Original subtitles

-Previously on "Sacred Lies"...

-Am I getting kicked out again?

-You're being transferred to a new placement.

We need to make this one work, okay?

I don't want to take you back to the Center again.

-Hi. I'm Shannon.

You must be Elsie.

Welcome home.

-Let me give you a hand. -I got it.

-Chill. Nobody's gonna steal your stuff here.

-I'd like to see the Cherry Falls Jane Doe file.

I'm with the Jane Doe Archives.

-It's an armchair-detective website.

She's one of those podcast people.

-I'm a volunteer.

-There was never a missing-persons report filed.

How does a girl like that go missing

with no family looking for her?

-You don't know anything about my dad.

-I know he's sitting in Englewood Correctional

serving time for child abandonment.

-My only memory is you leaving me at that diner,

walking away, and never coming back.

I don't remember anything about my mom.

Just part of this song, maybe she sang it to me?

♪ My eyes ♪

♪ Are wide open ♪

♪ We can make it to the other side ♪

-[ Gasps ] Aah!

[ Engine rumbling ]

-I know how it feels to not belong to anyone

or to fit anywhere.

I left home with the clothes on my back and not much else.

Drove till my car gave out.

[ Engine knocking ]

[ Hissing ]

Aah!

[ Engine sputtering ]

It felt like the end of the world.

♪♪

♪♪

But it was the start of something else,

something that changed my life and brought me to you.

[ Guitar playing, singing in distance ]

-♪ We can make it ♪

♪ To the other side ♪

♪ Our love ♪

♪ It's a-rovin' ♪

♪ It's yours alive in mine ♪

♪ We will both ♪

♪ Wind up broken ♪

♪ Certain that we have died ♪

♪ But on a day ♪

♪ Much like this one ♪

♪ We're gonna get back up ♪

♪ And we will rise ♪

♪ We will ri-i-i-i-i-se ♪

♪ We will ri-i-i-i-i-i-se ♪

♪ We will rise up ♪

♪♪

♪ I've seen ♪

♪ People hurting ♪

♪ I've heard stories ♪

♪ I swore I'd never live ♪

♪ And I've seen misery ♪

♪ Out there hiding ♪

♪ When there was only happiness on our lips ♪

♪ You and I ♪

♪ It really happened ♪

-They had this glow.

-♪ To be true ♪

-Like there was a light on inside them.

-♪ So we'll soldier on ♪

-But they were different.

Really different.

Like the sun and the moon.

-♪ Walking sideways ♪

♪ I'll be right here ♪

♪ On your arm ♪

♪ We will ri-i-i-i-se ♪

-And that music.

It was like a siren song.

-♪ We will ri-i-i-i-i-i-se ♪

♪ We will ri-i-i-i-i-se ♪

[ Echoing ] ♪ We will rise up ♪

♪♪

♪♪

[ Buzzer ]

-You know about sirens?

In Greek mythology?

They're these half-women, half-bird creatures

who lure sailors in with their enchanting voices,

until they shipwreck on the rocks.

-So which one was my mom?

-Well, this was before I knew your mom.

-So, why are you telling me all of this?

-You asked about the song. That's where it came from.

-Then how did my mom know it?

Were they friends? Why did she sing it to me?

-It's all connected.

But you need to hear the whole story from the beginning,

or you won't understand.

-Well, can we get to the part that gets interesting?

[ Buzzer ]

-[ Laughs ]

If I told you everything today,

you wouldn't come back and see me, would you?

-So you're gonna what,

blackmail me to keep coming here?

-I made a lot of mistakes.

And I ran from all of them.

[ Sighs ]

And I'm ashamed to say this,

but that's what I thought you were --

another mistake.

So I ran.

But no matter where I went, uh, it just never felt like home.

I never belonged there.

[ Buzzer ]

Because now I know home...

wherever you belong...

sometimes it's not a place, it's a person.

More than anything, I want to get out of here

and be that home for you.

I am a different man now.

And I'd like the chance to prove it to you.

♪♪

[ Radio chatter ]

[ Camera shutters clicking ]

♪♪

♪♪

-Psst. Sneakers.

Uh, hi.

Hi. Nice shoes.

So I'm guessing from the bone structure, it was a female.

Am I right?

How long do you think she was in there?

-Um, a while.

I'm guessing from the weathering, probably --

-From the what?

-Um, from the weathering, I'd say at least 10 years.

But we're gonna have to wait for testing.

Sorry. Who are you?

-I'm the one that found her.

I'm from the Jane Doe Archives.

-The what? -Hey.

Stop talking to her, Tech.

-Nice work.

You were right.

We didn't focus enough on the private land.

We weren't looking for another body.

Especially not inside a tree.

-A blind pig finds a trough every once in a while.

Guess we're the dumbass cops in your podcast?

-I don't have a podcast.

-What exactly led you out here?

-She did.

You guys are always looking for killers and murder weapons.

I try and look at the world the way she might have seen it.

-Well, however you did it, this isn't a cold case anymore.

It's an active homicide investigation, thanks to you.

-Yeah. -We'll take it from here.

You can go home now, get some rest.

-No way.

You guys wouldn't have found her if it wasn't for me.

-We got a job to do.

Can you get her back to her car safely, please?

-Just this way, ma'am.

-I found her.

♪♪

[ School bell rings ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

♪♪

-Do you have your prom tickets? -Yeah, yeah.

-Don't forget. Buy your prom tickets.

Only $85. Do you have your prom tickets?

-[ Laughs ]

-Do you have your prom tickets? -Only $85.

That's a steal.

Don't want you to to miss out. -Right?

Who wouldn't want to buy an ugly dress

and pay to dance to terrible music with a bunch of strangers

you'll never talk to after graduation?

-It could be hilarious.

I mean, I have moves, so that's easy.

-You have moves? -Yeah.

You think we should ask Shannon to buy us some tickets?

-Seriously?

-Yeah, you know, just to see the look on Shannon's face,

you know, obviously.

-It's just this big lie.

Everybody acting like these stupid rituals

are gonna make us feel like we belong or whatever.

-Mm.

-Like we're normal.

I've lived in their "normal" houses

with their "normal" parents, and nobody's normal.

It's all fake, except none of these idiots see that.

-I think they know it's fake.

They just don't care.

It's like you and your dad.

-What's that mean?

-It's the same with my mom.

She can't stay clean long enough to pass a drug test

or make a court date.

She swears she has her shit together,

and she means it every single time.

And I-I keep giving her chances.

That's not 'cause I'm lying to myself.

It's -- It's just family.

-Just because I'm talking to my dad now

doesn't mean that I'm gonna be cool with him

and forget everything he did.

Don't you think there should be, like, a test or a degree

or something to decide who gets to go around

just plopping human life into the world?

-Maybe.

But then you and I wouldn't be here, would we?

And that would suck.

♪♪

[ Buzzer ]

♪♪

-Peter Wolfe.

Let's go.

♪♪

♪♪

-♪ We will ri-i-i-i-i-i-se ♪

-Oh, damn it! Ohh!

-Come on. It sounds good.

-No, the last verse is cheesy, and the whole harmony's off.

You're flat, dude.

-I'm not flat. You're just -- -Yes, you are.

-No, you're being a critical bitch.

-Alright, well, you're being defensive.

-Sounded pretty amazing from over here,

for whatever that's worth.

Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.

I just didn't want to interrupt.

-Are you lost?

-Yeah.

-Well, where are you trying to go?

-I'm not really sure.

-Well, there's only one road, back that way.

-What was that song you were playing?

-Some piece of crap

that nobody's supposed to be listening to yet.

-My sister wrote it, so she thinks it's crap.

She's the genius, and I'm just, uh, flat, apparently.

-Well, I didn't notice.

-What's your name...

lost boy?

-I'm Hunter.

♪♪

[ Thunder rumbling ]

♪♪

-Forensic facial composites

are based on skeletal remains and morgue photos.

They're used when no dental records, DNA,

or missing-person report matches.

So the final results are, at best, an approximation...

but maybe close enough for somebody to recognize them

on a website like this.

♪♪

But combing through these threads

searching for useful information

is like looking for a unicorn in a forest of pricks.

♪♪

[ Computer beeps ]

♪♪

♪♪

[ Keys clacking ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[ Sign buzzing ]

[ Siren wailing in distance ]

♪♪

What do you have?

-Dog shit.

[ Door opens ]

-Hey.

Over here. Hi.

-Sneakers.

-Uh, yeah. It's -- It's Lily.

Sorry for the weird cloak-and-dagger.

I just didn't want anyone from work to see us.

And they make the best vegan pad Thai, so...

-Why are you doing this?

-Buckner's a jerk.

-[ Scoffs ]

-And, I mean, I've worked with those guys for seven years,

and they still don't know my name.

They just yell "Tech" any time they need something.

I don't know. I guess I just liked what you said

about seeing the world through her eyes.

-Alright.

-Anyway, the, um -- the results are so crazy,

they'll probably leaked by tomorrow,

so I'm really just giving you a head start.

-What do you mean "crazy"?

-Our Jane Does were sisters.

[ Voice fading ] And -- And they died around the same time.

♪♪

Detective Wally doesn't even know about this yet.

We were able to get a DNA match.

-[ Exhales sharply ] Wait. On the girl, or y--

I mean, you can identify them, or...

-No.

On the fetus.

-Wait, what?

-Our Jane Doe Two was pregnant.

-Wow!

-At least eight weeks.

We weren't able to find

a mitochondrial DNA match for the sisters,

but we found nuclear DNA preserved in the fetal bone.

Sorry.

We got a match for the fetus' father.

He's in the system.

♪♪

-Peter Wolfe.

Arrested four years ago on a DUI.

Fingerprints matched an open child-abandonment case.

Father of the year, this guy.

-You think that's him?

The one who killed them?

-Awesome. You're back.

-So, you're talking to me again?

-No.

[ Scoffs ]

-This is not a good look, sis.

It's time to get a real job, one that pays

so you can pay someone to clean this place up.

When was the last time you washed your hair?

-I'm trying to focus. Leave me alone.

[ Pen scribbling ]

♪♪

♪♪

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Elsie Silver?

-Shannon's kicking me out already?

-Who's Shannon?

-You're the new social worker?

-I'm investigating a case.

And I just wanted to ask you some questions.

Do you recognize these women?

-Why would I?

-Maybe you saw them with your dad?

He knew them. -Yeah, I don't do cops.

-I'm not --

These women were murdered,

and I'm trying to figure out who they were.

-So test their DNA or whatever.

-Thanks, CSI, there was no matches,

which is why I'm trying to talk to you.

-I don't know anything.

Go ask Peter yourself.

-I can't. I don't know where Peter is.

-You must be a pretty sucky investigator, then.

He's at Englewood Correctional.

-I just came from there, and he's been released on parole.

-What?

-He didn't tell you?

Must be a sucky dad.

-He didn't leave an address or --

-He didn't show up at his halfway house.

-He can't just be gone.

Somebody has to know where he is.

You have to find him.

-Yeah, that's not really my job.

-Find him, okay? Find Peter!

How hard is that? He can't just disappear again!

You need to find him! -You need to back up!

I don't really do well with aggression.

Let's start over.

I'm Harper.

Maybe we can help each other.

♪♪

-He said he met these two girls in the woods singing.

But it sounded more like a fairy tale than the real thing.

-Did he mention their names?

What about and friends or family he might have gone to see?

-I don't really know anything about him.

He was gonna tell me about my mom

before he bailed on me again.

-Yeah. What happened to your mom?

-She had cancer and died when I was little.

I barely remember her.

-Maybe DCFS knows something.

-Even if they do, it's tied up in my file,

and I don't get to see that till I'm 18.

-Hm.

-Nobody knows anything about them?

How is that even possible?

-There's like 40,000 unidentified bodies

across the country.

People whose friends or family

either don't report them missing,

don't know they're gone, or don't care enough to look.

And if nobody's looking for you, it's easy to be forgotten.

-That's messed up.

-Yeah. It is.

-I really don't know anything.

Sorry I can't help you with your bone sketches.

-Hey, I'll let you know when I find your dad.

-Don't bother.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

-Oh. You're late. Where have you been?

And you look like something the cat dug up.

-What's going on?

♪♪

-Hey, Els.

How was your day?

♪♪

-Well, can you confirm that and call me back?

No, I'll still be here.

Thank you.

Sorry. It's been a crazy day.

It's always been a crazy day.

-Is that all Elsie?

-Plus that stack there, too. She's practically a lifer.

Okay. What was your question?

-Uh, about her parents.

-Right. Right.

Father, Peter Wolfe, abandoned Elsie at the age of 3

at the Silver Spoon Diner, hence Elsie Silver.

-What? Silver is not her mother's name?

-We often use the location where the child was found

when we can't find a real name.

No mother in the picture. Died, according to Dad.

-Is there a copy of the death certificate?

-For the mom? No.

-Well, did anyone make sure the dad's story was true

or verify the mother's identity?

-That's all it says.

-Did anyone run Elsie's DNA

to get a maternal match in the system?

-Today, I had a kid jump out a third-story window,

a toddler taken from a hoarding situation,

and watched an adoption fall through at the hearing.

That was all before noon, okay?

That's my job.

I don't chase death certificates

or swab DNA samples. [ Telephone ringing ]

Yeah?

No, stay there. I'll...get it.

[ Receiver clicks ] I'll be right back.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

-Ohh.

What a spread. -Oh, it's nothing.

If I'd known we were having company --

-This is the best-looking meal I've had in a long time.

-Better than prison food? Wow.

-Terrence.

-I actually took a cooking class while I was in --

They had us make beef bourguignon.

-That sounds fancy. -Yeah.

I thought it must be something classy, with a name like that.

No, turns out it's just French for "beef stew."

-[ Laughs ]

Well, you'll have to make it for us sometime.

-Hm.

You aren't feeling those peas, huh?

I never liked them, either.

♪♪

♪♪

-18 homes in 13 years.

Six months in juvenile detention.

Therapy orders for anger, OCD, sexual trauma.

Mother deceased.

No DNA on file.

♪♪

♪♪

Thanks, CSI.

♪♪

[ Guitar strumming softly ]

♪♪

-Play something for me.

-I don't know.

-Go on.

Anything.

-♪ My eyes ♪

♪ Are wide open ♪

♪ We can make it ♪

-Really?

You don't know any other song?

-I'm trying to remember the rest of this one.

-You don't know the rest?

-I only remember the first verse.

The cops said they found two unidentified women in the woods.

They said you knew them.

-Why were you talking to the cops?

-They were looking for you.

-What'd you tell them?

-I didn't tell them anything because I don't know anything.

-We will both wind up broken.

Certain that we have died.

But on a day much like this one.

We're gonna get up and we will rise.

♪♪

-♪ We will both ♪

♪ Wind up broken ♪

♪ Certain that we have died ♪

♪ But on a day ♪

♪ Much like this one ♪

♪ We're gonna get back up ♪

♪ And we will rise ♪

♪♪

-I've never smoked before.

-What?

-Where are you from?

-A place I never want to go back to.

It's a small mountain town.

You've never heard of it.

♪♪

[ Coughing ]

-[ Laughs ]

-What about you guys?

Where do you live?

-Right over there, pretty much.

Had our bus break down on the way back from a gig,

and we found this creepy lake and thought, "Cool.

It's the perfect spot to write our creepy album."

-She's the nature girl. I hate it here.

-[ Chuckles ]

-As soon as we finish our album, we're headed to L.A.

Gonna get a record deal, start touring.

See the world.

-[ Chuckles ]

-We're gonna be big stars, Hunter.

Just you wait.

-You're gonna see our faces everywhere.

[ Camera shutter clicking ]

♪♪

-♪ But on a day ♪

♪ Much like this one ♪

♪ We're gonna get back up ♪

♪ And we will rise ♪

♪ We will ri-i-i-i-i-i-se ♪

♪ We will ri-- ♪ [ Knock on door ]

-Elsie, can you get that?

[ Knock on door ]

Elsie, now, please.

-[ Sighs ]

[ Knock on door ]

-Evening.

Elsie Silver?

We're looking for your dad.

Have you seen him around recently?

-Uh, hello, officers. You're looking for Peter?

Yeah, he's here. Is everything okay?

-Yes, ma'am, we just have a couple questions for him.

-Okay, yeah, come in, come in.

Uh...

He was just here.

Peter?

Peter?

Peter?

Where are my car keys?

[ Car door closes, engine starts ]

My car.

[ Car departing ]

Where's my car?!

[ Tires screeching ]

♪♪

♪♪

-Next time on "Sacred Lies"...

I need you to run this for some DNA.

-I'm sorry. I-I could get fired.

-Do you remember them?

Could've been your babysitters, your dad's friends.

-I've never seen them before.

-Do you have any idea where he may have gone?

-I don't. This is a waste of time.

You're asking me the same questions

that other cop already asked me.

-What other cop?

-I'm not supposed to talk to you.

You're not a cop.

-Look, there's two dead women in the woods.

One is pregnant with your dad's child.

-Whatever you think Peter did, you're wrong.

He wouldn't hurt these girls.