Episode 4 of "Presumed Innocent" kicks off with an intense conversation between Rusty, Barbara, and Kyle. Rusty confronts Kyle about the photographs captured outside Carolyn's residence, and Kyle reluctantly confesses that he discovered the affair months ago. Driven by curiosity, he sought answers to why Rusty frequented Carolyn's place, but Rusty's explanations fall flat, igniting his anger. Barbara, sensing the escalating tension, intervenes, ultimately urging Kyle to depart. As Kyle strides away, memories of Carolyn rehearsing her speech for the Bunny Davis case with him flicker through his mind.
Returning home, the air between Rusty and Barbara is thick with resentment. Barbara chastises Rusty for his prosecutorial tactics with Kyle, sparking a heated argument that culminates in her storming out. Meanwhile, Tommy Molto grapples with preparing his interrogation of the medical examiner, Kumagai, who resists being told how to conduct his testimony.
Back at the office, Rusty and Raymond grapple with the case's next steps, Rusty's frustration mounting over Barbara's declaration that she's "done." Raymond, with a touch of tact, reminds Rusty that he's dug his own hole and may be overlooking his own self-centeredness.
At the prosecutor's office, Eugenia, Rusty's secretary, discovers with dismay that she's been included on Molto's witness list. Molto then engages Michael, who reveals witnessing Rusty's nocturnal visits to Carolyn's. Moreover, Michael shares a private conversation with Carolyn during lunch with his mother, where she expressed fear of a colleague but declined to name names.
Barbara finds solace, once again, at the bar, this time serenaded by the charming bartender, Clifton, who introduces himself and joins her at her table. As fate would have it, Rigo calls Rusty with a breakthrough: a DNA match in the Bunny Davis case, leading to Brian Ratzer. Rusty and Rigo rush to Ratzer's residence, only to encounter a man who seems uneasy and evasive, evading their questions. Rigo lays the blame on Rusty's aggressive interrogation tactics, leaving them empty-handed yet again.
As the night cloaked Rusty in its darkness, he was plagued by haunting dreams of Carolyn, their edges blurred yet undeniably disturbing. Awakening to an eerie emptiness beside him, he found the bed void of her warmth. Turning his gaze, he spotted Barbara, her movements frenetic as she scrubbed Kyle's bike clean, her worry etched on every line of her face. She voiced her fear that, given Kyle's skin color, he might unjustly find himself in the crosshairs of suspicion, a concern Rusty seemed oblivious to.
In an attempt to navigate these troubled waters, the parents sought refuge in the therapist's office for Kyle, yet progress remained elusive. The therapist, her voice laced with concern, imparted to Barbara that she could not shoulder the burden of being a solitary beacon for all three of them; each required their individual sanctuary.
Elsewhere, Nico's words carried a stern warning for Molto, admonishing him to refrain from hostility towards witnesses like Eugenia. The mention of Raymond's impending meeting hung heavily in the air, foreshadowing troubled times ahead.
Rusty's encounter with Mya unraveled a web of events surrounding the fateful night. Under her probing gaze, he recounted the futile text exchanges with Carolyn, the frustration that led him to drown his sorrows in a bar's dimly lit corners. Then, a lifeline of hope in the form of Carolyn's reply, summoning him to her side.
Their encounter, a jumbled mosaic of conflicting emotions, unfolded in snippets and flashes. Rusty's narrative painted a picture of heated words exchanged, his desperate plea for reconciliation met with Carolyn's resolute refusal. Yet, amidst the acrimony, a fleeting kiss, a morsel of hope that lingered long after he trudged back home, his heart heavy with confusion.
Mya's curiosity lingered over the enigmatic 51 minutes Rusty spent within Carolyn's abode, wondering what could have transpired to warrant such a prolonged exchange. Meanwhile, in a separate huddle, Mya and Raymond concurred, their minds united in their determination to shield Rusty from the unforgiving glare of the witness stand.
As Rusty delved deeper into the shadowy figure of Brian Ratzer, the latter, unaware of this scrutiny, returned the favor with an internet search of his own, painting a picture of two men, each weaving their own intricate web of secrets and suspicions.
Upon his return home, Rusty promptly dials Barbara's number, his voice laced with a desperate attempt at apology. However, she's already retreated to the bar, seated opposite Clifton, her back turned to him. In a last-ditch effort, he even divulges his phone number, hoping for a reprieve. Ironically, it's with Rusty that Barbara later shares an intimate moment, defying their tumultuous circumstances.
Raymond's arrival at the prosecutor's office is met with an unexpected encounter—Eugenia, who resolutely declares her refusal to testify against Rusty. His path then crosses with Nico and Molto, as he confronts them over their flimsy case, built predominantly on circumstantial evidence. Raymond proposes a plea bargain, a strategic move to avert injustice and save not only Rusty's life but also preserve Nico's political standing. In response, Nico slams a file onto the table, its contents sending shockwaves through Raymond.
Post-coital, Barbara and Rusty engage in a soul-baring conversation about their affair, acknowledging the distance that had crept between them. Even their recent intimacy felt like a futile attempt to recapture what once was. Just as their words hang heavy in the air, Raymond's call interrupts, delivering a bombshell—Rusty's DNA has been discovered beneath Carolyn's fingernails. Rusty's world shatters, his anger igniting into a frenzy.
Simultaneously, a frenzied knock echoes through the house's front door, each thump like a drumroll to disaster. Amid the chaos of Jaden and Barbara's panicked reactions, and Raymond's voice still echoing over the phone, Rusty realizes the ominous visitor: Brian Ratzer. Seemingly seeking revenge for Rusty's intrusion into his home and meddling with his family, Brian's presence ignites a rage within Rusty that knows no bounds. With a fierce roar, Rusty yanks open the door, unleashing a barrage of punches upon Brian, leaving his stunned family as the grim finale of Presumed Innocent's Episode 4.
