Interrogation (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 7 - Det. Carol Young & Det. Brian Chen vs Melanie Pruitt 2005 - full transcript
Two decades after the murder, a series of newspaper articles about the Fisher case sways public sentiment in Eric's favor. Eric prepares for an evidentiary hearing that could lead to a ...
I need an ambulance. Hurry.
My mom--
she's fucking dying, okay?
Just get over here.
No. No, no-no.
Th-- th-- this is wrong.
Do you, want
to see the drawing?
Yeah.
She's in the
exact position.
Russell testified that Eric
couldn't have seen his mother,
because of the glare.
I know.
I was there.
But if there was no glare
on the day of the murder, then
he could see her.
In fact, because
of that planter,
this is the only window
he couldsee her through.
Just like Eric said.
You hadn't worked
with Dave Russell before.
You had no reason to doubt him.
It was my case.
If mistakes were made, and I'm
not saying that
there were,
it was my case.
The $150,
the money missing
from Mary Fisher's purse.
You told the jury
that Eric stole it.Because he did.
Yeah, sure, we should've
found it, but we didn't.
Real life, guys.
Shit happens.
O.J. should've been drenched
in blood but he wasn't.
Shit happens.
Fisher's relationship
with the victim,
his drug use, his confession.
We had a strong case.
Three weeks after
Eric's conviction,
the court clerk
logged the contents
of the purse.
Last entry. Six.
$20 bills found
in a side compartment.
Detective Russell testified
that he'd searched the purse.
Do you think he was lying?
If Russell was framing Fisher,
he would have taken
that money, too, right?
And after
everything
you've seen today,
you still have no doubt
about Eric Fisher's guilt?
Mr. Eckert?
I didn't say that.
You're not gonna
believe this.
What's it say, Charlie?Jesus, they got everything.
All of Dave Russell's
fuckups and lies.
Fuck me.
What?D.A. Eckert says
he has reasonable doubt.
Don't make it sound
better than it is.
Did he say that, or...?It's a direct quote.
- Fuck.
- Fisher.
Okay. I got to--
I got to go.Hey.
Russell. Big picture
with that shit-eating grin.
Get used to it, asshole.
This takes Russell down and gets
you your innocence hearing.
Hold on.
Excuse me, excuse me.
Those are mine.
Thanks.
Yeah, we did it.
Eric, you there?
Fucking did it?Good day?
You don't even know, baby.
Hey, LT.
I heard.
That's how you make
lieutenant?
We've had our
differences, Captain.
But you know I didn't do this.
I know your work now.
Nothing's changed.
I'm the same cop I always was.
I called over to PSB
this morning.
They're looking
into a new complaint.
I didn't do anything wrong.
They're gonna believe
a convict over me?
I got 33 years on.
Something like this--
front page.
RHD has to reopen Fisher.
Well, they'll find
the same thing I did.
Fisher did it.While they're at it,
they'll go
through all your other cases,
look for a pattern.
"They."
This isn't the LAPD
I signed up for.
Well, that's the problem, Russ.
You think
it should be.
Yeah.
This is Deborah Russell
at the public defender's office.
Hey, honey, it's me.Leave a message
and I'll call you back.
You there?
If you are satisfied
with your message,
press one.It's your father.
If you'd like to re-record
your message, press two.
If you'd like to change your...
Dave. My God, I'm so sorry.
How you doing?
I've had better days.
I'm trying to
find Debbie.
Her car's here. I figured
she might be, too.
Actually, she's up north,
some kind of legal conference.
Her-- our house
is airport parking.
All right, well,
if you see her before I do,
tell her to call me.
I need to talk to my daughter.
Is he gone?He's your father, honey.
Is he gone?
I hate lying.
Sign here, here and here.
And it's official.
How's it feel?
İt takes some getting
used to, I suppose.
But better for you than for him.
His mother gets murdered,
and you steal his whole life.
Look, I appreciate
your interest,
Mr., Mr. Poulos,
but the, the problem is,
I missed the deadline
for my federal habe...
We make them waive a deadline.
Establish likelihood
of innocence
at an evidentiary hearing.
Yeah. Sure.
That's gonna happen.
Rampart. Rodney King.
Times have changed.
But getting the hearing,
that's just the start.
We've got to dismantle
the entire case
to get a good ruling
on your habeas claims.
And what's that gonna cost me?Not a thing.
Until we get you out.
Charlie Shannon says
you're low on funds.
Yeah, well,
Charlie should know.
Look, it's no slam dunk,
but my firm is willing
to take the risk.
If we get that hearing,
if your conviction
is overturned,
Okay, then it's the,
the civil suit,
and you guys get a piece
of my settlement.
How much?
What Detective Russell
did to you,
what the city of Los Angeles
allowed him to do,
if we prove
your innocence,
the powers that be will have
a deep, abiding interest
in seeing to it that
justice is served.
My firm gets 40% of
that justice, plus costs.
Eric.
It's gonna take a lot
of work, pal.
And it's not gonna
happen overnight.
It's a big case.
Big settlement.
Big lawyer
in a fancy suit.
This old thing?
Wait till you see me in court.
I'm gonna take
all of 'em, man.
Here you go.
Thank you very much, man.
All right.
All rise.
United States District Court
is now in session.
The Honorable
Thomas Smith presiding.
Be seated.
I've reviewed the transcript
of the innocence hearing,
as well as the magistrate's
recommendations on the claims
in Mr. Fisher's habeas petition.
The relief sought
by Mr. Fisher is granted
in only the most
extreme circumstances.
Regrettably, Mr. Fisher,
I find that our criminal
justice system failed you.
Yes.
I accept
the magistrate's finding
that the jury's guilty verdict
was based on false evidence,
and I vacate Mr. Fisher's
1985 conviction
for the murder of Mary Fisher.
Ms. Cameron,
given your obvious desire
to keep Mr. Fisher in prison,
I assume the city would like
a second bite at the apple.
Absolutely,
Very well.
I grant the city
120 days
to decide on a retrial.
What are they talking about?
What are they talking about?
Let them try,
let them try.
It's okay, it's okay.
We got this. We got it.
You're a free man now.
You need to look like one.
I can go?
Yeah, you can go.
I can go?
Yeah.
Like, now?
Like, right now.
Like, right now.
Eric Fisher
was a victim
of a corrupt
detective
and a legal system that
values closed cases
over the pursuit
of the truth.
Those responsible,
I promise you,
will be held accountable
for this travesty of justice.
You think the city's
gonna go for a retrial?
One can only hope.
So... how's it feel, man?
Hello? Anybody home?
It's, it's just so big.
How do I know that?
Okay, I'm done.
I'm not talking to you anymore.
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.
Put your hands
in your front pocket.
Russell couldn't squeeze
water from a wet sponge.
120 days, people, focus up.
We need to put
Eric Fisher
back where he belongs, yeah?
That shoe print
from the kitchen--
Poulos is gonna say
it's Chris Keller's.
Dave Russell framed
an innocent kid.
Or framed a guilty kid.Talk to Russell,
see if we can use him,
check everything
there is to check.
You two need to give me
a bulletproof case.
Poulos is no
Dream Team.
Fisher's not getting
out of this.
I'm gonna retry this asshole.
Not a problem. Absolutely.
We can take care of that.
There you go.
Thanks.Thank you.
Hey. You okay?
It's open.
Freedom present, my man,
from me to you.
No worries. I'll even
show you how to use it.
If it makes you feel any
better, I'll bill you for it.
It's okay, man, relax.
They're not here for you.
See?
Eric, Eric.
Fuck!
- Christ.
- Hey, man,
what are you doing?
Hey, move!
Look... it is a big
fucking world, all right,
just that's what it is.
Look, just get back in the
car, man. Hold-hold on.
Come on!
Go around!
Those reporters had an agenda.
I was at the
real crime scene.
I looked through the window,
I couldn't see anything.
And you saw the
photos, I assume.
I reconstructed
the scene.
No way he could've seen his
mom through that window.
We're just
getting started, Dave.
We looked over
some of your other cases.
You're a damn good copper.
And since we all want
the same thing here--
Fisher back inside--
we could use your help
on a couple things
his lawyers are gonna jump on.
The shoe print in the kitchen.
Yeah, an expert determined
it didn't match Fisher's.
Yeah, 25 years later.
Somebody else left
a shoe print,
a single shoe print?
After the I.A. Sergeant Lynch
drank Fisher's Kool-Aid.
I know it, like,
could've been one of us,
like tech or cop
or first responder,
but I saw the print,
it was definitely
Fisher's.
Why'd you exclude Chris Keller?
Please. This is
overkill, rage...
very personal.
That's why we wanted
to talk to you.
Get your straight-up
perspective.
So you want to know
how toxic I am
and if you can use me
at the retrial.
All right.
That's my perspective.
Voilà.
It's nice, man.
Thank you.
She, gave it to me
before she passed.
"Give it to him when he gets
out, Charlie."
Faith.
It's a good name for that woman.
You should've waited.
For what?
What if they retry me?
That's not gonna happen,
all right?
No Dave Russell,
no case.
Just take a load off.
This-this is good.
Yeah.
Eric Fisher was a victim...
of a corrupt detective...
Hello?
Alice?
Um, hi, it's-it's,
it's Eric.
Fisher.
My God, Eric.
I'm watching you on the news.
Yeah. I just, I just got out.
Um...
I was hoping that I could,
that I could see you.
Um...
I mean, you know,
just to, just to meet.
To thank you for your support.
How about
Thursday night?
I'm having dinner at my house.
Dinner?Yeah.
Um, I'm gonna send you
the details, okay?
I can't wait to meet.
Hello?
Wait, I don't have your addre...
This is a collect call from...
Eric Fisher...an inmate
at California
State Prison Webson.
Press "1" to accept the call.
Eric, hey.
Melanie, how was your birthday?
Did you get what you wanted?
I got the sweetest card
from your stepmom.
It's very generous, thank you.
Holy shit. Birthday card
from Faith, 2005.
Yes, according
to Kim Decker,
she was Chris Keller's
girlfriend.
You find her?
You haven't talked to him
since he's been out?MELANIE: It was a long time ago.
What happened to Eric...To Eric, Melanie?
Or his mom?
He didn't do it.
Two years ago,
Eric Fisher sent you $7,500.
Why?
I wrote to him.
I was having money trouble.
You also talked
on the phone.
After the articles,
when it looked like
Eric was getting out.
Yeah, it feels like a payoff.
To keep your mouth shut?
No, it was...
...compensation.
For what?
He gave me herpes.
20 years before?
You really want
to protect someone
who did this...
to his mother?
Stop.
Okay, if Eric
didn't do it,
who did?
He told me Chris Keller.
I believed him.
Chris was real violent.
What about the other people
in his apartment complex?
Like Trey Carano, the Pines?
That was Chris's.
You remember this?
A cord?
He kept it on his backpack.
He wanted to use it on me.
To choke me.
For sex.
Nurse Pruitt?
I wouldn't let him do it.
Can I go now?
Let's go take care
of that cough.
I believe her-- if someone
tried to choke me with that
thing, I'd remember it.
Fisher's defense is
gonna use the cord.
They're gonna say Keller did it.
Who knows?
Maybe we are, too.
Eric Fisher.
Finally.
I invited a few friends
over for dinner.
I hope that's okay.
No, it's, it's fine.
I told them not to ask too
many questions, you know.
You know, the man just got out.
But if you feel uncomfortable
at any moment,
just, you know, say the word.
Is he here?
Um...
Eric Fisher, meet Dolph.
Dolph Weber.
The boyfriend.
Hey, man...
welcome back.
How's it feel?
Fuck, we need ice.
He's not my boyfriend.
This is exactly why we shouldn't
trash physical evidence.
Even after two appeals.
Medium-velocity blood spatter.
Not just drips.
I remember.
Caused by some type of hit.
Meaning he was present
at the murder.
Not necessarily.
Fisher said he was
kneeling beside her.
His foot, near her mouth...
Contrary to Russell's testimony,
there were drops of blood
on the sleeves here.
And these were grease stains,
not blood.
Same for his pants.
No blood spatter,
day of the crime.
Do you think this could've
caused this pattern here?
I'd have the coroner
take a look.
Your father sounds
like an amazing man.
He gave me hope.
Prison--
if you give up hope...
You give up.
Trina runs a podcast about
the American justice system.
All right...
And if she asks you
to do it now,
I'm gonna shoot her.
What about when you confessed?
Which he did.
Like, four times,
I think.
Yeah, to get parole.
Detective Russell--
why did he go after you?
Look, I don't know, man.
You got to ask him.
But the papers looked
at his other cases.
It's not like he
framed somebody else.
Okay. Hey.
What?
Cut it out.
Why?
'Cause you want to fuck him?
Good luck with that.
Yeah, I had a patient
who was in county
for a year on a DUI.
He couldn't talk
about it for six months.
You survive by holding
onto the truth.
I mean, if you don't say it
over and over...
and over again to yourself,
out loud, to anybody
who will listen...
it slips away.
Like a white doe
in the woodlands.
So, keep doing that.
Um, telling
your story.
Your truth.
No, not just
for you.
To help make sure it doesn't
happen to anybody else.
Start with
Trina's podcast.
She's got a huge audience.
I don't know.
After that,
I've got
loads of connections.
You need to own
your story.
Do you think...?
Do you believe
that I'm innocent?
Like, do you
know that?
You want to check again?
Eric...
take it out on me.
What they
did to you.
I can handle it.
I want to,
I want to handle it.
Shit.
It's okay, it's okay.
Listen to me.
If that hadn't happened,
I'd be worried.
So, this wasn't the Quadrobow?
It's possible.
The coroner's
testing it now.
Okay, well, Poulos is already
lining up experts who will say
it's from the same shoe as
the print in the kitchen.
Chris Keller's,
yeah.
We're fine
with that.
Melanie Pruitt says
the cord belonged to Keller.
And Keller told Dave Russell
he was in town
two days before the murder.
That's it, man.
We're all cleaned out.
What day is it?
Thursday.
All right, come on.
She won't be back
before 3:00.
So they head over
to Eric's house.
Fuck.
Goddamn it.
Eric?
What the hell
are you doing here?
Nothing. Jesus.
You're high.
You shit, you need
to get out of here.
Don't fucking
touch me, bitch.
Aah! Fuck!
Shit!
Shit!
Fuck.
Look away.
Look away!
Chris Keller gets blood
on his sneaker.
Goes into the kitchen
to clean up.
Leaves the second shoe print.
Then what?
Well, his clothes
would be drenched in blood
after an attack
like that, so, yeah...
Either Eric forgot
to check the sneakers
or he didn't see the blood.
Meanwhile, Keller goes
through the purse,
But he didn't find
the six 20s in the side pocket.
Then he gets
the hell out of there.
Takes Eric's bloody clothes
so he can ditch them.
And Eric stays behind,
calls his dad,
the operator,
tells his story.
Multiple weapons.
Multiple killers.
It makes more sense
than Russell's theory.
"More" or just as much?
'Cause Fisher says that he
crawled through the window
after he saw his mother
inside on the floor.
So, if you've got hard evidence
that contradicts that,
I haven't heard it yet.
The blood spatter on the shoe
print-- our analyst says that
it proves that Fisher was in
close proximity to his mother.
While he was killing her
or after he found her?
'Cause, Jesus,
he admits proximity.
Melanie Pruitt. Can she help?
For the defense, maybe.
She thinks Keller did it alone.
Best we can do is use
the asshole's herpes payoff
to discredit
her testimony.
And you're sure
we can't use Russell?
Not if we want to win.
We need more.
We need more or
we're gonna look
like the bad guys.
Shrinks, counselors,
friends, neighbors,
all the leads
that Russell ignored.
What do think we're doing?
Do it better.
Okay.
If you're still having doubts
about who the bad guys are,
you need to listen to this.
The way he answers
the second time,
when they
call him back.
Sherman Oaks. Please hurry.
Calm down and tell me
what happened.
I don't know how it happened.He's all frantic.
They-they stabbed her.
My God, she's dying.
Get over here!
Just hang on a few minutes.
We're sending an ambulance
to you right away.
Okay, hurry.
Mr. Fisher, this is the Los
Angeles City Fire Department.
Now listen.
Yeah, hi.
We're calling you back.
You said there was an attack.
A- Attack? Yes. Yes, there was!
And then he ramps
himself up again.
Can you tell me
who attacked your mom?
This guy is so fucking guilty.
President Obama,
meanwhile, praised
the two men for listening
to each other's points of view
and he cites their dialogue
as a teachable moment.
And in local news,
L.A. County District Attorney...
Bacon and eggs.
Problem is,
can only make 'em for 400.
The D.A.'s office stands
by Eric Fisher's conviction.
We have every intention
of retrying this case.What the fuck?
Mr. Poulos, care to comment
on the D.A.'s announcement
that they'll retry
your client Eric Fisher?
My client welcomes
the opportunity for a new jury
to hear the true facts
of his case...Fucking "welcomes"?
which will prove his innocence
once and for all.
Hey.
D.A. wants to retry me.
You're out here giving him
the fucking finger.
They've got no shot.
Their evidence is either
lost or discredited.
Their star witness
is a proven liar.
I could win this case
in my sleep.
I say... bring it on.
Look, man, as far
as we're concerned,
they're just adding zeroes
to the settlement.
It's-it's the money. The money.
It's all you care about.And you should care,
too, a lot.
What are you gonna do for work?
Who's gonna hire you?
Until you've been compensated
for what they stole from you,
you're never gonna be free.
When I'm finished with them,
you'll be set
for life.
Yeah, I got to fucking fire
his ass.
I'm gonna represent myself.
Motherfucker.
Poulos is right.
Think about it. That
money represents...
I mean, that could
give you a future.
A future I'd-- I don't know--
like to be part of.
Yeah, well, why wouldn't you?
You know? Why wouldn't
you want to be a part
if it's a fucking payday?
Yeah, that's why
I wrote to you
in prison for the last
two years. I thought, "Oh,
"he's gonna get out for sure,
get a big fat settlement check.
I'll be straight."
Come on.
Come on.
Do you think I want your money?What money?
They're gonna put
me back in prison.
I got to get the
fuck out of here.
Hey, brother,
you got some change?
Hey, man, hey,
you got some change?
H- Hey, check this one out.
Sensible artwork.
Everything by hand.
Look...
I've been alone for 26 years.
I'm not used
to trusting anybody.
But if you give me a second
chance, I-I'd like to try.
Just... just don't
walk out on me like that.
Thank you.Hope you packed
your toothbrush.
Hey.
We got this.
All rise.
The Honorable
Caitlin Berkley presiding.
Be seated.
We're here
for a status conference
on People v. Fisher.
Ms. Cameron, does the D.A.'s
office intend to proceed
with the prosecution
of this case?
Your Honor,
there is no doubt in my mind
that Eric Fisher
is guilty of murder.
Blood spatter
on his shoes, motive,
and the personal nature
of the crime
all incriminate Fisher
as the perpetrator
of this brutal murder.
And then we have his obvious
lies after the murder, his...
multiple confessions
of guilt,
and more recently,
evidence that he paid a witness
a substantial sum of money
to keep her from testifying
against him.
That's something
we believe we can prove.
If it's time for
opening arguments,
I got a real doozy.
It's called the truth,
and it refutes every word
she just said and more.
Point taken, Mr. Poulos.
Ms. Cameron.
It's been 26 years.
Witnesses have died.
Crucial evidence
has been destroyed.
If we could
time-travel back to the 1980s,
I'm confident that
we could prove Fisher's guilt
beyond
a reasonable doubt.
But here and now,
we're not certain that we could
achieve that result.
And so, regrettably,
we move
to dismiss this case
without prejudice.
Mr. Fisher, you're free to go.
Yes! Yes. Yes. Yeah.
What the hell was that?Evidence wasn't good enough.
Not for my boss,
not for the city...
Hey, this is wrong.
He's done 26 years.
Carol.
It's just politics.
What's your name and location?
- It's Eric Fisher.
- 4568 Addison Street.
Sherman Oaks. Please hurry.
Can you tell me how it happened?
I don't know how it happened.
They-they stabbed her.
My God, she's dying.
Get over here!
Just hang on a few minutes.
We're sending an ambulance
to you right away.
Okay, hurry.
He said "they."
"They stabbed her."
"They stabbed my mother."
If he did it with Keller,
he wouldn't say "they."
Drop it. It's over.
Crazed hippies.
That's what he told
the first responders.
What if he was telling
the truth?
You're not gonna help
me pack up, are you?
I'm serious.
What if there's a real "they"?
They're real.
And they're still out there.
Los Angeles
City Fire Department.
I need an ambulance. Hurry.
Calm down
and tell me what happened.
My mom's fucking dying, okay?
Just get over here.
What's your name and location?
It's Eric Fisher.
4568 Addison Street.
Sherman Oaks. Please hurry.
Can you tell me
how it happened?
I don't know how it happened.
They-they stabbed her.
My God, she's dying.
Get over here!
Just hang on a few minutes.
We're sending an ambulance
to you right away.
Okay, hurry.
Mr. Fisher,
this is the Los Angeles
City Fire Department.
Yeah, hi.
We're calling you back.
You said there was an attack.
A- Attack? Yes. Yes, there was!
My mom.
You need to come quickly.
Can you tell me
who attacked your mom?
I have no idea.
I saw her through the window,
so I-I broke in.
Mom, hang on.
Okay, but it wasn't you, right?
It wasn't me. I don't know,
I don't,
I don't know who did it.
God.
Jesus.
My mom--
she's fucking dying, okay?
Just get over here.
No. No, no-no.
Th-- th-- this is wrong.
Do you, want
to see the drawing?
Yeah.
She's in the
exact position.
Russell testified that Eric
couldn't have seen his mother,
because of the glare.
I know.
I was there.
But if there was no glare
on the day of the murder, then
he could see her.
In fact, because
of that planter,
this is the only window
he couldsee her through.
Just like Eric said.
You hadn't worked
with Dave Russell before.
You had no reason to doubt him.
It was my case.
If mistakes were made, and I'm
not saying that
there were,
it was my case.
The $150,
the money missing
from Mary Fisher's purse.
You told the jury
that Eric stole it.Because he did.
Yeah, sure, we should've
found it, but we didn't.
Real life, guys.
Shit happens.
O.J. should've been drenched
in blood but he wasn't.
Shit happens.
Fisher's relationship
with the victim,
his drug use, his confession.
We had a strong case.
Three weeks after
Eric's conviction,
the court clerk
logged the contents
of the purse.
Last entry. Six.
$20 bills found
in a side compartment.
Detective Russell testified
that he'd searched the purse.
Do you think he was lying?
If Russell was framing Fisher,
he would have taken
that money, too, right?
And after
everything
you've seen today,
you still have no doubt
about Eric Fisher's guilt?
Mr. Eckert?
I didn't say that.
You're not gonna
believe this.
What's it say, Charlie?Jesus, they got everything.
All of Dave Russell's
fuckups and lies.
Fuck me.
What?D.A. Eckert says
he has reasonable doubt.
Don't make it sound
better than it is.
Did he say that, or...?It's a direct quote.
- Fuck.
- Fisher.
Okay. I got to--
I got to go.Hey.
Russell. Big picture
with that shit-eating grin.
Get used to it, asshole.
This takes Russell down and gets
you your innocence hearing.
Hold on.
Excuse me, excuse me.
Those are mine.
Thanks.
Yeah, we did it.
Eric, you there?
Fucking did it?Good day?
You don't even know, baby.
Hey, LT.
I heard.
That's how you make
lieutenant?
We've had our
differences, Captain.
But you know I didn't do this.
I know your work now.
Nothing's changed.
I'm the same cop I always was.
I called over to PSB
this morning.
They're looking
into a new complaint.
I didn't do anything wrong.
They're gonna believe
a convict over me?
I got 33 years on.
Something like this--
front page.
RHD has to reopen Fisher.
Well, they'll find
the same thing I did.
Fisher did it.While they're at it,
they'll go
through all your other cases,
look for a pattern.
"They."
This isn't the LAPD
I signed up for.
Well, that's the problem, Russ.
You think
it should be.
Yeah.
This is Deborah Russell
at the public defender's office.
Hey, honey, it's me.Leave a message
and I'll call you back.
You there?
If you are satisfied
with your message,
press one.It's your father.
If you'd like to re-record
your message, press two.
If you'd like to change your...
Dave. My God, I'm so sorry.
How you doing?
I've had better days.
I'm trying to
find Debbie.
Her car's here. I figured
she might be, too.
Actually, she's up north,
some kind of legal conference.
Her-- our house
is airport parking.
All right, well,
if you see her before I do,
tell her to call me.
I need to talk to my daughter.
Is he gone?He's your father, honey.
Is he gone?
I hate lying.
Sign here, here and here.
And it's official.
How's it feel?
İt takes some getting
used to, I suppose.
But better for you than for him.
His mother gets murdered,
and you steal his whole life.
Look, I appreciate
your interest,
Mr., Mr. Poulos,
but the, the problem is,
I missed the deadline
for my federal habe...
We make them waive a deadline.
Establish likelihood
of innocence
at an evidentiary hearing.
Yeah. Sure.
That's gonna happen.
Rampart. Rodney King.
Times have changed.
But getting the hearing,
that's just the start.
We've got to dismantle
the entire case
to get a good ruling
on your habeas claims.
And what's that gonna cost me?Not a thing.
Until we get you out.
Charlie Shannon says
you're low on funds.
Yeah, well,
Charlie should know.
Look, it's no slam dunk,
but my firm is willing
to take the risk.
If we get that hearing,
if your conviction
is overturned,
Okay, then it's the,
the civil suit,
and you guys get a piece
of my settlement.
How much?
What Detective Russell
did to you,
what the city of Los Angeles
allowed him to do,
if we prove
your innocence,
the powers that be will have
a deep, abiding interest
in seeing to it that
justice is served.
My firm gets 40% of
that justice, plus costs.
Eric.
It's gonna take a lot
of work, pal.
And it's not gonna
happen overnight.
It's a big case.
Big settlement.
Big lawyer
in a fancy suit.
This old thing?
Wait till you see me in court.
I'm gonna take
all of 'em, man.
Here you go.
Thank you very much, man.
All right.
All rise.
United States District Court
is now in session.
The Honorable
Thomas Smith presiding.
Be seated.
I've reviewed the transcript
of the innocence hearing,
as well as the magistrate's
recommendations on the claims
in Mr. Fisher's habeas petition.
The relief sought
by Mr. Fisher is granted
in only the most
extreme circumstances.
Regrettably, Mr. Fisher,
I find that our criminal
justice system failed you.
Yes.
I accept
the magistrate's finding
that the jury's guilty verdict
was based on false evidence,
and I vacate Mr. Fisher's
1985 conviction
for the murder of Mary Fisher.
Ms. Cameron,
given your obvious desire
to keep Mr. Fisher in prison,
I assume the city would like
a second bite at the apple.
Absolutely,
Very well.
I grant the city
120 days
to decide on a retrial.
What are they talking about?
What are they talking about?
Let them try,
let them try.
It's okay, it's okay.
We got this. We got it.
You're a free man now.
You need to look like one.
I can go?
Yeah, you can go.
I can go?
Yeah.
Like, now?
Like, right now.
Like, right now.
Eric Fisher
was a victim
of a corrupt
detective
and a legal system that
values closed cases
over the pursuit
of the truth.
Those responsible,
I promise you,
will be held accountable
for this travesty of justice.
You think the city's
gonna go for a retrial?
One can only hope.
So... how's it feel, man?
Hello? Anybody home?
It's, it's just so big.
How do I know that?
Okay, I'm done.
I'm not talking to you anymore.
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.
Put your hands
in your front pocket.
Russell couldn't squeeze
water from a wet sponge.
120 days, people, focus up.
We need to put
Eric Fisher
back where he belongs, yeah?
That shoe print
from the kitchen--
Poulos is gonna say
it's Chris Keller's.
Dave Russell framed
an innocent kid.
Or framed a guilty kid.Talk to Russell,
see if we can use him,
check everything
there is to check.
You two need to give me
a bulletproof case.
Poulos is no
Dream Team.
Fisher's not getting
out of this.
I'm gonna retry this asshole.
Not a problem. Absolutely.
We can take care of that.
There you go.
Thanks.Thank you.
Hey. You okay?
It's open.
Freedom present, my man,
from me to you.
No worries. I'll even
show you how to use it.
If it makes you feel any
better, I'll bill you for it.
It's okay, man, relax.
They're not here for you.
See?
Eric, Eric.
Fuck!
- Christ.
- Hey, man,
what are you doing?
Hey, move!
Look... it is a big
fucking world, all right,
just that's what it is.
Look, just get back in the
car, man. Hold-hold on.
Come on!
Go around!
Those reporters had an agenda.
I was at the
real crime scene.
I looked through the window,
I couldn't see anything.
And you saw the
photos, I assume.
I reconstructed
the scene.
No way he could've seen his
mom through that window.
We're just
getting started, Dave.
We looked over
some of your other cases.
You're a damn good copper.
And since we all want
the same thing here--
Fisher back inside--
we could use your help
on a couple things
his lawyers are gonna jump on.
The shoe print in the kitchen.
Yeah, an expert determined
it didn't match Fisher's.
Yeah, 25 years later.
Somebody else left
a shoe print,
a single shoe print?
After the I.A. Sergeant Lynch
drank Fisher's Kool-Aid.
I know it, like,
could've been one of us,
like tech or cop
or first responder,
but I saw the print,
it was definitely
Fisher's.
Why'd you exclude Chris Keller?
Please. This is
overkill, rage...
very personal.
That's why we wanted
to talk to you.
Get your straight-up
perspective.
So you want to know
how toxic I am
and if you can use me
at the retrial.
All right.
That's my perspective.
Voilà.
It's nice, man.
Thank you.
She, gave it to me
before she passed.
"Give it to him when he gets
out, Charlie."
Faith.
It's a good name for that woman.
You should've waited.
For what?
What if they retry me?
That's not gonna happen,
all right?
No Dave Russell,
no case.
Just take a load off.
This-this is good.
Yeah.
Eric Fisher was a victim...
of a corrupt detective...
Hello?
Alice?
Um, hi, it's-it's,
it's Eric.
Fisher.
My God, Eric.
I'm watching you on the news.
Yeah. I just, I just got out.
Um...
I was hoping that I could,
that I could see you.
Um...
I mean, you know,
just to, just to meet.
To thank you for your support.
How about
Thursday night?
I'm having dinner at my house.
Dinner?Yeah.
Um, I'm gonna send you
the details, okay?
I can't wait to meet.
Hello?
Wait, I don't have your addre...
This is a collect call from...
Eric Fisher...an inmate
at California
State Prison Webson.
Press "1" to accept the call.
Eric, hey.
Melanie, how was your birthday?
Did you get what you wanted?
I got the sweetest card
from your stepmom.
It's very generous, thank you.
Holy shit. Birthday card
from Faith, 2005.
Yes, according
to Kim Decker,
she was Chris Keller's
girlfriend.
You find her?
You haven't talked to him
since he's been out?MELANIE: It was a long time ago.
What happened to Eric...To Eric, Melanie?
Or his mom?
He didn't do it.
Two years ago,
Eric Fisher sent you $7,500.
Why?
I wrote to him.
I was having money trouble.
You also talked
on the phone.
After the articles,
when it looked like
Eric was getting out.
Yeah, it feels like a payoff.
To keep your mouth shut?
No, it was...
...compensation.
For what?
He gave me herpes.
20 years before?
You really want
to protect someone
who did this...
to his mother?
Stop.
Okay, if Eric
didn't do it,
who did?
He told me Chris Keller.
I believed him.
Chris was real violent.
What about the other people
in his apartment complex?
Like Trey Carano, the Pines?
That was Chris's.
You remember this?
A cord?
He kept it on his backpack.
He wanted to use it on me.
To choke me.
For sex.
Nurse Pruitt?
I wouldn't let him do it.
Can I go now?
Let's go take care
of that cough.
I believe her-- if someone
tried to choke me with that
thing, I'd remember it.
Fisher's defense is
gonna use the cord.
They're gonna say Keller did it.
Who knows?
Maybe we are, too.
Eric Fisher.
Finally.
I invited a few friends
over for dinner.
I hope that's okay.
No, it's, it's fine.
I told them not to ask too
many questions, you know.
You know, the man just got out.
But if you feel uncomfortable
at any moment,
just, you know, say the word.
Is he here?
Um...
Eric Fisher, meet Dolph.
Dolph Weber.
The boyfriend.
Hey, man...
welcome back.
How's it feel?
Fuck, we need ice.
He's not my boyfriend.
This is exactly why we shouldn't
trash physical evidence.
Even after two appeals.
Medium-velocity blood spatter.
Not just drips.
I remember.
Caused by some type of hit.
Meaning he was present
at the murder.
Not necessarily.
Fisher said he was
kneeling beside her.
His foot, near her mouth...
Contrary to Russell's testimony,
there were drops of blood
on the sleeves here.
And these were grease stains,
not blood.
Same for his pants.
No blood spatter,
day of the crime.
Do you think this could've
caused this pattern here?
I'd have the coroner
take a look.
Your father sounds
like an amazing man.
He gave me hope.
Prison--
if you give up hope...
You give up.
Trina runs a podcast about
the American justice system.
All right...
And if she asks you
to do it now,
I'm gonna shoot her.
What about when you confessed?
Which he did.
Like, four times,
I think.
Yeah, to get parole.
Detective Russell--
why did he go after you?
Look, I don't know, man.
You got to ask him.
But the papers looked
at his other cases.
It's not like he
framed somebody else.
Okay. Hey.
What?
Cut it out.
Why?
'Cause you want to fuck him?
Good luck with that.
Yeah, I had a patient
who was in county
for a year on a DUI.
He couldn't talk
about it for six months.
You survive by holding
onto the truth.
I mean, if you don't say it
over and over...
and over again to yourself,
out loud, to anybody
who will listen...
it slips away.
Like a white doe
in the woodlands.
So, keep doing that.
Um, telling
your story.
Your truth.
No, not just
for you.
To help make sure it doesn't
happen to anybody else.
Start with
Trina's podcast.
She's got a huge audience.
I don't know.
After that,
I've got
loads of connections.
You need to own
your story.
Do you think...?
Do you believe
that I'm innocent?
Like, do you
know that?
You want to check again?
Eric...
take it out on me.
What they
did to you.
I can handle it.
I want to,
I want to handle it.
Shit.
It's okay, it's okay.
Listen to me.
If that hadn't happened,
I'd be worried.
So, this wasn't the Quadrobow?
It's possible.
The coroner's
testing it now.
Okay, well, Poulos is already
lining up experts who will say
it's from the same shoe as
the print in the kitchen.
Chris Keller's,
yeah.
We're fine
with that.
Melanie Pruitt says
the cord belonged to Keller.
And Keller told Dave Russell
he was in town
two days before the murder.
That's it, man.
We're all cleaned out.
What day is it?
Thursday.
All right, come on.
She won't be back
before 3:00.
So they head over
to Eric's house.
Fuck.
Goddamn it.
Eric?
What the hell
are you doing here?
Nothing. Jesus.
You're high.
You shit, you need
to get out of here.
Don't fucking
touch me, bitch.
Aah! Fuck!
Shit!
Shit!
Fuck.
Look away.
Look away!
Chris Keller gets blood
on his sneaker.
Goes into the kitchen
to clean up.
Leaves the second shoe print.
Then what?
Well, his clothes
would be drenched in blood
after an attack
like that, so, yeah...
Either Eric forgot
to check the sneakers
or he didn't see the blood.
Meanwhile, Keller goes
through the purse,
But he didn't find
the six 20s in the side pocket.
Then he gets
the hell out of there.
Takes Eric's bloody clothes
so he can ditch them.
And Eric stays behind,
calls his dad,
the operator,
tells his story.
Multiple weapons.
Multiple killers.
It makes more sense
than Russell's theory.
"More" or just as much?
'Cause Fisher says that he
crawled through the window
after he saw his mother
inside on the floor.
So, if you've got hard evidence
that contradicts that,
I haven't heard it yet.
The blood spatter on the shoe
print-- our analyst says that
it proves that Fisher was in
close proximity to his mother.
While he was killing her
or after he found her?
'Cause, Jesus,
he admits proximity.
Melanie Pruitt. Can she help?
For the defense, maybe.
She thinks Keller did it alone.
Best we can do is use
the asshole's herpes payoff
to discredit
her testimony.
And you're sure
we can't use Russell?
Not if we want to win.
We need more.
We need more or
we're gonna look
like the bad guys.
Shrinks, counselors,
friends, neighbors,
all the leads
that Russell ignored.
What do think we're doing?
Do it better.
Okay.
If you're still having doubts
about who the bad guys are,
you need to listen to this.
The way he answers
the second time,
when they
call him back.
Sherman Oaks. Please hurry.
Calm down and tell me
what happened.
I don't know how it happened.He's all frantic.
They-they stabbed her.
My God, she's dying.
Get over here!
Just hang on a few minutes.
We're sending an ambulance
to you right away.
Okay, hurry.
Mr. Fisher, this is the Los
Angeles City Fire Department.
Now listen.
Yeah, hi.
We're calling you back.
You said there was an attack.
A- Attack? Yes. Yes, there was!
And then he ramps
himself up again.
Can you tell me
who attacked your mom?
This guy is so fucking guilty.
President Obama,
meanwhile, praised
the two men for listening
to each other's points of view
and he cites their dialogue
as a teachable moment.
And in local news,
L.A. County District Attorney...
Bacon and eggs.
Problem is,
can only make 'em for 400.
The D.A.'s office stands
by Eric Fisher's conviction.
We have every intention
of retrying this case.What the fuck?
Mr. Poulos, care to comment
on the D.A.'s announcement
that they'll retry
your client Eric Fisher?
My client welcomes
the opportunity for a new jury
to hear the true facts
of his case...Fucking "welcomes"?
which will prove his innocence
once and for all.
Hey.
D.A. wants to retry me.
You're out here giving him
the fucking finger.
They've got no shot.
Their evidence is either
lost or discredited.
Their star witness
is a proven liar.
I could win this case
in my sleep.
I say... bring it on.
Look, man, as far
as we're concerned,
they're just adding zeroes
to the settlement.
It's-it's the money. The money.
It's all you care about.And you should care,
too, a lot.
What are you gonna do for work?
Who's gonna hire you?
Until you've been compensated
for what they stole from you,
you're never gonna be free.
When I'm finished with them,
you'll be set
for life.
Yeah, I got to fucking fire
his ass.
I'm gonna represent myself.
Motherfucker.
Poulos is right.
Think about it. That
money represents...
I mean, that could
give you a future.
A future I'd-- I don't know--
like to be part of.
Yeah, well, why wouldn't you?
You know? Why wouldn't
you want to be a part
if it's a fucking payday?
Yeah, that's why
I wrote to you
in prison for the last
two years. I thought, "Oh,
"he's gonna get out for sure,
get a big fat settlement check.
I'll be straight."
Come on.
Come on.
Do you think I want your money?What money?
They're gonna put
me back in prison.
I got to get the
fuck out of here.
Hey, brother,
you got some change?
Hey, man, hey,
you got some change?
H- Hey, check this one out.
Sensible artwork.
Everything by hand.
Look...
I've been alone for 26 years.
I'm not used
to trusting anybody.
But if you give me a second
chance, I-I'd like to try.
Just... just don't
walk out on me like that.
Thank you.Hope you packed
your toothbrush.
Hey.
We got this.
All rise.
The Honorable
Caitlin Berkley presiding.
Be seated.
We're here
for a status conference
on People v. Fisher.
Ms. Cameron, does the D.A.'s
office intend to proceed
with the prosecution
of this case?
Your Honor,
there is no doubt in my mind
that Eric Fisher
is guilty of murder.
Blood spatter
on his shoes, motive,
and the personal nature
of the crime
all incriminate Fisher
as the perpetrator
of this brutal murder.
And then we have his obvious
lies after the murder, his...
multiple confessions
of guilt,
and more recently,
evidence that he paid a witness
a substantial sum of money
to keep her from testifying
against him.
That's something
we believe we can prove.
If it's time for
opening arguments,
I got a real doozy.
It's called the truth,
and it refutes every word
she just said and more.
Point taken, Mr. Poulos.
Ms. Cameron.
It's been 26 years.
Witnesses have died.
Crucial evidence
has been destroyed.
If we could
time-travel back to the 1980s,
I'm confident that
we could prove Fisher's guilt
beyond
a reasonable doubt.
But here and now,
we're not certain that we could
achieve that result.
And so, regrettably,
we move
to dismiss this case
without prejudice.
Mr. Fisher, you're free to go.
Yes! Yes. Yes. Yeah.
What the hell was that?Evidence wasn't good enough.
Not for my boss,
not for the city...
Hey, this is wrong.
He's done 26 years.
Carol.
It's just politics.
What's your name and location?
- It's Eric Fisher.
- 4568 Addison Street.
Sherman Oaks. Please hurry.
Can you tell me how it happened?
I don't know how it happened.
They-they stabbed her.
My God, she's dying.
Get over here!
Just hang on a few minutes.
We're sending an ambulance
to you right away.
Okay, hurry.
He said "they."
"They stabbed her."
"They stabbed my mother."
If he did it with Keller,
he wouldn't say "they."
Drop it. It's over.
Crazed hippies.
That's what he told
the first responders.
What if he was telling
the truth?
You're not gonna help
me pack up, are you?
I'm serious.
What if there's a real "they"?
They're real.
And they're still out there.
Los Angeles
City Fire Department.
I need an ambulance. Hurry.
Calm down
and tell me what happened.
My mom's fucking dying, okay?
Just get over here.
What's your name and location?
It's Eric Fisher.
4568 Addison Street.
Sherman Oaks. Please hurry.
Can you tell me
how it happened?
I don't know how it happened.
They-they stabbed her.
My God, she's dying.
Get over here!
Just hang on a few minutes.
We're sending an ambulance
to you right away.
Okay, hurry.
Mr. Fisher,
this is the Los Angeles
City Fire Department.
Yeah, hi.
We're calling you back.
You said there was an attack.
A- Attack? Yes. Yes, there was!
My mom.
You need to come quickly.
Can you tell me
who attacked your mom?
I have no idea.
I saw her through the window,
so I-I broke in.
Mom, hang on.
Okay, but it wasn't you, right?
It wasn't me. I don't know,
I don't,
I don't know who did it.
God.
Jesus.