Apple TV+’s “Presumed Innocent” episodes 1 & 2 introduced us to its central conflict. A prosecuting attorney from Chicago, Rusty Sabich, is suspected of having murdered one of his colleagues, Carolyn Polhemus. During the investigation, the officers learn about Rusty’s affair with Carolyn. The cops find evidence to prove that Carolyn was pregnant with Rusty’s child at the time of her murder. So, they arrest him. Raymond takes on Rusty’s case and gets him out on bail. Now, “Presumed Innocent” episode 3 shows Rusty trying to prove his innocence in the case of Carolyn’s murder. As some new evidence comes to light, the Sabich family tries to cope with the tragedy as a unit.
Spoilers Ahead.
Presumed Innocent Episode 3 ‘Discovery’ Recap:
Earlier, we saw Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal) getting arrested for Carolyn Polhemus’ (Renate Reinsve) murder. His friend & colleague, Raymond (Bill Camp), decided to fight for him in the court. He made sure that Rusty got out on bail without a conference. Back home, while sitting with his family, Rusty receives a text from a stranger who claims to have seen Rusty at Carolyn’s house. After seeing this message, Rusty panics and walks out of the room. Barbara (Ruth Negga) follows him and asks what happened. Rusty shows her the text and reveals something new.
On the night Carolyn was murdered, Rusty was in her house. But he claims that he didn’t kill her. He realizes that someone is trying to take advantage of his problematic situation. Later, this stranger texts Rusty to ask them to meet at some location. The next morning, Rusty shows the text to Raymond. Considering the recent turn of events, Lorraine (Elizabeth Marvel) refuses to even greet Rusty. Regardless, Raymond suggests Rusty go to meet this stranger to see what they are after. Raymond advises Rusty to speak cautiously, considering the possibility that this person might be wearing a wire. Any wrong word from Rusty’s mouth might incriminate him.
The Secret Messenger
Rusty drives to the specified location to meet the discreet messenger. He realizes that it is none other than Carolyn’s son, Michael (Tate Birchmore). The night Carolyn died, Michael was around Carolyn’s house. He noticed Rusty walk in and have a conversation with her. Besides, he took photos and videos of them being together. Rusty understands that Michael would have also seen other people walking inside her house. So, he tells Michael to share other photos with either him or the district attorney. Michael says he shared them already at the DA’s office. Still, he invited Rusty because he just wanted to get a look at Rusty’s face.
Sabich Family’s Suffering
Reporters start flocking around the Sabich house to get their daily dose of scoop. They follow Barbara to her workplace and trouble her. She somehow escapes their flock and enters the art museum. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing issues with Rusty and the resulting unwarranted attention, her boss Kate (Rosanna Arquette) expects her to take a break. Barbara believes it is Kate’s way of saying she has been fired. In the middle of that afternoon, she goes to a bar to have a drink by herself. There, she has a dialogue with the young bartender, Clifton (Sarunas J Jackson), and gets smitten by him. Later, she tells Lorraine about it, who suggests she should pursue him for her own joy.
Tommy’s Passionate Hatred
Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard) questions Rusty’s close associate, Det Rodriguez (Nana Mensah), about her & Rusty’s prison visit with Liam Reynolds (Mark Harelik). So, Alana notes the similarity between Bunny Davis’s and Carolyn’smurder. Tommy continues to disrespect her because she helped Rusty. Nico Della Guardia (O-T Fagbenle) notices Tommy’s passionate hatred toward Rusty. Before Alana leaves, Nico tells her not to do anything that will obstruct their investigation. Still, Alana decides to go through the Bunny Davis case files to help Rusty. Meanwhile, at the courthouse, Rusty tells about his strange meeting with Michael. Raymond couldn’t believe Michael only wanted to see Rusty’s face as he had claimed.
Raymond brings Mya Winslow (Gabby Beans) just so they have a female attorney on the defense council. They all enter the courthouse for a meeting with Tommy, Nico, and Judge Lyttle (Noma Dumezweni). Tommy and Nico share the complete autopsy report as well as confidential information from Rusty’s psychiatrist. Nico states it is necessary to make their case. Judge Lyttle objects to Tommy & Nico’s contempt-driven approach and notes that they must provide all viable evidence to prove Rusty’s guilt or innocence. Then, Raymond asks why the photos and videos from the night of Carolyn’s death aren’t in the documents Tommy shared. Tommy claims they are still being authenticated.
Presumed Innocent Episode 3 “Discovery,” Ending Explained:
Judge Lyttle realizes that Tommy is potentially withholding the evidence that can shed light on the actual events from the night of Carolyn’s murder. So, she orders Tommy to share them the same day so that they can analyze them together. Furthermore, she advises he mustn’t hide any evidence from her or the defense council. Back home, before having the family dinner, Jaden (Chase Infiniti) asks Rusty to tell them whatever the court knows about him. Rusty reveals that he was at Carolyn’s house the night she was murdered. Besides, he knew how Bunny Davis was killed. So, the prosecutors will try to blame him for the murder.
Suddenly, Kyle (Kingston Rumi Southwick) asks Rusty whether he has considered a plea deal to avoid a life sentence. Rusty gets upset, thinking Kyle believes he murdered Carolyn. Barbara says Kyle may have said it in the heat of the moment. Later, Kyle apologizes for insinuating Rusty committed murder. On the other hand, Nico orders Tommy to rely just on resources of evidence and not on his contempt toward Rusty. The next day, Mya asks Rusty about his relationship with Carolyn for the statement she is supposed to write. She asks whether it was just lust or love. Rusty claims that it was both to some degree.
What new information does Rusty learn about the Carolyn case?
Rusty tells Mya that he fell for Carolyn the time they both were assigned to work on a molestation case. He saw Carolyn’s tender side, which he considered uncommon for a prosecutor. Although he acted upon his impulses despite his marriage, he says he didn’t kill Carolyn. Later, while looking at the photographic evidence from the night of the crime, he notices a hooded figure on a bicycle lurking in the background. The cyclist is his son, Kyle. That’s the groundbreaking discovery Rusty makes in the Carolyn case. It is too early to positively claim that Kyle committed the crime. Alas, Kyle’s presence around Carolyn’s house indicates his possible knowledge of Rusty’s affair with her.
