As episode 5 of The Staircase unfolds, Mike's agonizing wait for an appeal in the prison looms large, testing his resolve. Isolated and devoid of friends, he finds himself shunned by fellow inmates, envied for the privileges his fame brings. Even his recent promotion to a single cell elicits jealousy and leads to brutal beatings.
Amidst this turmoil, Mike's only solace comes from the written words of Sophie, a continuous thread of connection through postcards and letters. Meanwhile, Sophie and her team work tirelessly on the documentary and support Mike's defense in his appeal.
With Mike imprisoned, the family fractures, each member pursuing their own paths of jobs and personal pursuits. Denis, Sophie, and Jean embark on the final stages of editing the documentary, with passionate debates erupting over the inclusion or exclusion of certain scenes. Sophie and Denis stand at opposite poles, one fiercely advocating for Mike, the other staunchly against. Jean, the diplomat, acts as a neutral party, striving to broker a compromise and maintain harmony.
Inside the prison walls, Mike must navigate a treacherous landscape, bartering postage stamps for protection from fellow inmates. Sophie's letters, filled with her elegant penmanship, offer him a brief respite from the harsh realities of his confinement. For his family, however, the struggle is even more profound. Unable to receive backpay from Nortel, they resort to selling furniture, antiques, and eventually, their home, to fund Mike's legal fees and keep the trial afloat. Unable to bear the emotional strain, Sophie decides to halt her correspondence with Mike until the documentary's release.
As Clayton's status among Mike's circle of children rises, he finds himself entrusted with greater responsibilities. However, a night of excessive revelry by Todd led to a forgetful oversight - he neglected to deposit funds into Mike's account. This oversight nearly cost Mike the safety of his gang membership, as he was unable to pay for the stamps that kept him afloat. It was then that Clay, like a knight in shining armor, intervened and rescued the situation. Amidst this fleeting respite, Clay also shared the joyous news that his partner, Becky, was expecting a child.
But the joy was fleeting as the court's decision on the appeal soon arrived. The Defense's request for a retrial was denied, leaving only the NC Supreme Court as a ray of hope. The prospect of spending at least another year, perhaps more, in prison was a daunting one. Mike's resilience and composure in the face of this adversity remain to be seen.
Meanwhile, in France, the documentary "The Staircase" premiered with immense praise and enthusiasm. Sophie, labeled the "beating heart" of the project by Jean, felt a sense of relief. She promptly penned a letter to Margaret, enclosing a copy of the completed documentary. To everyone's astonishment, Sophie made an unexpected visit to Mike in prison, while Larry, Peterson's neighbor, delved into the autopsy photos, seeking answers amidst the tragedy.
