can't be.

Why don't we trade places
for a minute here?

So if you were me,

how would you handle this?

I would, I would feel,
I would feel bad for you.

And I would, I would show it.

Yeah, you're right,
just somebody telling you

nothing but bullshit
over and over and over?

I'd be a lot fucking nicer
than you. Okay?

I wouldn't try to trick you.

I wouldn't try
to force you into saying

that you killed
your own fucking mother.

Okay, then
how the fuck

did her car keys
end up in your room?

Look at me!

For your own sake,
just tell me what happened.

I swear to God,
I'll help you out.

Come on, what the fuck, James?
He was there.

His father's here,
wants to see him.

He's a juvenile.

We got to let him know
his father's here.

I'll talk to him.

The father.

What's that gonna get you?Insurance.

If I don't get the cop-out
now, the dad gives me another

bite at the apple.
Polygraph.

Yeah, but we can't ask him.
He's got to volunteer.

His daddy's gonna think
it's a good idea.

If he hasn't given it up yet,
he's not gonna.

'Cause you don't
think he did it?

Everyone thinks
he did it.

Here we go.But that's not the job.

If you don't get the cop-out,
it's circumstantial.

We got to put a case together,
do the work.

I know that he killed her.

And he knows that he killed her.

Then let him
sweat it.

Soak in it, come back out with
me, help me work the scene.

He needs to get this
off his chest now.

I can feel it.

All right, you
got a cigarette?

No, I do not.

'Cause you quit?

You don't
got one on you?

Go fuck yourself.

How did I know that?

It's 'cause I could feel it.

Sure I can't get you anything--
cup of coffee, Coke, water?

Wh-Where's my son,
Detective?

The thing is, I've
been talking to Eric

for, for a while now.

Yeah, well,
I need to see him.

There are some serious
conflicts in his story.

What, you think he had
something to do with this?

Well, my partner, Connor,
he's the senior guy.

So, he's settled on Eric
as the primary.

Well, he's wrong!

Your partner's wrong.

Then I need to give him
reason to know that.

Sooner we clear Eric,
the sooner we'll be able

to start looking
someplace else, all right?

You could use some help with
that, help me help your son.

I need to verify a
couple things he told me.

If he tells the truth, even a
piece of it, we can prove it...

He's in here?

I'm a father.

I got a son.

I hate to think a boy could
do something like that, so...

So, we clear him, I'm gonna
sleep a lot better tonight.

Mr. Fisher?

What?

We can't ask Eric
to take the poly.

It's got to be his idea.

You understand?

Can I?
Yep.

I'm done with
you, asshole.

Eric?

Dad?

My God, Dad.

How is, how is, how is she?

No.

No, no, no!

No, no, no, no!

How does this even happen?

I don't...

How does this happen?

How does this even
fucking happen?!

How does this
fucking happen?

And I'm here and I'm stuck
in this fucking room!

This cop!

And the things he's
been saying to me?

You got, you got,

you got to help,
you got to help me.

I will, I will. Of course,
I'm gonna help you, Eric.

But y-you've, you've got
to help yourself, too, son.

I know, I know I... I
disappointed both of you, okay?

But you got to know
I would never...

I would never fucking do
this, I wouldn't do...Well, then...

y- you tell him.

Okay?

You-you tell him what happened.

Just tell him
everything you remember.

Just tell him the truth.That's what I've

been doing!

He doesn't fucking believe me.

He treats me like
some piece of shit

that killed his mother
for fucking grocery money!

He doesn't fucking
listen to me.

Well, then... then you're
gonna have to make him listen.Well, how the...

If I killed her for the money,
if I killed her

for the money,
then where is it?

Where is it?
Where's the fucking money?

Where's the fucking money!

Where is it!?

Well, then you're gonna have
to ask him that.

Ask what? Okay?

He won't even let me wash
my hands.

God.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I know, I know,
it's just...

Eric, sit down.
Sit, just sit down, okay?

Just listen, listen.

Breathe. Breathe.

Listen, I-I...

He knows you're upset, okay?

I mean, you... you've
seen a terrible thing.

This... this...

You've seen
the worst thing possible.

And you're probably not
thinking straight right now.

Right?

Um...

Eric, I think, um...

I- I think the best thing is

that you, you ask him
for a polygraph test.

Fucking...
lie detector test?

Yeah.That's crazy.

Well...

My God.

You don't believe me.

A fucking

lie detector?

Dad, that's... that's...

that's... that's for you.

It's not for me, Eric.
It's-it's for you.

It's fucking
for you!It's... it's so you can prove...

No! It's for you.
You fucking...

You think I fucking did this.

You think

I crushed her skull...Just stop.

you think I tied a cord
around her neck...Stop it. Eric.

and you think
I choked her.
Just stop it.

I would never...Stop it!

I would never hurt her!

I would never!

Why don't you know that?

Don't.

He's good.

Yeah, I'm better.

Time's up, Lieutenant.
I'm gonna finish him.

Sorry I yelled.

It's okay.

Let me tell you what I
think happened out there.

I think you would yell, too,

if somebody accused you.
- Your mother...

...went out shopping
this morning.

That's warm.

Then don't drink it.

So you get there
before she gets home,

break in through
the kitchen window.

Maybe you're gonna
steal some cash...

No, I wasn't.

Okay? I found her.

I tried to save her.

You done?

So you two

don't get along, and you're
not supposed to be there,

You don't know.but you are.

You don't.
And when she comes
home and finds you

in your room, I think she gets
pretty fuckin' pissed off.Just...

relax...

man, okay?

You're talking
about my mom.
That's right,

the woman who changed the locks
and nailed the windows shut

because she
doesn't trust you.

Christ, she doesn't
want you in her home.

You don't know.I think that she
starts the fight.

She puts down her keys, and she
says some fucked-up shit to you.

Eric, Eric...Stop. Just pl...

Stop.I don't blame you

Just stop. Just stop.If she's attacking you,

you've got to defend yourself.

But with what?

The trophy, it's right there
sitting on your shelf.

Right there on
your shelf. Yeah.

Now, you don't
want to hurt her.

You just want her
to stop, but she...That's not true!

but she keeps coming.

That's not true.So you grab the...
the workout bar,

and you smack her
in the head with it.
No!

That's not true!
Right?

No! No, I didn't!Hey, sit down.

Sit the fuck down!

Now she's running
for the kitchen,

the knives,

and you're scared
she's gonna get there first,

but she doesn't-- you do.

And you grab a couple,
and you tell her

to back off.

It didn't happen.

Now, you're just
defending yourself.

And now she's down.

You don't know
what to do.

So you make it look
like a robbery.

You take the money
and you call it in.

How's that sound
to you so far?

It sounds pretty,
pretty fucked up.

So where'd you hide it?

That is a lie.
That is a lie.Hey. Hey. Hey, look at me.

The 150 bucks,
where'd you hide it?

Eric?

You tell the truth,

and you got a shot
at no jail time.I am telling you

the truth, okay?

I'm being extremely
fucking truthful.

How do I know that?

Okay. Um, um, um...

I'm done.

Just one true thing.

One checkable fact.

Come on, kid.

Hey.

Just a piece of the truth,
that's all I need.

And all I need is
a fucking lawyer.

Either book me...

or let me go.

All right, stand up.

Stand up.

You fuckin'...

Put your hands in your front
pockets and keep them there.

I need my dad.

Where's my dad?

All right.

Same as the others?It's hard to say.

Got to look at the pictures.

If you're looking
for Henry or Mary Fisher,

leave a message
and we'll call you back.

If you're looking for Eric,

this machine no longer accepts
messages on his behalf.

No answer?

It makes no sense.

I kill her...

and then I call for help?

Hey.

I'm 17!
You can't keep me here!

I told the truth!

Hey!

Look, I can...
I can prove it!

Fuckin' test me, man!

Wire me up! Ask me
whatever you want!

A polygraph!

I want one!

I'll make the call.

Set it up.

They booked him, right?

He's a juvenile, Hank.
They had to.

It's the only way
to hold him.
Aw, shit.

They haven't filed
charges yet.

Hank, we need to get
you out of here.

Come on.

God, at the hospital...

Just the way she looked.

Eric couldn't have
done that to her.

Well, a polygraph
will prove it.

I mean, come on, what kid kills
his mother for $150?

I don't know.And I give him money

whenever he asks.

And-and besides,

Eric didn't have
the money on him.

So where is it?

That's good.

You know, whoever did
this took that money.

If Eric doesn't have it,
and it's not at the house...

well, that...
that clears him.

When's the last
time you ate?

Let me get some
food in you.

No, I-I'm gonna go home.

No, don't.
Not tonight.

You could stay
at our place.

No, no, that's...
that's all right.

Hank, come on.

I'll catch you later.

Mr. Fisher?

I need you to look at the wall.

So, pick a spot,

and just keep
your eyes right there.

Mr. Fisher,

did you hit your mother
with that trophy?

No.

Did you stab

your mother?

No.

Did you kill your mother?

No.

Did you hit

your mother
with that exercise bar?

No.

Are you lying to me now

regarding what happened
to your mother?

No.

Thank you, Mr. Fisher.

Is it... Wait, how...

How'd I do?

Failed five out of five.

It's the highest level
of deception I've ever seen.

How do you want
to play it?

You take him first.

Go hard.

No answer?

I'm sorry, Mom.

I'm so, so sorry.

I don't think
the team's prospects

for this upcoming season...

I told the truth, man,
okay? I did.

I swear to God.

No, you didn't.

The guy didn't have
to hit me.

...that a World Series winner

didn't make it
to the playoffs.

You rigged the test!

All right?
You rigged it!

...a real good team,

and Tommy Lasorda knows
what he's doing.

You're gonna
like this place.

It's full of liars.

You'll be their king.

Fisher, Eric Henry.

Juvenile 187.

His mother.Jesus.

Just keep an eye on him.

Might be a danger to
himself after what he did.

Male, 17.
Fisher, Eric Henry.

Hey. You can't--

You can't just leave me here.

Hey!

You can't just
leave me here!

You can't
just leave me!

Two stab wounds

on the back to the
left of the midline.

Fractures, vertex of the skull.

Each approximately
one inch.

Right side of the crown

between,
lacerations

and the blunt
injuries.

Ten separate impacts
on her skull.

You solve it?

I got to be back
at work early.

Electrical fire.

Right after Christmas.

Bunch of 'em moved out.

Eric said he liked the smell.

He stayed,
him and Chris.

God, Eric.

Shit.

Work all you like, my child.

The cold, metal grip you feel
is pure antichromium steel.

The more you fight

against your chains,
the tighter they'll become.

Sergeant America will never
let you get away with this!

Sergeant America is 6,000...

I'm sorry.What the fuck are
you looking at?

N- Nothing.

Amy, please.

You... y-you saved me.

Here.

I really can't take this.

Okay.

I'm so sorry, Mr. Fisher.

Eric didn't do this.
He couldn't have.

Hey, Mr. F.

My God.

I'm so sorry.

Eric okay?

Sorry,
I don't know

what to say.It's all right,
Trey.

It's,
it's an unusual situation.

Thanks again, Amy.

We're around.

Anytime, anything you
want, just say the word.

Thanks.

Have you heard from Chris?
Does he know?
No.

No, no, no,
no, no, no.

Your son's on some
pretty heavy meds

to help with the withdrawal.

He's fairly sedated.

Five minutes, tops.

: Hey, buddy.
How you doing?

Eric.

Eric,

it's Dad.

Fuck, I'm so tired.

You need to listen to me, okay?

Y- You need to focus.

Come on.

Wednesday night,
your mom told me

that Chris Keller came
by the house looking for work.

Wednesday.

Th-The day before.

Okay? You hear me?

She said that she had
to kick him out of the house

and th...
and that he scared her.

The day before.

Yeah, Wednesday.

Now, listen to me.

I think Chris Keller came by
Thursday morning and killed her.

Do you hear me?

Eric, come on.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, Chris.

Yeah.