I was the first to see her dead. You were the last to see her alive. is the third episode in the limited television series, Lady in the Lake. The episode premiered on July 26, 2024.
Synopsis[]
Reeling from what happened under her watch, Cleo begins forming a plan for her safety. Maddie throws herself into the Durst investigation.
Plot Summary[]
In a flashback to 1948, Cleo's father loses his money to a deceitful colleague. Cleo gives him her savings to help out.
In the present, Cleo grapples with the fallout from last week's events. She never intended to be part of an attempted murder, especially of Myrtle Summer, and is overwhelmed by the situation. She calls Reggie to explain what happened and is haunted by the memory while at work.
Meanwhile, Maddie is embracing her new life. She goes to get her ears pierced at a department store. She then visits Bob Bauer and offers to help with the coverage of Tessie’s murder. Despite her journalism background, Bauer is not interested in hiring her. Maddie decides to pursue her own story and writes to Stephen Zawadzkie, who is in a psychiatric hospital.
Cleo's son Lionel remains seriously ill with sickle cell anemia, showing no signs of improvement. Cleo notices his jaundiced eyes one morning and seeks help from her mother. The doctors have no new treatments, so Cleo's mother calls a reverend, but his visit offers no relief either. Feeling hopeless, Cleo goes to the club, even though she isn’t scheduled to work, and starts drinking to cope with her stress. She dances and nearly causes a scene until Slappy takes her home. Meanwhile, Maddie has another encounter with Officer Platt.
At home, a drunk Cleo tries to dance with Slappy, but he’s not interested. They argue, but when Slappy hears her crying, he comforts her. Cleo tearfully discusses their son's condition, feeling helpless and heartbroken.
Maddie, after spending the night with Ferdie Platt, rushes to clean her apartment and heads to Seth's school for a college fair, arriving late. Seth is upset with her and reluctantly visits her apartment afterward. He's unimpressed with her current living situation and angry that she left them, though she clarifies that she left his father, not him. During an argument, she reveals that Milton is not his biological father, a statement she immediately regrets. Seth then discloses that he has been reading her diaries.
Officer Platt captures the man who attempted to kill Myrtle and questions him. The man describes a woman in a blue coat as the driver, which makes Platt suspect Cleo. He confronts her at the department store, revealing he knows she was involved. Though she initially denies it, Platt offers her some time to come clean with the police if she provides details about the car. She complies but remains unsure about what to do next.
Maddie receives a response from Stephen and revisits Bauer with her new lead. He agrees to publish her story and gives her an advance, enabling her to pay her rent. She celebrates this success with Judith.
Cleo confronts Dora and Reggie, demanding to know why he involved her in the gun delivery. Reggie admits he was trying to deflect suspicion from himself and confirms that Shell was unaware of the plan. Cleo, aware that Shell rigged the numbers, asks Reggie to help her win some money, promising to give him a cut and then leave town. Reggie refuses her request.
Maddie continues her investigation, accompanied by Bauer, who takes her to the doctor who performed Tessie's autopsy. They learn that gravel and skin cells were found under Tessie’s nails, indicating she fought back. The doctor notes that Stephen had no scratch marks, suggesting another person might be involved in the murder.
Maddie receives a call from the psychiatric hospital, informing her that Stephen wants to meet her. She goes to visit him.
Cast & Characters[]
- Natalie Portman as Maddie Schwartz
- Moses Ingram as Cleo Sherwood
- Y'lan Noel as Ferdie Platt
- Mikey Madison as Judith Weinstein
- Sean Ringgold as The Prophet
- Brett Gelman as Milton
- Noah Jupe as Seth
- Byron Bowers as Slappy
- Selema Masekela as Cedrick
- Josiah Cross as Reggie Robinson
- Pruitt Taylor Vince as Bob Bauer
- Ronnie Gene Blevins as Officer Boško
- Angela Robinson as Myrtle Summer
- Katherine Winter as Ethel Cohen
- Samir Royal as Lionel Johnson
- Dylan Arnold as Stephen Zawadzkie
Gallery[]
