All language subtitles for The.Book.Club.Murders.2024.720p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

Mom.

Jeez, you scared me.

This will be a good one.

Oh, no, I can't find anything.

Doesn't look like you have that problem.

Too many?

You can never have too many books.

Or shoes?

Don't press your luck.

Come on.

All ready?

Isn't this the book you were looking at?

Oh, yeah.

Oh, it's a great read.

Although it made me want to install a
home security system.

Would you like to join book club?

We meet every Tuesday.

Oh, I don't know.

Come on, Mom.

You should give it a try.

All right. Well, that's never a good
sign when your teenage daughter is

to get you out of the house.

Thanks. Tell you what.

First one's on me.

Oh, you don't have to do that.

To be honest, we could use some fresh
blood.

Wendy.

Natalie. And this is my daughter, Gwen.

You're a reader, huh?

Guess it runs in the family.

Well, all the information's on here.

I'll just print off another one.

Everything okay?

Uh, yes. Thank you so much for the book.

Hopefully see you at the meeting.

I hope so.

Have a good day.

You too.

All right, where to next?

Think you were saying something about
shoes?

I think I'm getting a little tired.

Can we just go home?

Are you sure?

Yeah, of course.

Come on.

Hey, sweetheart. Can I come in? Sure.

You know, you really have done a good
job in here, Gwen.

Yeah, well, I wanted something a little
different, you know?

Yeah.

You sure you're ready to go back?

I can't spend the rest of my life in the
house.

I need to get back out there.

Maybe we both should.

Get some sleep, sweetheart.

All right, Mom. Love you.

All right.

Bye, Gigi.

You have all your books?

I think so.

Got money for lunch? Got it.

Okay. Oh, did you remember? Mom.

She's cool.

I'm not going on a safari.

I'll be fine.

Okay.

I promise you'll call if you need to. I
promise.

All right.

I love you. You too.

Have a good day.

Gwen.

Hey, welcome back.

Hey.

I feel very welcome.

Northern. I thought we'd be talking
about someone else by lunchtime.

Gwen? Hey, Tori. How are you doing?

I'm okay. Just trying to get through
today.

Or maybe I'll go home at lunch. I have a
better idea.

I'm at my mom's car today.

What do you say we go off campus, get
some burgers, and a greasy pile of

That sounds perfect.

The meatloaf day in the cafeteria. Mind
if I tag along?

Duh. Who do you think is paying?

Hey, Tori. You ready?

Oh, Gwen.

You're back.

I'm back.

I'm glad.

Why don't you come see me sometime this
week to check in?

I will.

You got lunch?

Hi.

It's okay.

I know they look like a bunch of gossipy
bitches, but it's only because they

are.

Come on. Let's get you a seat next to me
before they scare you off. Okay.

Hi.

So, what am I in for?

It's actually a fun group.

Mostly. I'll hit the highlights.

Meredith Davis.

She's a real sweetheart.

And my best friend.

She loves romance novels, tolerates true
crime, and pretends to have a headache

the week we read sci -fi.

Anita Taylor.

Always has something fun to say.

But not today.

April Brandt.

I believe she's a counselor at the high
school.

That would make sense. My daughter spoke
to her earlier this year.

Sadie Chandler.

Amateur reader.

professional gossip, and social climber.

Gwen is actually dating her son, Tony.

I'm not sure how someone like her ended
up with such a sweet kid.

Oh, lady, looks like it's about that
time.

Let's get started.

We have a new member tonight.

Natalie, would you like to introduce
yourself?

Sure.

Hi, I'm Natalie.

I'm a...

lifelong reader, but I've never been a
part of a book club before.

Wendy caught me checking out with my
daughter and, well, she could be very

persuasive.

Welcome, Natalie.

We're excited to have you here.

Thank you.

Well, let's jump right in.

Natalie, would you like to get us
started? What did you think of the book?

I really liked it.

I never saw the twist coming at the end.

Who would have thought she was getting
stalked by her stepsister?

What did you think?

I really enjoyed myself.

It was nice to take my mind off of
things for a while.

Great. Well, next week's book.

Natalie.

Oh, hi, sweetie.

It's so good to see you out and about
again.

I can't imagine what you've been
through.

Thank you.

Trevor hasn't given up, you know.

The investigation is still open.

My husband is a detective.

I think you may have mentioned that once
or twice.

So, Natalie, how have you been?

Everything is so awful.

Actually, Sadie, I was just about to
introduce Natalie to some of the other

ladies before they left.

Oh, well, thank you.

Thank you.

Trust me.

It's as much for you as it is for me.

Hey, Margie.

You know I hate that name.

I know. That's why I use it. This is
Natalie.

Welcome to the club.

I really liked your take on the mob
psychology of the book.

Oh, thanks.

Yeah, it's scary how fear could take
over a whole town.

Of course, I guess we had to take to
that ourselves last year.

Margie, always the optimist.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take a dark
turn in the conversation.

I just can't believe it's been a whole
year.

There, you ready?

Yeah.

Hey. Hey.

Nice to meet you, Natalie.

You too.

Still on for coffee?

Yes. You know, I never turned down an
appointment for caffeine.

Why don't we say hi to your

daughter's counselor?

Okay.

Everything okay?

It's fine.

What's up?

I wanted to make sure that you got a
chance to say hello to our new member.

April, I've heard so much about you from
my daughter Gwen.

She said that you really helped her out
a lot. Yeah, I saw she was back in

school today.

She's a great kid. You must be very
proud.

Oh, thank you. Well, she's a big fan of
yours, too.

Nice to see you again, Natalie.

My daughter Tori's in school with Gwen.

I thought that's why you looked
familiar.

Gwen mentioned that Tori got into MIT.

You must be so excited.

Really lovely handwriting. Is that an
invitation or something?

It's nothing.

Oh, you dropped something.

It's nothing.

Thank you.

It was nice meeting you.

You as well.

Did I say something wrong?

If there's one thing I learned, it's
that people are crazy, and it usually

nothing to do with me.

Oh, hey, Mom.

I didn't realize what time it was.

Gwen, is there someone in the house?

What? No.

Come on.

Let's find something for dinner. It's
jargon.

Gwen, there's someone here. Mom, it's
Tony.

Hey, Miss Johnson.

Tony, what a nice surprise.

I can see now why Gwen was so anxious
for me to join the book club.

You just stopped by to help me with my
homework.

From the staircase?

I didn't realize you were taking quantum
physics.

We just overreacted.

Uh -huh.

Well, lucky for the both of you, I am
way too tired to be upset about this.

I'm going to heat up some dinner.

What? I'm hungry.

It was nice to see your mom tonight,
Tony.

Yeah, she loves that book club.

It's her chance to talk about people to
someone other than me and Dad.

Gwen, how was your first day back?

It was okay.

I'm just glad it's over.

What? Oh, wait. What?

It's Tori. Her admission to MIT is being
revoked.

What?

Revoked? Why?

Sam says her mom helped her cheat on her
college admissions test.

I guess April, the school counselor, was
involved, too.

How did they get her?

I don't know.

Wait, slow down.

That doesn't make any sense. I saw her
there. We were at the same testing

center.

Hey, you said talking about someone else
today, right?

Why?

I didn't even know about it. I guess
they arranged to have someone else

the test in my name without telling me.

I'm so sorry, Tori.

And MIT revoked your offer?

MIT?

Caltech?

Stanford?

At this point, I'll be lucky if I can
get into a state school in North Dakota.

And the stupid thing is, my scores were
already good enough.

You know my mom.

How did they find out?

Someone sent these letters to me, to the
school, to the universities.

Oh. My mom swears only she and April
knew what was going on.

She thinks April must have done it.

Got what you deserved.

That doesn't make any sense.

Why would April get herself in trouble?

It doesn't really matter, does it?

My life is pretty much over either way.

I know what it's like to feel that way,
Tori.

I'll get better.

I promise.

I should get going.

Keep it.

Throw it.

I don't care.

I never want to see it again.

My parents won't be home for a couple
hours.

So what do you want to do?

I have some ideas.

Dad?

It's a pleasure to see you, Miss
Johnston.

Dad, I thought you were at work.

The department is digitizing cold case
files.

I remembered I had a few tucked away in
my study.

Tony, a word?

Dad, I'm sorry. I didn't know... What is
Gwen Johnston doing here?

What?

What do you mean? You know she and her
mom have involvement in that McLean

missing persons case.

Okay, Dad, just because she's the one
who... And you know that I'm up for a

promotion, okay?

I cannot have you seen palling around
town with this girl.

Dad, come on.

Tony.

Good.

Now I'm going back to the station. I
will be home by dinner.

So, are we in trouble?

What are you doing?

Oh, nothing. Just waiting for you to
come back.

Gwen.

What?

Let's get coffee.

I'm going to need caffeine if we're
going to study Chaucer.

Oh. Hello to you, too.

I'm sorry. I'm a little zoned out.

Well, the bookstore is the perfect place
to escape.

Can I help you find anything?

No, no, I'm okay.

You want to talk about it?

Oh, I don't want to bother you while
you're working.

Well, how about you help me out?

Oh.

Wow.

$500 ,000?

That's quite a check.

Yeah. I remember that fire.

I had no idea that that was your house.

I think the hardest part has been to
watch Gwen go through it all.

First Lauren going missing, then the
house, then her father.

Was Gwen close to Lauren?

Lauren was Gwen's best friend. When her
grandmother started showing signs of

dementia, we invited Lauren to stay with
us.

That was awfully nice of you.

Unfortunately, it didn't last very long.

Lauren had a lot of problems of her own.

Bit of an understatement.

You knew Lauren?

A bit.

She used to browse the bookshelves for
hours in the afternoon.

It seemed like she didn't want to go
home.

Kind of reminded me of myself at that
age.

I figured there were worse places she
could be.

Other than a bookstore, even if she
occasionally helped herself to the

merchandise.

Like I said, reminded me of myself at
that age.

I think that was actually the breaking
point for us.

When I had to go pick up Gwen and Lauren
from the police station for

shoplifting, we finally had to ask
Lauren to leave.

You needed to do what was best for your
daughter.

A few weeks later, Lauren stopped
responding to Gwen's texts.

So Gwen went over to her grandmother's
house just to check on her, and I read

about that.

Someone broke in, and her room was
trashed.

There had clearly been a struggle, but
nothing was missing except... Except

Lauren.

Gwen blamed herself.

I don't think she's been the same since.

The facts of the fire, I don't know that
I have either.

Natalie? What's wrong?

Wow, a carb overload?

What's the occasion?

Oh, nothing.

I just couldn't sleep last night.

Nightmares about Dad again?

Don't be silly.

Really?

Yeah.

Oh, I'm going to leave you some money
for dinner tonight.

Why? Where are you going?

I have my book club.

Oh, that's right.

Did you finish that book Tony's mom
picked up?

I got about halfway through.

Yikes. Book one out of how many?

Ten.

Sounds like Sadie. Careful.

Don't want to get off on the wrong foot
with your future in -law.

Gwen!

So how did you enjoy the Dragons of
Crothos Chronicles?

Oh, I didn't get to finish it.

Well, maybe that's because it was barely
shorter than the entirety of Wikipedia.

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm just distracted.

You haven't seen Meredith, have you?

No.

Hey, ladies.

Looks like April and Anita are no -shows
tonight.

They must be humiliated. That's all
anybody's talking about.

Is it? I heard. There might be criminal
charges filed.

My husband was... Katie, it's your book
this week. Why don't you get us started?

Sure, if you're not up to it.

Okay, I hope everyone enjoyed my
favorite book.

Margie, when it's about to get
started... You stay away from me.

And you stay away from my husband.

Or the next time I hit you, it's gonna
be with a baseball bat.

Everyone's gone?

Thank you.

I suppose you're wondering what all that
was about.

I didn't want to pry.

It's a little late for me to expect
privacy.

What's this?

Go ahead.

Open it.

Hyde. Aligia.

Is this?

Meredith's husband, Jeff.

Were you two... It was right after my
divorce.

And I was drinking.

All of the time.

I think...

I think some part of me was trying to
destroy my life.

And he was... He and Meredith were
having problems.

I didn't know her at the time.

Not that that's any excuse. I just... We
ended it

pretty quickly.

I think we were both so ashamed.

And we promised not to tell anyone.

to protect Meredith, but... Someone
found out.

Looks like it.

This envelope, it looks just like the
one Anita had last week.

Then I guess someone in our group has a
poisoned pen.

Sadie, hi. Hi, Ellie.

Mind if I come in?

Oh, of course.

My famous lasagna.

Just 25 minutes at 400.

Oh, thank you so much.

Very sweet.

It's overdue.

I was so sorry to hear about your
husband.

And now that our kids are spending so
much time together.

Yeah, Gwen does seem to be smitten by
Tony.

Young love.

It's a shame it can't last.

I suppose you've heard by now.

About the letters?

Oh, I have. It's terrible.

Apparently someone is taking on the role
of avenging angel.

Or vengeful demon.

It seems that none of our secrets are
safe.

Meaning?

Meaning, if there's anything you'd like
to get off your chest, you might want to

go ahead and get ahead of it now before
someone beats you to it.

Sadie, what are you talking about?

I think you know.

If I knew, I wouldn't be asking.

Natalie, I'm sure you've heard the
rumors about your husband and Lauren

Staying in your house one minute, you
kick her out the next, and then she goes

missing.

People have their suspicions.

People have wild imagination and way too
much time on their hands.

All I'm saying, Natalie, is if you know
anything, I can have my husband take a

statement.

Oh, that's what this is about.

Advancing your husband's career.

I'm just trying to help.

I don't need your kind of help, Sadie.

Natalie. And you can take your lasagna
with you.

I understand why you're upset, Natalie.

But if you change your mind, I won't.

Have a good day.

How's the book, Mom?

Pretty good.

Must be.

I think you've reread that page about 12
times.

I've just had a lot on my mind.

Does it have something to do with the
letters going around?

Do you know about those?

Um, everybody knows about that.

Tori got this in the mail the same day
she found out about her mom rigging her

test.

Sorry about MIT. You got what you
deserved, Alicia.

Does she have any idea who did this?

That's what's so crazy.

Tori's like the sweetest person I've
ever met.

I don't know anyone who would do
something like this to her.

It's a little scary.

Well, hopefully they figure out who's
doing this soon and put an end to it.

I wouldn't worry too much, Gigi. They're
just nasty letters.

Words never killed anyone.

We checked the door.

There was no forced entry.

Kurt must have come through the window.

Looks like he knocked up on her from
behind.

There's something else.

Looks like our poison pen author may
have just upped their game.

What does it say?

All it says is you're next.

I don't know.

I don't know. This is really scary.

You're right.

You're right.

I'm calling the police.

I'll call you back.

Hey, what's going on?

You haven't heard?

Heard what?

It's April. She was killed last night.

What?

What happened?

Someone snuck into her house and she was
suffocated by a plastic bag.

Oh my goodness, that's awful.

We all just found out, so I'm canceling
the meeting.

No, of course.

Ladies, please be careful going home
tonight. Take care of yourselves and

other.

Do you think it's Aletheia?

That's the signature on all of these
letters.

The Greek goddess of truth and
revelation.

Who could be doing that?

I don't know.

But whoever it is, I wouldn't want to be
their next target.

Hey, Gwen.

Uh, mail came.

Anything good?

Oh, just the usual bills and cleaning
coupons.

Exciting.

How was school?

Pretty intense.

A couple of the seniors got black
envelopes in the mail.

I don't know what they said, but there
was a huge fight at lunch.

Police showed up.

Really? Mm -hmm.

Are you okay, Mom?

Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just tired.

Could be worse.

There could be a black envelope in this
pile.

They know what?

I don't know.

Are they suggesting that Gwen was
involved in Lauren's disappearance?

She couldn't have been.

I know my daughter.

Sure, it's just... What?

It's just that so far, all of the
letters have been true.

Where is Gwen right now?

She's at home.

studying.

Natalie, you need to bring this to the
police.

I know.

What if something did happen between
Lauren and Gwen? I mean, an accident or

something? You don't want to turn your
daughter into the police.

Well, I... You don't have to explain
yourself, Natalie. You should be on your

daughter's side.

So what do I do?

Can you just ask Gwen about it?

I'm not sure how she'd react knowing I
opened her mail.

Her mail from a psycho killer.

If you can't ask Gwen about it, there's
nothing that says you can't do a little

sleuthing on your own.

Hello. Hi, Martha.

Can I help you?

It's Natalie Johnson, my... Daughter
with friends with Lauren?

I apologize for the mess.

My nurse usually tidies up for me, but
she's not here today.

That's okay.

So, how can I help you?

I just wanted to see if I could ask you
some questions about your granddaughter.

Oh, Lauren?

She's not here anymore.

Oh, no, I did hear. I just...

Was hoping maybe you remembered
something about the night that she went

Oh.

Her friend Gwen came over that night.

Have you met Gwen?

Yeah. Well, she went to see Lauren in
her room.

The next thing I heard screaming.

I'm so sorry. Please excuse me a moment.

Hi. I need to speak to Detective
Chandler, please.

Thank you.

Mr. Johnston?

What's this?

A black envelope I found at Lauren
McLean's house.

What were you doing in Lauren McLean's
house? Please, Detective, just listen to

me. This proves that whatever happened
to Lauren is connected to all of this.

She must have received a letter from
Alethea before she was killed.

Lauren McLean is missing, okay? Her case
has not been ruled a homicide.

That's what the police are officially
saying.

But do you really believe Alethea would
have taken her and let her live? Mrs.

Johnson, slow down, okay? You found an
envelope in an old cluttered house that

doesn't add up to murder.

So are you telling me there's no
correlation?

I'm telling you you need to let the
police handle this investigation.

But, Detective, I think that that's
very... I'm also thinking that it's a

convenient, you finding this envelope.

I'm sorry?

No secret that your husband was a person
of interest in Lauren's disappearance?

My husband was cleared of any
wrongdoing.

By an alibi you provided.

What exactly are you suggesting?

I'm not suggesting anything, Mrs.
Johnston.

It's just this envelope showing up as a
convenient way for you to redirect any

lingering suspicion about your husband.

There are no lingering suspicions about
my husband, Detective.

And if you won't do anything about this,
I can promise you I will.

Are you sure this is cool?

Yeah, my dad's working tonight.

All those letters got him scrambling.

It's fine.

Speak of the devil.

Hey, Dad.

Nothing.

I just got home.

No, practice doesn't start until next
week.

Yeah, I don't know.

Still into here.

Looking for something?

Oh, I'm sorry. I was just looking for a
pen.

Thanks.

How's your mom?

She's good.

She's good, you know, considering the
circumstances.

And what circumstances are those?

Um, you know.

No.

Tell me.

Are you referring to the letters?

That come in these black envelopes?

Oh, I thought... You thought, what?

That I was Aletheia?

So is it going okay?

I don't know.

Let me give you a little tip, Gwen.

When I have something to say, you'll
know I said it.

I don't have to hide behind fake names
and calligraphy.

It's not polite to go snooping around
other people's homes, Gwen.

I would have thought your mother had
taught you better than that.

I'll only say this once a year.

Mark.

Okay.

Yeah, no, it's fine.

Going somewhere?

That's your mom.

What? What do you mean?

Gwen!

Wendy?

Did you get to the part where she
develops the photos?

Natalie, can you come to the bookstore?

I need to talk to you.

Yeah, what's going on?

It's the letter.

I just realized it reminded me of
something.

What did it remind you of? I'd like to
show you in person.

I'm not sure I'm right, and I don't want
to influence you.

Wendy, you're not making any sense.

Natalie, please, just trust me.

Okay, I'll see you soon.

Hey, Gigi, I thought you were at Tony's.
I was, until Mrs. Chandler banished me.

Banished you? For what?

She caught me looking through some
stuff.

Wait, hold up. Why were you looking
through her stuff?

Mom, she knows something about the
letters.

She had ink, paper, she had a bin full
of those black envelopes.

Here, I took pictures.

And what did she say about it?

She said they were part of the
investigation.

I mean, that would make sense.

Look, I know that Sadie can be
difficult, but I will try and smooth

with her later tonight. I have to go.
What?

Where are you going?

I have to meet Wendy at the bookstore,
but we will talk about this when I get

home, okay? But, Mom... And in the
meantime, try not to get caught snooping

through anyone else's house.

I'm not happy about this, Gwen.

Come on, Natalie.

Hug it.

Natalie? Natalie, are you here?

Wendy?

Wendy?

Who's there? No, please don't.

Natalie? Meredith? What happened?

I don't know.

I don't know.

Meredith Davis said she picked this up
off the body.

Natalie, tell me again what happened.

Wendy called me and told me to meet her
here.

She said it was something about the
poison pen letters.

What about them?

She said that they reminded her of
something.

Of what?

I don't know.

She didn't say.

She sounded nervous.

Scared, even.

And when I got here... She was already
dead.

I, um...

I thought I heard someone, so I hid and
I texted 911.

And that's when Meredith found me and we
waited for the police together.

Detective, I don't see how she could
have done this.

And where were you earlier this evening,
Mrs. Johnston?

I was... I'm sorry, do you think that I
was somehow involved?

I'm just doing my job.

I told you, I was at home.

Gwen can vouch for me.

Tell me again about the altercation
between these two.

Meredith had found out about the affair
between Wendy and her husband.

She showed up to book club and slapped
her.

But I still don't think it was her.

Okay.

We need you to come in for a formal
statement.

Are you available tomorrow?

Yeah.

You have the right to remain silent.

No, please. I only came here to talk to
Wendy. But it wasn't Meredith. It

couldn't have been Meredith.

Anything you say, Ken, it will be used
against you in a court of law.

You have the right to an attorney.

No, please.

Mom, what's wrong?

Wendy.

What do you think really happened?

I don't know.

Wendy wanted to talk to me about the
letters.

Maybe she found out who wrote them.

Maybe that's why she's dead.

Do you think Meredith did it?

Maybe.

It seems like they're going through
every member of your book club.

Except you.

Are we in danger?

No.

No, sweetie.

We're going to be okay, right?

I promise Chi Chi will be all right.

Trust me.

You know, I was thinking, I could throw
Daniel's retirement party.

He's been on the force so long, maybe
something other than store -bought cake

and stale coffee.

Or I can get you a cattle prod and you
can just push him out.

You can't blame me for being a little
excited that my husband is finally up

the promotion he's worked so hard for.

Almost as hard as his wife.

Hey, Dad.

Morning, sweetheart.

I'm not hungry.

Everything all right?

Tony is angry with me because I asked
Gwen to leave yesterday.

I don't see what the big deal is. The
big deal is that your father and I have

worked hard to provide you with every
opportunity.

We don't want her dragging you down.

What is that supposed to mean?

Baby. What?

Whatever.

Tony.

Go talk to your son.

Sorry again about my mom.

Yeah, I seem to have made quite an
impression on your parents, huh?

At least I didn't catch you playing the
worst ever game of hide -and -seek on

the stairs.

Speaking of, how is your mom?

She's doing better than I would have
thought.

I'd be completely freaked out right now.

Actually, I am pretty freaked out right
now, but at least they got the killer.

What?

Nothing. It's just... I don't think she
did it.

What do you mean?

I overheard my parents talking about the
case.

Your dad was telling your mom about the
case?

He tells her everything.

Well, did you overhear him back?

No, I just... The woman there had an
alibi at the time.

About your mom, did she tell you
anything?

Just that she was found strangled with a
tie -dyed purple scarf, which I've been

having nightmares about ever since.

What's wrong? Purple scarf?

Tony, if you know something, you need to
tell me. My mom, she has a tie -dyed

purple scarf. She wears it occasionally.

Well, has she worn it lately?

Tony.

I told the police it wasn't you.

It just didn't make any sense.

None of this makes any sense.

First I find out my best friend is
cheating with my husband.

Then I find out she's been killed. Then
I'm being arrested for it.

Are you okay?

I don't know.

I guess I'm lucky our neighbors heard me
throwing Jeff out of the house during

the time frame of the murder.

I'm so sorry.

Don't be.

It wasn't the first time he cheated.

But it is going to be the last.

So, why did you go to the bookstore if
it wasn't to kill Wendy?

Believe me, I thought about it.

But Wendy called.

She said that she had something she
needed to show me.

I told her I didn't want to see her, but
she insisted.

Did she say what it was?

Only that it might prove who was writing
the letter.

But she didn't tell me anything else.

Yeah, I got a similar phone call, but
she didn't say much either.

What do you think it means?

I don't know.

But I'm not sticking around to find out.

I'm going to go stay with my sister in
Florida for a little while.

Natalie, you have a daughter, right?

Yeah. Glenn.

Well, if I were you, I wouldn't be here
when Alethea chooses her next victim.

Hey, honey, how was school?

Mom, go. What's going on? Mom, please,
just drive.

Mom, okay?

Sadie? Is everything okay?

Why don't you ask your daughter?

Gwen? Mom, I... Can we please just go?

Your daughter's been spreading nasty
little rumors about me being involved in

Wendy's murder.

That my scarf was used in the attack.

Turns out it was just to distract from
her own dirty little secret.

Wasn't it, Gwen?

What is she talking about?

Mom, one of the letters says that I
helped Dad kill Lauren.

What? It's a lie.

Well, of course it's a lie.

That's the thing about these letters.

They're vicious and cruel, but they
don't lie.

Wendy's affair, Anita's little test
scam. Oh, and here's something new. My

husband just arrested Jeff Davis for an
embezzlement scheme at the Parks

Department.

Meredith's husband?

You know Jeff, don't you, Gwen?

Lauren was an intern in his office until
you and your father... You might want

to think twice before you finish that
sentence.

Of course.

We all have our secrets we want to keep,
don't we, Natalie?

Seems the Johnstons received a nice
little insurance check recently.

Tell me, Natalie, how were your finances
before your husband died?

Baby... Get your face out of my window
before something happens to it.

You can run from the truth, but it will
eventually catch up to you. Get out of

my way, sweetie.

Tony.

Don't let her get to you, sweetie.

Where is it?

Where's what?

The letter?

Glenn, I... Everyone else that's been
accused of something got a letter.

I have a hard time believing Alethea
just spared me out of the goodness of

heart.

Mom, please.

When

did

you get this?

A few days ago.

And you didn't show me? I wanted to
protect you.

Well, that didn't work out, did it?

Dad's life insurance check. You didn't
mention that.

It was overwhelming, Gigi.

I was processing it.

I still am.

But you didn't think I should be
processing this?

I just wanted to ask you about it.

Ask me about it? Ask me what?

Ask me if it was true?

You think I had something to do with
Lauren's disappearance?

No, of course not.

I'm on your side here.

Good.

I'd hate to see what you'd do if you
weren't.

Gwen.

Gwen!

Gwen, honey, I know we're going through
a rough patch, but we can get through

this together.

Rough patch?

Mom, people think that we are killers.

That I killed Lauren and you killed Dad.

It's just lies, Gwen, okay?

Lies from some psychopath.

Yeah, well, when lies are all you have,
they begin to look a lot like the truth.

Gwen.

Gwen!

Gwen, wait up.

What's the deal?

Someone told your mom that we were
talking about her scarf.

Gwen, it's not like that.

Gwen, I'm glad, because I'd hate to
think that you were the one that told

that. And that was why she accused me of
helping my father murder Lauren before

my mother burnt him alive.

She said that?

Yeah, I told her she had that.

Gwen, I didn't know she was going to go
there. I just casually asked her about

her scarf. She'd figure out the rest
from there.

Gwen, I swear.

What about the letters?

Do you believe them?

Oh, of course not, Gwen. I know you. I
know that's a lie.

Apparently you know me better than my
own mom.

What do you mean?

You hid one of the letters from me.
Like, I thought it might be true.

You sure?

You sound like your mom.

You sound more like my mom.

I don't know. Maybe I overreacted.

I think everyone's just on edge right
now. There was another fight at the

cafeteria today.

I guess more letters have been turning
up.

I don't understand why someone would be
doing this.

Of course you don't, Gwen. You're not a
sociopath.

I also don't understand who it could be.

Who would know all these secrets about
everyone?

There's been a fly on the wall in every
room in town.

I don't know.

Detective? Start in the bedroom.

With me.

I'm sorry, what's going on? We have a
search warrant for this premises based

an anonymous tip from the disappearance
of Lauren McClain.

Anonymous?

So it could have come from anyone?

It's our responsibility to follow up on
any tip, Mrs. Johnson.

And what exactly was this tip?

That's confidential at this time.

So you're going to search my entire
house based on an anonymous tip and not

tell me what it said? If you'll excuse
me, Mrs. Johnson.

Mom, it's okay. It's okay.

Just stay out of their way, all right?
I'm sure they'll be gone soon.

Chandler!

Bag it.

What are they looking for? I don't know,
honey.

I don't know.

If you're coming to apologize for
invading our home, Detective, you can

for my attorney.

Gwen, can I have you stand up, please?

What? Gwen Johnson, I'm placing you
under arrest. You're arresting her? For

what? For the murder of Lauren McClain.

Mom. Honey, don't say anything. You have
the rights for me. Not one word.

Anything you say can and will be used
against you in court. It'll be okay,

Gwen, no.

Are you okay?

I don't know what you're thinking,
detective, but you have made a huge

Well, maybe Gwen can help us clear that
up.

Oh, no.

We are not talking to anyone until our
lawyer gets here.

That's your right. But in about 90
minutes, the station closes for the

So we can either clear this up now, or
Gwen can spend the weekend in a cell.

We can get to it on Monday.

What? No, Gwen, it's okay.

I suppose it's just a coincidence that
you've kept us waiting here for four

hours? We were processing the evidence.

And what evidence would that be?

This knife was found in Gwen's bedroom.

It has traces of blood that match Lauren
McClain's blood type.

That doesn't prove anything.

Well, maybe not yet.

But that knife matches a set that was
found in your kitchen.

We'll have the results back in a few
days, and then we'll know if that's

Lauren's blood or not.

This is ridiculous.

Is this what Aletheia's doing?

You know, you've been doing a really
good job, Detective.

Instead of trying to find the author of
these letters, you've just been running

around in circles for their amusement.

I don't think you understand the
severity of this situation.

Oh, I most certainly do, Detective.

But I also know my daughter, and I know
she's innocent.

One moment.

Hey, it's me, Tonya. Hey, it's me. What?

Are you kidding me?

Well, congratulations, Ms. Johnston.

Your attorney has successfully argued
for your release.

So she's free to go?

For now.

Okay, Gwen.

But I wouldn't go too far, Mrs.
Johnston.

We'll have those DNA results back on
Monday. And until then, we'll be keeping

close eye on you.

Let's go, Gwen.

Mom, I swear I don't know anything about
this.

I don't know how that knife got in my
room, and I don't know how Lauren's

got on it, Mom. I swear I didn't do it.

You think I don't know all that?

I know that you would never hurt anyone,
let alone Lauren.

Okay, I know, I know.

I know.

It's okay.

It's okay.

It's all right.

It's okay.

But listen to me.

If that blood is Lauren's, like I think
it might be, then that means Alethea

knows where the body is.

And you aren't being framed.

So we have less than 48 hours to figure
out what to do when the lab results come

back.

But we will figure this out.

It's going to be okay.

It's going to be okay.

You okay?

No, Tony, I'm not okay.

Someone is trying to frame me, and if I
don't do something, I'm going to spend

the rest of my life in prison.

What do you have in mind?

Tony, are you sure you want to be a part
of this?

Your parents? You're certifiably insane.

I'm with you, Gwen.

If we're going to find out the truth, we
have to start with Lauren.

Gwen, my dad, the entire department has
been searching for Lauren for a year.

I know, but I knew her better than
anyone.

Maybe there's something they missed,
something they wouldn't have thought was

important.

What did you have in mind?

Can I help you?

McLean, it's Gwen.

Lauren's friend?

Gwen, dear. Well, hello.

Well, please come in.

What a nice surprise.

Oh, that's my nurse. She's fixing my
lunch.

Would you like anything?

No, that's all right. I just wanted to
talk with you about Lauren. Poor girl.

Did you know her?

Mrs.

McClain, it's me, Gwen.

I was friends with Lauren.

Oh, yes, I'm sorry.

I just wanted to ask you about Lauren's
disappearance.

I really don't like to think about that
very much.

I'm sorry to ask, Mrs. McLean. It's
just... It's important.

Well, I remember Lauren was in her room.

Her friend Gwen came over.

Do you know Gwen?

I know Gwen.

She's a great girl.

Yes. She and Lauren were very close.

I'm sorry.

What was your question?

We were wondering... Would it be okay if
we looked around

Lauren's room?

Oh, I don't know. I haven't really let
anyone in there except the police.

I had breakfast with Detective Chandler
this morning.

What are we doing here exactly?

I don't know. Looking for anything the
police might have missed.

Something that might tell us what
happened to Lauren.

We'll play.

What with?

Maybe Martha keeps it as a chandelier or
whatever.

Martha doesn't exactly seem up to any
housekeeping.

What was that?

Martha?

McClane?

Hello?

Tony? Gwen?

Tony, it's locked.

Okay, hold on. I'm gonna kick it open.

Tony?

Tony, are you okay?

Gwen?

Tony?

Back soon.

Don't worry, Gigi.

She has got to be kidding me.

Hey, it's Gwen. Leave a message.

Gwendolyn, Eleanor, you call me the
second you get this message.

And you better be on your way home when
you do.

Gwen, what's your emergency?

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Sorry,

Gwen.

I know it's rude to be on the phone when
you're with someone else, but you have

my full attention now.

I didn't want our reunion to be like
this. You know, I had something more

dramatic in mind, like...

Visiting you in prison.

For my murder, no less.

How fun would that have been?

Gigi.

Do you have something to say?

Lauren, you're... I'm alive.

I know.

Crazy, right?

Don't worry.

You are the only person who will ever
know.

Where's Tony?

Tony, about that.

He had a small run -in with the
flashlight.

Is he alive?

I'm not a doctor, Gwen.

Congrats, by the way.

Snagging the captain of the baseball
team?

You've really blossomed this year.

Warren, please.

Warren, please.

You are so used to getting your own way,
aren't you?

You know, I thought you were different.
I thought I finally had a friend who

cared about me.

But it turns out you were like everyone
else. You only care about you.

It's not true, Lauren. You lived in our
house. Your house.

Your room. Your stupid room. You, you,
you.

You were never my home.

You made that clear.

When you threw me out.

Lauren. That was sort of the final cut,
you know?

You bleed a few thousand times.

And then one day you wake up and think,
maybe it's my turn to make

everyone else bleed.

The letters.

You wrote them. You did all of this.

Congrats, Gwen.

You figured it out.

But not just the letters.

The knife in your room with my blood on
it.

That was me.

And that little house fire last year was
supposed to be a thank you gift to

all of you Johnsons for your
hospitality.

I didn't know you and Natty were out of
the house, but then I realized it's

better this way, you know?

Why let you go out easy when I can let
you feel what it's like to lose

everything the way I did?

You're insane. No.

My grandmother, however.

Did you hurt her?

She's family, Gwen.

Let's just say she's taking a little
nap.

A couple of benzos and she's out like
light.

Of course, she's out most of the time
anyway.

I was only gone a month.

And when I came back, she didn't even
recognize me anymore.

Just thought I was her live -in nurse.

My own grandmother.

Lauren, why? Why are you doing this?

Do we really have to get into it?

Your mom will be here any second.

Then we can have a real family get
-together.

Speak of the devil.

What? What?

Hi, Mrs. Johnston.

Warren.

Warren, what have you done? Only what
you taught me, Mrs. Johnston.

Punishing someone's mistakes by ripping
away everything they love.

Lauren, you knew I had nothing.

No one.

Except a grandmother who doesn't even
recognize me anymore.

You threw me away like an old piece of
trash.

Like I didn't matter.

No, no. At first, I blamed myself.

I tried to understand.

And then I realized I didn't matter.

Not to you, not to your husband, not to
your daughter, not to... I

matter now.

Yeah. You can thank April for that.

Well, I guess you can't.

Because she's dead.

Good. She was my

counselor. And she was supposed to help
me.

Instead, she was trying to get me
expelled.

Expelled? Why?

The stupid little fire in the gardening
shed behind the school.

Mostly. But she found out I burned it
down, so I decided to burn her down.

How did you... How did I know?

How did I know everyone's dirty little
secrets?

It's pretty simple, actually.

You'd be surprised what people would say
in front of you when they think you

don't matter. When they think you're
powerless. It's like you're invisible.

Just a second.

Like I wasn't even there.

Like I didn't matter.

They thought I was too stupid to figure
out what they were up to, but she was

stupid! She was stupid to underestimate
me!

Getting to take down Anita and Tori... I
don't want you hanging out with her.

That was just a bonus.

But then I realized...

I'd only just begun.

The letter had started to look fine.

I had the chance to bring justice to
everyone who deserved it.

April. Anita.

Meredith's lazy husband.

So... Do you want me to come there, or
do you want to come to my place?

Yeah, she's still out there.

Why, Wendy? Why did you kill Wendy?

That one was hard.

I actually liked Wendy.

But she was starting to figure it out.

I wrote her a thank you note last year.

Apparently, she found it and recognized
the handwriting.

She started asking questions.

I guess that's what you get for having
manner.

But don't... I'm not the only person
with that handwriting.

What are you talking about?

You've been working on your confession.

To the letters?

And to your little killing spray.

Starting with me.

And your husband.

And April.

And Wendy.

Yourself. And your daughter.

Where is she?

Where's Gwen?

Don't worry.

You two will be reunited very soon. No,
no, no!

Goodbye, Mrs. Jonathan.

No. Thanks for nothing.

Say

goodbye,

bitch. Goodbye, bitch.

I just hope she gets the help she needs.

I just hope I never see her again.

Jonathan,

Gwen, I just wanted to apologize about
the way this whole investigation played

out.

These letters, they got personal, and it
clouded my judgment.

Sorry. Detective, you don't need to
apologize.

When it comes to family, it's always
personal.

You got quite the amazing son over
there.

And you have an amazing daughter.

I know.

Still cannot believe you bought this
place after everything.

It's like a dream, honestly.

I know.

Wendy and I were kindred spirits.

I didn't know her for very long, but I
feel like she would have wanted the

bookstore to go on.

And plus, with your father's life
insurance money, it just kind of all

out.

Final copy.

What do you think?

I am very excited to be in a book club
with my favorite daughter.