Proven Innocent (2018–…): Season 1, Episode 8 - The Struggle for Stonewall - full transcript

- Are you sure you want to poke the bear?
- I want to rip his heart out.

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Previously on Proven Innocent...

If someone needs our help,
we don't give a damn

where they come from.

We believe the justice system
is flawed.

- The hell's going on?
- There he is.

Mr. Bellows. Noah Weiss,
campaign strategist.



We're gonna need to change
the entire structure

- of the campaign.
- This is ridiculous.

You think that you're there
for me, but really,

- you just show up when you want to be the hero.
- I do not.

I don't need you saving me
anymore. I'm fine on my own.

Offer a deal
that sends Levi Scott

to anger management counseling.
I'll do the rest.

- And you can get him to talk?
- Of course.

If this was speed dating,
I'd be into it.

Man, this place is rocking.

Really makes me rethink
my lifestyle choices.

Being gay
is not a choice, Bodie.

It is if you love Fox News.

Ladies! I don't know
how you're pulling it off,



but you are
absolutely killing it.

Baby, there ain't no pulling
anything off. We tuck it in.

Do you happen to know where...

My God. Madeline?
Madeline Scott, is that you?

Your trial was the biggest thing
around here.

We cheered so loud
when you got out of prison.

We cried, girl. We even had
a Madeline Scott night

- at our bar.
- Cried.

Everybody came dressed like you.

- She even wore your hair.
- You do have my hair.

- It's kind of amazing.
- I do have your hair.

- You're amazing.
- What are you doing here, mama? -I'm looking

for a law firm. Do you know
where Watts & Watts is?

Loca, that's right
down the street

and go right around the corner.

- Perfect, thank you so much.
- No, baby. Where you going?

Get your phone out.
We need a selfie.

- Get in here.
- Girl, no one's gonna believe us.

We say three,
you're gonna smile, say "yas."

- Ready? One, two, three.
- Yas!

Her name is Cindy Whitman.

She was convicted of killing a
transgender woman back in 1982.

The victim, Vanessa Evans,
was the most important

trans activist of her time.

Cindy is transgender herself,
and the prisons have stopped

issuing her hormones
due to cutbacks.

I'm suing them to get them back.

I can't imagine what she's going
through. That's like having

your identity ripped away.

I was friends with a trans man
in prison.

Taking away his testosterone
would have been like

- taking away his existence.
- Exactly.

And to get her hormones back,
I have to prove

how long she's been on them.

I confirmed with the doctor
that she's been

taking them since the late '70s,
which led me

to a really interesting
discovery.

The blood at the crime scene
matched Cindy's blood type,

which is AB negative.

It's the rarest blood type.

Right, only 0.6%
of the population has it.

At the time, it was primarily
what they used to convict her.

But I just discovered
from the lab reports

that the hormone levels
in the blood

were significantly lower
than that of someone

- who is transitioning.
- So the blood at the crime scene

couldn't have been Cindy's.

I think we have grounds here
to reopen this case.

I'd say so.

Which leads me
to another problem,

but I think
you're the perfect person

- to help me with it.
- Why is that?

Cindy doesn't want
to get out of jail.

Imagine you are looking
at yourself in the mirror.

It sounds like you
and it looks like you.

But deep down, you know
this isn't your true self.

On this week's episode
of Until Proven Innocent,

we'll explore what happens
when one dares

to finally live in their truth,

knowing that so many in the
world will hate them for it.

I know I'm not much
to look at now,

but you should have seen me
back in the day.

Lord Jesus, I was fabulous.

You're still fabulous.

Really, sweetie?

I swear on the Bible.

Hell.

The religious boys,
they love me.

Honey, the bigger the Bible,
the bigger the closet.

They were always
chasing after me.

Tell us about Vanessa.

Vanessa Evans was our hero.

She was one of the bravest trans
activists I knew back then.

Ness held it down.

Police report said you got
in a fight the night she died,

that it was a lover's quarrel.

Yeah.

Because they thought we were
queer men and not women.

Vanessa and I,
we were never lovers.

She was like a sister to me.

But the cops saw me
as trans-trash,

so they threw the book at me.

Well... thanks
to what Garrett found,

- we think you have a real shot.
- At getting my hormones?

At getting
your conviction overturned.

You shouldn't have
to suffer in jail

for a crime you didn't commit.

You know,
the real suffering happened

when I had to live
my life as Steve.

That was torture every day.

And that torture's coming back
if I don't get my hormones.

Cindy, why don't
you want to get out?

'Cause there's nothing
out there for me.

Everyone I knew is gone.

AIDS, hate crimes, suicide.

40% of trans folks are trying
to kill themselves.

40%. Can you imagine
if that number was that high

for any other group of people?
Honey, there'd be a telethon

around the clock.

No. I'd rather stay in here.

But if you really want
to help me,

if you really want to help me,

get me my hormones, please.

Because I'll die without them.

It's as if I've never done this
before or something.

Wow, I'm a little nervous.

I totally get that.

- I get nervous.
- No, you don't.

Nervous means like, you know,
you're in the game, like,

nervous means you want to win.

Being nervous is good.

Okay. Right. Nervous is good.

- Nervous is good.
- I'll just be nervous all the time.

- That's the spirit.
- Okay, um...

Our guest today
is podcasting icon

- and my personal hero Ira Glass.
- Glad to be here.

"Podcasting icon" is such,
like, a funny thing to say.

Like, I'm this "icon"
of this thing

that most people
have never heard of.

One of the biggest
challenges in podcasting

is balancing the story
that you're actually telling

with some kind of
bigger meaning or message,

which is something
you do effortlessly.

- What's your secret?
- I mean, honestly, we just try

to tell the plot
of what happened to a person,

and then, ideally,
they are the one who have

the bigger thought or idea
about what it means.

Um, and then if they don't,
like, then the host or reporter

can jump in
and give that meaning.

There's a really amazing example

that I just heard where it was
this story of this 14-year-old,

who, who the police
would treat as an adult

because he looked
just like an adult.

And then the host
is the one who jumps in

with this really
beautiful thought

about how deceptive
appearances can be.

You're talking about my show.

Yes, I am talking about
your show. Yes, congratulations,

you recognize your own show.

Yeah, you're doing
such a nice job.

Thanks again

- for doing this.
- Totally glad to do it.

And for pretending to be a fan.

- That was nice.
- I'm not pretending.

Your show's really good.

Thanks.

Hey, okay, so, I fly out of here
in a couple days.

What are you doing
tomorrow night?

Um... I guess I'm,

I'm doing whatever it is
that you are doing.

You're funny.
Um, do you want to have dinner?

I-I, um, I do.

I do want to have dinner.
That would be nice.

- That's great. Okay, so, I will be in touch.
- Okay.

- We will make arrangements, the way that adults do.
- Yeah.

- Good. All right, great. Okay.
- Great. Thanks.

So our first goal
is to reframe you

into what I call
a hero campaign.

We lean into
your incredible bio,

display images of you
looking heroic.

Here you are as the man
who saved Chicago.

A loving husband,
American as apple pie.

Tested great in the burbs.

This one says Gore Bellows
is the law.

- Powerful.
- Yeah.

- Forceful.
- Absolutely.

Makes me look like a winner.

Which you are, sir.

Best part is it makes
the campaign about me,

instead of the Scott case.

Mayfield was always obsessed
with how Madeline's press

was affecting my numbers.

Yeah, I don't want to say
anything negative about him,

'cause he's a great guy,
but he's an amateur and a hack

who will lead you
to a crushing defeat.

All right, fighting Madeline
Scott... going tit for tat...

It puts her at your level,
and she is not.

She's a murderer.

- You really believe that?
- I always did.

I knew you were my guy.

So you think
I should just ignore her?

I do, I do.

I mean, unless...

Unless what?

Well, attacking her
would be a disaster,

but if you had new evidence...

of her guilt...

I mean, then you would win
in a landslide.

You mean,
recharge her for murder?

Only if you had new evidence.

If you had it, you would
dominate every news cycle.

I believe she's innocent, but
if she doesn't want our help...

Prison is a hopeless place, we
just need to give her some hope.

So, what, we go against
her wishes and do it anyway?

It's not even ethical to assume
representation for a client

without their consent.

Then let's find
some new evidence,

give her a reason to say yes.

2018 was one
of the most violent years

in history
for transgender women.

This could be an amazing case to
shine a light on those issues.

We can't take the case
of someone who doesn't

want to be exonerated.

Are you uncomfortable
with this case?

No. I'd gladly move forward
if she actually wanted our help.

Well, she does,
she doesn't know it yet.

Come on, let's dig around.

Let's give her a reason
to change her mind.

Amazing, isn't it?

All the hatred
for this community.

All they want to do is just live
their lives for who they are.

I wouldn't know
anything about that.

Does the black community
share any connection

with the gay community for being
targeted by hate groups?

Some might say yes because
we both know what it's like

to be hated
for being who you are,

and we're both generally hated
by the same people.

But others say
you can hide who you love,

but you can't hide
the color of your skin.

But what do you do when
you can't hide who you love?

No way Cindy killed her.

Cops will pin anything
they can on queer people.

- Did you own the bar then?
- No, I was just a server.

It was mob-owned,
like most gay bars.

They walked away in '98 and
someone had to keep it alive.

This bar was special.
A safe haven,

where everyone
could be themselves.

Everyone?

My understanding
is not all gay bars

were welcoming
of the trans community.

This wasn't
most gay bars, honey.

This was the Tulip.

Vanessa was an icon.

A true hero.

Everybody loved her.
Except the cops.

- Why is that?
- The usual.

Thought she was a he
and a pervert.

If they weren't harassing her,
they were putting her in cuffs

for prostitution,
and believe me, she wasn't.

- Walking while trans.
- That's right, honey.

You look visibly trans
on the street,

cops cuff and say
you're a prostitute.

In my community,
it's walking while black.

Now imagine being
black and trans.

'Cause that's what these girls
had to live with.

I remember a few days
before she was killed,

some jerk accosted Vanessa.
He was obsessed with her.

And when she called it off,
he went after her.

Then the cops arrest Vanessa
for assault.

Do you know who this guy was?

No, but I'll ask around.

A few of us are still alive
from those days.

A few.

You wanted to see me?

Yes, come on in. Come on in.

So... this is the big day.

Your first day in court.

It's just a P.C. hearing.

First P.C. hearing in court.

Here. Congratulations.

I'm very proud
of all your accomplishments.

I love it.

- Thank you.
- You deserve it.

Come have a seat.

So, tell me about Levi Scott.

Are you still attending that
anger management class with him?

Levi's a tough nut to crack.

He keeps to himself, mostly.

You just got to get him
to loosen up.

Find out what he likes.

I bet it's you.
Who knows... maybe,

if he can give you
some evidence that might help

reopen Rosemary's murder case...

you could find yourself
sitting second chair

in the biggest trial
of the year.

Understood.

Vanessa had a few stalkers.

The straight boys loved her.

And when they couldn't keep her
it could get violent.

You have any idea
who attacked her

- when she was charged for assault?
- Honey...

everybody harassed us.

Cops, neighbors,
drunkards, robbers,

even family.

Everybody hated us.

We're just trying to find
an alternative suspect.

It's the key to getting you out.

Well, what's the key
to getting my hormones?

Cindy, you deserve your hormones
and so much more.

Let us help you
get out of prison.

- Then you're free to get the hormones you need.
- But like I said,

I've got no one out there.

The gays hate us.

The lesbians don't want
anything to do with us,

and the straights
don't even think we're human.

All of my friends are gone.

There's not one single person
in the world for me.

I'm better off in here.

But this isn't freedom.

Your life's not your own,

and even though the idea
of being free is scary,

it is your right
because you're innocent.

I won't say it's gonna be easy.

But a year from now,

maybe two, maybe three...

you're gonna start to wake up
with tears in your eyes

that your life is your own.

Why are you being so nice to me?

Because I suffered
for ten years in prison.

Just like that man over there
alleviated my pain,

I vowed that I would
do the same for others.

Cindy, let us help you.

Let us stand next to you
and fight.

All right... fine.

Let's do it.

- Lord.
- Who is it?

- Judge Speer.
- Lord.

- Ms. Scott.
- It's good to see you again, Your Honor.

I wish I could say
the same for you.

Thank you, Your Honor.

The justice system
is based on the principle

that all people are treated
equally under the law.

That principle was violated

at Cindy Whitman's
original trial.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, we have
on the docket here

a Steven Whitman, not Cindy.

Your Honor, that's my point.

- The Constitution...
- Ms. Scott,

you're my first case of the day.

Let the coffee kick in
before you

go full Atticus Finch on me.

What's your issue?

Your Honor...

we move for a new trial
in the interest of justice

on the basis of overwhelming
new evidence

of the Chicago PD's bias against
the transgendered community

- in the '80s.
- Lovely history lesson,

but you seem to have left out

the Chicago PD's investigation
into your client.

In addition to exculpatory blood
evidence already before you,

the hormone levels
in the blood at the scene

did not reflect someone
who was transitioning...

Do these blood samples
still exist?

They do not, Your Honor.

Motion for a new trial denied.

Then we request,
at the very least,

post-conviction discovery,

in the form of access
to the police files

to explore the possibility.

Fine. Motion granted.

But then again...

that's what you wanted
all along,

- isn't it, Ms. Scott?
- Maybe.

Next case.

How nice of them
to bury us in paperwork.

Yeah, and literally none of it

has anything to do
with our case.

The arrest date
was July 14, right?

Yeah.
Yeah. I have an arrest report here

for Debbie Urmand,
same date, same charge.

- It's a codefendant?
- Same arresting officers.

If Debbie was there,
she might be able to tell us

who the guy was.
If she's still alive.

I found a Debbie Urmand.

She manages a drag club
called Medusa's Den.

I think there's
a slightly good chance

that that is the same person.

This is gonna be fun.

Can't wait.

All right, let's go.

It was another world back then.

You didn't show your true colors

unless you were willing
to pay the price.

On the night of July 14,
you were arrested

with another woman,
Vanessa Evans.

- The police say you both attacked the victim.
- Yeah, right...

We attacked him. Sure.

I was working

when Vanessa saw me on my corner

and she came to say hi.

It wasn't but five minutes
when some guy

came out of nowhere, jumped us.

So it was a stranger
who attacked you?

Not someone Vanessa knew?

That's right.
Sh-She didn't know him.

Do you remember
anything about him?

No. It was a long time ago.

And one of many.

You said you were working
on your corner.

Were you working working?

Only way to pay
the bills, sweetheart.

I couldn't pass...
so I couldn't get a job.

Some of the girls were lucky
enough to find sugar daddies.

Guys on the down-low...

but not me.

Vanessa had someone, right?

Many.
The straight boys loved her.

- Anyone around the time she was killed?
- Yeah.

Sam Marshall.

He was obsessed with her.

Lost it a little
when she called it off.

Big finance guys
don't like to be told no.

And I like that part.

- Hey!
- Hey.

Die of AIDS, faggots.

Call the cops!

- Are you okay?
- Someone call the police!

You're not gonna need stitches.
You got lucky.

An inch lower and you
could've lost your eye.

So you didn't get the license?

No. It-it... Look, it all
happened so fast.

Can you guys not check
the neighborhood cameras,

get their license plate?

Yeah, we'll get right on that.

- You're not gonna do anything, are you?
- Sir, please stay calm.

- Listen, I'm not even gay and I'm pissed off.
- Of course you're not, sir.

- You're wasting your time getting angry.
- Excuse me, sir.

- We're taking a police report.
- Can you at least show her some respect

and refer to her as ma'am?

And you'll refer to me
as Officer Thompson.

All right, all right.
We get it. You don't care.

Let's just get out of here.

So I have a Sam Marshall
of a Marshall Financial Group

- on Michigan Avenue.
- Is that the guy?

- That looks like a DL sugar daddy.
- And you would know?

- I could be DL. I could never be a sugar daddy.
- I believe that.

- That I couldn't be a sugar daddy?
- Yeah.

Because you don't
have any money.

Mr. Marshall's office.

Hi, may I please speak
to Sam Marshall?

It's Madeline Scott calling

from the Injustice
Defense Group.

- It's a legal matter.
- Hold, please.

This is Sam Marshall.

Hi, Mr. Marshall.
This is Madeline Scott.

We have a few questions for you
about Vanessa Evans.

I don't know who that is.

We think you do.

Don't contact me ever again.

I think someone
just put "suspect"

above their head
in flashing lights.

Isabel?

Hey.

- You okay?
- Yeah, I'm fine.

Okay, maybe I'm not fine.

But that's why
we're here, right?

- Right. Right, yeah.
- It's just...

coming here, sometimes...

makes me more sad.

Yeah.

Why don't we do something
not sad?

What do you mean?

I don't know.

Let's get out of here.

Come on.

Sam Marshall?

Hi, I'm Madeline Scott.

We spoke on the phone.

This is my partner,
Easy Boudreau.

I asked you
not to reach out to me.

Crazy enough, that made us
want to talk to you even more.

- I don't have to talk to you.
- Of course not.

But if you don't,

we'll ask
your friends and coworkers

if they knew about
your relationship with Vanessa.

Probably more beneficial

to talk to us directly,
don't you think?

It was very long ago.

- Are you still married?
- Wife passed away two years ago.

Pancreatic cancer.

- Sorry to hear.
- Thank you.

I have children,
I have grandchildren.

I cannot have anyone
find out about Vanessa.

We have no interest in exposing
your personal life.

We're just trying to find out
what happened to her.

I have no idea
what happened to her.

I was in New York
that night for work.

I left that morning,
which I can probably prove.

Came back the next day.

I didn't even hear
about her murder

until the next week.

We hadn't seen each other
in months.

We were told that you had.

That she'd recently
broken up with you

and you were
really upset about it.

Please.

She didn't break up with me.
I ended it.

Okay? It was a very strange
time in my life

and it was 37 years ago.

So I hope that this was helpful

and I sincerely hope
that I never see

either of you ever again.

I think he's lying.

He wasn't lying.

He e-mailed us
his credit card statements

from 37 years ago.

He says he kept them all
for 45 years.

- Only a finance guy would do that.
- Yeah, and there were charges

from New York City
on the night of the murder.

Which gives him a tight alibi.

But that doesn't mean he didn't

kill her that day
before he left.

Plus, he could have falsified
his credit card statements.

Also, someone else could have
been using the card that night.

Exactly. But what's really,
really interesting is...

these hospital charges
from Mount Carmel ER.

Two days after the murder.
Check this out.

He could have cut himself
at the crime scene

and then, a couple days later,
the wound hasn't healed

so he goes to the ER
for stitches.

And if he killed Vanessa,
then his blood

would've been the other one
found at the crime scene.

We should check to see
if he's the rare AB negative.

Let's do it.
We'll get a court order,

- subpoena his records.
- All right, I definitely think

that our stockbroker douchebag
is the best bet.

But I did find some really
interesting information

about our bartender,
Thomas Stone.

Okay, so, he talked about
how the trans community

was always welcome
at the Tulip, right?

To quote Dick Cheney,
"Big time."

A safe haven where everyone
could be themselves.

It was a haven, all right.

A haven of anti-trans sentiment.

Found a dozen quotes
from Thomas back in the day,

all of them distancing
the gay community

from the trans community.

Some of them, he even attacks
Vanessa head-on.

In this one he says,

"She was a she-male
that was the worst thing

to happen to gay rights."

Damn, that's harsh.

Well, I think we need
to talk to Thomas.

I got us shots.

- That's probably not a good idea.
- Come on.

Just one shot. Remember,
today's Don't Be Sad Day.

Okay, one shot.

Let's do another one.

- No.
- One more shot.

Listening to your podcast,
I had to wonder,

okay, so you're making
these things,

you're churning them out
by yourself?

So, are you just,
like, working all the time?

Well, I throw myself
into my work

because I barely have
a personal life.

Seriously?
Like, I would think, like,

you're smart
and you're idealistic

and you're attractive,
like, I would just think

men must throw themselves
at you.

Yeah, well...

yeah, I guess I do all right.

And what about you?

Are you seeing someone?

My God. Yes.

You would love her.
She is, like,

very interesting all the time.

She's incredible,
she's incredible.

That's incredible.

That's...
that's like that TV show.

That's Incredible!,
it's like that.

It's... That's... incredible.

Yeah, totally.

All right, so... Ira...

why did you want to have dinner?

Okay, it's very exciting.

My team, we have this idea
for a new podcast.

It's criminal justice,
it's very ambitious.

And we think you would be
the perfect host.

I'm here to offer you a job.
It would be your own show.

Wh...

I don't know what to say.
That's-that's...

This would be
a dream come true for me.

And we would get more listeners

- for Until Proven Innocent.
- This would be

a full-time thing.
I'm so sorry, you would...

you would have to quit
Until Proven Innocent.

You'd have to move
to New York City.

This could be a really big show.

Yeah, but I don't think
I can just...

Just think about it, okay?

This is a really big
opportunity.

Think about it.

- I'll think about it.
- Think about it.

To that.

Hi, Thomas.

- Hello.
- Back so soon?

We need to talk about the truth
between you and Vanessa.

You said this was a place
where everyone was accepted.

You meant everyone
but the trans community, right?

Because you're quoted all over
articles from the '80s

attacking them and Vanessa.

Look, you got to understand
what was going on back then.

Cops were raiding gay bars,
beating us up.

Stonewall didn't change
how they treated us.

So, we started
a gay and lesbian alliance

- to protect us.
- And who was supposed

to protect the trans community?

At the time, a lot
of gay people felt that

the trans community
was holding us back

from equal rights.

Straight people
saw them as freaks

and... so did some of us.

Believe me, I wish
I could take it back.

Did you and Vanessa
have a fight before she died?

Me and Ness argued
every time we saw each other,

- but...
- What were you arguing about?

We got into it at the bar.

She was yelling
and throwing a fit.

She could be a real drama queen
when she wanted to be.

She was furious because
we told her not to speak

at a pride rally.

I have been beaten,
I've had my nose broken,

I've been thrown in jail.

I've lost my job
for gay liberation.

I've got as much right
to speak at that rally

as anyone else does.

I'm not going anywhere, Thomas,

and if you think
just for one second

that we're gonna roll over
and die,

think again.

That was the last time
I ever saw her.

What did you do after she left?

I-I was here all night.

And I got a dozen people
who can testify to that.

No one could ever forget
the night Ness died,

and we never will.

Look, I hated Vanessa...

back in the day.

But I would never kill her.

- And why is that?
- Because she was

my sister-in-arms.

Even when I hated her,
I loved her.

And I always will.

Of course, we call it
a Revolutionary War,

but really, it's a civil war,
if you think...

Okay, so I've got bad news

- and I've got bad news. What do you want first?
- The bad news.

Judge hates my guts, denied
our motion for Sam Marshall's

hospital records. She said
it was a fishing expedition.

- Okay, how about the bad news?
- We don't have any other suspects.

I don't buy Thomas did it.
His motive's weak,

and he's got witnesses
to corroborate his alibi.

That brings us back to Sam
Marshall, who also has an alibi.

And he's definitely got motive.

I agree. He's our best bet.

And if his blood type
is AB negative,

that might be enough to
get Cindy out. Okay.

So let's subpoena Sam Marshall,

hammer it out of him
on the stand.

Yeah, but what
if he testifies to being

a different blood type?
Then we're dead.

Or maybe there's another way
we can get his blood type.

Pray tell.

It's not exactly legal, so maybe
I shouldn't say anything.

- I didn't hear that.
- I never had this conversation.

- Boston Tea Party.
- Hey.

No, think about
the Boston Tea Party.

What are we dumping?
Are we dumping coffee?

I know my own stuff
is hard enough to deal with,

but I have no idea
how you do it publicly.

You're so resilient.

And that article...

Does Madeline really think
that you killed Rosemary?

I don't know.

I find it a bit ironic that...

that she thinks
that I did it, but...

Why?

You can tell me.

I won't say anything.

Group code of silence.

The night that-that Rosemary
was killed,

before we even knew
that she was dead,

everybody's looking for her...

except for Madeline.

- What?
- She was-she was just acting so strange.

You know, like she was-she was
high or something.

Just looking straight ahead
in a haze.

So she didn't help you look?

No, that's the weird thing.

Something was definitely wrong.

Do you think that Madeline might
have done something to Rosemary?

No.

I just never understood

why she's acting so strange,
you know?

Before anybody even knew
that-that Rosemary was killed.

This isn't exactly
the "let's just be friends" pact

we just made.

I know. I can't help it.

Me neither.

Okay, we have to stop or they're
gonna throw me out of here.

No, they won't.
I took care of it.

You've always had
this place wired.

But maybe not for long.

Why? What do you mean?

My parole board hearing got set.

My lawyer actually thinks
I'm gonna have a shot

of getting out of here.

Wren, that's amazing.

Is it?

Of course it is.

Madeline...

let's be real.

Do you really see us
together out there?

Like, hanging with your pals,
meeting your folks?

Yeah, I do.

Okay then.

How many people
have you told about me?

That's what I thought.

This thing we have between us...

It exists only in here.

I know on the outside

you hide this side of you.
I'm not mad about it.

I just... I don't want
to be disappointed.

I don't know what's gonna
happen between us

when you get out.

But can we worry
about that later?

All that matters is that
you get out of here.

- Get out of here.
- Okay.

All of the students
organized a search party.

Everyone was looking.
Everyone except for her.

I've been looking
at this backwards.

I always thought he killed her

and that Madeline
was his accomplice.

I never considered that she
might've acted alone.

So what now?

Maybe...

we make Levi Scott
our star witness.

Hi.

Sorry. Um, I have a court order

for the medical records
of Samuel Marshall

from September 17, 1982.

This is not for Samuel Marshall.

This is for a Betsy Miers.

My God, really?

I brought the wrong one,
and I drove an hour to get here.

You want to save me
a two-hour drive?

It's from 37 years ago. I don't
even think he's still alive.

Do you mind?

I'll get you a coffee
or a doughnut.

All right, let me check.

Excuse me?

You gave me the wrong file.
It's his wife's.

It's S. Marshall,

but the "S" is for Sharon,
not for Samuel.

Okay, let me look again.

Mr. Marshall, can you describe
your relationship

with Vanessa Evans?

I wouldn't call it
a relationship.

What would you call it, then?

Please remember
you're under oath.

- We were friends.
- As friends,

were you having a sexual
relationship with Vanessa?

Objection. Leading the witness.

Sustained.
Ms. Scott, your point?

It's coming, Your Honor.

Mr. Marshall,
what is your blood type?

Objection. Relevance.

Your Honor,
my client was convicted

because her blood type is
AB negative, the same blood type

found at the scene of the crime.
I think it's relevant to know

what Mr. Marshall's
blood type is.

- Please answer the question.
- Be happy to answer.

My blood type is O positive.

And do you happen to know
the blood type of your wife?

What?

Your wife.
What was her blood type?

- I... don't know.
- Well, let me tell you.

It was AB negative.

The same blood type
found at the crime scene.

It's also the rarest
blood type in the world.

I would like to submit
Petitioner's Exhibit A,

a copy of Sharon Marshall's
medical file

proving that her blood type
was AB negative.

Mr. Marshall, did your wife
murder Vanessa Evans?

My client has spent
37 years behind bars

for a murder she didn't commit,

so will you please
tell this court the truth.

For once in your life,
will you tell the truth?

Your wife found out
about the affair, didn't she?

Didn't she?

When I came home from New York
the next day, I...

found my wife
sitting on the floor.

She was covered
in Vanessa's blood.

My wife was not a killer.

Just that when she found out
that I was...

having an affair with...

Vanessa...

she snapped.

And so you let Cindy Whitman
take the fall for a murder

that your wife
was responsible for.

You may as well have locked
an innocent woman

in a cage yourself.

Your Honor, my client

has lost her life over a lie.

Can she please go home now?

Ms. Whitman,

based on the newly-discovered
evidence presented here today,

it is clear that the State
of Illinois owes you an apology.

This court hereby declares you

actually innocent.

Does this mean
I get my hormones now?

Yes, it does.

You're gonna be okay out there.

Sometimes it's terrifying
to show who we are

to the world, but if we
keep our true identity

a secret, it can mutate

and form a disease
that can kill you...

or, even worse,
the people around you.

We have to be true to ourselves,

or we could end up hurting

the people we love most.

- Ira, hi.
- Hey. So?

Um, I've been thinking
about your job offer a lot.

- Great. What do you think?
- Have a seat.

- Okay.
- So I would be

totally lying if I didn't say
that working for you

would be a dream come true.

But if I'm being honest,

I'm already living my dream.

I'm a wrongful
conviction advocate,

I am a investigator,

it turns out I'm a truth seeker.

I think that I only do
the podcast

so that I can shine a light
on the issues,

- not so that I can be famous.
- Yeah.

I want to stay here,
on the ground,

working to get
innocent people released,

because that is my purpose.

- I hope you can understand that.
- I do, I mean,

I do, totally. I mean,

sort of.
I mean, it's totally great.

Like, this is
your life's purpose.

But maybe a big mistake?
Like, from my perspective, like,

I don't know, maybe you're
making a big, terrible mistake.

I don't know. But you need to do
what you need to do,

and so, I-I respect that that's
what you need to do,

so, um, so good luck.

- Thanks.
- Yeah.

Obviously, from this point
forward, you know,

our podcasts...
We're enemies and all, so...

You know I'm kidding, right?

- I do.
- Like, seriously, good luck.

- Thanks.
- Okay.

Did you tell him
you're not gonna do it?

Yeah.

Am I making a terrible mistake?

I mean,

I'm sure you would've had
a great time hobnobbing

with the New York City elite

and eating at the best
restaurants in the world,

living your life like
a joyous 1950s movie montage,

but if you did all that,
guess who wouldn't be there?

- You.
- That's right, this guy.

Yeah, I want you here,

but this firm needs you here.

And as the chairman
of the board said,

"Chicago is my kind of town."

It's my kind of town, too.

How you doing, Cindy?

I shouldn't even be here.

I should be dead, too.

We all lost so much in the fire,

but we're still here.

You finally down
for us girls now?

I am so sorry, Cindy.

We were so consumed
trying to protect ourselves,

we lost sight of what
the fight was about.

It's okay, sweetie.

It's time for all of us queens
to move on.

Welcome home, Cindy.

Hey, Maddie.

- Hi, Mom. How are you?
- I'm good, how are you?

I'm good.

I just called to tell you
that I'm bisexual

and I'm dating a woman.

- Mom?
- Um...

th-that's very interesting.
When can we meet her?

That's a bit tricky
because she's in prison,

but she might be paroled soon.

Mom?

Mom?

Captioned by
Media Access Group at WGBH.

You've seen the fight
for justice on Proven Innocent.

Now here are a few more shows
to check out from Fox.

Rule number one
if you want to stay alive.

Don't lie to your doctor.

- Profits over patients, again.
- You save your morality lesson.

You have to save him!

Be careful.

- You tried to kill him.
- I had no choice!

Shall we?

The Resident,
all new, Mondays at 800 on Fox.

As they began
their hours of duty...

it was a bell
that started it off.

Each alarm was sounded
by a bell...

that called them to place
their lives in jeopardy...

for the good
of their fellow man.

When the alarm had come
to an end,

the bell rang,
to signal that end.

9-1-1? What is your emergency?

9-1-1. All new,
Mondays at 900 on Fox.