),The Sinnerhas gone a long way toward winning me over.
We’re back inthat cursed Beverwyck basement, this time in the present day.
Cora, distraught, remembers now.
Credit: Peter Kramer/USA Network
But what happened next, after J.D.
hit her with the ashtray?
She still doesn’t know.
Nevertheless, Ambrose is optimistic, telling her he’ll find a witness from that night.
She has a motive, which means she has a defense.
Well, that’s one more potential witness down.
Ambrose sits in on the interrogation of the man who was working the clinic desk.
He explains that these women were hired to pick up prescription drugs from pharmacies, using scripts J.D.
writes with license numbers defrauded from doctors.
The receptionist says he had nothing to do with J.D.
’s death, that Duffy killed him because all the police activity buzzing around J.D.
Ambrose finds this hard to believethere must besomeconnection to Cora Tannetti.
He catches his favorite inmate up on his non-progress.
She doesn’t understand why she can’t just tell the judge what happenedher sentencing is tomorrow.
That won’t work, says Ambrose.
Without a witness, she won’t be believed.
Cora has another visitorholy s, it’s her mother.
Make no mistake, this isn’t a happy reunion.
Mother Lacey thinks Cora is as “disgusting” as ever.
Cora tells her she doesn’t regret taking Phoebe out.
She fell in love, she had sex, she died the way she would have wanted.
“I’ve never seen her happier than that night,” Cora says.
Her mother reminds her that Phoebe was buried in the woods, in the dirt, alone.
(Good point!)
Cora asks her why she didn’t call the police when they didn’t come home.
(Extremely good point!)
“I’m more free now than I ever was with you,” Cora tells her.
At the sentencing, Cora can’t restrain herself from rising to her feet and addressing the court.
She apologizes to the Belmont family, then makes a last-ditch plea for clemency.
Anyway, this statement is too little too lateCora already waived her right to a trial.
The judge sentences her to a minimum of 30 years in prison.
Fortunately, Cora’s next prison visit is a much happier one.
Mason finally brings Laine to see her.
She scoops her son up into her arms.
Her husband firmly disagrees.
Laine needs his mom; they’ll come to see her every week.
I like you so much more when you’re not inJunior Detective vigilante justice mode.
He’s not ready to give up yet.
’s wares until after that night.
Cora, in cuffs, is driven to a swanky home, swarming with cops.
Ambrose is waiting for herthis is the Belmonts' house.
Her eyes well with tears of recognition.
A flashback to the Beverwyck reveals that Frankie called his father in desperation in the middle of the night.
Frankie wanted to take them to the hospital.
J.D., unsurprisingly, was less keen on the idea.
Not the best look.
Mr. Belmont, thinking of nothing but protecting his son, tells Frankie to go home.
But he can’t bring himself to do it.
Belmont refuses to bring her to the hospital; he’s in too deep now.
They send Frankie back to L.A. on the first flight out.
Our old pal Harry Ambrose determined that the stolen license numbers used by J.D.
and company all came from Belmont’s colleagues.
Guess who had been blackmailing him?
Rest in peace, J.D.
:You’re the worst, even in death.
Cora studies Patrick Belmont’s face.
She knows it was him.
She remembers his eyes.
“I know you did it for your son,” she says.
He tells her he’s sorry and begins to sob.
Driving away, Ambrose tells Cora that, when they first met, he saw himself in her.
Hold the phone, Ambrose.
The sight of Frankie on the beach triggered her in ways she couldn’t have imagined.
They share a hug.
He promises to check in on her.
Ambrose climbs into his car in the courthouse parking lot.
After a few quiet moments, he gazes at his bruised, broken fingernails.
