Original subtitles

[ Woman whimpering ]

Hey.

I brought you some water.

Yeah, I don't want you getting dehydrated

Over the next few hours.

I'm glad you got some rest.

It's still early,

So we have some time to get to know one another.

[ Whimpering continues ]

Don't do that.

I don't like it.

It could make your, uh, makeup smear,

And that will not be attractive.

Stop it.

Look, I don't want to hurt you,

But I will bash your fucking brains in!

[ Chuckles ] I'm joking.

I'm just kidding.

I'm just kidding. I'd never do anything like that.

I mean, I got no problem killing you, per se,

But it wouldn't be violent.

I'd, uh...

Just suffocate you.

You know, something peaceful like that.

[ Scraping ]

[ Whimpering continues ]

[ Sighs ]

You sure are pretty.

Okay, here's the plan.

I'm gonna get you out of those clothes.

I'm gonna give you a nice, hot bath.

Uh, i-i'm sorry, what?

[ Whimpering continues ]

Oh, yeah.

I can leave some music on for you.

I mean, would that help relax you?

Okay -- and, when I take the gag out,

Don't bother to scream.

[ Screams ]

There's no one that's gonna hear you, darling.

[ Whimpering continues ]

Stop with the fucking crying.

Shh!

[ Woman breathing shakily ]

You are not gonna ruin this night for me.

It is a very special night.

My advice for you is simple --

Let your mind wander.

Maybe imagine you're somewhere else.

Aww.

Don't worry.

It's all going to be okay.

Trust me.

[ Sirens wailing ]

[ Soft music plays ]

Thanks, rue.

You're welcome, sugar.

[ Chuckles ]

I-it's been, uh, almost 10 years

Since I've had a partner assigned to me,

So forgive me if it takes a minute to get used to you.

Uh, you must be some kind of golden boy.

Jesse: what makes you say that?

There are 10 cops ahead of you for this spot.

[ Cellphone rings ]

[ Cellphone beeps ]

Chief's discretion, I suppose.

And the captain forces you on me.

No.

I asked if I could partner with you.

Oh, the captain isn't one to easily grant favors --

Not unless they benefit him.

Yeah, well, maybe he figured you needed some help.

Perhaps you got naked pictures of him

With a woman who's not his wife.

I know how you undercover boys roll.

[ Chuckles ]

Yeah, that's right.

No, you know what? If I had, I would have made him let me drive.

Then you must be golden.

[ Chuckles ]

[ Cellphone rings ]

[ Cellphone beeps ]

Should we cut the shit?

Okay.

I was kicked out of narcotics.

I didn't want to leave.

We both know this.

Usually, when you're kicked out of a unit,

You wind up on a foot beat, not on homicide.

Yeah, well, usually when you're kicked out of a unit,

You fucked up.

I didn't. I got told to move on,

But I could land wherever I wanted.

And you chose the murder police.

If you're gonna play, you might as well play big.

Isn't that right, detective?

Looking to hit that home run?

Clear your name, get yourself back in narcos?

[ Cellphone rings ]

[ Cellphone beeps ]

Look, I can't talk.

[ Cellphone beeps ]

[ Sighs ]

[ Sighs ]

Look, I'm just trying to do my job, detective, okay?

I'm not looking for any glory or any redemption.

I'm just here to work.

So why this case?

What kind of cop would I be if I didn't take this case on?

You care about these girls?

Yeah, I do.

Good.

'Cause I don't think the mayor, the chief,

Or your buddy, the captain,

Really care if we catch this guy or not.

Huh.

As long as he's not killing tourists, right?

[ Chuckles ]

This is atlantic city.

Unless our serial killer starts dropping bodies

On the casino floor,

No one's gonna give a damn.

[ Door opens ]

You ready?

'Cause I'm ready.

[ Chuckles ]

[ Engine shuts off ]

[ Breathing shakily ]

[ Thudding ]

[ Muffled screaming ]

Hey, hey, hey. Shut your fucking mouth.

Shut your mouth.

[ Whimpering ]

You remember everything we spoke about, right?

Mm-hmm.

You know the deal?

Huh?

Good.

[ Breathing shakily ]

Shh.

[ Gulps ]

[ Sobbing ]

[ Siren wails ]

For the past 10 weeks,

We've found a dead prostitute every saturday morning.

We know they're being killed sometime late friday night

Into the early hours of saturday.

Jesse: and all the girls were last seen

Sometime before 5:00 p.m. On friday.

Which means we got about a seven-hour window

Between when they go missing and he kills them.

We got surveillance units stationed

At the three primary hotels and two main strip clubs.

We got street crimes running stop-and-pops

Up and down the avenue, looking for johns.

And we got vice throwing cash to their snitches.

Now, of the 10 girls we know,

Some of them didn't work corners or strip clubs, right?

Yeah, that's right. Three.

But we have no indication of how he meets them.

No.

The three hotels we chose are the ones

That vice said have the highest amounts

Of prostitution complaints and arrests.

Yeah, that's right.

But we have not confirmed that these girls

Actually worked these particular hotels.

No, but two of the victims

Had prior arrests at the casino hotels.

All right, so...

What are we missing? How does he meet these girls?

None of them placed ads in the local sex-for-hire papers.

None of them were high-end call girls.

What options are we not seeing?

What if there is a high-end call service

For low-end prostitutes?

Huh.

Type of service all the girls

Could use to meet their dates.

No.

You know, if there was something like that around here,

Vice would know about it.

Who says it has to exist around here?

Well, we know that some of the girls

Came from out of town.

Maybe all of them were hired elsewhere.

Head down to the old convention center.

What for?

I've got an informant.

She owes me a favor, and...

She helps bring in out-of-town working girls

To help with the big conventions.

Good. Let's go.

Woman: hey, baby.

Hey.

Thought I'd, uh, surprise you

With some chinese food for dinner.

Yeah.

Yeah, i-i'm very surprised. I --

Yeah, well, I got my mom

To pick the kids up from the sitter,

And julie said she'd take my second shift at work

So we could have a nice, quiet dinner together.

Oh, that's nice.

Yeah. It is, isn't it?

[ Chuckles ]

And I miss my husband.

Aww, I miss you, too, baby.

[ Chuckles ]

Mm.

I love the way you look at me.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Mm.

I say...

We take this food...

[ Chuckles ]

...a bottle of wine...

Mm-hmm.

...head down to the beach.

Mm-hmm.

A nice, romantic dinner under the stars.

I'll grab the wine.

[ Chuckles ]

Let's go.

[ Chuckles ]

[ Thudding ]

What was that?

Nothing.

I was working out there earlier.

[ Chuckles ]

Is there somebody in the garage?

No. Of course not.

Come on. Let's go.

Sam. Samantha.

Let go of me!

[ Indistinct talking ]

What the fuck?

[ Whimpering ]

Sam, stop.

Samantha!

Leave her be!

Ow! Fuck.

Ow!

Leave her be, okay?

[ Whimpering ]

This -- shh!

What are you doing?

Just...

Let me explain everything, okay?

Let go of me.

Ow!

Ugh!

Samantha! Stop!

Listen to me. Stop!

Ow!

Listen to me! Calm down!

Okay? Just let me explain.

Aah!

Let me explain.

Get off of me!

Stop! Just --

Get the fuck off me!

Sam.

Samantha.

[ Panting ]

Sam.

Sam, don't do this, okay? Just let me in the door.

[ Bangs door ]

Open the fucking door.

[ Sobs ]

Sam...

Please, just talk to me, okay?

Please, talk to me.

[ Telephone beeps ]

[ Dial tone ]

[ Telephone beeps ]

Sam, don't make this call.

Put the phone down, okay?

You make this call, and there's no going back.

Put the fucking phone down, sam!

[ Breathes shakily ]

[ Sobs ]

Baby, I know your mind is running

About a thousand miles a minute,

And I am sorry that you had to see this.

I'm sorry you had to find out this way, okay?

Please, just let me talk you through this.

You're planning on talking me through this?!

If you can remain calm

And be open to what I have to say, yes.

You've got a strange white woman tied up in our garage!

I understand that.

Just let me start at the beginning

And tell you everything, okay?

Do you rape them?

No.

No. God, no. It's not like that.

Then what's it like, richard?

It's difficult to explain in words.

What are you gonna do with that woman?

I'm going to kill her.

[ Whimpers ]

I'm sorry -- there is a demon inside of me.

One that I have fought for years --

One I thought I killed and I buried a long time ago...

...the day I met you.

'Cause you showed me that there was a love

That I never knew existed.

Then we started our family, okay?

I never thought I'd go back there...

But it hit me again...

And I lost control.

So, what, you just decided to destroy our family?!

I don't want to destroy our family.

I'd never do anything intentionally to hurt you.

I don't give a damn about your intentions!

I care about your actions!

[ Voice breaking ] what have you done?

Okay, you want to know? Huh?

A few weeks ago, I'm at the job site,

And there's these disgusting whores

Working the corners, showing me their tits,

Telling me to come get what my wife doesn't give me.

Yeah.

Yeah, it took me back to a place that I'd left a long time ago --

A place that I never thought I'd return, but I did.

And you know what? It made me want to kill again!

So I fucking did!

So you're the one killing all those prostitutes?

Yes.

Yes, I am.

I'm sorry. I know that sounds horrible.

[ Door hinges creaking ]

Do you sleep with them before you kill them?

No, baby.

Don't lie to me, richard.

I'm not lying.

I'd never cheat on you.

So this isn't some sick sexual fetish you have?

I would never hurt you like that. Never.

[ Scoffs ]

But you'd hurt me like this?

You'd hurt our family like this?

Mayfield: all right...

Maybe it's me. I'm missing something.

Did you find anything in that case file

That, uh, links these girls?

No. [ Sighs ] nothing.

Except they're all prostitutes.

Why kill them? That's what I don't understand.

Easy targets.

Easy to get away with.

You know, when you consider

The number of prostitutes in this city

And that every john they've been with

And pimp they've worked for is a suspect,

The odds are clearly in the killer's favor.

Most of these girls don't even have family,

And the friends they keep are other prostitutes

Who don't want to get involved.

Some politicians don't give a damn.

There's no "mothers against dead prostitutes"

Making a stink.

So, what?

This guy just kills these girls because it's easy?

Why not? Yeah, maybe that's the only motive.

What if he's that sick?

[ Cellphone rings ]

It's jesse.

Yeah, what have you got?

Okay.

Okay. Good.

Yeah, you got a favor on the books.

You be safe.

What you got?

There is a service operated by a pimp out of philly.

He comes down every weekend with a group of girls,

Sets them up at a motel somewhere off route 40,

And then he uses online chat rooms and websites

To set them up with their dates.

A few of the victims had priors in philly.

Yeah, but he operates this locally, as well.

He sets the girls up at pubs, clubs,

Casinos, hotels, motels -- everywhere.

There's the variety.

Yeah, but if you're a pimp, you're gonna know

If y-your girls are going missing, for god's sake.

All right. Let's think outside the box.

What if he's less of a pimp and more of an agent?

Okay.

Operates out of several cities with several hundred girls.

Numbers game.

So, he's running a huge system of prostitution

Up and down the east coast.

If he loses a girl here or there,

He doesn't even notice.

Because it's a network.

I've wanted to tell you for so long.

Keeping a secret from you is hell on me.

Why didn't you come to me when the urges returned?

Before you started murdering women?

I controlled the urges at first.

You know, they'd come and go, and I deal with them myself.

Then one day, I was leaving work,

And one of them whores walked up to my car window.

Then what?

She told me I could fuck her for $20.

What happened next?

I, um...

I grabbed her.

Um...

Show me.

What?

If I've been married to a monster after all these years,

I want to see it.

I'm not a monster.

Maybe at times, I can be, or part of me can be.

Then show me that part of you.

I don't want you to see that.

Show me.

No.

Show me!

I don't want you to see it.

Show --

I grabbed that cunt whore by the back of the head,

Dragged her ass into my car,

Drove down the road at 60 miles per hour

As I bashed her fucking head into the dashboard!

And then I pulled over,

Snapped her neck like a fucking twig...

[ Gasping ]

...and left her ass on the side of the road.

[ Inhales deeply ]

[ Coughs ]

[ Sighs ]

I can't imagine what you think of me.

All I can do is beg for your forgiveness.

How can I even contemplate forgiving you...

Or even understanding you...

When I don't even know who you are?

Don't say that.

You're the only one in this world

That truly knows who I am.

We've been together since we were 18 years old.

I have never loved anyone or anything

As much as I love you and our two kids.

How am I supposed to feel now, huh?

How am I supposed to react?

How do I go on from this?

I need you.

I need you to help me.

God, this can't be happening.

Now all we have to do is figure out which rooms.

I hope we're not too late.

Jesse: yep.

'Cause if he already has her...

[ Sighs ]

Well, then she's already dead.

Or close to it.

[ Sighs ]

I think we found our room.

I-i know you're afraid.

I am more than just afraid.

I am scared to death.

Tonight was gonna be the last night.

This was gonna be the last girl, I swear.

How can you swear to anything

When you say you can't even control it yourself?

That's why I brought her here.

I-i knew I needed to do something

That would hit me in the face --

Something to make this real, something to hit home.

Why?

I didn't have the strength to tell you, and...

I had to do something that would trigger me to want to change.

No.

No -- why do you kill prostitutes?

Why do you hate them so much?

[ Sighs ]

Thank you, miss.

You be safe, okay?

I want you to get us a room.

That corner room or one like it.

Then speak to the other girl in 115.

I'll be in touch with street crimes

And get us surveillance assistance.

And you'll tell dispatch to keep local units out of here

So they don't spook anyone.

Listen, don't i.d. Yourself for the hotel clerk.

Why?

Well, our killer could call first,

Pretend to be police dispatch,

And inquire about the officers working tonight.

It's an old trick to spot surveillance.

Right, and the clerk, knowing no better

Just passes him straight through to our room.

I get it.

He's been better than us every step of the way.

Let's be better than him tonight.

There are things you don't know about my childhood...

...things I'm afraid to tell you.

Samantha: I know you had a tough life growing up --

Bouncing around from foster homes.

Can't imagine what hell that was like.

But you know how much I love you.

You can tell me anything.

Everything about me is a lie.

What does that mean?

I've lied so often, I don't --

I don't know what the truth is anymore.

Lies about who I am, where I'm from.

I can't keep track.

Just tell me everything, okay?

I can't help you unless I know what's going on inside you.

Make me understand.

I didn't grow up in foster homes.

I would've been better off if I did.

But I met your foster parents in college.

No, I just called them that.

They were a couple teachers from high school

Who took interest in me, helped me through college.

What about your real family?

My mom was a stripper...

And my dad was just some dude passing through dallas.

I did ask her once, you know [chuckles]

"Why not just abort me? It'd have been easier."

What'd she say?

Jesus told her not to.

Did she go back to stripping after you were born?

Not much else she could do.

Single mother, high-school dropout --

What else is there?

That's a tough way to raise a kid.

Then, when I'm 8 years old,

After a string of asshole boyfriends,

She meets darnell -- in a.a., Of all places.

She was a drunk?

Hard to take off all your clothes

For a bunch of strange men.

What started out as medicine for her shift

Became medicine for life.

But she decided to get help, though.

[ Chuckles ]

No. No.

She got popped for her third d.u.i.

It was court-ordered a.a.

And...

Darnell was a recovering alcoholic she met in a.a.?

No.

He was the fucking antichrist.

No, he was this drug-pushing pimp

That liked to hawk n.a. And a.a. Meetings,

Looking for young girls, young prospects,

Ones that were trying to get help.

You know, ones looking to better themselves,

Except he wanted to introduce them

To a world of crack cocaine and disgusting men.

This is early '80s, so no one knew about crack cocaine then.

No one knew how that snake bit, and it bit my mom hard.

'Cause she'd have been better off to die

The first time she ever stuck that glass cock in her mouth,

But she didn't.

No, that poison just killed her a little bit every day,

Bit by bit, rock by rock.

Then, one day, I'm 14 years old, and I come home from school,

And there's 10 dudes lined up taking turns

On my mom in the living room.

Darnell -- he's sitting on my beanbag,

Eating chicken tenders, looks up at me and says,

"Hey, little man, I got you a cheeseburger,

"But I ate your fries.

I ate your fries." That's what he says.

And then my --

I looked down, my mom's getting rammed

By some fat jheri-curl motherfucker.

She says to me, "hey, baby, get my crack pipe.

Get me my crack pipe."

[ Scoffs ]

So I did.

I walked over to the counter, and I got the crack pipe.

I walked back over to my mama --

Fat fuck, he's still going to town on her.

I put it in her mouth and light it,

Watch her ingest it deep inside,

Eyes roll in the back of her head

As she just drifts away.

[ Inhales deeply ]

And then I pulled out a .38 pistol

I stole from darnell's house,

And I shot my mother right between the eyes,

Turned around, shot that fat fuck twice in the chest,

And old darnell launches at me,

And I shoot that motherfucker right in the mouth.

Cops had to pull his teeth out of the drywall.

God, it makes me feel good!

Baby, i...

I had no idea.

Why didn't you tell me this before?

I could've helped you.

We could've gone through this together.

Sam, you did help me.

You've done nothing but love me.

Me -- you gave me the greatest gift in this entire world

With our two beautiful children.

I let this hate manifest inside of me.

I let evil win. Not you.

I did this.

But it doesn't have to win tonight.

Woman: [ muffled shouting ]

We should go check on her, make sure she's okay.

I'm gonna bring her some water.

No.

No, I need to take care of this.

I want to bring her some water.

I want to make sure she's okay.

We are not gonna hurt this girl.

Yeah.

Yeah, look, I understand that, sir, but --

I know you need our captain's approval, sir,

But he's not available to give it,

And we need those extra surveillance units

As soon as possible.

We've left word, and so has dispatch.

[ Sighs ] all right.

Let me know.

[ Cellphone beeps ]

He's working on it.

Yeah, I'm sure he is.

We got four girls who come in from philly.

Two work strip clubs every weekend,

And two work hotels.

Right.

And one girl uses a service to set up her dates online,

And she's got some regulars.

Now, our girl in 115 set up her date herself.

She didn't -- she didn't use the service.

Right -- I mean, the website's run by the service,

But tonight's date, she...

Yeah, she made that herself.

And it didn't bother her to have to travel to him?

No. Why would it?

She's traveled a hundred times before with the service.

And, you know what?

She probably tied in a fee, as well.

And none of these girls know each other?

Well, the girl in 115 said

She recognized one of the girls in the van,

But she just went on to a club downtown.

And the friend that usually travels with her

This time did not.

Not tonight, no.

She booked a separate date

And left by train in the early hours this morning.

She say where?

Yeah, she did. Um...newark.

It's starting to make a little sense.

These girls see jobs posted online

For a shit-ton of money for a non-sexual encounter.

And "non-sexual encounter" usually means nice old men

Who can't get it up anymore who've got a lot of money

To pay for women because they're young and hot.

What hard-up working girl would say no?

Not many.

But, of course, they have no idea

How easy they're making it for him.

He damn sure knows how hard he's making it for us.

You can count on that.

[ Sniffles ]

[ Whimpering ]

[ Inhales deeply ]

[ Panting ]

Oh, please, help me.

Please, I got a kid.

I have a little boy. Please, don't hurt me.

Samantha: no, no, it's okay.

Please.

It's okay.

No, no, nobody's gonna hurt you, okay?

My -- my wrists really hurt.

Can you untie me? [ Sniffles ]

Yeah, sure.

Thanks.

[ Panting ]

Richard: stop.

No.

No, she's been down here for hours, and her wrists hurt.

Stop doing that.

Mister, please. I won't say a word.

Please. Plea--

Shut your mouth before I shut it for you.

Oh, no, you will not.

You are not gonna hurt this girl.

Look at me, richard.

[ Snaps fingers ] look at me.

Not this one, okay?

You're gonna let this one go.

No.

If you love our family, you have to let her go.

It is because I love our family that I will not let her go.

She's not gonna say anything.

I-i promise.

I-i-i'll disappear. You'll never hear from me again.

I'll be gone. Please, no! Please!

[ Whimpering ]

Shh!

Look. Hey. Hey.

Look at me.

You know she'll tell.

Within hours of letting her go,

The cops will knock down that door

And take me away forever.

You'll have to spend what savings we have

To keep me off death row.

You'll have to sell this house, everything we own,

Change your name, move away.

Everything we've built, all that we have,

Will be gone hours after I let her go.

[ Voice breaking ] so, what are you saying?

That the only option we have is to kill her?

The only option I have is to kill her.

How do you plan on doing it, huh?

How do you kill them?

How were you planning on...

Disposing of her body before I got home?

Tell me that, my love...

My wonderful husband...

...my best friend.

I'm going to strangle her with a belt.

I'll then take her body to the back of the property,

Run her through the wood chipper.

Then I'll collect what's left of her,

Place it into a garbage bag,

And later, when I go to pick up the kids,

I'll throw it in a dumpster behind d.j.'S pizza.

[ Sobs, sniffles ]

You are not this person.

I've loved you my entire adult life,

And...

And this isn't you.

The man I love...

The man who loves me...

...he wouldn't think these things.

He wouldn't...

He wouldn't do these horrible things.

We all have a dark side.

You're just now seeing mine.

I'm trying to help you, but you got to help yourself.

No, I warned you it would be like this

If you got carried away with this shit.

Are you even fucking listening to me?!

Monica -- no, don't do that.

No, don't do it. Don't be so fucking stupid.

Don't do it.

Fuck!

[ Clattering ]

[ Sighs ]

[ Sighs ]

[ Exhales sharply ]

You all right?

I'm fine.

How long has that been an issue?

[ Scoffs ] what?

I thought we said we were gonna cut the shit.

[ Sighs ] a while now.

That's why you left narcotics?

She got locked up in that whole pharmacy mess,

And no one really wanted to trust me after that.

They figured your wife's on dope,

So you must be, as well -- that it?

[ Sighs ] I guess so.

Are you?

[ Scoffs ]

Are you still fucking your informants?

Not since I married one.

I'm sorry. That was out of line.

I know it was. I'm sorry.

That's why you wanted to partner with me, isn't it?

What do you mean?

You figured I'd know what it is to walk in your shoes a little.

I'd give you room,

Not ask too many questions or judge too harshly.

[ Chuckles ]

If I were in your shoes...

...i'd have done the same thing.

[ Sighs ]

Everybody has secrets.

Everybody makes mistakes.

It's how we deal with them that determines who we are.

The key is to limit mistakes of character.

And as the one man I know

Who walked this earth sin-free once said,

"Don't judge unless you want to be judged."

I won't judge you.

Well, for what it's worth...

I asked if I could partner with you

Because I heard you were the best detective there was.

Captain wants to pull me off the case.

Says I'm making it personal.

Are you?

I don't care what people say behind my back,

And I don't care what the captain thinks.

My wife was my informant.

She was a prostitute.

I knew right away she didn't want that life.

She was new to this country,

Could barely speak the language,

Had no job skills.

She needed help.

We became friends, and we fell in love,

And I'm not ashamed to admit that.

I'm not ashamed one bit. We've been married for 10 years.

We've got three beautiful kids.

And she gets me.

[ Chuckles ]

She gets me.

[ Sighs ] so, you're damn right. It is personal.

No one deserves what's happening to these girls.

No one.

You know this is wrong, right?

I never said it was right...

But it's just.

[ Scoffs ]

No, love is just.

Love can't make someone change what they are.

Maybe not.

But if you love someone enough,

Maybe they'll want to change.

I loved my mom more than anything.

Someone's loved these girls.

That's not what makes them choose the lifestyle.

They choose it because they are weak.

Well...

Well, maybe, if you let her go...

...and she sees your kindness and trust...

...it'll change her life.

Maybe she'll become strong.

And maybe she'll decide to change who she is.

And maybe she goes to the cops, and we lose it all.

No. No.

I don't think she will.

Is it worth the risk?

At the end of the day, is she worth the risk --

To lose everything because you believe

She's gonna change what she is?

She's a whore, and she's always gonna be a whore.

Don't talk like that.

You don't think having her down here,

Planning to do what you're gonna do to her is enough?

You got to throw insults at her?

You don't think she knows who she is?

You think, as she sits here...

...and she listens to that garbage,

She's forgetting what got her here?

Not for one second.

I bet she hasn't stopped thinking about it.

I bet you that, as she sits here,

And she prays to a god she may or may not believe in...

To spare her life so she can get back to her little boy.

She's promising him that she's gonna change her life...

...and she's gonna get off the streets...

...and she's gonna get off the drugs.

She's gonna turn her life around.

I bet you...

That she has made just about every promise that there is.

Haven't you?

[ Sniffles ]

I know you have.

'Cause I've been praying for the same thing.

Don't you sit there and tell me

That this girl's gonna go to the police.

No, people are brought to the light

In so many different ways.

[ Chuckles ]

Maybe -- maybe the blessing in disguise here is that, uh --

Is that you brought her to the light...

That we've, together, led her to the light.

Richard: you are so beautiful.

Always the protector.

Always the mother.

[ Whimpers ]

Maybe she never had anyone stand up for her.

No mom or dad to show her the way.

Maybe she did, and she said,

"Fuck it. I want to get high and whore."

Ow.

Don't ever do that again.

Let go of me.

I am not saying these things to be mean.

I am calling her what she is

So you can wrap your head around the fact

That she is trash.

[ Voice breaking ] you're hurting me.

Ow!

Do you want to lose your home to filth?

No, but I don't think we have to lose anything.

[ Whimpers ]

Come take a look at this guy.

[ Sighs ]

Any mention of what vehicle he'd be driving?

No, he just tells her to post what room she's in online.

Units aren't in position yet.

I can't make out his tags.

This could be him.

He's nervous.

Does that surprise you?

Our killer is confident. This guy is not.

Yeah, well, he's guilty of something.

Call the front desk

And see if someone just called in for 115.

[ Cellphone beeping ]

[ Ringing ]

Come on...

They're not answering.

What's he up to?

[ Engine turns over ]

Son of a bitch! Let's go.

Something's screwed up here.

[ Tires squeal ]

All surveillance units en route to our location,

Red chevy blazer has just left --

Is a possible suspect.

White male, mid 30s, heading south on route 40.

Where'd he go?

I have no idea.

Let's take this left.

All right.

Let's take a right into this gas station coming up.

Could be behind the gas station.

Let's go right right here.

Okay. Slow down. Where is he? Where'd the son of a bitch go?

Check the right here.

Where is he? Where is he?

Where is he?

What the fuck? That's him.

There he is. What the --

All right, let's get his tag.

Keep your distance. Don't freak him.

[ Static crackles ]

Okay, can we run this plate? New jersey plate...

What the hell is he doing?

...zhb-52m.

Okay, let's not spook him.

Man: unit 914, tag returns john davis on a '96 blazer.

[ Static crackles ]

All surveillance units,

Looks like we're heading back northbound on route 40.

Heading back northbound on route 40.

[ Static crackles ]

Unit 914, tag returns no wants, no warrants.

[ Static crackles ]

Copy that.

Okay, he's parking it up.

Hold back. Hold back.

Oh, jesus.

Oh, dear god.

[ Chuckles ]

[ Chuckles ] you got to be kidding me.

You're the sheep, and I'm the wolf.

Makes us perfect for one another.

Sheep nourishes the family.

The wolf protects it.

Yeah, but you're not protecting us right now.

You're putting us in danger.

Yeah, but I'm gonna fix it.

[ Inhales deeply ]

[ Exhales deeply ]

Baby...

Don't do this.

I love you.

I love you, too.

That's why I got to do it.

Stop it!

[ Muffled screaming ]

Stop it right now!

Richard, she can't breathe!

Stop it, or I'm leaving, and I'm never coming back!

Stop it!

You can never leave me.

Then you better start listening to me.

All I want to do is fix this, baby.

Okay, okay, but that starts

By us making good decisions together.

This is what you want?

Yeah.

Okay.

But I need you to make me a promise.

Anything.

When they come for me, and they will come...

I want you to kill me.

What?

Yeah.

I want you to take my gun,

Place it against my temple,

And blow my fucking brains out.

You're crazy.

Why would you say something like that?

Because the last thing I want to see in this world...

Is your beautiful smile.

You're being insane.

[ Panting ]

I am trying to hold it together here,

But i...i can't.

I'm losing my mind, and you are out of control.

Look, sam, just calm down, okay?

Don't you tell me to calm down!

You want to see a sheep become a wolf?

Tell me to calm down again.

Baby, all I'm trying to say --

Don't you "baby" me.

I know what you're trying to pull here.

I know what you're doing.

I'm not trying to pull anything.

Oh, we let her go, and I end up killing you?

Are you serious?

You're damn right I'm serious.

Oh, just when I think you can't push me

Any further over the edge -- bam! -- You somehow manage.

Well, I'm not going to prison,

And I'm not putting you and the kids through a trial

And the media frenzy that follows.

Don't you do that.

Don't you dare pull our kids into this,

You selfish bastard.

I'm trying to be unselfish.

What I'm saying to you is I'd rather die

Than put you through hell.

There is not one part of this scenario

That doesn't put us through hell.

Don't you see that?

Yes, there is.

You're the one that's not seeing it.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I'm sorry. I-i forgot.

There's that one scenario

Where you kill an innocent girl in our garage

And run her body through a wood chipper!

There ain't one aspect of that bitch that is innocent.

Are any of us really innocent, richard?

Yeah, my kids are.

And they don't deserve to pay for my mistakes.

They deserve to be happy.

They deserve to have a chance at a happy life.

And they will have one.

Not if she goes to the cops.

She won't.

[ Chuckles ]

Get this through your thick skull --

She dies here tonight!

[ Knock on door ]

[ Knocks on door ]

There's a cop at the door.

[ Sighs ]

Baby, what are we gonna do?

All right, just relax.

[ Sighs ] what are they doing here?

Are you sure somebody didn't see you pick her up?

No one saw me do anything.

How can you be so sure?

What do they want? It's 9:00 on a friday night.

Crazy mr. Harris called me this week,

And he said he was requesting extra patrols.

Something about vandalisms or something. I don't know.

I'm sure they're just here to ask some questions.

How do you know they're not here for you?

Because if they were here for me,

They wouldn't knock on the door with one guy.

They'd knock down the door with 10.

[ Knock on door ]

Just go wait in the bedroom, okay?

I'll handle it.

Hello, captain, this is mayfield.

I've been trying to reach you.

Watch commander will not approve overtime

Without your personal okay.

Please give me a call when you can.

Thank you. Bye-bye.

[ Cellphone rings ]

[ Cellphone beeps ]

Yeah?

No. Nothing.

She's been in that chat room that she met him in.

Posted a few messages,

But the only hits have come from regulars back in philly.

That's strange.

What time was he supposed to pick her up?

Never gave an exact time.

Just said some point after 7:00.

Listen, I'm gonna run these tags

And cross-reference them with the database.

Well, then let's have her post something

Saying she's tired of waiting,

And she's going back to philly if he doesn't come soon.

Yeah -- I think she's gonna start to detox soon,

So if we don't act quickly, she's gonna need another fix.

We might never get another shot like this.

We got to do everything we can to motivate him to show.

And what if he doesn't show?

Let's just pray he does.

[ Cellphone beeps ]

[ Indistinct conversation ]

[ Lock engages ]

[ Sighs ] is it over? Can I --

Shh!

[ Sighs ]

So, I know you're tired and uncomfortable,

But hang in there, okay?

We're getting close to getting you out of there.

Tell me about your son.

He's 3.

He's a good boy. He smiles all the time.

What's his name?

John tyler.

Named after your father, right?

How'd you know that?

Mm, it's a strong name.

I just figured it had to come from someone you loved.

[ Clears throat ]

My dad died, um, when I was 9.

[ Sighs ] I loved him a lot.

Yeah, I bet you did.

[ Chuckles nervously ]

Was his passing the reason that you're here?

Yeah.

My mom became absent.

I became rebellious.

I tried heroin with my boyfriend in high school, and [sighs]

By the time I was 19, I had a $200-a-day habit,

And the only thing left to sell was me.

I'm so sorry.

So am i.

[ Sighs ]

Okay, I know I'm new to homicide, but hear me out.

Now, if we were dope dealers,

We would have several guys set up

At multiple hotels across the city.

One place gets shut down, it doesn't matter.

We're still in business.

I don't follow.

What if our guy has set up multiple prostitutes

At several hotels across the city?

He watches them, makes sure they follow all his rules,

And makes sure we're not around.

Right. He has a ton of options.

Makes it almost impossible to narrow down.

I would say his profile doesn't fit those actions.

I would say that most violent serial killers

Focus in on their individual targets,

And I would say that every homicide cop around

Would say you were wrong.

Okay.

But what do you say?

I think you just may be right.

[ Siren wailing ]

I was just giving her some water.

Ow!

Aah!

Don't ever lie to me.

Ow!

You're hurting me.

Yeah?

[ Whimpers ]

Yeah, that's what you want, isn't it?

Huh?

Yes.

You want to feel the power of evil?

Yeah.

Yeah, hurt me like you want to hurt her.

You're nothing like her.

You never will be.

[ Groans ]

[ Exhales sharply ]

You can let her go.

It's your call.

Richard, wait.

Mm.

No, untie her.

Take her to the bus station. Send her home.

You trust her, and I trust you.

But you know the deal.

I'm going to bed.

Sweetheart?

Yeah?

I trust you more.

We're fucked.

Why?

Our girl in 115 is trying to book a date

For tomorrow night, okay?

She's found this guy, but he wants two girls,

And one of them needs to be a redhead with freckles.

And she has to find her?

Right.

So, she logged online and tried to track a friend

Who has -- who suits that description.

Okay.

And she found that girl,

But the girl recently posted online

That she had just arrived at the pleasantville bus station

A few hours ago.

Working the corners in pleasantville?

No.

I think she's booked a date with our guy.

I looked to see what he had written on 115's wall,

And then I looked to see what he wrote on this girl's wall,

And it is so similar, it has to be the same guy.

There's no doubt about it.

But this time, he wrote what car he would be in.

Which is?

Which is a black four-door sedan.

Okay. I'll get that description out to our surveillance units.

I want you to get on the phone

And talk to the people over at that bus station.

Find out if they've got any security video.

What time did she arrive?

Well, she logged online at 7:00 p.m.

He's had her for hours.

Oh, yeah, we don't have much time,

If any time at all -- we got to go.

Sarge, I need you to move your units

Over to the hotels that border pleasantville

And also send a unit, code 3, over to the bus station.

They may have security video.

[ Static crackles ]

You don't have to tell me something you don't believe.

[ Voice breaking ] I know.

What made you change your mind?

Our children need their father.

And I need my husband.

I'm so sorry.

You can never

Put me in a position like this again.

We have to be better for our children...

For ourselves.

I will be. I promise you.

[ Whimpers ]

Make sure she doesn't suffer, okay?

Of course.

[ Sniffles ]

[ Sighs ]

I am so sorry.

[ Sniffles ]

May god have mercy on our souls.

Yep.

Okay. Thank you.

Okay. Here's what they have.

So, they see her getting off the bus

And waiting 15 minutes at the front of the terminal.

Then they see her on a pay phone for less than a minute.

She then walks across the street to the store.

In the store, we see her buying some cigarettes,

And then when she exits,

Instead of walking towards the bus station,

She walks around the corner to the back alley of the store.

Okay.

I want you to call the phone company

And have them pull

All incoming calls to that pay phone.

Okay, you mean outgoing.

I mean incoming.

He called her,

Told her to cross the street so he could spot surveillance.

The son of a bitch knew

There were cameras in both places.

Multiple girls, multiple locations,

Multiple precautions.

This guy is smart, patient, and methodical.

Yeah, he works every angle.

He's too smart.

Yeah, but what do you mean by that?

He knows too much about how we do our job

And how to keep us guessing.

Like how he kills them different ways.

And disposes of the bodies in different ways.

He stabs a few. He strangles a few.

He burns a few. He drowns a few in the ocean.

All of this just stops us making a profile on him.

And to make it appear that there are multiple killers.

I hate to say it, but...

Sounds like he's a cop.

[ Telephone rings ]

Yep?

Okay. Good.

And you're sure it's the same guy?

Yeah.

Yeah, we'll make sure you get your reward.

Good. Stand by.

Okay, he just posted on her wall.

It's the same one?

"Be ready in 15 minutes."

She still willing to get in the car with him?

Yep.

All right, now, he's already had one woman.

Why's he going after this one?

Maybe he's raising the stakes.

Maybe...

Two girls in one night?

Maybe we're just way off the mark.

[ Whimpering ]

Samantha?

[ Whimpering stops ]

Please stay.

I need you to stay.

[ Voice breaking ] why?

I can't do it alone.

I can't stay down here and watch you kill her.

I'm asking you to come over here and help me kill her.

[ Whimpers ]

No!

I need you to come over here,

Stand by my side, and see this to the end.

You've done this by yourself before.

Why do you need me now?

Tonight changed everything.

I can't do it alone. I need my wife.

[ Whimpering ]

[ Sobbing ]

I never thought I could love somebody this much.

[ Sniffles ]

But I do.

I've got to warn you.

There is something extremely powerful

About taking a human life.

I know. I can feel it.

[ Muffled scream ]

[ Gasps ]

[ Whimpering continues ]

It's been 20 minutes.

I wouldn't be surprised

If he's across the street right now,

Just sitting and watching.

It's not a black sedan, but it's black.

Could have more than one vehicle.

Shit. This could be our guy.

I know this guy.

Really?

He did time for the violent rape and assault

Of a prostitute a few years ago.

I interviewed him after murder three,

But he had an airtight alibi.

Maybe he's working with a partner.

Break our surveillance units and send them this way, asap.

[ Static crackles ]

914 To all surveillance units.

Please come back to our original location.

Code 3.

[ Static crackles ]

What is he doing?

I don't know.

[ Engine turns over ]

[ Car door closes ]

[ Engine turns over ]

[ Tires squeal ]

[ Tires squeal ]

Son of a bitch.

Yep, he knows we're onto him.

Yeah.

[ Static crackles ]

Dispatch, please be advised

We are now in pursuit of a murder suspect.

He is a white male, 6-foot, 180.

He's heading north on route 9.

Black s.u.v.

[ Static crackles ]

[ Static crackles ]

Dispatch, he is now heading south

On jimmie leeds road.

[ Static crackles ]

This is a dead end.

He's gonna bail.

He's gonna bail out.

[ Static crackles ]

All units, all units, please be advised

We're expecting a bailout.

[ Tires squeal ]

[ Static crackles ]

All units, all units, bailout, bailout, bailout.

Pitney park.

[ Static crackles ]

Get on the ground!

You all right?

He said he was gonna kill me for setting him up.

[ Static crackles ]

Headquarters, get k-9 en route to us now.

Drop the weapon! Get on the ground!

[ Panting ]

Jesse: I thought it was a gun.

A knife will kill you just the same.

I told him to drop it. I-i said I'd shoot.

Give me your shotgun, kid.

What? Why?

It was a good shoot, dave. What the fuck?

Internal affairs is gonna piss-test you,

And we both know you're gonna piss dirty.

Aw.

And when that happens and I say I wasn't here,

No matter what the truth is, they're gonna hang you.

[ Sighs ]

It was a good shoot, kid...

'Cause I'm the one who shot him.

Now give me the gun.

[ Sighs ]

[ Sighs ]

Fuck me.

You want milk?

Woman: uh, black's fine.

[ Chuckles ] thanks for letting me get cleaned up.

Don't take this the wrong way, but, um, you two are nuts.

[ Chuckles ]

I mean, I've been hired to do some kinky shit,

But that -- that takes the cake.

I was actually scared at times.

I know. I could see it on your face.

And I felt so bad.

That's one hell of a way to get off.

[ Chuckles ] no, it's not just about that.

Sometimes, we just create these scenarios for my research.

What kind of research?

I'm a writer.

You write books?

No, plays and movies, mostly.

No kidding.

So, I could become a character in your movie?

You already are.

Wow, you guys are really believable.

Yeah, well, we, um...

We met in theater class in college,

So we fancy ourselves thespians.

Richard: but I am merely an amateur,

Compared to my beautiful wife.

Aww.

And thank you so much

For coming all the way down from philly.

I mean, with all the stuff going on around here...

Yeah, it's not safe out there.

It's never a safe time to do what I do, but thanks.

And, uh, as I promised.

Thanks.

Love you, baby.

Mayfield: okay, all right. Thanks, sarge.

Okay. Bye-bye.

Here you go.

Jesse: how's 115?

Oh, she's good.

She wanted to know if she was still gonna get her 10 grand.

So, I gave her the captain's cellphone number.

[ Chuckles ]

[ Chuckles ]

So, uh...

There wasn't much evidence in his truck, huh?

Oh, not much, but we got units over there

Securing his house and his other vehicles right now.

Does he got a black sedan?

Well, the only other vehicle that is there now presently

Is a green jeep.

Doesn't mean he doesn't have a black sedan.

So, when -- when you interviewed him,

I mean, you thought he was the guy, right?

Like I said, he had an airtight alibi.

I know, but before you confirmed his alibi,

You thought he was the guy?

I knew he was a scumbag.

You think he was a killer?

No. I thought he was a sick sexual predator, which he was.

I thought he would go on hurting people, as he did.

Did I think he was capable of this? No.

So I guess I was wrong.

Well, maybe.

[ Sighs ]

[ Sighs ] maybe not.

Well, he's not gonna hurt anybody else,

That's for sure.

Those days are over for him.

Yeah, but, look, dave, what if --

Like, w-what if we had just --

Stop.

You can "what if" this bullshit all night long

And for the rest of your life -- it's not gonna help.

Kid, you are natural murder police.

You got a good heart, good instincts,

And you did good tonight.

You got to let that be enough.

[ Sighs ]

Yeah, I hope so, man.

I just...

You know, if we're wrong,

I mean, you know what that means.

Yeah. I know.

And then what?

There's an old saying --

"Courage doesn't always come in a roar.

"Sometimes it's a quiet whisper

"In the middle of the night

"That says, 'don't quit.

Get up in the morning. Try again'".

That's what we're gonna do.

Finish your beer.

Man: I'm here at police headquarters where have just learned

That police have shot and killed a suspect

In connection with the murdered prostitutes.

Now, this person allegedly

Has killed at least 10 prostitutes here

Over the last several weeks.

[ Sirens wailing ]

Police haven't told us his name yet,

But we do know that he has prior arrests

And a violent history.

As soon as I get more information,

I'll get back to you in the studio.

You know what? Shoot.

I almost forgot. Hold on a sec, okay?

It's my son's old clothes.

Thought you might be able to use them.

Oh, n-no you don't have to do that.

I don't -- I don't have a kid.

[ Chuckles ]

What?

Thank god, right? Me and my fucked up life?

I mean, the last thing this world needs

Is a mom like me.

So, you lied about john tyler?

Just playing the part.

I was acting like a woman who would say anything to live.

[ Sighs ]

Wow.

Pretty good, huh?

Mm-hmm.

I mean, maybe when you make this movie,

You can give me a part.

Yeah. Maybe.

Yeah.

Hmm.

You know, actually, uh,

Can -- can you help me with these?

I'm gonna throw them in the truck

And take them to the shelter tomorrow.

Sure.

I'm gonna go grab my cellphone, okay?

Okay.

[ Door closes ]

Thanks.

Sure.

Hey, katey.

I got a little secret.

[ Groans ]

[ Gasps ]

[ Chuckles ]

[ Gasps ]

I don't kill mothers.

[ Water running ]

Jesse: [ exhales deeply ]

What do we got?

[ Sighs ]

Patrol units responded

After a jogger found her this morning.

It looks like she was dragged down the hill

And just dumped here.

You tell crime scene?

They're en route.

Got stuck on a triple murder downtown.

[ Birds squawk ]

So, look, the guy I killed last night --

Is there any way he could have done this and --

Multiple witnesses confirm

That he was at the third avenue strip club

Until just 20 minutes before we spotted him.

[ Sighs ]

Okay, so he had a partner.

He had some sort of accomplice.

No.

Our guy works alone.

[ Exhales deeply ]

Shit.

Here comes the captain.

What are you gonna say to him?

The truth.

What the hell is that?

[ Sighs ]

Good morning, captain.

What the hell kind of mess is this?

The worst kind, sir.

Is she number 11?

Yes, sir.

Now, see, I thought you got the bastard.

Well, we didn't.

[ Chuckles ] you i.d. Her?

She didn't have any identification on her.

We'll have to send her prints off for a positive i.d.

So, you know what this means.

Captain --

I'm not talking to you.

It means you killed an innocent man.

Oh, innocent, my fucking a--

Shut the fuck up.

Both of you are on admin leave,

Pending the investigation into the shooting last night.

Detective oxney and gainer are en route.

They'll take over the crime scene.

You give them your notes and your case files.

They'll handle the case from here.

Captain, that would be a mistake.

Those two will never catch this guy,

And we are close.

Now, if you want the case solved,

Give us another week.

I really don't want to hear it, dave.

I gave you a lot of rope on this case,

And you hung yourself.

So, if you're cleared of killing that man last night,

I'll put you back in the rotation

Or accept your transfer request.

Either way, I don't give a shit.

I got to go call the chief.

Fucking asshole, man.

Hold on. Hold on. Hold on.

Here, take this. Take this.

[ Sighs ]

"R.c.b.

And s.g.b. 11/11/96."

That belong to her?

Maybe.

Could belong to our killer.

You gonna tell that prick?

Fuck him.

What do you say, detective?

I say we go get this son of a bitch.

[ Telephone rings ]

[ Telephone beeps ]

Hello?

Hey, sweetheart.

Oh, that's okay. No problem.

No, you just stay safe,

And I'll make reservations for dinner tonight

And meet you there.

Can't wait to tell you about my next idea.

How do you feel about mexico?