Ultimate Lie To Me Fansite
Episode 5 - Unchained
Cal and Ria are visiting a Virginia prison where ex-Latino gang leader/cop killer-turned-author Manny Trillo -- whose anti-gang message has him up for a Nobel prize and possible parole -- gets stabbed by a fellow prisoner. It's the second attempt on Trillo's life since he's announced his reformation, and Cal and Ria have been hired to determine whether Trillo's lying about his change of heart.
Meanwhile, Gillian and Eli are investigating the death of rookie African-American firefighter Eric Mitchell, who perished while battling a building fire, but was actually dead before the blaze claimed him. Mitchell's grandfather, a now-retired firefighter, wants to know if his grandson was murdered.
Because firehouses are a closed society suspicious of outsiders, they decide to watch Lt. Clayton question his men, whose stories are consistent. But "response latency" -- they all pause slightly before answering -- indicates their stories were planned in advance.
Cal and Ria question Trillo, who claims his conversion stemmed from extensive reading while in solitary confinement. But when Cal starts eating a hamburger in the middle of the interrogation, Trillo becomes visibly angry. Cal explains this was because Trillo felt disrespected -- a survival trigger for a gang-banger or prisoner -- but otherwise Trillo's body language indicates he's truly ashamed of his past. And comparing old and new videotapes of Trillo will prove it.
After watching the tapes, Ria doesn't buy Trillo's conversion story. Cal says it's Ria's past personal experience that makes her believe people are incapable of change.
Eli, Gillian, and Cal watch tapes of the firefighters' questioning. One of the men, Donovan, exhibits body language that shows more remorse than the others. So Gillian and Eli set up a fake training exercise that requires him to rescue a downed firefighter.
Re-interviewed by Gillian, Donovan admits he could've -- but didn't -- save Mitchell, who'd been subject to extensive hazing, including an incident with peanut butter after they learned he was allergic to peanuts. Meanwhile, African-American firefighter Wallace's face reveals intense disgust at the mention of Mitchell's name.
Gillian notices Carrie -- the chief's niece, who also works in the firehouse -- is sitting with fingers across her lips, which indicates she's hiding something. (We see shots of politicians doing the same.) When Gillian complains about the men's attitude toward women, Carrie agrees, adding she didn't think anyone meant to hurt Eric.
Back at the prison, the dead cop's widow, Holly, tells the parole board she's read Trillo's book and believes he's changed, but Cal notices she shakes her head every time she says this. And after watching tapes of her post-hearing interviews -- where her face shows a classic expression of fear (eyebrows up and pulled together) -- Ria thinks Holly's been threatened.
When Cal asks Trillo if he had Holly threatened, he denies contacting any former associates. (His expression matches famous guilty celebrity denials.) Called on his lie, Trillo explains he's been secretly trying to forge a truce.
Ria still thinks Trillo's lying. Cal says it's Holly who's lying and her reasons are personal -- just like Ria's, noting that her surgically repaired nose indicates she was abused as a child.
Cal asks that Trillo be released -- but with police following his every move. So Trillo walks out of prison and exchanges hugs with his waiting homeboys.
After using images of Hitler and Bin Laden to illustrate the difference between disgust and anger, Eli and Gillian interrogate Wallace, who explains his disgust came from Mitchell's complaining to the Black Firefighters Society about his hazing, which made the situation appear to be racially motivated instead of personal. He adds that the peanut butter incident took place months ago, so it's more likely that someone sabotaged Mitchell's equipment, saying it could've been "any one of 'em."
Gillian and Eli decide to conduct a standard experiment to determine the firefighters' levels of unconscious racism. They show photos to which the subjects apply adjectives, which -- typically -- are 80 percent biased. But David Caddick's bias level is triple anyone else's. Under questioning, he denies having a racial problem with Mitchell. Gillian realizes Caddick's problem stemmed from Mitchell's relationship with someone else, probably a woman and probably white.
When Eli and Gillian ask about Mitchell's personal life, his grandfather remembers a visibly upset Carrie visited him after Mitchell's death. Carrie then tells Gillian that Mitchell asked her to marry him and although her uncle didn't want her dating a fireman, especially one who worked in the same station, he didn't know about their relationship.
But his reaction to Carrie's videotaped statement proves Lt. Clayton did. He says Mitchell was violating the firefighters' code, and he was "just following the code." He's arrested for murder.
Cal watches Holly show up on Trillo's doorstep. She pulls a pistol -- and is surrounded by police. It's a standoff. She's sorry -- she can't forgive her husband's killer -- but eventually breaks down in tears. Trillo wraps his hands around hers.
After placing Mitchell's picture on a wall of fallen firefighters, the chief hands the grandfather a medal. Carrie tears up.
Cal gives Ria a copy of Trillo's book. Most people don't change, but a few can, he says, adding that being abused made her a natural -- she learned to read emotions to survive.
"So why would you want to learn that?" Ria asks. No answer. "And who made you who you are?" Cal still doesn't answer.
Meanwhile, Gillian and Eli are investigating the death of rookie African-American firefighter Eric Mitchell, who perished while battling a building fire, but was actually dead before the blaze claimed him. Mitchell's grandfather, a now-retired firefighter, wants to know if his grandson was murdered.
Because firehouses are a closed society suspicious of outsiders, they decide to watch Lt. Clayton question his men, whose stories are consistent. But "response latency" -- they all pause slightly before answering -- indicates their stories were planned in advance.
Cal and Ria question Trillo, who claims his conversion stemmed from extensive reading while in solitary confinement. But when Cal starts eating a hamburger in the middle of the interrogation, Trillo becomes visibly angry. Cal explains this was because Trillo felt disrespected -- a survival trigger for a gang-banger or prisoner -- but otherwise Trillo's body language indicates he's truly ashamed of his past. And comparing old and new videotapes of Trillo will prove it.
After watching the tapes, Ria doesn't buy Trillo's conversion story. Cal says it's Ria's past personal experience that makes her believe people are incapable of change.
Eli, Gillian, and Cal watch tapes of the firefighters' questioning. One of the men, Donovan, exhibits body language that shows more remorse than the others. So Gillian and Eli set up a fake training exercise that requires him to rescue a downed firefighter.
Re-interviewed by Gillian, Donovan admits he could've -- but didn't -- save Mitchell, who'd been subject to extensive hazing, including an incident with peanut butter after they learned he was allergic to peanuts. Meanwhile, African-American firefighter Wallace's face reveals intense disgust at the mention of Mitchell's name.
Gillian notices Carrie -- the chief's niece, who also works in the firehouse -- is sitting with fingers across her lips, which indicates she's hiding something. (We see shots of politicians doing the same.) When Gillian complains about the men's attitude toward women, Carrie agrees, adding she didn't think anyone meant to hurt Eric.
Back at the prison, the dead cop's widow, Holly, tells the parole board she's read Trillo's book and believes he's changed, but Cal notices she shakes her head every time she says this. And after watching tapes of her post-hearing interviews -- where her face shows a classic expression of fear (eyebrows up and pulled together) -- Ria thinks Holly's been threatened.
When Cal asks Trillo if he had Holly threatened, he denies contacting any former associates. (His expression matches famous guilty celebrity denials.) Called on his lie, Trillo explains he's been secretly trying to forge a truce.
Ria still thinks Trillo's lying. Cal says it's Holly who's lying and her reasons are personal -- just like Ria's, noting that her surgically repaired nose indicates she was abused as a child.
Cal asks that Trillo be released -- but with police following his every move. So Trillo walks out of prison and exchanges hugs with his waiting homeboys.
After using images of Hitler and Bin Laden to illustrate the difference between disgust and anger, Eli and Gillian interrogate Wallace, who explains his disgust came from Mitchell's complaining to the Black Firefighters Society about his hazing, which made the situation appear to be racially motivated instead of personal. He adds that the peanut butter incident took place months ago, so it's more likely that someone sabotaged Mitchell's equipment, saying it could've been "any one of 'em."
Gillian and Eli decide to conduct a standard experiment to determine the firefighters' levels of unconscious racism. They show photos to which the subjects apply adjectives, which -- typically -- are 80 percent biased. But David Caddick's bias level is triple anyone else's. Under questioning, he denies having a racial problem with Mitchell. Gillian realizes Caddick's problem stemmed from Mitchell's relationship with someone else, probably a woman and probably white.
When Eli and Gillian ask about Mitchell's personal life, his grandfather remembers a visibly upset Carrie visited him after Mitchell's death. Carrie then tells Gillian that Mitchell asked her to marry him and although her uncle didn't want her dating a fireman, especially one who worked in the same station, he didn't know about their relationship.
But his reaction to Carrie's videotaped statement proves Lt. Clayton did. He says Mitchell was violating the firefighters' code, and he was "just following the code." He's arrested for murder.
Cal watches Holly show up on Trillo's doorstep. She pulls a pistol -- and is surrounded by police. It's a standoff. She's sorry -- she can't forgive her husband's killer -- but eventually breaks down in tears. Trillo wraps his hands around hers.
After placing Mitchell's picture on a wall of fallen firefighters, the chief hands the grandfather a medal. Carrie tears up.
Cal gives Ria a copy of Trillo's book. Most people don't change, but a few can, he says, adding that being abused made her a natural -- she learned to read emotions to survive.
"So why would you want to learn that?" Ria asks. No answer. "And who made you who you are?" Cal still doesn't answer.
