Murdaugh: Death in the Family
Season 1 – Episode 4
Episode title: Controlled Burn
Original release date:Â October 22, 2025
Plot: As Paul and Maggie struggle with Gloria’s absence, Alex continues to deal with fallout from the boat crash. Mandy uncovers a new case with alleged ties to the Murdaughs.
* * *
Murdaugh: Death in the Family – S01E04 – Controlled Burn | Transcript
[Burchstead] Paul Murdaugh, he’s indicted on one count of felony boating under the influence causing death.
This here Dickie is the best.
We’re gonna have this wrapped up before you can say boo.
I’m gonna set a bond in the amount of $50,000.
I’m gonna pay for your studies if you let me get back to work right away.
Deal?
Yes.
How many?
[Alex] Two a day.
[Maggie] After this, if I catch you…
If it ain’t big-game hunting Mark.
[Mark] Well you heard I was representing Renee and Phillip Beach.
Yes, sir, I did.
I’m sorry, but they decided to file a lawsuit.
Enjoy those tacos now.
One of the most beautiful things about the Lord is if you ask for forgiveness, He’ll forgive you.
[grunts]
[loud crash, dogs barking]
Mama! Go-Go fell!
[grunting]
[sighs]
[cicadas buzzing]
Oh, my God!
I’ll beat your fucking ass!
Sit your fucking ass back down!
[Paul] Mama, call 911!
There’s blood coming out of her head!
[echoing] There’s blood coming out of her head…
Insurance won’t come up from 500K.
Apparently, I hit my limits with Paul’s other accidents.
Well, maybe if the boy didn’t crash a vehicle every other month, there’d still be a little juice left to squeeze.
[coughs]
Listen, it sounds like Tinsley’s getting 1.5 million from the gas station that sold Paul the beer on the fake ID.
And roughly the same from that bar they stopped at before the crash.
All insurance?
Yeah.
So the Beaches are getting 1.5 million from the bar, 1.5 million from…
The gas station.
…and 500K from my insurance.
And when you’re done playing tickle dick, you’ll throw in another million from your own pocket on top of that.
Daddy, these other people are getting away with just paying out of insurance.
I mean, hell, Mark and I are friends.
We’re bos.
I don’t care if you two carved your initials in a big heart on the old oak tree.
A girl died.
[Alex] Fine.
1.5 million from me.
Good.
I’ll reach out to his office.
Get something on the books.
L-L-L-Let’s appeal that claim denial, too.
That better be enough.
Annette, can you get on in here, please?
Luna Alvarez is on line one.
They’re checking in on their settlement.
Just tell her that… I don’t know, tell her it’s in the works.
Has the mail arrived yet?
Um, after lunch.
Is there something you need?
I’m just waiting on a couple of checks.
Which ones? I can check the disbursement.
Nope! That’s all good.
Enjoy your lunch.
[♪ Menacing music playing]
[exhales]
[customer] There goes old Maggie Murdaugh.
[Brian] Hey, Miss Maggie!
[laughs]
Oh!
Hey, Brian.
How long you been working here?
Couple weeks now.
Since right before Mama’s fall.
I need to get by the hospital to visit her.
She’s not doing so good since her surgery.
I talked to her a few days ago on the phone.
She sounded clear as a bell.
Yes, ma’am, she was.
But then she got an infection.
They’re trying to make it better, though.
Oh, no, sweetie. I’m so sorry.
I had no idea. What can we do?
Pray for her.
And come visit if y’all can.
Of course.
You need help loading those?
No, sweetheart. I got that, but…
Okay.
Wait, wait, wait.
A little something for you.
Thank you, Miss Maggie.
Of course.
[Maggie] Well, you’re sure you’re not working yourself too hard out there.
Gotta get that kudzu gone or the field won’t make it to dove season.
So much of it this year, though.
Why don’t you wait till Buster comes home so he can help you?
[Paul] They’re suffocating now.
I wait on him, the whole field will be overrun.
You heard anything from Go-Go?
Actually, I talked to Brian.
He’s working at the store now.
He said all things considered, that she’s… she’s okay.
And that she sends you her love.
Yeah, well, she’s tougher than hell.
It’s all that praying she does, man.
Baby, maybe we should go pay her a visit.
[door opens, closes]
[Alex] Whoo!
You clearing the dove field?
Trying to.
You should burn the thing down.
Because then it won’t grow back in time for the season.
You know what? Why don’t you call Anthony?
When you two were working that field, it looked pretty as a postcard.
I don’t think he wants to talk to me right now.
[Maggie] I don’t think that’s true.
You two are so close.
Maybe Connor.
He’s fixed up and feeling better.
I don’t know.
I’ll call their mamas.
I’ll invite them over, too.
We can have a sunflower party.
What? Are they never supposed to speak again? Come on.
Thanks for lunch.
You’re welcome.
You should do yourself a favor, bo, and just burn the thing down.
[door opens, closes]
Apparently, Gloria is… not in good shape.
She has complications from her surgery.
Gloria’s a tough old bird. She’ll rally.
You know, I didn’t even have the heart to even mention it to him.
His friends aren’t talking to him.
Morgan broke up with him.
[sighs]
That boy has been through enough.
He ain’t the only one.
[juice burbles]
[Mark] These were invaluable for the mock jury.
[Phillip] Remember that shirt?
She wore that thing every day for a whole summer.
I had to sneak and wash it while she slept.
My daughter, it was a pair of Minnie Mouse pajamas.
Lived in them.
Here’s what the mock jury landed on for the settlement offer.
It’s all deal or no deal, at this point.
We decide on the number.
He decides if he wants to accept.
This all… still worries me.
After the way they walked around that crash site like they owned it, basically rolling out the red carpet for Paul, at that bullshit indictment.
Then jetting off to some island like our daughter isn’t gone?
They need to pay.
Of course, they do.
But they’re the Murdaughs.
Y’all know the stories.
These are not people whose bad side you want to be on.
What more could they possibly do to us that hadn’t already been done?
Y’all think on this. I’ll do the same.
And we will figure it out before my sit-down with Alec.
[lawn mower whirring]
Hey, bo!
Hey, you get my message?
I tried calling earlier.
Why are you here, Paul?
Oh, man, uh, dove field’s overrun with kudzu, and I’m…
I’m trying to clear it with the season coming up, and I thought…
I thought maybe you could help me with it.
Like we used to.
You know, I didn’t even want to go out that night.
I mean, I was so excited about having a triple date night with everybody.
She couldn’t have known, man.
No, but I should have.
Because I know how your ass gets.
I should have told her no.
I should have made you stop.
I should have done something.
And now I have to carry that shit with me for the rest of my life.
I know. I know, bo.
No, you don’t know shit, Paul.
And now you’re talkin’ about fucking kudzu.
It’s taking everything I got in me not to smash your goddamn face in.
I loved her, man.
Would’ve married her, too.
What do I do with that now? Hmm?
And I lost you, too, man.
I mean, you were like a brother to me.
No, but I ain’t gone, though, bo.
Like I said, you don’t know shit.
I should’ve listened to y’all.
Okay, I’m…
Anthony! Don’t forget the hedges.
[Anthony] Yeah. Yes, sir, yeah.
I gotta get back to work, Paul.
Well, you know I love you, bo.
Right?
You know that.
I love you too, man.
But it’s done.
It’s over.
So it turns out Paul Murdaugh was charged with possession of alcohol as a minor by DNR.
And this was two years before the boat crash?
Alec and one of his lawyer friends, Cory Fleming, represented him.
Paul was sentenced to an alcohol diversion program and the charge was expunged from his record.
[Liz] And not one mention of this in his hearing.
A history of alcohol-related charges should be relevant to an indictment for an alcohol-related boat crash.
Especially when it comes to conditions of his bond, or lack thereof.
And you got this from the magistrate court?
LexisNexis first, then magistrate.
I mean, you have multiple judge recusals.
Solicitor Stone is stepping aside for personal connections.
I mean, these are all potential abuses of power and privilege.
They’re playing out in real time.
Tell them about the housekeeper.
Oh, apparently, the Murdaugh’s housekeeper fell at their home and is in the hospital right now.
There’s a lot of rumors flying around about it.
Okay, one thing at a time, guys.
The drinking ticket’s a heck of a find.
Let’s roll with it.
Thank you, Patrick.
[woman] [on TV] Get off your high horse!
Now you’re really pissing me off.
Just say, “I’m sorry.”
Don’t tell me what to say.
Baby, why are these biddies fighting?
I thought they were supposed to be friends.
[Maggie laughs]
Stop asking all these questions.
Just watch the doggone show with me.
[cell phone vibrates]
Hey, Dicky H. What’s good for you, bo?
Oh, dude, you got to be shittin’ me.
Well, is there anything we can do?
Uh-huh.
All right, then.
Thanks, Dick.
What?
What?
They’re running a story tomorrow on your underage alcohol charge.
[Maggie]
What, the one from all those years ago?
I thought that was all cleared from his record.
Apparently, not cleared out enough.
It’s that same female reporter, too.
That little BITCH from the Packet?
That one.
[♪ Dramatic music playing]
What are you doing?
[Maggie] It’s comin’ down.
[Paul] Yeah, it is. Cats and dogs.
No, it’s good. It’s good.
[Maggie] [laughs] Oh.
Yeah.
What are you doing?
I came out to pick some wildflowers, and I thought I would pitch in.
That’s if you’ll have me, of course.
If this rain ever lets up on us.
The more the merrier, I guess.
But you are not lying about how bad the kudzu is.
Looks like you made a dent in it.
Well, not as good as you, though. Damn.
Who needs goats when you got Maggie May on the job?
[laughs] Are you comparing your mom with a livestock?
Blue ribbon, though.
[laughing] Blue ribbon, come on.
I got Gloria’s, uh, visiting hours this afternoon.
I’m gonna go by there.
Do you want to come?
Uh… [sighs] No, I’m good. I’m done with hospitals.
I think it would mean the world to her to see you.
I’ll see her soon.
[clucks tongue]
Yeah, I’ve been trying to, uh…
[laughs]
I’ve been trying to pray like she does.
Pray for what? For her?
Yeah. For her.
Yeah, and for Mallory, to get people to forgive me.
All of it. I don’t know.
I don’t know if it’s helping.
Honey, you know that news article and those comments… people say about you, about us.
No, it’s okay.
No, it’s not.
Honey, if you want to talk about it, I’m here.
Okay?
Yeah, thank you.
I got work to do, and I’m gonna get a free shower.
[grunts]
Maggie and I are heartbroken over what the Beaches must be going through.
Mallory was just a… a wonderful young woman.
That’s mighty kind of y’all, Alec.
She certainly was.
Alright, Billy.
Yeah, um…
So, um…
Alec’s vehicle insurance is willing to cover 500,000.
And it’ll take some doing, but he’s gonna come up with another million of his own.
Yeah, I mean, full disclosure, Mark, I’m facing a bit of a cash crunch at the moment.
Oh. I’m sorry to hear that, Alec.
So, uh, 1.5 million, what it sounds like you’re getting from the gas station and the bar?
Which puts you at 4.5 million all in.
I mean, right in line with all of our comps.
So, what do we say, bo?
Let’s get this locked up and get everybody on the road to healing.
Gotta be honest, not sure that’s enough to get us on that road, Red.
Well, what are you thinking, Mark?
Ten million.
[laughs]
That’s including the 3 million you get from the other defendants?
No, in addition to.
You want Alec to pay y’all $10 million?
[whistles] I want Mallory Beach to be alive and well, enjoying this beautiful summer day.
Alec needs to pay $10 million because thanks to the actions of his son, she’s not.
You’re serious?
I am.
I done just fuckin’ told you, bo.
Money ain’t what it normally is.
That’s either really good timing or really bad, depending on how you look at it.
But you seem to be living high enough up on the hog from what I can tell, and I don’t imagine you want this going to trial.
Not with stories breaking about Paul’s old drinking tickets.
[softly] Motherfucker.
What’s going on here, bo?
It ain’t even been proven Alec has any responsibility here at all.
I mean, the 1.5 is out of decency and respect.
Billy, my mock jury strongly disagrees.
[Billy] You sure your mock jury has all the relevant information?
[Mark]
The way I see it, you’re lucky you’re not looking at a prison sentence, yourself.
[muffled voices]
Ah!
Ah, he’s grandstanding.
[sighs] He wants to mount a Murdaugh head up there on the wall with one of his jaguars.
That old boy sat right there, Daddy, took his sock out of his jock and said, “$10 million.”
Exactly what any one of us would do if we were him.
Thank you.
Y’all, um, Tinsley just subpoenaed all the DNR case files from the crash.
Get statements?
Statements, reports. The whole nine.
Mr. Tinsley come to play. Huh!
Do we know anybody at the Packet, Duddy?
Oh, hell, not in 20 years.
It’s too late any damn way.
The fire’s lit at this point.
Pushing back now would just be trying to put it out with kerosene.
Well, Mark probably settles at 5, 6 million.
Maybe a payment plan.
Well, he ain’t gettin’ shit.
Oh, he will, Alec.
He will.
And it’s gonna hurt like hell.
But not as much as it’ll hurt you, Paul, Maggie, this firm, if you drag ass on it.
They ain’t even proven Paw-Paw’s the one driving, Randy.
I mean, hell, their case is thinner than toilet tissue.
Tell him, Billy.
We don’t know what’s in the statements.
That’s right, and I’m the one that’s gotta pay through the goddamn nose?
I’ve got to be the one to pay through the goddamn fucking nose?
No, Randy!
Even with 12…
[coughing]
…of the friendliest jurors that you could put in a box, with that little girl’s picture…
[coughing]
Jesus, Daddy.
I’m calling the doctor.
[muffled shouting]
[coughing]
[breathing heavily]
I’m fine.
You just leave me be.
I’m all right.
[monitors beeping]
[ventilators hissing]
[nurse speaking over PA]
I’m sorry, ma’am. No flowers in the ICU.
Oh, I’m so sorry.
It’s okay.
Okay.
How long has she been…?
Her heart stopped.
Had to resuscitate and vent her.
We’re keeping her comfortable as we can in the meantime.
In the meantime?
Take as long as you need.
[monitor beeps steadily]
[chuckles]
Hey. Hey.
Hey, pretty lady.
I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get here.
Things have just been so crazy at the house without you.
Not that I’m blaming you, though.
God knows how you keep it all together.
I ran into your Brian… at the grocery store.
He has grown into such a fine young man.
Paw-Paw would be here visiting you, but…
I just don’t have it in my heart to tell him how bad it is.
Remember when… he used to scream and scream with me when he was a baby?
But he never cried with you. Never.
No, you two had something special.
[laughs]
And I was grateful for it.
I felt lucky… to have you there when…
When I just…
I guess, I couldn’t be.
But I knew that he felt loved.
[laughs]
And I don’t know how I could thank you for that.
[curtain draws]
[nurse] Oh, apologies. I’ll come back.
No, no, no. It’s okay. It’s okay. Sorry.
I’m leaving.
[sighs, sniffles]
I’m sorry.
I’m so sorry.
[lips smack]
[whispers] God loves you, Gloria.
More than anyone that I know.
[cries]
Okay, that’s $200,000 to the bank.
Pay off the loan from last Christmas.
And between you and Maggie, you were carrying $165,000 in credit card debt.
Buster’s tuition.
[candy wrapper crinkles] Bahamas ain’t cheap.
Had a fucking good time, though.
Dick Harpootlian ain’t cheap.
Fuck no, $500K up front just to keep Paw-Paw from having an orange jumpsuit.
I mean, come on, there’s gotta be something in there, bo.
Jellyfish business is doing better.
Boom. There you go.
And you are bringing in about 15K a week.
Your overhead’s 8K a week, so after 14 weeks, it’s…
So, what, a bunch of nothing?
That’s what you’re saying, I got nothing?
Y’all sell the beach house in Edisto?
It’s doubled in value since whatever you paid for it way back when, and the market’s hot.
Okay, I can’t do that, Bruce.
[laughs] That’s Maggie’s sanctuary.
I mean, hell, she’d move out there if she could.
I mean, her name is on the paperwork, Bruce.
I can’t have her asking a bunch of fucking questions.
I mean, come on.
I mean, let’s just get to it, okay, bo?
I mean, how much is this bank gonna float me?
You’re the Boss Hogg around here, ain’t you, Bo?
Yeah, I know. I am.
But even I got people to answer to there, Red.
And the last time that I floated you… they were asking a lot more questions than either of us wants to answer.
We got a good thing going here, bo.
And you done all right out of this arrangement with my clients the last 10 years.
Plyler girls, you got your new pool installed.
I mean, Badger, Pinckney, one of them got Debbie a brand-new kitchen.
I mean, truth be told, you done a damn sight better than all right out of this.
Okay, I get it.
I don’t fuckin’ think you do, Bruce.
You really want Mark Tinsley poking around, asking questions, looking into your shit?
Finding out what we’ve been doing?
If not, I need to pay him.
So then just float me a little something.
Let’s get this tiger off our tails.
I’m sorry, Alec.
You’re gonna have to come up with it some other way.
[candy snaps]
[can hisses open]
[bird wings beating]
[breathing heavily]
[grunts]
[breathing heavily]
[wings beating]
[Alex]
Just burn the goddamn thing down.
It’s probably due for a changeover anyways.
No, thank you.
We’re making progress, aren’t we, Paw-Paw?
Hmm? Give me five.
[hands slap] How’s Go-Go?
[Paul] Yeah, how was she?
Baby, she’s not doing good.
She… She had to have a surgery on her rib, and it got infected, and because of her… her health problems…
Wait, wait, wait. Hold up.
You told me she was okay.
She was. I thought she was.
When’s she coming back?
I just think, Paul, I don’t think she is.
But they got her on a ventilator now, and they’re trying to keep her just as comfortable as they can.
I mean, all this from falling down a few stairs.
Damn shame.
[Maggie] Horrible.
Her poor boys.
Alec, we got to do something for them.
Quit talking like she’s already fucking dead.
Bo, hey. No need to swear.
[Maggie] I know that…
That she means the world to you.
You mean the world to her.
She loves you like you’re one of her own.
If you want to go say goodbye to her, we can go.
Y’all don’t know shit.
You don’t even care about her.
Wait a minute…
What? That is not true.
Bullshit!
Y’all worked her half to death.
No wonder she fucking fell.
It’s… It’s y’all’s fault.
Absolutely our fucking fault.
I cannot. I cannot.
This is the last thing he needs!
Baby, how do you expect him to react?
You know, he loves the woman.
Yeah, I know.
And now he’s gonna lose her like he lost all his friends.
You know what? He needs help, okay?
He needs rehab.
We should have gotten that for him already.
Rehab?
Yes.
You know, we got a civil suit against us over his drinking.
Hell, we got headlines from his tickets two years ago.
That boy needs a boot up the ass.
You need a boot up your ass!
Mag? What the…?
Come on. Where are them hogs, huh?
[cell phone vibrates]
Fuck.
Get her, Blue. Come on.
Well, well, well, if it ain’t DNR Doug.
[Doug] [on phone] Hey, Alex.
What’s doing, bo?
I’m about to head out and hunt some hogs.
When are you gonna join me?
[Doug]
Definitely need to get that on the books.
Listen, Alec, we’ve been getting a lot of calls and questions about the boat crash.
You saw that story in the paper, huh?
What you calling me for, Doug?
[Doug] Your jellyfish business.
You’re shutting us down.
[Doug] Can’t have the look of impropriety, given everything.
We can still proceed with the study, but we’ll have to get you going for next year.
I’ve got to shut your operation down.
I’m very sorry, Alec.
Yeah, me too.
[quietly] Shit.
[pastor] And now Gloria has found her way back to the Lord’s kingdom.
For as we all know, she lived every day by the word.
May her loved ones be comforted knowing she earned her place on high among the righteous and the holy.
May her grace live on with each and every one of you.
Amen.
[all] Amen.
[♪ “Amazing Grace” being played on organ]
[whispers] I got it.
It’s crazy to think she had this whole life before us, isn’t it?
She was always there.
Now she’s just gone.
I should have gone to see her.
I thought…
I should have gone.
Mama said you’ve been working on the dove field.
We tackle it together, huh?
Or maybe we take out some hogs?
If all this don’t work for her… what damn good is it?
[inaudible]
Oh. Listen, but knowing Go-Go, she’s probably sitting up there sippin’ sweet tea by the Lord’s side.
Just beaming down at that eulogy of yours.
Thank you, Mr. Alec.
Your mama was our family, which makes you boys our family, too.
Okay?
I want to introduce you boys to a friend of mine, Cory.
Come on over.
Boys, this is Cory Fleming.
Nice to meet you.
Cory, this is Tony and Brian.
Got to meet Miss Gloria a few times out at Moselle.
Her light surely shined bright.
[Alex] Yes, it did.
Now Cory here is a lawyer.
He’s not as good as me, but he’s pretty decent.
All right, so listen, Maggie and the boys and me, we want to do right by y’all.
With your mama falling to Moselle, well, our homeowner’s insurance can take care of your medical bills, your funeral expenses, and, well, even a little walking-around money for the two of you.
Insurance?
[Alex] That’s right.
I mean, I can’t sue myself.
But Cory, here, he can represent you in the suit.
No, sir, we’re not trying to sue you or nothing.
[laughs] It’s okay.
Just bless you, Tony. You’re…
No. You ain’t suing me.
You’re suing my insurance company.
And Alec will accept fault.
Yes, I will.
What do we got to do?
Well, you got to do nothing.
I mean, it’s just a bunch of legal mumbo-jumbo, and that’s what Cory here is for.
Yup.
There’s no price we can put on what you all lost.
You know, at least this way, we can get you all a little something for the loss of that beautiful mama of yours.
That sound okay?
Bless you all.
[Alex] Oh, come on. Bring it in.
Come on.
You know, your mama was a blessing.
You hear me?
[Mandy] This is so awful.
How is that not suspicious?
Teresa’s source at the hospital told her Satterfield said it was an accident.
But this is insane.
Right?
Hey there, girls.
Hey, Jerry.
So y’all ready to bring me up to speed on all things Murdaugh?
Why?
[no audio]
[♪ Dramatic music playing]
What is even the point, though?
We bust our asses, we check all of his little boxes, we do legitimately good work, and then for what?
For him to turn around and say “fuck you” and hand it over to a mediocre man?
Fuck.
I know.
It sucks.
But this is about something bigger than his good old boy mentality, right?
So, we play by his stupid rules, but we keep on doing our thing.
See where this leads us.
[♪ Tense music playing]
[typing]
[news anchor]
The Hampton County coroner’s office has officially ruled the death of 19yearold Stephen Smith an accidental hitandrun.
But his mother, Sandy Smith, still believes her son was murdered.
According to her, there were, quote, “No car parts, no blood.
“I walked from where his car was all the way to where his body was and found nothing at all.”
[sighs]
You know, baby, I was thinking, maybe I should stop.
You know, for Go-Go’s sake.
But do you think that’s a good idea?
With the civil suit and Paul’s indictment and the trial?
A lot going on.
I don’t know.
Feels like the right time.
I can get strong for all that.
[Maggie] So you just quit cold turkey?
You know that that is hell on you.
And it’s hell on me, too.
And I’ll be tending to you with Gloria gone…
You’re right. You’re right.
What if I just go down to one a day, you know?
Then…
Then quit completely.
I think that’s a good idea.
Okay.
[sighs]
[dogs barking]
What are them fuckin’ dogs doing now?
[dogs barking]
[♪ Discordant music playing]
[birds tweeting]
[♪ Dramatic music playing]
[reporter 1]
The Department of Public Health has just announced five more cases of COVID19.
[reporter 2] Three months into the coronavirus pandemic, South Carolina has had another daily record…
[reporter 3]
Jury trials will begin again on Monday, but some county court systems say they’re facing a backlog of almost six months.
[♪ Festive music playing]
“Dear Mr. Fleming, “in the matter of the unfortunate accident which befell Gloria Satterfield, Catalyst Insurance Company is awarding…”
Hang on.
Hey, bo, just, uh, do me a favor there.
I ain’t got my readers.
Can you tell me what that number is right down there at the bottom?
[Bruce] 3.8 million…
Million dollars, bo!
Oh!
[all laugh] Whoo!
Oh!
My eyes are just fine because that’s what I read too.
Whoa. Whew.
Whoo!
Hot diggity damn, that’s a nice little stocking stuffer right there.
Merry Christmas to us all.
[Alex] Merry fucking Christmas indeed.
[laughs] Thank you, Bruce.
[sighs]
One for us.
[glasses clink] Cheers.
Cheers.
[whistles]
Hey, Billy, listen, get on the phone to our boy Mark Tinsley.
You tell him to get over here.
We’re gonna line up a meeting ASAP.
All right, then.
[whistles]
♪ Oh, holy night ♪
♪ The stars are shining brightly ♪
2015 hit-and-run case you’ve been chasing?
Stephen Smith.
What’s on it?
The case files.
My highway patrol source finally came through.
Holy shit! Are you serious?
I-I’ve been working for over a year to even get a sliver of a lead on this.
Trying to help Stephen’s family get answers.
His mom’s gonna be so happy.
Well, consider that a Christmas gift from one friend to another.
And if you want, one coworker to another.
But I know what’s on those files.
And I know Patrick Baker at the Island Packet will let a great story and a talented reporter die on the vine.
We’d love to have you at FITS-News.
[Billy] We open at 3 million.
We go to 5 if push comes to shove, tops.
That’s it.
That’s more than fair.
This is good, Alec. I mean, you know, just get this all past y’all.
Turn the page.
[exhales] Right.
You know?
Be done with it.
[Alex] Take care of business, man.
[Randy] Look at that!
[Mark] Hey!
Look at this.
Look at that.
[Mark]
This wasn’t some sit and shoot, either.
Tracked it myself, 7×57 Mauser.
Dang! I got to get myself to Botswana.
That’s a big damn cat.
I’m gonna leave y’all to it, all right?
Stop by on the way out.
All right, good to see you, Randy.
[door closes]
I thought the only word I was gonna ever hear from y’all again was “continuance.”
[Billy] Just, you know, the craziness of this past year and, you know, some things to work out on our end.
But they’ve all been worked out.
Right, Alec?
Glad to hear it.
Phillip and Renee were, too.
[Billy] Oh, good.
So, in an effort to engage respectfully, it being Christmas and all, I wanted to open with the offer of a payment plan.
[Billy] A payment plan?
[Mark] Uh, yeah.
[Billy] That’s, uh…
That’s an interesting proposal.
I thought paying over time might ease the burden of it all.
[♪ Dramatic music playing]
[feedback squealing, static roaring]
Like a little…
[chuckles] …Christian charity for the, for the holidays.
[laughs]
Sure.
1.5.
[Billy] Alec, what are you doing?
What’s that?
That’s is the offer. 1.5 million.
Is this a joke?
Ain’t nobody laughing here, bo.
That’s it, 1.5 million. Best and final.
Billy, you told me this was a good-faith meeting to work something out.
[stammering] [Alex] Take it, leave it.
You-You-You dragged ass… Hang on.
You dragged ass with delays and continuances for year and a goddamn half to pull this?
The same goddamn amount?
[Billy] We’re not pulling nothing.
Ain’t got it, bo. You can pull this.
Put your pockets back in, Alec.
Hey…
All right, well…
Mark.
You really want to go this way, Alec?
With what these people lost?
Huh?
All right, here’s what I’m gonna do.
First thing Monday morning, I’m filing a motion to compel all your financial records.
You do that, Bo.
If Judge Hall agrees, we’ll see just how empty them pockets really are.
Good.
Yeah.
And maybe I’ll tell him all the shit you and Randolph were up to the night of the crash.
Oh, big-game Tinsley, talking tough.
Listen…
I thought you were smarter than this.
What were we up to, Mark?
And I thought we were friends, bo.
Yeah. That don’t mean I won’t burn your goddamn house down.
Nobody’s gonna burn a… Mark…
I’ll see you out there, Alec.
You will see me out there, Mark.
Better believe it.
Alec, please.
Alec, what the hell was that?
[Alex]
Changed my goddamn mind, that’s what.
[Billy]
Mark, hold on one second, bud.
Mark?
[lid snaps closed]
[♪ “Deck the Halls” playing on piano]
Margaret Kennedy Branstetter.
You have lost your ever-loving mind.
I got it. Whoa.
You could break your neck.
There.
Paw-Paw, come look at this tree!
[laughs]
Oh, Blanca just washed that floor.
Oh, it’s okay.
[Paul] Oh. Damn.
I’m sorry, Blanca.
It’s okay.
Just go on wherever you’re going.
I’m coming at you, Daddy.
There we go, Daddy.
Well, now, ain’t that just sunshine in a glass?
Well, that there is a double oak, Daddy.
That means they barreled it up twice.
Take it easy, Daddy.
Doctor didn’t want you drinking with your medication.
[Alex] Lay off, John Marvin.
I got tubes up my nose, and I’m down half a lung.
I will drink what I damn well please.
[laughs] Amen!
All right, Bussy. It’s you, buddy.
Go on, get into that.
Come on. Get after it, boys.
Oh, damn.
[Alex] Oh, yeah, that’s right.
Couple of hog killers there.
[Alex] Them bad boys are custom-made.
What’d they run you?
4,500 a pop.
[whistles] Damn, right. Hey, bo, bo.
Come on. It’s Christmas.
We go big or we go home!
Go on, Johnny.
You ought to get some of that.
Go on, get a handle on that, huh?
Check the thermal on top.
[Alex] It does. You like that?
Hell, yeah.
[Alex] Love that sight?
Have you thought any more about what you’re gonna do about Tinsley?
Tinsley thought about what he’s gonna do about me?
I could talk to him.
Try to smooth things over.
And why would I want you to do that, big brother?
Because he’s a friend.
And because it sounds like y’all are having a pissing contest, and we’re all gonna get doused if you don’t stop.
Have Billy to go back to him and accept the payment plan and end this.
His bark’s worse than his bite.
I’m gonna let him stew.
Are you hearing this, Daddy?
Yeah, what?
[Alex] Randy thinks you named him managing partner, Daddy, and he’s trying to do an impression of you.
But he’s lousy at it!
Haha!
Well, now, nothing beats the original.
You ought to know that.
The one and only.
You need to resolve this for your sake and your family’s, or things are going to get a lot worse, Alec.
[whispers] Take your finger out of my ass, Randy.
What the hell?
Don’t point that shit at me!
[Alex] Whoa, whoa!
Everything okay over there?
We’re fine.
Chill, bo. It ain’t loaded.
You gonna let him get away with that?
Come on, let’s get him!
Let’s get him down there. Come on.
Come on, put a move on him!
Put a move! You tagged him!
And how about you, Miss Libby?
Beg your pardon?
She’s asking how you and Daddy met.
I’m sorry. It’s not coming to me.
There was the time I found my own obituary in the paper.
Oh, goodness, she…
She does not want to hear about all that.
People sent flowers, calling the house, telling me how sorry they were to hear I’d passed.
Have you gotten a chance to see the tree yet, Miss Libby?
Maggie outdid herself.
Come on, Mama.
It’s real special.
Oh, Lord. It’s…
It’s bigger than last year.
It’s a beauty.
And your ornaments are on there.
What does she mean, her obituary was in the paper?
Oh, it is an old story from when Alec and them were kids.
Mr. Randolph was stepping out on Miss Libby.
Means he was cheating.
Well, she was stuck at home with four kids, and she got good and fed up with it.
She said, “You know what?”
“You keep this up, I’m gonna take these kids and divorce you.”
A few days later, there’s a knock on the door.
And there’s flowers.
And then the phone rings.
They say, “Oh, we are so sorry to hear about Miss Libby.”
And she says, “There is nothing to be sorry about.
Why are you calling?”
And there it is in the paper.
Her obituary.
[sighs]
Elizabeth Alexander Murdaugh.
Beloved wife… and mother.
She called the paper, and they said somebody had called it in.
Who?
Him. Randolph.
Mr. Randolph.
And why would he do that?
Oh…
[exhales]
…he said he thought it was funny.
And what’s funny about that?
It always sounded like a warning to me.
Oh, I have this Christmas sweater that would look darling on you.
It’s too small for me.
I’d love to give it to you.
Oh, thank you. Okay.
Can you give this to the boys?
You’re gonna look like a little Christmas elf.
[laughs]
[♪ “Deck the Halls” playing]
Here you go. Now just take one.
Don’t you make a mess, all right?
Well, you didn’t have to come all the way out here on Christmas Day, darling.
And miss out on Miss Sandy’s holiday cookies?
[laughs]
I’m just sorry it took me so long to come through with anything.
Mandy, sweetheart, you’ve done more this past year than I could in the last four.
And since we met, you’ve been trying so hard.
Some of this is pretty graphic.
Are you sure you want to see it?
Of course, I do.
That’s my baby boy.
[♪ Dramatic music playing]
[gasps] We can stop.
[Sandy] No, I’m okay.
Oh, this.
So it seems that they heard the same rumor that you did.
[Proctor] [over video] Just because Stephen was gay doesn’t mean he deserved to die.
But I can tell you this much, he didn’t get hit by no car.
Now I know the Murdaughs are highfalutin, and some people say they got a lot of power.
But their name don’t mean anything to me.
[♪ Dramatic music playing]
[Maggie] That fucking liar.
[sighs]
[Alex] Maggie May!
Maggie May, come on and get out here.
I need to talk to you.
[sighs]
Maggie May!
Would you get down out here, please, mighty quick?
♪ Good King Wenceslas looked out ♪
♪ On the Feast of Stephen ♪
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!
Here you are, sweetie.
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho! Come on.
What is all this?
Come over here, come over here.
You got to close your eyes.
My little elf on the shelf said somebody’s been a good girl.
Oh.
Oh, yeah. We ready?
Come on, here we go.
Here we go. No peeking now. Come on.
Come on. Come on.
[indistinct chatter] Okay.
Okay.
Come on, file out. Let’s go.
[laughs] [stammers and shushes] Hey, don’t you…
[shushing]
What is it?
Oh, boy.
Come on. Is everybody here? Come on, okay?
We’re set, Red.
You ready, everybody?
I’m ready.
Are we ready?
Yes. I’m ready.
We’re ready.
[gasps]
[Alex] [laughing] Oh!
Oh, yeah.
Mwah.
Huh? Hardest part was finding that big-ass ribbon.
Huh?
[laughter]
[phone vibrating]
[Alex’s voice]
This is Alec. Leave a message.
Um, Mr. Alec, this is Tony Satterfield.
Um, there’s a man from the bank making us leave.
Just…
Can you just call me back, sir, please?
Th-Thank you.
Please, sir, we have, uh…
We have help supposed to come.
[stammers]
♪ In excelsis Deo ♪
[Proctor] Now, typically, you don’t see highway patrol investigating a murder.
And that is what this is, a murder.
And Buster Murdaugh is definitely on our radar to talk to.
So why didn’t they?
[gasps softly]
That bolt’s super light.
You’ll never get a bolt that quick.
[nervous laugh]
This is aerodynamic as hell.
♪ Gloria ♪
♪ In excelsis Deo ♪
♪ Gloria ♪
♪ In excelsis Deo ♪
♪ Come to Bethlehem and see ♪
♪ Whose birthday angels sing ♪
♪ Come adore on bended knee ♪
♪ Christ the Lord, the newborn King ♪
♪ Gloria ♪
♪ In excelsis Deo ♪
♪ Gloria ♪
♪ In excelsis Deo ♪
