The involvement of Rusty’s son, Kyle, was an unexpected twist introduced at the end of the previous episode of Presumed Innocent, and it was expected that episode 4 would focus on finding whether or not he was guilty. The episode is titled “The Burden,” which can be interpreted as both a legal term (the burden of proof) and a metaphorical usage to describe how Rusty’s family felt about the situation. Rusty and Barbara confronted their son, and he explained that he had found out about Rusty and Carolyn’s relationship some time ago and that he followed his father out of curiosity. Rusty’s interrogative stance intimidated Kyle, and he decided to answer only to his mother. Even though Kyle was innocent, Rusty was afraid of the prosecution twisting the case. It was surprising to see Rusty blame Barbara for his affair; he believed she too must take responsibility for their marriage falling apart. Rusty is an extremely flawed character, and such instances go on to show his narcissistic nature.
Spoiler Alert
Why was it important for Tommy to train Michael?
Carolyn’s son, Michael Caldwell, is one of the most important witnesses in the case, and Tommy Molto wanted to ensure that his testimony was in sync with the case they had built against Rusty. Moreover, it was important to prepare him for the questions the defense might ask. Michael had witnessed Rusty enter Carolyn’s house on the night of the murder, but he could not make out his demeanor. Tommy was banking on Michael’s opinion of Rusty based on the one time he confronted the man about killing his mother. Michael was confident that Rusty was lying when he denied murdering Carolyn; he believed there was guilt in his eyes that gave him away. He remembered that his mother had mentioned that she was afraid of a colleague the last time they met. She could not avoid the man because they were working on cases together, and it stressed her out all the more. While Carolyn did not mention the colleague’s name, Michael had enough reason to believe that it was Rusty. But is it possible that there was someone else at work who was pestering her? Tommy did not seem interested in investigating any other possibility, but is that reason enough to suggest that Tommy Molto was not as innocent as he claimed to be?
Who was the second suspect in the Bunny Davis case?
Rusty was convinced that the only way he could prove his innocence was by finding an alternate suspect. The only commonality between the murders of twenty-six-year-old Bunny Davis and Carolyn Polhemus was that their bodies were tied up in a similar way. It suggested that the killer was possibly aware of Carolyn’s connection to the case, and maybe it was an act of revenge. It could also indicate that someone wanted her death to resemble the Bunny Davis case to divert attention.
Detective Rigo found a match for the second sem*n sample, and Rusty accompanied her to question the man. Brian Ratzer was at home working in his basem*nt when Rigo and Rusty entered his house. Rigo explained that they were investigating a break-in case in the neighborhood, and they hoped he could help them with it. Ratzer was defensive from the very beginning. He claimed to have never been to the area, and he added that he worked at night, so he had no clue what they were talking about. He was agitated when Rigo mentioned the murder of a sex worker; he was well aware of the case, and he wanted to stay away from it. Ratzer recognized Rusty (his trial was all over the media), and he could sense that they were trying to get him entangled in a mess. Rigo had warned Rusty to remain silent during the questioning, but he did not stick to it, and he ended up intimidating Ratzer. Rusty wanted him to feel threatened so that he would confess the truth, but Rigo thought it was a terrible idea.
Does Barbara Give Rusty Another Chance?
Barbara was warned by her therapist that she had gone into complete defense mode and was ready to do anything to preserve her family. She was desperate, but it also meant that she was not thinking straight or prioritizing her wellbeing. Barbara was so concerned with perfecting her role as a mother and a wife that she had forgotten what it was to be an individual. She felt seen when the bartender, Clifton, flirted with her. With him, she did not have to worry about the roles she had dedicated her life to, and she could just be herself. Barbara was aware that the fling was bad for her marriage, but she could not deny that she enjoyed every bit of it. Her husband had cheated on her and was on trial for murdering his lover. The fact that Barbara was still supportive of him showed how deeply she valued the feelings of her children, but that did not necessarily mean that the decision was good for her. Her therapist believed that she could regret the choices she was making once her children left the nest. She might end up feeling a deep sense of hatred and guilt for herself because she did not take a stand when she could. But Barbara’s instinct to protect her family took precedence in episode 4 of Presumed Innocent. When Rusty called her and apologized for his behavior, she returned home to him. Their passionate lovemaking indicated how desperate they were to prove to one another that they were still willing to make their marriage work, but given how complicated the situation has become, will Barbara ever recover from the trauma while still being married to Rusty?
Why did Mya Winslow decide against putting Rusty in the witness chair?
Mya Winslow was in charge of putting together Rusty’s version of his relationship with Carolyn. It was important to get a detailed account of his activities on the night of the murder to prove his innocence in court. Carolyn had been ignoring Rusty for quite some time. She did not wish to continue with their relationship, but Rusty found it difficult to accept. He had started to stalk her, and it had become his habit to text her every other minute. He remembered being distracted that evening because Carolyn had not responded to his series of texts. He went to the bar and had a few drinks. And he experienced a sudden rush of adrenaline when he received a text from Carolyn. He drove to her house, and all he could say was that they had an intense argument that night. Rusty hesitated while discussing what had happened at the apartment. Mya found it strange that the argument lasted for 51 minutes, but then again, it was not on them to prove it. Maybe they made love and had a conversation that escalated into an argument; it was not completely improbable. Mya decided it would be best not to put Rusty on the witness chair—he believed he was the victim, and he did not regret harassing and stalking Carolyn. He was convinced that she manipulated him, and he did not acknowledge the fact that he disrespected her boundaries.
How did the new evidence affect the plea deal?
Raymond Horgan was convinced that the prosecution would agree to a plea deal, given that the evidence was inconclusive. He had no idea what was waiting for him when he addressed Nico and Tommy in a closed-door meeting. He was confident, and he was vocal about the prosecution not being up to the task. It was almost as if Raymond was doing a favor to the prosecution by suggesting a plea deal, and to be honest, the defense was on the winning end given that no DNA was found in Rusty’s car, his clothing, or any of his belongings. Nico and Tommy waited for Raymond’s monologue to end before they presented the new evidence that came to light—it was shocking enough to silence Raymond. Rusty’s skin was found under Carolyn’s fingernails; this directly connected Rusty to the murder, and it could be enough for the jury to announce their decision. When Raymond informed Rusty about the evidence at the end of Presumed Innocent episode 4, he was shocked. He was certain that Carolyn had not scratched him the last time they were together, and all he could say was that it was all a big lie. Rusty believed Molto and Kumagai had teamed up together to destroy him, and the evidence was planted. There was no denying that Doctor Kumagai never liked Rusty, and given that the new evidence took its own sweet time to come to light, perhaps suggests foul play, but if that was the case, they were risking their career for one sole purpose—Rusty’s downfall. But can workplace politics escalate to murder and false charges?
“The Burden” ends with Ratzer knocking on Rusty’s door. He was furious once he figured out that Rusty was on trial for a murder case. He connected the dots and figured out that Rusty and Rigo were trying to frame him for the murder. Ratzer was screaming and banging at the door, and to protect his family, Rusty stepped out and repeatedly punched Ratzer in the face. The ending of Presumed Innocent episode 4 suggests that Rusty was gradually losing control. There was new evidence that weakened his case, and he ended up beating up a man related to a previous case he had handled. Things do not look good for Rusty, and it is only Raymond Horgan who can save him now.
