EPILOGUE
June 30, 2017
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Annalise Keating wins her trial.
She was accused of being responsible for the murders of Sam Keating, Rebecca Sutter, ADA Emily Sinclair, Caleb Hapstall, Asher Millstone and DA Ronald Miller.
She is on the courthouse steps with Bonnie and Tegan beside her when, all of a sudden, eight shots are heard.
Frank Delfino has just shot Governor of Pennsylvania, Lynne Birkhead. Her security guards shot him back.
''Shooting at the Philadelphia courthouse. Conspiracy to murder?'', they say on the news in the following days.
August 10, 2017
Memphis, Tennessee
8:09 AM
Annalise is sitting on the bed in her room, staring out the window.
<<Good morning.>>, Celestine says, opening the door.
Annalise turns to her and gives a hint of a smile.
<<Mama did it for you. We heard something drop. We knew you were awake.>>
Celestine walks into the room and puts a of coffee on the desk.
<<Did you sleep well last night?>>, Celestine asks.
<<Not a wink.>>
The first two weeks of July were hell for Annalise. She never left the room except to go to the bathroom. In the following weeks she started having nightmares and begged Celestine to buy alcohol at the grocery store, forcing her to get rid of whiskey and vodka in their house.
<<You should see Dr. Bailey, Annalise. She's really good and she helped Thelonious with his sleeping troubles.>>
<<No, Celestine. Thelonious has no sleeping troubles. He just smokes weed before going to bed. That's why he sleepwalks.>>
<<He told you that?!>>, Celestine asks, surprised.
<<No, but his pupils and smelly clothes did.>>
<<He's using a rosemary body spray, Annalise. I gave it to him for his birthday. That's not weed!>>
<<If you say so.>>
Annalise gets up, takes the cup of coffee and sits back on the bed.
There's a moment of silence.
<<You've missed——14 phone calls and you have 9 unread emails.>>, Celestine says.
<<Now you're checking my phone?>>
<<Well, you should turn off your pop-up notifications so that my eyes don't fall on it.>>
Annalise sighs.
Celestine is worried about her.
<<It's Tegan.>>, Annalise says, <<She's probably calling to tell there's a new Sam's kid in town.>>
<<Who is Tegan?>>, Ophelia interrupts.
Annalise and Celestine turn to her.
<<Good morning, Mama.>>>, Annalise says.
<<Instead of talking behind my back, why don't you tell your mama how good the coffee is.>>
<<It's good, Momma. We're not talking behind your back.>>
<<I heard you both talking, young ladies. I'm not deaf.>>
<<Momma, let's get to the grocery store.>>, Celestine interrupts, winking at Annalise.
Ophelia and Celestine leave the room.
Annalise stares out the window again.
Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson' posters are still on the wall, along with Annalise's trophies and her graduation photos. Not that they were were the best years of her life, but she could never have imagined that her future would be worse.
Memories of the courthouse shooting are still fresh in her mind and they quickly return to the surface, as a long flashback.
FLASHBACK
2 MONTHS EARLIER
June 30, 2017
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5:01 PM
The police arrives along with an ambulance outside the courthouse.
Annalise keeps pressing on Bonnie's bloody wound, but there's nothing she can do anymore.
Frank died in Bonnie's arms.
Bonnie died in Annalise's arms.
<<Ma'am—may you step away from the body, please?>>, the FBI agent orders, <<Paramedics are here.>>>
Two men cover Frank's body with a sheet.
Annalise is desperate and doesn't want to leave Bonnie.
<<Annalise—>>, Tegan murmurs, while she puts her hand on Annalise's shoulder.
<<Go away.>>
<<Ma'am, we must insist. Please, would you move from the body right now? Don't push us around this way!>>
<<Annalise, please, just hear me out—>>
<<I'm not leaving her, Tegan! I can't leave her! >>, Annalise yells.
The FBI agents intervene.
Tegan, gently, tries to pull Annalise towards her and then holds her tight while the police covers the body.
<<No! Don't touch her! Let go of me! No! No! No!>>, Annalise cries in Tegan's arms, while they carry Bonnie's body away.
____________________________________________________________
August 10, 2017
Memphis, Tennessee
12.45 AM
Ophelia and Celestine have just came home from the grocery store.
They put the bags on the table.
Annalise hears them, therefore she gets out of bed and joins them in the kitchen.
<<Where's dad?>>, Annalise asks.
<<Cheating!>>, Celestine replies, laughing.
Ophelia gives her a slap on the arm.
<<Dad is in the garage since this morning, Anna Mae. He's trying to fix the lawn mower. You want to tell him something?>>
<<No.>>
<<Here's my baby girls helping their mama cook today!>>, Ophelia says, changing the subject.
<<Anna Mae will help you cook today, Momma. I have to go to work. Someone's got to put food on the table!>>
Annalise sighs and says: <<Are you saying I'm a burden, Celestine?>>
<<Anna Mae!>>, Ophelia yells, banging the pot on the table.
Annalise and Celestine look at each other.
<<What? No, Annalise. I wasn't saying anything mean.>>
Annalise is bothered, but it has nothing to do with Celestine, nor her mother.
<<I might catch some air.>>
Annalise leaves the room.
Celestine doesn't want to argue with her sister.
<<I'll talk to her, Momma. Don't worry.>>, Celestine says.
Ophelia waves her as she leaves for work.
Annalise is in the backyard.
Ophelia stands at the door and says: <<I don't like the way you spoke to your sister earlier, Anna Mae.>>
Annalise doesn't answer.
Ophelia comes down the stairs.
<<Your sister's making sacrifices for her family. She doesn't deserve that treatment.>>
<<And I'm the bad sister who brings troubles inside the house. Right, Mama?>>
<<Troubles?! What's the matter with you? You stupid?>>
There's a moment of silence.
Annalise sighs.
Ophelia puts her hand on Annalise's shoulder and says: <<God knows all the battles you faced through the years, Anna Mae.>>
<<God wouldn't let this happen to me, Momma.>>
<<There's always a reason, Anna Mae—>>
<<And what would be the reason, Momma?>>, Annalise interrupts, raising her voice, <<I lost everything! My son. My student. My husband. Frank. Bonnie. God's not helping me, Momma.>>
<<Look at me, Anna Mae. Look at me. You're not alone.>>, Ophelia says, as she caresses Annalise's face, <<You do have someone. Nathaniel. Where is he? Why you're not calling him?>>
<<Nate can't help, Momma.>>, Annalise replies, moving Ophelia's hands from her face.
<<You're married, Anna Mae. A husband would always help his wife. Call Nathaniel. Listen to your mama.>>
Annalise realizes Ophelia is having an episode of dementia and she's confusing Nate with Sam.
<<I'll help you cook, Momma. It's okay. We'll talk later.>>
The two hug each other and then get back inside.
Annalise feels compassion for her mother.
On the way to the kitchen, Ophelia stops suddenly at the door.
<<I—I need to sleep, Anna Mae. I should go to bed.>>
Annalise is worried, but pretends everything is fine.
<<Okay. Let's get you to bed, Momma. I'll take care of lunch.>>
<<Good girl. My baby girl.>>, Ophelia says, smiling.
Annalise walks hand in hand with Ophelia to the bedroom and helps her lying down on the bed.
<<I'm a burden, Anna Mae.>>, Ophelia murmurs, while Annalise sits at the foot of the bed.
<<Don't talk like that, Momma.>>
<<It's true. Why don't you just admit it?>>
Annalise caresses her leg to calm her.
<<Come a little closer, baby girl. Come to mama.>>
Annalise stands up and comes close to Ophelia.
<<Celestine—tell Anna Mae that she must wake up. It's late. She's got to go to work.>>
Annalise hesitates for a second before answering.
<<Okay, Momma. I'm going to wake her up. Now, rest.>>
Ophelia slowly closes her eyes and falls asleep.
Annalise sits still on the bed for a few minutes and looks out the window.
Memories of the shooting come back again and it's always a punch in the stomach.
FLASHBACK
2 MONTHS EARLIER
June 30, 2017
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5:15 PM
Annalise is sitting in the ambulance, parked right outside the courthouse.
She is in pain and tries to look for her mother and Celestine.
Her ears ring.
There's chaos.
Reporters have just come over.
<<Annalise!>>, Tegan yells.
<<Tegan—Tegan, where are they?!>>
<<Annalise—>>
<<Tell me! Where are they?>>
Tegan is upset.
<<They——they're taking them to the morgue, Annalise. It's for the autopsy.>>
Tears come streaming down Annalise's face.
Tegan doesn't know what to do.
<<Tegan, what are they saying?>>
<<Who are you talking about, Annalise?>>
<<Reporters. What are they saying?>>
There's tension.
<<They——they're calling it a foul play, Annalise.>>
<<What?!>>
Annalise is shocked.
<<The FBI is out talking to the press. They are convinced that someone ordered Frank to shoot the Governor.>>, Tegan reveals.
Annalise notices the cops are looking at her suspiciously and thinks they probably want to find a scapegoat, as soon as they can.
It's like a jungle.
<<Tegan, listen to me—>>, Annalise suddenly murmurs, <<Find Celestine. Tell her to go to apartament. A copy of the keys is in the lamp outside my door. She needs to get my clothes and put them in the suitcase.>>
<<What?! You're not going to leave Philly, are you?>>
<<Do you want me to take a gun and shoot me in the head in front of everyone here, Tegan?!>>
The tension rises.
<<Annalise——we just have to tell the truth! We were talking to the press when we heard the shots. Any accusations they want to make, it's not going to work!>>>
<<They are animals, Tegan! It's a wonder I'm even alive after the verdict!>>, Annalise says, <<I need to get out of town as soon as possible. I don't want to be here. Please, find Celestine and tell her to go home!>>
Tegan is worried.
<<Go!>>, Annalise yells.
Tegan sighs and walks away to find Celestine.
Meanwhile, Annalise notices a woman with long brown hair and a pair of black sunglasses who keeps staring at her from a distance as she is on the phone talking to someone.
The woman realizes Annalise is looking back at her, so she walks away immediately, disappearing into the crowd.
Who was that woman?
____________________________________________________________
August 10, 2017
Memphis, Tennessee
10:35 PM
Celestine has just came back from work.
Ophelia and Mac fell asleep on the couch while watching TV.
She goes to Annalise's room, but she's not there.
Celestine looks out the window and sees her sister sitting on the stairs in the front yard.
<<Hey!>>, Celestine says.
Annalise turns to her and nods.
There's a moment of silence.
<<Sorry about this morning. I didn't mean what I said.>>, Annalise says.
Celestine sighs.
<<Apology accepted——You owe me an ice cream.>>
Annalise chuckles.
Celestine sits next to her.
<<How was at work?>>
<<Well—an old man shit himself in the pants and I had to wipe his flat ass! You do the math.>>
Annalise laughs.
There's a moment of silence.
<<Mom behaved?>>, Celestine asks.
Annalise sighs and says: <<She——she had an episode.>>
<<Good God, she hasn't had one for days.>>, Celestine replies.
Annalise coughs.
<<What else?>>
<<She——thinks I'm still married to Sam.>>
<<Holy mother!>>
Annalise is upset.
<<She also mistook me for you.>>
Celestine is worried, but she's also aware of Ophelia's situation.
<<Mama is strong, Annalise.>>
There's a moment of silence.
<<Why is he acting this way?>>
<<Who?>>, Celestine asks.
<<Dad.>>, Annalise answers, <<Since I came back here, he didn't say a word to me. He never goes with mama to the grocery store. He doesn't even eat breakfast with her. Does he know that mama is getting worse?>>
<<Did that man ever do anything good for us, Annalise?>>
Annalise sighs.
There's a moment of silence.
<<Sometimes——it's like he wants to avoid me.>>
<<You know Dad, Annalise. We never know why he does what he does.>>
<<Does he even know what happened to me two months ago?>>
Celestine sighs.
<<He—he heard about it on TV. He asked me questions about that woman in politics.>>
Celestine is talking about the Governor.
<<And what did you say to him?>>, Annalise asks.
<<Nothing. I pretended my phone was ringing everytime he asked me.>>
Annalise snorts.
There's a moment of silence.
<<Dad didn't want me to marry Sam.>>, Annalise reveals, <<He said there was something about him that did not convince him——and he was right.>>
Celestine sighs and says: <<Annalise, men say a lot of crap. Don't mind them.>>
Annalise nods.
<<Anyway——you can stay here as long as you want, sister. Momma and I enjoy you being around here.>>
Annalise gives a hint of a smile.
<<Going back to Philadelphia would make me sick, Celestine.>>
<<What do you plan on doing with your apartment?>>
There's a moment of silence.
<<I don't know.>>, Annalise answers.
Celestine sighs.
<<Then——when the time is right, you'll think about it.>>
Celestine and Annalise hug each other.
An owl's hoot is heard.
There's a moment of silence.
<<Annalise?>>
<<What?>>
<<That woman——Lynne. Why did she hate you so much?>>
Annalise sighs, looks at the roses in the yard and then says: <<There are questions I'm not able to answer myself, Celestine. And this is one of them.>>
Celestine sighs.
There's a moment of silence.
<<Dad is snoring. I'm going to wake them up.>>, Celestine says, <<You stay here a few more minutes?>>
Annalise nods and leans her head against the wooden railing of the stairs.
She looks at the night sky and thinks about her mother. Celestine. Bonnie. And Frank.
____________________________________________________________
FLASHBACK
2 MONTHS EARLIER
June 20, 2017
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8:30 PM
Frank leaves Bonnie's house and brings the suitcase with the money to Gabriel.
After doing this, Franks gets in the car.
Many thoughts run through his head. He believes that whatever he might do, nothing won't make sense in his life anymore.
He would like to erase Hannah and Sam from his memory. But he can't.
He's broken inside, but decides to do something...he wants to talk to his adoptive parents.
Frank drives down to their house and when he's there, he stares at it from inside the car.
He doesn't have the courage to step out and knock on their door. He is scared about what he might find out.
He changes his mind.
He starts the car again and drives straight to Haddonfield, New Jersey.
There lives Beverly Delfino, his adoptive aunt.
____________________________________________________________
August 15, 2017
Philadelphia Prison, Pennsylvania
7:58 AM
Connor is sleeping.
<<Wake up!>>, the prison guard yells while banging the bed with a baton, <<Wake up, Walsh!>>
Connor wakes up with a start.
<<What——what, what time is it?>>
<<Mr. Bowers wants to see you.>>
Connor is confused.
<<Brother—you slept for eight hours straight. I thought you were dead!>>, George Smith says.
He is Connor's cell mate.
Connor gets out of bed, washes his face and walks to John Bowers's office.
The man would likely ask Connor the reason why he skipped meals in the last few weeks or why he hardly leaves his cell during the day.
Connor knocks on the door, comes in and sits down.
<<Morning, Mr. Walsh.>>, John Bowers says, <<Your family keeps putting pressure on me about your visitation rights.>>
John Bowers is the prison counselor.
<<July is over since weeks. Now it's mid-August. Have you changed your mind about it?>>
There's a moment of silence.
<<Mr. Walsh—>>
<<I'm not accepting visitors.>>
John Bowers is confused.
<<Seriously?>>
Connor sighs.
<<Yes. May I go back in?>>
John Bowers raises his eyebrows. He's not convinced.
<<Mr. Walsh, you're losing weight.>>
Connor doesn't say a word.
<<You keep skipping your daily meals and spend most of the time lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. If things don't change, you'll leave me no choice, but to schedule an appointment with our prison psychologist.>>
<<I guess that would be a good idea.>>
<<You think?>>
<<No.>>
John Bowers snorts.
<<What do you think you need right now, Mr. Walsh?>>
Connor doesn't answer.
There's a moment of silence.
<<Your husband—he wrote letters to you.>>
Connor looks the other way.
<<He's worried about you.>>
Connor keeps looking the other way.
<<Why don't you want to read them?>>
Connor doesn't answer.
There's a moment of silence.
<<Mr. Walsh, I'm responsible for each matter related to inmates inside this facility. Right to privacy. You should know this. I know you're a lawyer.>>
Connor turns to him and says: <<I'm not a lawyer.>>
John Bowers is confused.
<<You don't want people to know you're married to a man—>>
<<I'm not married to anyone!>>, Connor interrupts, raising his voice.
There's a moment of silence.
<<Mr. Walsh—are you afraid of people learning about you being a gay man?>>
Connor chuckles and says: <<Are you serious?>>
<<Yes.>>
<<Do you know what happens behind bars, sir?>>
<<I do.>>
<<Then why are asking these dumb questions to me? Is it for a reaction or what?>>
John Bowers sighs.
<<I have read your file, Connor. I know why you're in here. Five years is a very long time. Do you really want to stay quiet for so long?>>
Connor doesn't answer.
John Bowers snorts.
<<Look—if I don't see you hanging out in the yard tomorrow, you'll talk to the prison psychologist. Is that clear?>>
<<You can't do that.>>
<<I'm not going to watch you die of hunger, Mr. Walsh. Not in my prison.>>
Connor sighs.
<<It's not the end, Connor. Life's not over yet. Prison isn't your finish line, trust me.>>
<<Bull.>>
<<I'm going to help you. No matter what.>>
<<You don't know me, sir. You know nothing about me.>>
<<And I don't want to, Connor. I just want to be sure I do a good job.>>
Connor doesn't say a word.
<<Now that said—looking forward to seeing you in the prison yard by tomorrow.>>
Connor looks down at the floor.
<<You can go back to your cell now.>>
Connor gets up and leaves.
On the way back, he hears whistles and bad words from inmates.
<<Dad got something, you pretty little prag!>>
Connor doesn't care and keeps walking.
<<What did he tell you, brother? Guard looked pissed! >>, George Smith says.
Connor doesn't answer.
<<You been here for a month and I still don't know your name.>>
<<There's nothing to know about it.>>, Connor says in a low voice.
<<There's always something to know in here, brother.>>
Connor is annoyed.
<<I need to sleep.>>
<<Sleep? What are you, a dormouse?>>
Connor lies in bed and doesn't care about what George says.
He's facing the wall and thinks about Oliver, his family, his past life.
He wants to erase the last three years from his memory and pretends to start all over again by making different choices.
Unfortunately, he can't.
____________________________________________________________
FLASHBACK
2 MONTHS EARLIER
June 30, 2017
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4:30 PM
The verdict of Annalise's trial is coming.
Frank has just pulled up his car near the courthouse.
He has a flip phone in his hands.
He's leaving a message on Bonnie's voice mail.
<<Hey, Bon. It's Frank. I'm calling from a different number. ——I got rid of all my stuff. Sorry I left last night. I'm not mad at you. And nor at Annalise. ——My aunt, Bev, told me about Hannah and Sam. I can't stand it. ——Many bad things happened in our lives because of me. ——You have always been by my side and I owe you forever. ——I stopped by your place a few minutes ago. I left something in your room. ——Forgive me, Bon. I did everything I could to protect you. ——So, please. Don't hate me.——I love you.>>
Frank gets out of the car, throws the flip phone in the trash can and puts a gun in the pocket of his jacket.
He's heading to the courthouse.
____________________________________________________________
August 15, 2017
Memphis, Tennessee
11:56 AM
Annalise and Celestine are watering the lawn.
A mysterious person is hiding behind a tree and taking pictures of Annalise, spying on her from a distance.
The phone rings and the person answers.
<<It's me.>>
<<Is she still there?>>
<<Yes, I'm keeping an eye on her.>>
<<Don't get caught. We don't want any trouble.>>
<<Don't worry, Agent Landford. It's all under control.>>
<<If something goes wrong, don't ever mention my name.>>
<<It's not going to happen.>>, the mysterious person says.
<<I hope so.>>
The call ends.
____________________________________________________________
FLASHFORWARD
5 MONTHS LATER
January 7, 2018
New York
10:33 PM
The police is in Crown Heights.
There are a lot of people outside the building on 901 Washington Avenue.
A yellow tape adorns the door of an apartment on the seventh floor.
Detectives Duvall and Morgan arrived a few minutes ago and they're taking over the case.
<<Ms. Welling, what happened? >>, a neighbor asks.
<<The police is in my building. They are not letting anyone in.>>
<<Are you all right?>>
<<Yes. I was at the church yard with my dog and when I came back, I found the police outside the building.>>
<<Did they arrest someone?>>
<<No——they just found a dead body.>>, she reveals.
The TV journalists are reporting the news.
It's a crime scene.
<<New York District. A body in an advanced state of decomposition was found decapitated on the seventh floor of a building at 10:10 p.m. tonight. According to a resident, the horrifying discovery was made by the police, warned by an anonymous call. Residents confirm that the apartment has been vacant for months. The last tenant was a man. The investigation is underway.>>