Original subtitles

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS)

(MUSIC, CHATTER)

(GUNSHOT)

(PEOPLE SCREAM)

ROB: We have a town full of people

who are too petrified to go to sleep.

He comes out of nowhere every time.

It's...

It's like trying to catch a fuckin' wisp of smoke.

Are you going to catch the guy who did all this?

You're nowhere. Oh, come on, mate, that's not fair.

Sorry, but you said it yourself.

There's no thinking, no system... Oh, listen to me.

We're not just a bunch of small-town idiots.

We're underfunded,

and these shootings just keep coming.

BRINK: Your course has been approved. You can start.

Oh, Brigadier!

This all fits with his attacks being anger-motivated.

How does this help us? We need to understand how he thinks.

I can't seem to get a handle on this one.

How are you gonna move it forward?

Same as usual -

get under his skin.

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)

(BIRD SQUALLS)

(WAVES LAP)

AJ: Personally, I always find

that the paperwork is always the biggest...

Guys, I'll catch up with you later.

Alright, Micki?

Oh! AJ.

I'm happy to see you. How're you doing?

Yeah, good.

Really?

You know how it goes. Some days are better than others.

Are you sleeping?

Some.

Nightmares?

(SIGHS)

Do you sleep much?

Mm. (CHUCKLES)

Let's get inside. Yeah.

Can I take that for you? Mm-mm.

Strong, independent lady, remember? (CHUCKLES)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(CLATTERING INSIDE)

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS)

(QUIET CHATTER)

Micki!

Hey. Hi. (CHUCKLES)

Oof.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS)

All of us remember this case.

The Station Strangler, Norman Simons.

And some of us worked it together.

Simons used the skills he learned in his role as a teacher

to entrap his victims.

And he revealed his need for control in the way he bound his victims.

The Donnybrook Killer, Christopher Zikode.

(HAUNTING VOCALISATIONS)

He felt a deep sense of abandonment by his sister

and blamed her for the murders he later committed.

She should, he believed, have organised girlfriends for him.

(QUIET CHUCKLES)

This is just two examples

of how understanding the psychology of suspects

helped find and convict them.

Within each one of these men

is the ghost of the child they once were.

And understanding those children,

what they experienced, seeing the world through their eyes,

is crucial to compiling a profile.

OK, that makes some of you uncomfortable.

It's something you'll have to get your heads around

if you are to successfully profile killers.

If you're unable to find any points of empathy or connection with them,

you'll never understand them,

you'll never succeed in catching them.

Uh... Yes. How do you empathise with evil?

They were not always who they are now.

They are not, one could even argue, the sum of their crimes.

Though of course they have no right to do what they do,

they're still human beings

with all the complexity that that descriptor implies.

Any more questions before I move on?

Jannie.

If there was one piece of advice you could give us,

what would it be?

Never ignore your gut.

(BIRD TWITTERS)

(HUBBUB)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(LAUGHS)

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(COCKS RIFLE)

(COCKS RIFLE)

(GUNSHOT)

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

(INDISTINCT YELLING)

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

(GUNSHOT)

(GUNSHOT)

(DOG BARKS)

(GUNSHOT)

(DOG BARKS, WHINES)

(DOG BARKS)

(DOG BARKS)

Here's to Mike's new life as a parent, eh?

And the death of his sex life. (OTHERS LAUGH)

Nice place.

Very sophisticated. Mm.

It was Mark's suggestion. He's the wine guy.

Mm! Well, thank you.

It's definitely a cut above anywhere else we usually end up, eh?

Mm! You're welcome.

How's work?

Ah... I've been dealing with a gang

that's going around attacking and raping women at gas stations.

How many victims?

Four so far.

The gang seems to be moving around town. Multiple ages.

One woman was beaten so badly she lost her sight.

Um... I thought you said that this was a day off.

Yes. Yes. Sorry, everyone. Sorry. No more shop talk.

Here is to a day off study.

And here is to Micki Pistorius.

May she never tire of catching killers.

Hear, hear!

(PHONE RINGS)

So, Mark, what do you do?

I make wine for a living.

Oh.

Rob, hi.

ROB: (ON PHONE) Hi, Micki. Um...

Look... Yeah, I know what 'look' means.

(QUIETLY) Are you OK? Yeah, I'm fine.

(SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYS)

OK. Go on.

(BIRD SQUAWKS)

Can't fucking believe it.

Except I can because why wouldn't he start up again now?

You know, why wouldn't I need to be in two places at once again?

Micki.

Micki. What?

Shit. Sorry.

Sorry. This was supposed to be a nice time, and I'm...

(SIGHS)

I'M sorry.

(SIGHS)

(EXHALES HEAVILY)

(QUIETLY) No.

No. First Rob with his look, and now you with "I'm sorry."

What?

I can't do this.

I can absolutely not cope with this right now.

I know.

Please, just at least wait till we get back.

Micki, I have tried to tell myself that it's going to be OK,

that things are gonna get better...

And it will. It will.

It will just...

Just as soon as I get this case wrapped up, it will.

I promise. There's always another case, Micki.

Always another killer. There's always going to be, OK?

They're everywhere. And these people here, they just...

They understand you in a way that I can't.

Mm-hm.

OK?

I can't live like this.

I can't deal with them.

With the detectives?

OK.

You really do not have to worry about the detectives.

Micki, it's not the detectives.

It's the killers.

OK.

That's...

That's OK.

(SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYS)

(BIRD CAWS)

(SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYS)

(CAR DOOR OPENS, SHUTS)

ROB: Hey, Micki. How was your trip?

Started well. Went downhill.

Ah. I'm sorry. No. It's not entirely your fault.

Let's just get going, yeah?

Of course.

(CAR DOOR OPENS) (SIGHS)

(SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYS)

(BIRDS TWITTER)

(TYRES SKID)

And then, on top of everything else,

I just got a new call about a case over in Kroonstad.

New killer, new victim,

seven years old.

Mm.

You're doing an incredible job, Micki.

And I...one day I'd like to, uh... Don't do it.

You'll never get a decent night's sleep again.

Ha.

Well, I'm happy you think I'm getting my beauty sleep now.

Oh, you end up alone. Hm!

Well, it's too late. I'm heading that way already.

Wife's not happy?

No.

Keeps telling me, "Leave your work at work." I mean, fuck.

Can't though. Can we?

Ah, the victims just keep coming.

I mean, I can't...

..we can't just clock off, can we?

There should be some kind of rota system for them, you know?

I know. These bastards should learn how to take turns.

(CHUCKLES) That's what I say.

(HONKS HORN)

(HONKS HORN)

OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK!

Obstructing traffic. Get in the car!

(ENGINE STARTS)

Micki, this is one of our undercover team.

How is it, Seb?

Good. Yeah

I've got a lot of good photos for you.

Excellent, excellent.

(INSECTS CHIRP)

Can I see?

Sure.

No.

These are the brothers we've been observing.

These guys are up to something. You can see it.

Mm. Maybe, but neither of them are our guy.

Look at them.

No.

They're having a good time.

Our killer is paranoid. He'll work alone.

He sees himself as a lone wolf.

You should stop surveillance.

Are either of them ex-military?

No.

No. And what about the forest? Has it been searched?

Yeah, parts of it. We found nothing.

We haven't just been sitting around.

OK? We found the gangsters we were looking for.

No, this killer isn't some sortie, OK?

We're following dead-end leads and we're wasting time.

Micki... Mm-hm?

..what do you want us to do?

Follow my advice.

That's what you brought me here for, so, fucking use it.

(INTENSE MUSIC PLAYS)

(SCREAMS)

(CRIES)

Argh!

(GASPS)

(EXHALES HEAVILY)

Ah, fuck.

(PUFFS)

(INTENSE MUSIC PLAYS)

(REMEMBERS) Always another killing. There's always going to be.

(REMEMBERS) I'm scared he's going to come back for me.

(REMEMBERS) Took his life.

Took his dinner. (ECHOES)

(REMEMBERS) You're nowhere. There's no thinking, no system...

Oh, come on...

(GAME CLANKS)

Well, I'm sure he's got something for us.

(WHACKS LOUDLY)

(SCREAM ECHOES)

(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYS)

(DOG BARKS)

(KEYBOARD CLACKS)

(PHONE RINGS IN BACKGROUND)

(BIRDS TWITTER)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

You too.

Hey, Jacques. Um...

Do you have a second? Yeah, of course.

Can you drive me somewhere?

Want me take you back to your hotel or...

Yes, please.

I need to get away from all this.

OK.

Just go the long way round.

I need some time.

There's something wrong with this one. So, this is...

ROB: Hey, Daniel.

I got something that might fit Micki's profile.

Oh, really? Mm.

Something that'll make her mood better.

Well, let's hope so.

Look, uh...the farms that were robbed, that 0.22 rifle stolen,

she said our guy was military, right?

Yeah, that's what she said, but I don't know about that.

Well, look at this one.

It's got telescopic sights.

I mean, that's the type of rifle that's been taken.

Alright.

I'll check it with ballistics. See if it fits.

Please. Thanks.

(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYS)

Every time I close my eyes I see a killer.

I hear their voices when I try to sleep.

WOMAN: (ON PHONE) Oh, Micki.

Everyone wants something from me.

I have Erika to think about,

I have interviews I need to give,

and they want me to go back to England,

to America maybe.

I have 17 killers in my head.

I can't even get a grip on the Saloon Killer case

'cause there's no fucking room up there.

You're burning out, Micki.

You've already ended up at the doctor once.

You're disappearing from your team.

I don't think you have anything left to give.

Mm-hm.

Doesn't matter, though, does it?

What's the alternative?

The killers keep coming, the victims, the families.

And what am I supposed to do? I can't fucking clone myself.

OK.

It's starting to make sense now.

What is?

That you didn't call Dad today.

Fuck.

Oh, fuck. It's his birthday.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

I didn't call to make you feel bad. I just knew something must be up.

Yeah, I'm...

I should have remembered, whatever else was going on.

Micks...

..is it really worth it?

It's people's lives.

Of course it's worth it.

Even yours?

Yeah.

Definitely mine.

(PHONE BLIPS)

Fuck.

(MUMBLES QUIETLY)

(CLACKS LOUDLY)

(SIGHS HEAVILY)

JACQUES: Sorry, Micki?

Micki? Yeah. Go on.

We got some more photos from the stake-out.

We're still watching them? Oh, my God.

OK.

Take these back to Rob or Sergeant Mbuli or whoever gave them to you

and, please, explain that we are looking for a serial killer,

not a fucking gangster, yeah?

Off you go. Go on, chop-chop.

Mm.

Oh, sure, sure. Just watch these brothers.

(MUTTERS INDISTINCTLY)

For fuck's sake! Fuck you!

Oh, come on!

Fuck! Come on!

Piece of fucking shit!

Sorry! Yeah, sorry. Don't worry. I'm not gonna throw it out the window.

I'm fine. Absolutely fine.

OK. Alright.

Yeah. Everything is absolutely A-OK.

Yeah.

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

(STEADIES BREATH)

(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC PLAYS)

(REMEMBERS) He comes out of nowhere every time.

(EXHALES HEAVILY)

(REMEMBERS) It's like trying to catch a fuckin' wisp of smoke.

(REMEMBERS) It's like a...fuckin' shadow flitting between trees.

(GASPS)

(QUIETLY) OK. Yeah. OK.

"You're wrong."

That's what he wants to tell us - "You're wrong."

None of the suspects are right.

ROB: Well, we got ballistics back,

and, uh... the gun stolen at the farm

matched the rounds found at the crime scenes.

The bad news is none of the guys

we thought were involved in that robbery

work out as a suspect.

In fact, one of them was in hospital in March

when three of the shootings happened.

Yeah, yeah, that's great. He's really fucking angry.

Micki, are you OK?

Of course.

(PEN SCRATCHES)

Uh... Well, we retrieved most of the guns except this one.

This one's missing.

Yeah. We find the gun, we find the shooter.

This is his right, to be seen, to be heard.

And we're taking that away... Wait, Micki, slow down.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh!

Sorry. Oh, shit! Are you OK?

No, Yep, yep, fine. Absolutely fine. I'm fine. Look - see? Fine.

I stood up too quickly, OK? I'm fine. Get you some tea?

I'm fine, Rob.

(QUIETLY) Fucking hell.

(QUIETLY) Where's my fucking chair?

I said I'm fine, OK?

OK.

Back to work.

(AMBIENT MUSIC PLAYS)

SONG: # I feel the love with you

# I feel the love with you

# I feel the love with you Yes, I... #

(PHONE RINGS)

Uh... Yeah!

WOMAN: (ON PHONE) I can't believe I'm doing this to you again.

Oh, fuck. Another one?

Sorry. You don't need to say sorry.

Uh... Where?

East Rand. Three children.

OK. Uh... You're on the Orange Farm case, right?

Yeah. And you're over there.

(SIGHS) We need more support.

Um... I'll try the Brigadier again.

OK. Micki...if it's too much...

Of course it's too much.

What can you do about it?

Um...

I will let you know when I've spoken to Brink.

OK.

# I feel the love with you Yes, I... #

(KNOCKS LOUDLY) Micki!

(KNOCKS LOUDLY) Micki!

Open up! We found something.

Hey, we got a lead. We need to go, though. Now.

Get your stuff.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

What is it you found?

A guy called Lunga.

He started defence force training, but, uh...he got kicked out.

What for? Didn't make the grade.

Bravo team in position.

(OVER RADIO) Copy. Wait for my go.

Anyway, we did some digging, and, uh...

..we found he was a regular at the Lunchbox Tavern.

So, we sent in a guy undercover when they opened up again.

Lunga got into a fight with the guy he was playing darts with.

It got nasty.

Lunga threatened to shoot him.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER, DOG BARKS)

(OVER RADIO) All units are go!

(ENGINE STARTS)

(TYRES SKID)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS)

(TYRES SKID)

(COCKS RIFLE)

(DOGS BARK)

Police!

Put your hands up!

Hands up where I can see them!

Hey! Put your hands up!

Come on, get down!

Agh! Agh! Agh!

(GROANS)

Agh!

(HANDCUFFS CLACK)

Bastard!

(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)

(ENGINE STARTS) Let's go.

(CHUCKLES)

Hey-hey! Here comes the man with the beer!

And every tavern in town!

(CHUCKLES)

There we go.

Yeah. Thanks, bro.

Hey.

Come on. Do you want a lager?

Look, I really don't think he's the Saloon Killer.

I mean, sure, let's make certain, maybe he knows something, but...

Look, Micki, Micki, here - check out the guys.

We did good. (GROUP LAUGHS)

Just...take a night off.

Here.

Sure. (CHUCKLES) Yeah.

Cheers. Cheers.

Eh? Get loose. Come on.

(CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY)

(PHONE RINGS)

Rob, hi.

(STAMMERS) Micki, um...

Yeah...look, it's not Lunga. I'm really sorry.

You've had more deaths?

Yeah. Two more. Um...

Shot in Mpumalanga.

OK. What were their names?

Micki...

Tell me their fucking names, Rob, please.

Yeah, it's... Rose Jibela and Prince Pepool.

Alright.

Thank you very much.

After we got the news about Rose and Prince,

um...we found more bodies.

He's definitely active again.

I'm...

I'm sorry.

(BIRDS TWITTER)

(SIGHS)

They'd been here a good few days before they were found.

They're not in the usual area.

(FLIES BUZZ)

So, also after Lunga was arrested?

That's correct.

Do they have IDs?

Not yet. I mean, you can see the bodies -

it's...it's been hot.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

They should never have died.

Micki, I mean, you...you... You couldn't have foreseen this.

Foreseeing this is my job, Rob.

That's who I am.

(HELICOPTER ROTORS WHIRR)

What the fuck is that? Oh, that's the defence force.

They've come to help. No, no, no, the evidence.

Tell them to turn back. What? Why?

The evidence, Rob! Oh, shit!

(YELLS) Turn back! (YELLS) No! Stop!

Turn back now! Go that way! No, man!

Fuck!

Alright, come in!

Cover! Cover the area!

Protect it! Protect the evidence!

(ROTORS WHIRR LOUDLY)

Just protect the fucking evidence!

(YELLS INDISTINCTLY)

(ROTORS WHIRR LOUDLY)

Agh, shit!

Fuck!

Argh!

(INSECTS CHIRP)

(SIGHS)

Hm?

You got it wrong.

There are offices just over there.

I know.

I've been watching you.

All of you.

Waiting.

What's your name?

You know mine.

Micki.

What's yours?

Soldier.

OK then.

Can I see your face, Soldier?

I failed.

I did hear you.

But you did not listen.

I promise you

I tried.

I had to keep on going, keep killing.

But you...

..you couldn't find me.

I WAS looking for you, Soldier.

You've been with me.

You can rest now.

It's just you and me.

I can never rest.

Nightmares?

I get them too.

Dreams are frightening.

Life...

..is frightening.

I know what it feels like to be on your own.

You...

You understand us.

Micki! Shit! Drop your weapon! Drop it!

(WHIMPERS)

34-year-old, entry wound to the head in the radial artery,

and blood pressure is dropping rapidly.

We need... (fades)

(REMEMBERS) Micki, I mean, you... You couldn't have foreseen this.

(REMEMBERS) Foreseeing this is my job, Rob.

I want to catch him to make sure he can't come back

and he can't keep doing this.

(WHEELS CLANK)

(REMEMBERS) The suspected killer's started up again.

(REMEMBERS) We have 21 dead bodies, two missing boys.

It's already chaos.

(REMEMBERS) You deserve that, bitch. Fuck you.

(REMEMBERS) I killed two of them at once.

(REMEMBERS) You... You understand us.

(AGONISED SCREAMING)

ROB: Micks, you'll be fine. You're in good hands, Micki.

You'll be fine.

(BUZZER)

(GATE CLANKS SHUT)

How are the nightmares?

It's noisy here.

I hardly sleep.

You've been in jail before.

Mm. When I was younger.

It was worse.

Now I'm the famous Saloon Killer.

They don't fuck with me.

But they did before.

When you were just a security guard.

I'm a soldier.

I know.

You were raped when you were in jail before.

Made you feel powerless.

It made me sick.

Sick. Physically?

Infected.

You contracted a venereal disease.

Yes.

And afterwards I...

When...

When I was with a woman I...

You became impotent.

Yeah.

Picking up a gun...

It made me whole,

full of fire.

Mm.

It was my best friend.

But also my enemy.

It made me do...

..bad things.

Did the rifle make you kill?

I'm glad they took it away from me.

Because when I see that gun...

..because when I hold it...

..in my arms...

..I want to shoot it...

..I want to use it.

Did the rifle choose who you killed?

No.

I choose.

How?

What made you decide that it was the right time?

Was it when you got angry?

Mm-hm.

But you didn't kill the people who made you angry.

You didn't know the people you killed.

No-one was innocent.

Why do you say that?

Men attack.

And women...

Women laugh.

OK.

So, your victims represented the people who hurt you?

Did you do anything after you killed?

I cleaned my gun

and I kept it safe.

Mm.

Did you think about the people you killed?

At night?

In the day?

Did you have a special place you went to to do this?

The forest.

It was quiet there.

Did you take anything from your victims

to help you remember?

I didn't need anything from them.

I had my bullets.

(CLICKS TONGUE)

(CLICKS TONGUE)

(CLICKS TONGUE)

And I would walk amongst the trees.

(SOFT JINGLING)

"I have the power."

But you didn't.

Did you?

You never had real power.

That was the problem.

That's why you needed to kill.

I have that power.

When I have a gun...

..no-one can tell me shit.

No-one can tell me to do anything.

Mm.

No-one can use me.

Even in my dreams,

the things that I see,

they stop.

They all stop.

Do you understand that?

I do.

(SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYS)

(HAUNTING MUSIC PLAYS)

(WATER SPLASHES)

(TAP SQUEAKS)

(SIGHS)

(BEACH LOVE BY THE YAN TREGGER GROUP PLAYS ON HEADSET)

SONG: # Na, na-na-na... #

(EXHALES HEAVILY)

# Na-na, na

# Oh!

# Na-na-na-na, oh!

# Oh-oh-oh, ohh

# Na-na-na-na

# Na-na-na, na! #

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(CAR ENGINES DRONE)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)

Captions by Red Bee Media (c) SBS Australia 2024