Secrets and Lies (2015–2016): Season 1, Episode 7 - The Cop - full transcript

Previously on "Secrets And Lies"...

My flashlight came back.
Got to get rid of it.

It's in a safe place.

I can't help you. You can't afford me.

There's no upside for me
until you get arrested.

You know what you did!

You destroyed my husband!

I can't. I can't. I can't!

A 5-year-old is dead.

You slept with the woman across the street,

and you're a suspect in a murder.



I hate you.

And I love you.

I am after Cornell. And I need your help.

Cornell only wants to close her case,

and she will do that any way she can.

Help me end her.

No.

She's got the highest
close rate in homicide.

Her stats are through the roof.

Nobody's that good.

And if she can't find
evidence, she manufactures it.

I can't believe a word you say.

Fine, then don't believe me.

But there are plenty of people in prison



who would tell you the exact same thing.

Take, for instance, Jennifer
Barrett, her latest victim.

She just got framed into county lockup.

And if you don't get your head
out of your ass, you're next.

I'm done trying to solve Tom's murder.

Hey, look, it's not about
trying to solve the case.

If we can get proof that
she's abusing her badge,

then I can expose it and you
get the monkey off your back.

I would never work with
you. Get out of my way.

Hey.

You won't like prison.

When things happen,

the guards, they punish you
by looking the other way.

You did time?

Five years ago, I got to a murder scene,

and these yahoos, they
mistook me for a cop.

Cornell charged me with obstruction

and impersonating and tampering.

I got a four-year bid.

I lost my job, my
reputation, and my family.

Sounds like you had it coming.

Other reporters have done worse

and got a slap on the wrist.

No. That was personal
for her, and so is this.

You better do something about Cornell,

'cause I guarantee she's
doing something about you.

Where'd you go?

I almost called the cops.

That reporter, Arthur Fenton,
he threatened our family.

So I went to deal with it.

"Deal with it."

You keep fighting, Ben.

Should make it really easy
for Cornell to lock you up.

It doesn't matter what I do.

She's not gonna stop unless I stop her.

How are you gonna stop her?

I.D.

Sign in.

Now face the wall.

All right, let's go. You know the way.

15 minutes. Make 'em count.

Are you looking for
meth, teeth, and tattoos?

You just... Don't seem like
the type that belongs here.

Are you?

No.

Then why are they giving you the glare?

I heard you got railroaded.

I don't want the same
thing to happen to me.

I guess mom's been busy.

Mom?

Detective Andrea Cornell.

If Andrea's got her hooks
in, you got to be a badass.

- What'd you do?
- Nothing.

Me too. But here I am.

Yeah, for drugs, in case you're wondering.

What about rehab?

My father asked the same question.

Andrea wouldn't budge.

The law's the law.

There's got to be something you can do.

I'm doing it.

With good behavior, I'm out in 18 months.

What is she coming after you for?

She thinks I killed a child.

Kind of sounds like Seth
Goring all over again.

Who's that?

Prime suspect in the
murder of a little girl.

Yeah, the cops couldn't prove it,

and Andrea still chases
him on her days off.

It's been three years.

But that's harassment.

Once you're on the wrong
side of Detective Cornell,

that's where you stay.

Confess now and get it over with.

Mr. Crawford.

Somebody called you?

I have a lot of friends.

Enemies too, I bet.

When a murder suspect comes
and visits my daughter,

I take that as a threat.

Is that what this is?

I didn't know she was your daughter.

- Ben.
- You're a snake, man.

You set me up.

Okay, okay, listen. All right.

Cornell put her own kid in prison.

I needed you to see that for yourself

to realize I wasn't lying.

If I told you who Jennifer really was,

then you wouldn't have come.

- So what did she say ?
- Ask her yourself.

I can't. I'm an ex-con.

I'd need special permission
to visit a prisoner.

Just tell me what she said.

She didn't say a damn thing.

I just can't tell you how sorry I am.

Ben?

Yeah?

Hi.

Hi, Ben.

Christy, I never did thank
you for those flowers.

They were beautiful.

Tom was a wonderful boy.

Always remember that.

Um, see you.

Merry Christmas.

She came over to apologize.

I heard.

Did you put her up to it?

Yes, 'cause it's my dream to have my wife

and the woman I cheated with
in the same room, talking.

Where are the girls?

The mall.

How are you doing?

I'm fine.

I know what happened with Kevin was...

Something I'm working on.

It might help you if you talk about it.

Ben Crawford.

Right now?

Fine.

Ben, you need a lawyer.

Just think... when she arrests
me, I'll get one for free.

So, you have two options...

confess and spare your family

the horror of a
high-profile murder trial...

I didn't kill Tom.

Or brace yourself for a full-court press.

'Cause they'll not only follow you,

they'll follow your kids,
your wife, your kids' friends.

They'll reveal all your secrets.

Well, you already did that

when you leaked the news
that I was Tom's father.

That was a crime-lab error.
We're looking into it.

And I believe you.

You should.

I don't think you have any idea

the nightmare that's coming your way.

Yes, I do.

I'm living it.

This is about your daughter.

This is about the dead 5-year-old

that you found in the woods.

You can't tell me that this display,

all of this, isn't personal.

I think you're being paranoid,
and that's a symptom of PTSD.

You should really get help for that.

There's a third option you didn't consider.

What's that?

I can go home, and you can go to hell.

How's that?

- Colors? What about the white sneakers?
- They're too tight.

You've got to stop growing.

Hi, dad.

Hey, monkey.

Where's my hug?

Mom said I shouldn't hug you.

I said to wait for your
dad to hug you first.

How'd I become the bad guy?

'Cause you're so good at it.

Michael has invited a lot of new people

to his Christmas party this year.

Plenty of kids your age. It should be fun.

His parties are lame.

W...

Gay people are supposed to
be, well, gay, aren't they?

Natalie!

Natalie,

gay people can be just as
boring as everybody else.

Where you been, man?

I getting the chill from
frosty the snow lady in there.

Cornell brought me in,
showed me all the evidence.

She had a flashlight front and center.

It's exactly like mine.

No.

Yeah, man. It made me
anxious to get rid of it.

Okay.

Did you pick a hiding spot?

I'm thinking back behind the
argyle mall, like you said,

on the way to Michael's
and in the woods there.

Cornell must have really spooked you.

What I hear about her,

I'm going to prison
whether I did it or not.

Hear from who?

Cornell's daughter.

You're talking to the cop's families now?

What, are you out of your mind?

Man, if I'm gonna get out of this,

I got to prove that Cornell's crooked.

Okay. I get you. How?

I'm gonna track down this
other guy she's been chasing

and compare notes.

Take the secret files to the government.

It's a good plan.

- The press.
- Don't tell me.

The reporter who outed
the doc and his sister...

Wait, I mean his wife?

That guy sheds his skin, man.

You don't want to deal with that guy.

I don't need to trust Fenton to use him.

Hello?

Who are you?

My name's Ben Crawford.
I'm looking for Seth Goring.

Am I in the right place?

Mom?

I know you. From the news.

Yeah, I've seen you before.

You were at the police station,

yelling at Detective Cornell.

Can I come in?

Mom, don't talk to this guy.

Stay out of it, Jimmy.

It's okay.

We're gonna go pack our rooms.

Okay.

My boys have been through a lot.

Because of Cornell.

Yeah. You must know all about that.

That's why I'm here.

I wanted to ask your
husband what she did to him.

A little girl was strangled.

Cornell claimed my husband had compulsions

and that other girls came forward, as well.

All lies.

I mean, if it were true,
Seth would've been arrested.

But Cornell kept coming back.

She wouldn't let go.

Every time we moved, she'd
question our neighbors.

Had Seth been seen with any little girls?

You can just imagine
what she made them think

about my husband and about us.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, too.

You have no idea how much
worse this is going to get.

Isn't there anything you can do about her?

Like lodge a complaint,
call one of her supervisors?

We tried, but now there's
nothing left to fight for.

Why not?

My husband just couldn't take it anymore.

I found him in the basement.

Hung himself a week ago.

Cornell hounded the guy to
death. How is that legal?

- How can she get away with...
- No, exactly.

As long as there's an open murder,

she can do whatever she wants to.

I can't go on like this for years.

Well, once I write about

what Seth Goring went through at her hands,

you won't have to.

You got to go.

I just got here.

Yeah, unannounced, and
I have an appointment.

Cornell ruined your life.
What's more important than that?

Seriously. You got to go.

You asked for information. Come on.

Yeah. I'll call you.

Hey, is Fenton home?

Yeah, he's in back.

Name's Ben.

Linda.

Mom's about to send out a search party.

Why? What's the rush?

- Two more days till Christmas!
- Dork.

I've been calling. We
need to get on the road.

Where'd you go?

Errands.

Well, hurry up. We're gonna be late.

All right.

Whose gift was that?

Michael's.

I guess I know what it is.

It was my fault.

Honey, it wasn't your fault. I dropped it.

We'll stop and pick up
something on the way.

- Forget it. Just...
- I don't want to forget it.

Things are tense enough already.

Let's not make it worse.

There's gonna be nowhere to park.

You guys run in, and I'll just circle.

Why is this so important to you?

After what I just went through,

I just...

I want normal right now.

We'll find something.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Yeah.

All right, let me pull up here.

Come on.

I want to stay with dad.

Come here.

Get mom to keep it under 50 bucks, okay?

- I'm on it.
- All right.

Where were you?

I had to take a leak.

Where's the girls?

They're waiting.

Let's go get them.

Did you find anything?

Yeah. Abby picked it out.

All right, girls, help us
unpack, and then I'll go park.

Hey, guys. Coming down to help.

- We've got it covered.
- Hey, Uncle Michael!

- Merry Christmas, Uncle Michael!
- Looks amazing.

Slippery, guys. Be careful.

Natalie, just right upstairs.

Ben, how are you?

Getting better every day.

There should be another present, dad.

Well, that's all there is.

But I counted. There has to be one more.

Abby, go inside with your Uncle.

Come on, now. Go.

Thank you.

Right behind you, sweetheart.

What's going on?

What?

I know you've been through an awful ordeal,

but I am tired of walking on eggshells.

I didn't ask you to.

What were you doing in the woods?

I told you what I was doing.

You're lying to me.

Why would I lie about that?

I don't know, but Abby counted
the presents before we left.

Now there's one missing. Explain that.

I can't.

What's in the backpack, Ben?

Christmas stuff.

If you're not gonna tell me,

then Michael can drive us home later.

You should go.

Good idea.

Let me see your hands!

Eyes forward.

Why'd we pull you over?

I don't know, officer. I
didn't do anything wrong.

Yeah, you did. Why'd we pull you over?

Cornell's daughter?

You don't screw with a cop's family.

Any more dumb-ass moves,
and you could disappear.

Meet me at my house... now.

This was a direct threat!

It's proof that Cornell's
abusing her badge!

No, not even close.

You can't pick them out
of a lineup, no plates.

You can't even describe their cars.

All right, what are we
gonna do about Cornell?

Well, the Goring article
is gaining traction.

A.P. just picked it up.

Thanks, partner. I'll talk to you soon.

Hey, man.

You know, you got a real skunk
problem on your front porch.

Fenton's not my problem.
I got him under control.

But if you don't stop
breaking and entering...

I used the key that you gave me.

I knew you weren't gonna be here.

Where's the brood?

Still at Michael's.

How did the, flashlight ditch go?

I wrapped it up like a gift

and carried it out with
the rest of the presents.

That's genius.

- Out by the mall?
- Yeah.

I don't feel good about it,

but I put it back behind
those thick trees, you know?

Okay. Good man.

Almost broke my leg on a shopping cart.

It's done. It's done.

And then Christy was standing
there waiting when I came back.

So what? You were taking a leak, right?

That's what I said, but...

She doesn't know anything, right?

Does she know anything?

Ben?

You lying bitch.

You know, my mom felt sorry
for you, and you screwed us.

What are you talking about?

You talked to the press about my dad,

- and now it's starting all over again.
- I didn't screw you.

Now everybody knows
your father was innocent

and Cornell's responsible for his death.

No, she's not!

She ruined your family's lives!

No, my father was guilty, okay?

He raped that girl, and then
he strangled her to death!

How do you know?

I found photos stashed in the basement.

And then I showed him the pictures.

And then he...

That's awful, man.

My mother didn't know that he was guilty,

but now, with the article,

the cops are gonna start
digging again, and she...

she...

Hey. What are you doing up so early?

I wanted to talk to you.

Yesterday... Your mom and...

You and mom had a fight.

One of many.

It made me think.

About what?

Most of my friends have
problems with their mothers...

with, makeup, boys, clothes...

Boys, sex, boys.

Yeah, I have problems
with those things, too.

Yeah.

But mom's easier to deal with.

I think she's trying too
hard not to be like Nana.

You're on me about pretty much everything,

and I hate it.

But I...

Also kind of know that I need that.

So what's the problem?

Well...

What do I do...

If you... Go away?

Where's Abby?

Why won't you leave my father alone?!

Abby.

He didn't kill Tom! Why
won't you believe him?!

- Abby, I need you to calm down.
- He didn't do anything wrong!

- You're ruining everything!
- Abby. Stop it!

It's all your fault! Why
do you keep coming here?

It'd probably be best if
you take your family inside.

He didn't do anything wrong!

Abby, stop.

We can't leave dad alone with her.

Honey, it's okay. You guys go in.

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and
will be used against you.

Do you understand, Mr. Crawford?

Am I under arrest?

You can call an attorney and
tell him where to meet us.

Where are we going?

Mr. Crawford. This way.

Begin.

All right, you heard her.

Why are we here?

You told me to call you
as soon as I was arrested.

If you were, you'd be in cuffs.

It's called custodial interrogation.

A bush-league intimidation
tactic, by the way.

It's only effective if you speak.

- Did you?
- No.

John, I still can't pay you.

I got a cashier's check for 25 grand

with your name on it last week.

I don't have that kind of money.

All right, we'll deal with that later.

I still want to know why we're here.

Ask Cornell.

No, I'm asking you.

No cop brings a full
crime-scene unit to the boonies

for no reason.

All right, I stopped here
last night with my family.

I went into the woods to take a leak.

End of story.

Cornell must be working off a tip

that you threw away evidence.

Did anyone see you relieving yourself?

Just my wife.

I guess Christy called Cornell.

No, no, no, no.

Communication between a
husband and wife is privileged.

Cornell would never act on a bad lead.

Mr. Garner.

Detective, next time you want to fish,

take a boat out on the Catawba
and leave my client at home.

You're free to leave.

Meaning you found zip.

Here they come.

I haven't seen them yet.

Hey, Linda!

Remember me from Arthur Fenton's house?

It's not what you think.

What is it that I think?

The hell did you just do?

Walk with me.

I think I just plugged
the leak in the crime lab.

You can explain it to me downtown.

Coming!

Yeah, I'll get a-a rough draft
out to you this afternoon.

Hey. Look.

Looks like the story
might be going national.

A story is going national.

It's just not gonna be one you write.

What are you getting at, Ben?

You paid a lab rat for Tom's DNA results,

then leaked them to the press.

I'm pretty sure that's illegal.

You'd know better than I would.

Wait.

Time's up.

It's open.

Mr. Fenton.

You really have a thing for me, don't you?

You here to gloat, Mr. Crawford?

You compromised my lab and my cases...

just to get back at me?

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and
will be used against you

in a court of law.

What were you doing in the woods?

This again?

Answer the question.

What are you hiding?

You don't trust me?

No, I don't.

You haven't given me much
reason to in a long time.

I've tried to be patient.

My entire world has
been turned upside down,

and I've stood by you.

I've defended you time and time again.

To who? Your elitist family?

They already thought you married a loser.

Yeah, well, I didn't want them to be right.

It's always about money for you...

money and and the way things
look, keeping up appearances!

I wanted something more, something better.

All you want to do is coast.

No, all I wanted was you and the girls.

And I wanted a man who
could keep up with me.

What the hell does that mean?

Between your brother and your
client, you got that covered.

Nothing happened with Sam

until I found out about you and
that whore across the street.

At least I own my mistakes.

- You just look for excu...
- Stop blaming me!

Your business failed. You gave up.

If it wasn't for me, we wouldn't
even have a roof over our heads.

Our kids would have nothing.

But when I fix a problem,
you resent me for it.

I'm tired of taking care of you.

So don't. I don't want it.

Tell me what's going
on, or I am out of here.

That's the last ultimatum you give me.

Go.

Natalie!

Abby!

And here's what's gonna happen next.

You're gonna run to your
brother, cry on his shoulder.

He'll give you a place to stay

and tell you how much better off you are.

But you and I will agree on joint custody.

Girls, let's go.

Well, why are you fighting?

- We're leaving.
- Why? What's going on?

- I said let's go.
- Dad? Dad?

- I don't want to go.
- Guys.

What's going on?

Why aren't you telling me what's going on?

- Abby, it's gonna be okay, honey.
- Dad?

I don't want to go! Walk out the door.

It's gonna be okay.
Take care of your sister.

And we're gonna figure this out.

Natalie, please help me.

- It's gonna be okay. It's gonna be all right.
- I don't want to go!

- I know, sweetheart.
- Honey.

We're gonna figure this out.

I don't want to go! We
have to stay together!

It's gonna be all right.

Don't let me go.

Abby, please come get in the car.

It's gonna be all right.

Why are we leaving?

It's just temporary, I promise you.

I don't want to go.

Go with your mom, just for tonight.

We're gonna figure this out.
It's gonna be okay, all right?

You just got to be strong.

But what about Christmas?

We're gonna be together, I promise you.

Abby, come get in the car, honey.

Abby.

Why are you leaving dad alone?!

You don't care about anybody but yourself!

Okay. Okay, come on. Come on.

It's gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay.

It's gonna be okay.

Who the hell eats these things?

They're disgusting.

Is this why you called me to meet?

'Cause I got better things to do.

Like what?

That's what I thought.
When I call, you come.

Now, walk with me. I'm late for dinner.

- You're a jackass.
- You don't have to like me.

Just do what I say, and
I'll keep you out of prison.

How's that?

It works.

Now, the cops who pulled
you over without cause

were not sent by Cornell, so let that go.

You sure?

I had a meeting at internal affairs.

A few cowboys wanted to shake your tree.

And, by the way, Cornell's
daughter, she is a criminal.

Her father's a shrink. She
stole his prescription pad.

She got pills from
pharmacies all over the city

and got his license suspended.

Well, so, what are you trying to say...

Cornell was right about
her, so she's right about me?

Don't start with the innocence again.

No, man. I'm guilty... Of plenty.

Just not what I was accused of.

I've been harassed and yelled
at and smeared and tortured.

I'm done getting pushed around.

Good.

It's about damn time.

I'll call you.

I packed up some things,
and I want the girls

to have their gifts first thing tomorrow.

I'll put them under the tree.

Calling the cops on me was pretty low.

When my sister gets upset, I try to fix it.

She shared her suspicions
with me, and I told the police.

Any honest citizen would've
done the same thing, Ben.

You need to get a good lawyer.

I have one.

You know anything about that?

Good night.

Don't you ever quit?

You're supposed to go through my lawyer.

Would you like to give him a call?

It's Christmas Eve.

Where's your family?

Where's yours?

You have a lot of people that
care about you, Mr. Crawford.

Your kids are well-behaved...

Most of the time.

It would be a shame to lose that.

You would know.

My daughter had a choice. She chose jail.

I'm not gonna say it again.

What?

That you didn't kill Tom Murphy?

How can you be so sure?

Because I know my character.

I'm not violent.

Really?

I witnessed several
instances of your violence...

with your friend Dave,

the video footage of the boy
that you threatened to kill.

So you didn't see Jess
Murphy the night Tom died?

Nope.

And you didn't see Tom?

And you rode home alone in a taxi, correct?

We've been through all this.

I tracked down the driver,

and we got the surveillance
footage of his cab.

I already told you I was drunk.

Keep watching.

So you don't remember going
to Jess Murphy's that night?

Either you're lying or you had a blackout,

which means you're capable
of just about anything.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Crawford.