The opening salvo of Presumed Innocent's Episode 1 unfolds with Rusty Sabich, a seasoned prosecutor, addressing a rapt jury, expounding on the solemn duties that bind both prosecutors and jurors alike. The scene shifts seamlessly to a heartwarming vignette of Rusty engaging in a friendly baseball game with his son, the tranquility of the moment shattered by a call from Raymond, delivering ominous tidings.
Barbara, Rusty's wife, shares in the shock as he informs her of Carolyn Polhemus's brutal murder. With heavy hearts, Rusty rushes to the crime scene—Carolyn's home, where he confronts the grisly sight of her lifeless body, contorted and bound with ropes in a chilling tableau.
Back at the office, the dynamic shifts as Raymond, the District Attorney, entrusts Rusty with the daunting task of leading the investigation, effectively sidelining Tommy Molto and Nico Della Guardia, the latter embroiled in a heated electoral battle against Raymond. Rusty dives headfirst into the case, demanding lab results be routed straight to his desk.
At home, Barbara's world collides with the news of Carolyn's demise, a fellow prosecutor whose loss echoes deeply within her. She catches Rusty glued to the television, where Nico's opportunistic rhetoric on protecting prosecutors rings hollow. Barbara offers solace but regrets her inability to attend the memorial.
At the solemn gathering, tensions escalate as Raymond publicly accuses Nico of exploiting Carolyn's murder for political mileage. Amidst the tumult, Rusty receives a jarring revelation from Raymond—Carolyn had a son, a piece of information that sends him reeling, compelling him to abruptly depart.
Later, Raymond seeks an update, and Rusty divulges a possible link between Carolyn's murder and one of her past prosecutions. Returning home, Rusty immerses himself in photographs and the autopsy report, seeking clues amidst the tragedy.
The next day, he confronts Kumagai, the notoriously abrasive medical examiner known as "Painless," who confirms the absence of sexual assault marks, adding another layer of mystery to the case.
Flashbacks to the high-profile Bunny Davis trial intrude, where Carolyn fearlessly confronted Liam Reynolds, accusing him of drugging and immobilizing the young Bunny Davis in a chilling reenactment of Carolyn's own fate. This connection doesn't escape Tommy Molto's notice, who promptly informs Nico of the disturbing parallel.
Rusty and his partner Rigo stood vigil outside the prison gates, their hearts heavy as they anticipated their encounter with Liam Reynolds. Rusty murmured under his breath, speculating that Liam might have orchestrated the heinous act from afar, hiring a mercenary to do his bidding. Rigo chimed in, his voice laced with certainty, asserting that Carolyn's demise must have been the handiwork of a fire poker, given the mysterious disappearance of hers.
As they confronted Liam, his eyes flashed with a mixture of resentment and sorrow, confessing that Carolyn had unraveled the fabric of his life but offering little else in the realm of clarity. Meanwhile, Raymond addressed the press, his words tinged with empathy, suggesting that Carolyn's dedication to justice had made her many enemies, any one of whom might have sought vengeance.
Nico, on the other hand, used the platform to campaign, promising a safer future for all if elected, his voice resonating with ambition. Rusty, meanwhile, sought solace in a private meeting with Carolyn's ex-husband, who revealed a distant relationship, his knowledge of her personal life limited to a vague outline. It was then that Rusty was introduced to Michael, Carolyn's son, the bond between them palpable yet fragile.
Gathering his team, a collective that had shared the trenches with Carolyn, Rusty delivered a rousing speech, his words igniting a spark of determination within them. They delved into the pathology report, their discussion punctuated by Tommy Molto's accusatory tones, labeling Rusty's leadership as flawed. Rusty, unfazed, countered with a sharp accusation of his own, accusing Tommy of secretly feeding information to Nico.
Rusty's unwavering commitment to Raymond's cause led him to stand before the media, his passion for justice echoing in every syllable. He fiercely defended Raymond while lambasting Nico for his tactics of delay, earning him the moniker 'Delay' from the crowd. Back at home, Barbara's anxiety was palpable, her fears for Rusty's involvement in the case tangible. What if their secret—Rusty's affair with Carolyn—were to be uncovered? Rusty, steadfast in his resolve, explained that this crusade was necessary to ensure Raymond's reelection, though Barbara feared it might be the very thing that tears them apart.
As the narrative unfolds, we witness Rusty gracefully gliding through the water, his swimming strokes seamlessly intertwined with fleeting glimpses of his clandestine romance with Carolyn. The scene seamlessly transitions to a therapist's sanctuary, where Rusty unravels the complexities of his affair. He confides that while his life with Barbara was burdened with anxieties, his time with Carolyn felt immaculate, a stark contrast. Rusty hints at a subtle undercurrent, acknowledging that Carolyn seemed magnetically drawn to his influence, transcending mere attraction. A poignant flashback captures the duo, nestled at a cozy bar, their fingers tentatively exploring each other's touch.
Rusty divulges to his therapist that in the intimacy of their bedchamber, Carolyn's whispers echoed with a haunting question: "Does Barbara do this for you?" Time marches on, and Nico Della Guardia triumphantly emerges victorious in the state's attorney election. Rusty, along with his family, witnesses the triumphant speech, Rusty's voice tinged with melancholy as he acknowledges Tommy Molto's ascension to the position of chief deputy prosecutor, a role once his own. The specter of a job search looms large.
As night falls, Rusty offers Barbara heartfelt gratitude for her unwavering support, while Barbara's response is laced with both resolve and warning. She reveals her motivation stems from a desire to safeguard their family's unity, yet she sternly cautions Rusty to sever all emotional ties with Carolyn.
Dawn breaks, and Rigo greets Rusty with a familiar warmth as they embark on a new day at work. Rusty's path eventually crosses with Raymond, and together, they reluctantly venture into a meeting with Nico and Tommy. Nico's announcement strikes like a thunderbolt: Rusty's caseload will be reassigned to Tommy, and the conversation inevitably drifts towards Carolyn's case.
Tommy drops a bombshell, revealing that Rusty's fingerprints have been discovered in Carolyn's bedroom, probing if there was a romantic entanglement. Rusty's denial, though nuanced, inadvertently concedes their personal connection's irrelevance to the case at hand. Yet, as Episode 1 of Presumed Innocent draws to a close, Tommy detonates another revelation—Carolyn was expecting a child, leaving Rusty's world forever altered.
