A Killer Among Us (2012) Movie Script
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[GUNSHOT FIRES]
[AS BODY THUDS,
ATTACKER FIRES THREE ROUNDS]
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[SIREN BEGINS WAILING]
STOP PLAYING WITH
THE SIREN, MARISSA.
YOU'RE NOT 12.
WELL, IF YOU KEEP TREATING ME
LIKE I'M 12,
I'LL ACT LIKE I'M 12.
IT'S YOUR SENIOR YEAR.
CAN YOU PLEASE TRY
AND AVOID GETTING ARRESTED?
WHERE'D BE
THE FUN IN THAT?
I'LL KEEP HER OUT OF TROUBLE.
THANK YOU, ALEX.
HE READ SOMEWHERE
THAT A TEENAGER'S BRAIN ISN' WIRED LIKE AN ADULT'S BRAIN.
THAT'S WHY HE THINKS
WE CAN'T TELL
A GOOD IDEA
FROM A BAD IDEA.
OKAY. WELL, THAT TATTOO
WAS A BAD IDEA.
[FORCES A CHUCKLE]:
SHE'S KIDDING.
[EXTRA CHEERY]: BYE!
THANKS FOR THE RIDE!
MARISSA!
I SHOULD KILL YOU
FOR TELLING HIM
ABOUT MY TAT.
YOU KNOW,
YOU MIGHT NO EVEN LIKE JAMES
AFTER NEXT WEEK.
YOU'RE SO INTERCHANGEABLE
WITH EVERYTHING.
EXCEPT WHEN
IT COMES TO YOU.
YOU'RE MY GIRL,
FOREVER.
-FOREVAH!
OOH, I'M AFRAID NOT!
SHE'S MY GIRL.
CAN I TALK TO YOU?
PRIVATELY?
SURE.
[BACKGROUND CHATTER]
SO...
ARE YOU OKAY?
I MEAN,
ABOUT LAST NIGHT?
YEAH.
YEAH. ARE YOU?
YEAH! ME? YEAH.
I MEAN, LIKE, HELL, YEAH!
IT WAS AMAZING.
OKAY...
SO, NOT TOTALLY AMAZING,
BUT I PROMISE
I WILL GET BETTER AT IT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE
I DIDN'T...
HURT YOU?
NO. I'M... I'M OKAY.
I JUST MAYBE THOUGH IT WOULD BE EASIER.
OH, GOD. I DID HURT YOU.
NO. I TALKED TO MY MOM,
THOUGH, AND SHE SAID--
YOU TOLD YOUR MOTHER?
OF COURSE.
[SIREN WAILING]
HMM.
IT'S OKAY, THOUGH.
IT'S OKAY.
SHE LISTENED,
AND SHE DIDN'T GET MAD,
AND SHE KNEW
IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME.
IT'S-- IT'S REALLY...
IT'S REALLY OKAY.
WAIT. WHAT ABOUT YOUR DAD?
[LAUGHS]: I'M...
NEVER TELLING MY DAD.
HE WOULD KILL YOU.
[CHUCKLES UNEASILY]
OKAY.
SO MUCH
NEW INFORMATION.
[SHE LAUGHS]
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[MARISSA]: HEY, LET'S GO.
WE'RE GONNA BE LATE
FOR CLASS.
DID YOU SEE AMY YET?
[]
GOOD MORNING!
AND WELCOME TO ADVANCED
PLACEMENT WORLD LITERATURE.
I'M MISS HETHERINGTON,
AND I TRUST YOU ALL
DID YOUR SUMMER READING,
SO WE CAN DIVE RIGHT INTO
LES MISERABLES
BY VICTOR HUGO.
YES? EXCELLENT.
HEY, ALEX.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK
THE THEMES OF IDENTITY
IN THIS NOVEL ARE?
WELL, ALL OF
THE CHARACTERS
ALL USED A PSEUDONYM
OR A DISGUISE
TO HIDE WHO THEY REALLY ARE,
SO I GUESS...
WELL, I THINK
WHAT HUGO IS TRYING TO SAY
IS THAT WE CAN
NEVER REALLY KNOW SOMEONE.
EXCEPT THE HONEST CHARACTERS,
BECAUSE, BY THE END,
THEY REVEAL
WHO THEY REALLY ARE.
VERY PERCEPTIVE.
WHO ELSE?
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
SORRY TO INTERRUP YOUR CLASS, MA'AM,
BUT I NEED TO SPEAK
WITH ONE OF YOUR STUDENTS.
OF COURSE, OFFICERS.
DAD, IT WAS A TATTOO.
IT'S NOT LIKE I'M SELLING
COCAINE TO FIFTH GRADERS.
QUIET, MARISSA.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT YOU. ALEX...
CAN YOU, UH, GRAB YOUR THINGS
AND COME WITH ME, PLEASE?
RIGHT NOW, HONEY.
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WHERE ARE WE GOING?
JUST COME WITH ME.
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[OFFICER MICHAEL DRAKE]:
SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
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OKAY, IF I COULD GET EVERYBODY
TO OPEN THEIR BOOKS
TO PAGE SEVEN, PLEASE.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AT THE INTRODUCTION.
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WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
I'LL EXPLAIN LATER.
IT WILL BE FINE.
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WHY CAN'T YOU JUS TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON?
THERE'S BEEN AN ACCIDEN AT THE PET STORE
AND YOUR MOM'S BEEN HURT.
BUT SHE'S ALL RIGHT,
ISN'T SHE?
JUST SIT TIGHT, OKAY?
DOES MY DAD KNOW?
DID SOMEBODY CALL MY DAD?
YES. HE'S ON HIS WAY
FROM WESTDALE,
BUT HE KNOWS THAT YOU'RE SAFE
AND THAT YOU'RE WITH ME.
WHERE'S MY BROTHER AND SISTER?
ANOTHER CAR
HAS BEEN DISPATCHED
TO PICK THEM UP.
THEY'RE GONNA TAKE THEM
BACK TO MY HOUSE FOR NOW,
AND CLAIRE CAN LOOK AFTER THEM.
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[CHIRPING]
[QUIET MURMURING,
POLICE RADIOS CRACKLING]
[SIREN WHINES DOWN]
[PANICKY]: OH, MY GOD. MOM?
[GASPS]
[MICHAEL]:
ALEX, STAY IN THE CAR.
[TIRES AND BRAKES SCREECHING]
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[]
[CRIES OUT]: NO!
ALEXANDRA CARLETON?
YOU'RE THE OLDEST, RIGHT? 17?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
TO YOUR MOTHER?
WHERE IS YOUR FATHER?
[ROARS]:
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
I'LL HAVE ALL OF YOUR BADGES!
PROTECT THE CRIME SCENE!
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ALEX?
HONEY,
I'M SO SORRY.
SO SORRY.
I DON'T HAVE THE WORDS.
IT'S JUST SO HORRIBLE.
IS MY DAD HERE?
NO, HONEY, THE POLICE
ASKED TO SEE HIM FIRST,
BUT SEAN AND ELLIE
ARE HERE, THEY'RE INSIDE.
ALEX?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
THE COPS PULLED ME
OUTTA HISTORY CLASS.
MOM HAD...
ANANANT.
AT THE PET STORE.
SHE GOT HURT--
ALEX, JUST TELL ME.
WHAT HAPPENED TO MOM?
WAIT.
MOM'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE ME
TO SWIM MEET TODAY.
ALEX, IT'S THE SEMI-FINALS.
I CAN'T MISS IT!
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
HAVE YOU HEARD
WHAT HAPPENED TO HELEN?
THEY'VE LOCKED DOWN
THE STREET,
THEY'VE TOLD EVERYONE
TO STAY IN THEIR HOUSE.
WELL, STACY, MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO
BACK TO YOUR HOUSE, THEN.
OKAY? JUST UNTIL
IT'S ALL CLEAR.
BUT DID YOU SEE THE NEWS?
[]
SORRY.
NOT THE RIGHT TIME.
[ALEX]: SEAN!
[TV REPORTER]: ...DETAILS
ARE STILL FORTHCOMING.
KEEP IT HERE
FOR THE VERY LATES ON THIS TRAGIC STORY.
...WAS MURDERED
EXECUTION-STYLE--
HELEN ELIZABETH CARLETON
WAS SHOT FOUR TIMES IN THE HEAD EARLY THIS MORNING,
A CRIME OCCURRING
IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.
CARLETON WAS THE OWNER
OF A PET STORE
ON GRAND BOULEVARD,
WHERE THE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE.
SHE WAS 45 YEARS OLD.
[GASPS IN HORROR] NO!
...UNDER INVESTIGATION.
REPORTING LIVE--
[SIBLINGS CRYING OUT IN GRIEF
AND PANIC]
[ELLIE WAILING]
ALEX? ALEX!
ALEX!
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MR. CARLETON?
DETECTIVE JOSEPH MORAN.
WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE.
THIS IS MY PARTNER,
DETECTIVE REED.
HELLO.
AT THIS TIME,
WE'D PREFER I IF YOU DIDN'T SPEAK
TO THE REPORTERS.
NICK? DO YOU KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR WIFE?
MR. CARLETON, WOULD YOU
GIVE US A FEW WORDS?
NICK! THE MURDER
WAS EXECUTION-STYLE--
-THAT'S ENOUGH!
-ANY IDEA WHO DID IT?
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
BACK OFF!
[REPORTERS CONTINUE CLAMORING
AS DOOR SLAMS]
[NICK]: THAT REPORTER--
WHAT DID THAT REPORTER MEAN?
"EXECUTION-STYLE?"
WE'RE GONNA BRIEF YOU
AT THE STATION LATER.
RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE TO
IDENTIFY THE BODY.
I'M SORRY,
IT HAS TO BE DONE.
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RIGHT UP HERE.
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[SHEET RUSTLES]
[GASPS SOFTLY]
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YEAH. THAT'S HER.
THAT'S HER.
THAT'S HELEN.
WHY DIDN'T YOU...
WHY DIDN'T YOU
CLEAN HER FACE UP?
OKAY? I-I KNOW SHE'S DEAD,
BUT HOW COULD YOU SHOW...
[SOBS]: HOW COULD YOU SHOW HER
TO ME LIKE THAT?
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[MORAN]:
LIKE I SAID, MR. CARLETON,
WE HAVE FAITH THA WITNESSES WILL COME FORWARD.
[REED]: BUT FIRST,
WE HAVE TO
RULE OUT ANYONE
CLOSE TO HER.
LIKE ME?
THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN,
ISN'T IT?
YES.
UNFORTUNATELY.
SEE, WHEN A WOMAN IS MURDERED,
THE HUSBAND OR BOYFRIEND
QUITE OFTEN
BECOMES THE FIRST SUSPECT.
MAY WE ASK WHERE
YOU WERE THIS MORNING?
YEAH, YOU CAN ASK.
I WAS AT CAMP WESTDALE.
AT A WORK PARTY.
I'M THE REQUISITIONS MANAGER,
ONE OF OUR SECRETARIES IS...
...IS RETIRING.
LOOK, I WANT TO KNOW WHO KILLED
MY WIFE AS MUCH AS YOU,
AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER
ALL YOUR QUESTIONS,
BUT WILL YOU PLEASE JUST TELL ME
WHAT HAPPENED,
SO I CAN GET HOME TO MY KIDS?
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ACCORDING TO THE CASINGS
AT THE SCENE,
THE WEAPON WAS A .22 RUGER.
APPARENTLY, THE KILLER,
OR KILLERS,
WERE WAITING UPON HER ARRIVAL.
[]
AFTER SHE PARKED HER CAR
AND GOT OUT,
THEY PUT THE GUN
TO THE BACK OF HER HEAD...
[SHOT ECHOES]
...AND FIRED FOUR SHOTS
AT POINT-BLANK RANGE.
IF IT'S ANY CONSOLATION...
SHE DIED INSTANTLY.
[COUGHS]
[NICK CLEARS HIS THROAT]
[INHALES SHAKILY]
DADDY! [BAWLING]
NO!
WHAT TOOK YOU
SO LONG?
I'M SORRY, SEAN.
I HAD TO GO DIRECTLY
TO THE POLICE STATION,
BUT I'M HERE NOW.
I'M HERE NOW.
NICK. I AM SO SORRY.
WHERE'S ALEX?
[ELLIE SOBS] DADDY!
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[SOBS]
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[SOBBING QUIETLY]
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[ALEX WEEPS]
SHE'S REALLY GONE,
ISN'T SHE?
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I KEEP WONDERING
IF HE'S...
OUT THERE,
WATCHING US.
WAS MOM JUST IN THE WRONG PLACE
AT THE WRONG TIME, OR...
OR IS HE GONNA COME
AFTER ALL OF US?
LISTEN TO ME.
I WILL NEVER LET ANYONE
HURT YOU.
ANY OF YOU.
EVER.
OKAY?
[]
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[]
[]
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[MOURNERS CHATTING,
QUIET AND INDISTINCT]
THANKS.
-CLAIRE.
-I'M SO SORRY.
ANYTHING YOU NEED.
OKAY?
ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU.
HEY. HI.
THANKS FOR COMING.
-YEAH.
-HOW YOU HOLDING UP?
[QUIET CHATTER CONTINUES]
HONEY,
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I GOT THIS.
WHY DON'T YOU GO
TAKE A BREAK?
THANKS, DAD.
THANKS FOR COMING.
HI, ALEXANDRA.
OH, HI.
UM... MR. BREWSTER, RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU'VE GROWN SO MUCH.
YOU LOOK MORE AND MORE
LIKE YOUR MOM EVERY YEAR.
OH...
I'M SO SORRY,
I WASN'T THINKING.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHA YOU MUST BE FEELING RIGHT NOW.
I'M FINE. THANKS.
ALEX, UH...
IF YOU EVER NEED TO TALK,
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT I'M HERE FOR YOU.
YEAH. OKAY.
FRANK.
GOOD OF YOU TO COME.
YOU HAVE
MY SYMPATHIES, NICK.
THANK YOU.
ALEX, WHY DON'T YOU GO SEE
IF YOUR BROTHER AND SISTER
ARE READY TO GO?
-YEAH.
-OKAY?
OKAY.
THANKS, HONEY.
[QUIET CHATTER AMONGST MOURNERS]
YOU DON'T BELONG HERE.
IT'S INAPPROPRIATE.
UH, I HAVE A RIGH TO PAY MY RESPECTS.
THAT'S TRUE.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
[]
SO I'M ASKING YOU NICELY...
STAY AWAY FROM MY FAMILY.
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[]
[]
[EXHALES WEARILY]
HI.
I'M DETECTIVE
JOSEPH MORAN.
YEAH. I REMEMBER.
ARE YOU GOING TO
FIND THE KILLER?
YES.
I TAKE RANDOM ACTS
OF VIOLENCE PERSONALLY.
THIS IS MY CARD.
MY CELL NUMBER'S
ON THE BACK.
LISTEN, UH, I'D LIKE
TO CONTACT YOU LATER.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO HELP ME
FIND YOUR MOTHER'S KILLER?
[]
SO, WHO MURDERS
A SUBURBAN HOUSEWIFE AND MOTHER,
IF IT'S NOT THE HUSBAND
OR BOYFRIEND?
SHE HAVE
AN INSURANCE POLICY?
NOPE. NO FINANCIAL GAIN.
OKAY. SO IT'S, UH...
IT'S ANOTHER WOMAN.
YOU KNOW, WE KICK A FEW PILLOWS,
WE FIND HER, SOLVED THE CASE.
YOU CAN'T RUSH THESE THINGS.
[SCOFFS]
LOOK.
I KNOW
THIS ISN'T OAKLAND,
IT'S A SMALL TOWN.
YOU KNOW, WE AVERAGE
THREE MURDERS A YEAR HERE.
MOST OF THOSE INVOLVE ALCOHOL,
A SHOTGUN,
AND A NAKED ASS CRAWLING OUT OF
A BEDROOM WINDOW.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO
HAVE CASES GO UNSOLVED.
MY ARREST RECORD IN OAKLAND
WAS THE BEST IN THE DEPARTMENT.
OKAY?
I'LL FIND HIM.
I JUST NEED YOU TO TRUST ME
TO DO IT MY WAY.
MORAN?
WE'RE GOING TO ANNOUNCE
THAT MONETARY REWARD
FOR INFORMATION
ON THE LOCAL NEWS TONIGHT.
THANK YOU, SIR!
IN MY EXPERIENCE,
PEOPLE TALK LOUDER
WHEN THEY GET PAID.
THEY'D BETTER.
STEP IT UP, DETECTIVES.
YES, SIR.
[MUTTERS]: YES, SIR.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
UM, WE'RE GOING
BOWLING.
-BOWLING?
-YOU BOWL?
CAN YOU BOWL?
[MARISSA]: OH, HEY, NICK.
-HEY, GUYS.
-HEY.
[ANNOUNCER]:
RUNNERS, TAKE YOUR MARKS.
READY?
SET.
[PISTOL BLASTS]
[]
[]
[CROWD CHEERS]
[]
[MARISSA]: GO! GO!
GO, ALEX!
[]
[CROWD CHEERING]
YOU'RE SO WORTH I YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE
IT TAKES
TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
YOU'RE SO WORTH I THERE'S NO ANY PART OF ME...
WELL DONE.
THANK YOU.
GREAT JOB!
YOU ROCKED THAT.
YOU WERE LIKE...
SHH...
IN FRONT OF
EVERYBODY ELSE.
THAT WAS SO FAST!
YEAH. THAT WAS,
LIKE, A PERSONAL
BEST TIME, RIGHT?
PROBABLY.
YEAH, I THINK SO.
YEAH.
DAD, I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU CAME.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO
TAKE OFF WORK,
IT'S JUST TRIALS.
I'M NOT GONNA MISS
THESE THINGS.
HEY, WHAT HAPPENED
AT THE START?
OH. NOTHING.
NOTHING. I JUST...
WASN'T READY,
THAT'S ALL.
YOU DID GREAT.
YOU'RE SO WORTH I YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE IT TAKES
TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
[DOORS BANGING]
I'LL GO
AND START DINNER.
ACTUALLY, AL-- WAIT A MINUTE.
NO, JUST HOLD ON A SECOND.
JUST WAIT A MINUTE.
WE'RE JUST A LITTLE EARLY,
THAT'S ALL.
WHAT'S GOING ON, DAD?
PATIENCE, YOUNG BUCK.
PATIENCE.
[SEAN, STUNNED]:
YOU BOUGHT ME A DIRT BIKE?
-I BOUGHT YOU A DIRT BIKE!
-YES! THANK YOU!
-YOU'RE WELCOME.
-YES!
YES!
[KIDS RUNNING]
HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO
HAVE A DIRT BIKE, DAD.
THEY'RE NOT SAFE.
HONEY, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I HAD ONE
WHEN I WAS A KID.
I'LL TEACH HIM
TO RIDE IT.
NO. YOU HAVE TO
TAKE IT BACK.
HONEY...
LOOK HOW HAPPY HE IS.
I THINK I JUST BECAME
FATHER OF THE YEAR.
YEAH, BUT WHEN
HE ASKED FOR ONE,
MOM SAID NO.
ALEX.
IT'S MY DECISION, OKAY?
[SIGNS FORM]
THANKS.
DAD!
CAN YOU COME AND HELP?
[NICK LAUGHS]
[ALEX SIGHS]
LOOK AT THIS! HUH?
RULE NUMBER ONE: HELMET!
ALL RIGHT.
GIVE HIM THAT HELMET.
[LAUGHTER AND CHATTER]
YEAH. WELL, WE'RE, UH...
WE'RE DOING OKAY.
WE'RE DOING... BETTER.
BUT, LOOK, ELISE,
THE KIDS ARE HERE, SO, UH...
YEAH. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING IN.
YEAH. I'LL CALL YOU BACK LATER.
I WILL. [PHONE BEEPS]
[KIDS BANTERING]
SO... WHAT DO YOU GUYS
HAVE GOING ON FOR TODAY?
UH, NOT MUCH, WHY?
WELL, UH, BECAUSE I THOUGH IT MIGHT BE TIME TO PACK UP
YOUR MOTHER'S THINGS.
[]
YOU GUYS, LOOK.
I KNOW
THAT'S NOT EASY TO HEAR, BUT...
MAYBE THE BEST THING
THAT WE CAN DO HERE
IS TRY TO GET BACK TO NORMAL,
SOMEHOW,
AND I'M JUST AFRAID THAT SEEING
YOUR MOTHER'S THINGS
LYING AROUND EVERY DAY,
IT JUST MAKES I THAT MUCH HARDER
FOR ALL OF US TO...
MOVE ON.
[]
SO... HUSBAND HAS AN ALIBI.
SOMEBODY ELSE JUS WALKS UP TO THIS WOMAN
IN BROAD DAYLIGH AND SHOOTS HER FOUR TIMES
IN THE HEAD?
HOW CAN THERE BE NO WITNESSES?
THE REWARD MONEY
HASN'T PANNED OUT.
THERE HAS TO BE
A ROAD NOT TAKEN.
FIND IT.
[DET. WELSH WALKS OFF]
JOE, MAN, UH,
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU,
BUT, UH...
I WAS WONDERING
IF YOU HAD ANY UPDATE
ON THE CARLETON CASE?
YOU'RE CLOSE WITH THE FAMILY,
RIGHT?
YEAH. NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR.
ALEX HAS BEEN
BEST FRIENDS
WITH MY DAUGHTER
SINCE GRADE SCHOOL.
WHAT DO YOU...
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ALEX?
SHE'S A GOOD KID.
RESPONSIBLE.
THEY LOOKED EXACTLY ALIKE, TOO.
SAME SMILE, SAME LAUGH.
[MIKE]: YOU KNOW,
DETECTIVE REED SAID
THERE ARE STILL NO WITNESSES
FOR A HIT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.
ISN'T THAT UNUSUAL?
WILL YOU EXCUSE ME?
YEAH.
[SHUTS ENGINE OFF]
[DOOR BANGS SHUT]
[SIGHS EMOTIONALLY]
HANG ON.
ISN'T THA YOUR MOTHER'S SWEATER?
UM, YEAH.
PUT IT IN THE BOX, HONEY.
NO. I WANT TO KEEP IT.
IT'S ONLY GOING TO UPSE YOUR BROTHER AND YOUR SISTER
WHEN THEY SEE IT.
WE DON'T WANT THAT.
DO WE?
[]
COME ON, SWEETHEART.
[]
THANK YOU.
[DOOR THUDS]
[]
WELL... AHEM. THAT'S DONE.
[]
LOOK, GUYS...
I KNOW, THIS IS HARD.
CLOTHES ARE JUST THINGS
YOU BUY AT THE STORE,
AND YOUR MOTHER WILL BE
IN YOUR HEARTS... ALWAYS.
[]
EXCUSE ME?
HI.
I'M ALEX CARLETON.
I'M HERE TO TALK
TO THE DETECTIVE
ON MY MOTHER'S CASE.
I THINK HIS LAST NAME
WAS MORAN.
I'M SORRY,
MAY I ASK HOW OLD YOU ARE?
PERHAPS IT WOULD BE BETTER
IF YOUR FATHER
OR ANOTHER ADUL CAME INTO THE STATION.
WHY DOES ANOTHER ADUL HAVE TO COME IN?
LOOK. I'M HER DAUGHTER.
THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH.
WHY DON'T I
TAKE A MESSAGE
AND SOMEONE WILL CALL
YOUR FATHER WITH AN UPDATE?
NO. I WANT TO TALK TO HIM NOW.
CAN YOU PLEASE CALL HIM?
I SAID
I'LL DELIVER THE MESSAGE.
[SIGHS]: NO! YOU KNOW WHAT?
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
MY MOTHER WAS MURDERED,
AND I HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HER CASE.
I AM HER DAUGHTER,
DO YOU NOT GET THAT?
[]
[SIGHS, IRATE]
[]
THAT WAS SOME...
DISPLAY.
YES, IT WAS.
[]
[]
ALEX!
-HEY.
-HEY!
WAIT UP.
YOU WERE GREAT.
YOU COULD GO
TO THE STATE FINALS
WITH THOSE TIMES.
I JUST TOLD THE COACH
I QUIT.
QUIT?
YOU HAVEN'T QUI ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE BEFORE.
WELL, I HAVE TO
BE AT HOME MORE.
I'VE GOT TO TAKE
CARE OF THE KIDS.
[MARISSA]:
"THE KIDS?"
YOU SOUND LIKE
AN AMISH WIFE.
LOOK, YOU'RE COMING
TO THE BOWLING ALLEY
TONIGHT, RIGHT?
I COM...
I COMPLETELY FORGOT.
I'VE GOT TO HELP ELLIE
WITH HER SCHOOL PROJECT.
[TEXT ALERT CHIMING]
UH, ELLIE, I AM GOING TO
PUT AWAY THE GROCERIES
AND THEN I'LL HELP YOU
WITH YOUR HOMEWORK, OKAY?
'KAY.
[DOOR OPENS AND THEN SHUTS]
HEY, GUYS.
HEY! HEY.
HOW'RE YOU DOING?
GOOD.
OH, SMELLS GOOD.
UM, WE HAVE TO EA RIGHT AWAY, THOUGH,
'CAUSE I HAVE TO
GO SOMEWHERE,
AND SEAN WON'T DO
HIS HOMEWORK.
HE'S GETTING A "C"
IN ALGEBRA.
SEAN! DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
[DOORBELL RINGS]
DAD, ARE YOU GOING TO
GET THAT?
[SEAN]: HE WENT UPSTAIRS.
[ALEX, QUIETLY]
HE WENT UPSTAIRS.
OH, HI.
HI.
DID THEY TELL YOU
THAT I CAME TO TALK TO YOU?
YES, MA'AM.
IS YOUR FATHER HOME?
YEAH.
MAY I?
YEAH.
DAD?
[FLOORBOARDS CREAKING]
DAD!
[FOOTFALLS ON STEPS]
MR. CARLETON.
-DETECTIVE.
-YEAH.
-HI. IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
-YEAH.
DOES THIS MEAN YOU'VE GO SOME GOOD NEWS FOR US?
NOT GOOD,
I'M AFRAID.
AT THIS TIME, WE MUS OFFICIALLY CLOSE HELEN'S CASE.
CLOSE...
CAN YOU JUST DO THAT?
DON'T YOU HAVE ANYTHING
TO TELL US?
WELL, YOUR WIFE
WAS WELL-LOVED IN THIS TOWN,
SHE HAD NO ENEMIES,
SO WE STILL MAINTAIN
IT WAS A RANDOM INCIDENT,
PROBABLY A ROBBERY GONE BAD,
POSSIBLY FOR DRUG MONEY.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY,
AFTER THREE MONTHS,
WE'VE EXHAUSTED ALL OF OUR LEADS
WITHOUT PRODUCING
A VIABLE SUSPECT.
THAT'S NOT FAIR!
I AM EQUALLY FRUSTRATED
BY THE LACK OF MOVEMEN IN THE CASE.
I'M SORRY.
SO THAT'S WHAT YOU CAME HERE
TO TELL ME,
IN FRONT OF MY CHILDREN,
THAT HELEN'S MURDER
IS NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED?
I WISH I HAD BETTER NEWS.
I WILL LEAVE YOU GUYS TO IT.
[DOOR THUDS]
HEY!
I THOUGHT YOU SAID
YOU TOOK RANDOM ACTS
OF VIOLENCE PERSONALLY?
I DO.
[]
[BACKGROUND MUSIC PLAYING,
PATRONS CHATTING]
-HERE YOU GO.
THANKS.
WHAT?
THE REWARD SIGN'S
STILL UP.
[]
SEAN? SEAN!
WHY DID YOU JUST DO THAT?
IT'S OVER. DETECTIVE DICKWAD
CLOSED THE CASE.
WHOA. WATCH YOUR MOUTH.
MOM NEVER WOULD'VE
LET YOU TALK LIKE THAT.
HI, GUYS.
HOW'S IT GOING?
[MUSIC FILTERING FROM SHOP]
ALEX,
CAN I TALK TO YOU A MINUTE?
I'VE GOT MY HANDS FULL.
CAN IT WAIT?
IT'LL JUST TAKE A MINUTE.
OKAY, LOOK.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER.
OKAY. COME ON.
I'LL MEET YOU AT HOME.
WHAT IS IT?
WHY DIDN'T YOU SHOW UP
AT THE BOWLING PARTY?
OH...
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEY CLOSED MY MOM'S CASE
LAST NIGHT,
AND IT KIND OF TOOK OVER
MY LIFE, SO.
[PHONE BEEPING]
ALEX, WE REALLY HAVE TO TALK.
[PHONE BEEPING]
I HAVE TO ANSWER THIS.
HELLO?
[BACKGROUND CHATTER]
THANK YOU.
[DOOR BELL JINGLES]
HELLO.
HI.
THANKS FOR COMING.
HAVE A SEAT.
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME FOOD?
SOMETHING TO DRINK?
NO, THANKS.
I'M SORRY
WE CLOSED THE CASE,
BUT THE TRUTH IS,
I NEVER STOPPED WORKING ON IT,
AND I'VE HAD A FEW BREAKS.
FIRST, ALEX, I DON'T BELIEVE
YOUR MOTHER'S DEATH
WAS A ROBBERY.
SHE HAD OVER $200 IN HER PURSE
AND IT WASN'T TOUCHED.
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHAT I ASKED YOU
AT THE FUNERAL?
YEAH, IF I WOULD HELP YOU
FIND MY MOTHER'S KILLER.
YES. WELL, IT TURNS OUT,
I NEED YOUR HELP NOW.
SO, WOULD YOU BE WILLING
TO HELP ME?
YES.
OF COURSE I WILL.
SEE, ALEX, ME TALKING TO YOU
LIKE THIS, A MINOR--
I'M A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL!
WELL, FOR THIS
TO WORK,
EVERYTHING WE DO
MUST REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.
YOU CAN'T MENTION ME TO ANYONE--
YOUR FATHER, YOUR BROTHER
OR SISTER, YOUR BOYFRIEND,
YOUR FRIENDS AT SCHOOL--
NO MATTER HOW HARD IT GETS.
NOW, I'VE GOT TO BE FRANK.
BECAUSE THE CRIME
WASN'T A ROBBERY,
WE MUST ASSUME
IT WAS PERSONAL.
SEE, 9 OUT OF
10 PEOPLE
DIE AT THE HANDS
OF SOMEBODY THEY KNOW.
YOU THINK MY MOM KNEW
WHO KILLED HER?
YES.
BUT IF IT WAS SOMEONE
THAT SHE KNEW,
THEN DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA
OF WHO IT WAS?
I HAVE A FEW IDEAS.
[]
[MURMURS]: OKAY.
[FRIDGE DOOR RATTLES]
I HAVE TO SKIP MY FIRST CLASS
AND STUDY FOR MY FINALS TODAY.
CAN YOU TAKE THE KIDS
TO SCHOOL FOR ME?
YEAH. WHERE--
WHERE ARE MY...
-[KEYS JANGLE]
-OH, THANKS.
SEAN! WHERE'S ELLIE?
SHE'S OUTSIDE.
[]
[MURMURING FAINTLY]
CRAZY. THIS IS CRAZY.
[SIGHS]
[]
[REED]:
LOOK, JUST BLANKET THE STORE.
LOTS OF PICTURES.
STANDARD STUFF, RIGHT?
OKAY? THANKS.
WHY DOES CRIME GO UP DURING
THE MERRIEST TIME OF YEAR?
LACK VERSUS LUST.
THOSE WHO THINK THEY LACK
SUDDENLY LUST FOR MORE.
[PHONE CHIMES]
I GOTTA GO.
CAN YOU
FINISH UP HERE?
WHAT? YOU GOT A HOT DATE?
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
TERRY.
[DOOR BELL JINGLES]
HEY.
SORRY I'M LATE.
THAT'S OKAY.
I JUST WANTED
TO TELL YOU THAT I WENT AHEAD
AND WENT THROUGH
MY MOTHER'S THINGS,
LOOKING FOR THREATENING LETTERS
OR SOMETHING,
BUT I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING.
DID YOU LOOK THROUGH
YOUR FATHER'S THINGS?
WHY?
LOOK. I'M NOT GONNA
LIE TO YOU.
YOUR FATHER IS A SUSPECT HERE.
WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THAT.
YOU KNOW WHAT? NO.
[GLASS TOPPLES]
YOU KNOW WHAT?
MY FATHER LOVED MY MOTHER.
THEY WERE MARRIED FOR 18 YEARS.
WE HAVE INFORMATION, OKAY?
REASON TO BELIEVE--
...HE'S PLAYING A ROLE--
OH, YEAH? WHAT INFORMATION?
HE'S BEEN HAVING
AN AFFAIR FOR TWO YEARS,
WITH A BARTENDER
NAMED RUTHIE WEBBER.
NOW PLEASE SIT DOWN.
I DON'T...
BELIEVE YOU.
HE WOULDN'T DO THAT.
HE'S INNOCENT.
I KNOW HE IS.
WELL, THEN HELP ME PROVE IT.
WELL, HOW AM I SUPPOSED
TO DO THAT?
I NEED YOU TO GO
THROUGH HIS FILES,
BRING ME HIS RECEIPTS,
HIS ADDRESS BOOK.
REPOR UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR.
YOU KNOW, SPENDING LOTS,
STAYING OUT LATE.
YOU WANT ME
TO SPY ON MY OWN FATHER?
LOOK, YOU CAN WORRY ABOUT THAT,
OR YOU CAN WORRY ABOU WHO KILLED YOUR MOTHER.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP ME
PROVE YOUR FATHER'S INNOCENCE,
THIS IS WHA YOU HAVE TO DO, ALEX.
[]
[DOOR SHUTS, KEYS JANGLING]
HEY.
WELL!
IT'S ABOUT TIME
YOU FILLED THOSE OUT.
YOU NEED ANY HELP?
LET'S SEE. [SIGHS]
[]
NO WEST COAST SCHOOLS?
[]
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO
DO WITHOUT YOU?
[FORCES A CHUCKLE]
I GOTTA GO MAKE DINNER.
[]
[LAUGHS]: SEAN!
WHERE'S DAD?
I DON'T KNOW.
[SHIVERS]: HEY! WHEW.
JUST, UH, TAKING CARE OF
A LITTLE SOMETHING OUTSIDE.
[SIGHS AND CLEARS HIS THROAT]
[ALEX SETS A DISH DOWN]
WHAT?
NOTHING.
YOU'RE STARING AT ME.
DID YOU HEAR SOMETHING TODAY
I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
NO.
YOU TOLD HER, DIDN'T YOU?
HUH?
-I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
-ME NEITHER!
TELL ME WHAT?
DAD GOT YOU AN EARLY
CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
ELLIE!
-A CAR!
-OH...
YOU BOUGHT ME A CAR?
TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
HANG ON A SECOND.
YOU BOUGHT ELLIE A COMPUTER,
SEAN A NEW DIRT BIKE,
AND NOW
YOU'RE BUYING ME A CAR?
YEAH.
WHERE ARE YOU GETTING
ALL THE MONEY FROM?
OUR SAVINGS.
LOOK, HONEY,
MOM'S CAR IS SHOT,
AND, BESIDES,
IT CAN'T BE EASY FOR YOU
TO DRIVE HER CAR
EVERY DAY, SO.
[LAUGHS]
WHOO!
[ALEX LAUGHS]
OH, MY--
[GASPS]: WHAT?
[LAUGHING]: THIS IS AMAZING!
[CHUCKLES]:
YOU TOTALLY DESERVE IT.
YOU HAVE REALLY STEPPED UP
AND TAKEN CARE OF THIS FAMILY.
I AM JUST SO PROUD OF YOU.
THANKS, DAD.
AH, YOU'RE WELCOME.
[CHUCKLES]
-HEY, DAD?
-MM-HMM?
UM, YOU DON'T KNOW ANYONE
WHO WOULD'VE WANTED TO HURT MOM,
DO YOU?
NO!
NO, I-I CAN' THINK OF ANYONE.
BELIEVE ME, I HAVE TRIED.
Y-Y-YOUR MO--
YOUR MOM WAS...
SHE WAS AMAZING,
AND EVERYBODY LOVED HER,
AND WHO WOULD WAN TO HURT HER? WHY?
[BREATHES DEEPLY,
THEN SIGHS]
I WAS JUST TOLD THAT--
THAT MOST PEOPLE
ARE KILLED BY SOMEONE
THAT THEY KNOW.
WHO TOLD YOU THAT?
JUST SOMETHING THAT I HEARD.
HEY. LOOK AT ME.
YOUR MOM...
WAS KILLED
BY SOME HORRIBLE STRANGER.
SOME ROBBERY GONE BAD.
AND IT WAS AWFUL...
BUT THESE THINGS HAPPEN,
AND NOW WE'VE GOT TO
TRY TO PUT IT BEHIND US.
'KAY?
-YEAH.
-YEAH?
YEAH, YEAH.
YOU'RE RIGHT. UM...
HEY, LOOK,
DO YOU MIND
IF I GO SEE CODY?
I JUST HAVE SOMETHING
THAT I WANT TO GIVE HIM.
WELL, YOU, UH...
[KNOCKS ON HOOD]
...GO RIGHT AHEAD,
I GO YOU COVERED HERE.
-THANKS, DAD.
-YEAH.
YOU SEEM DIFFERENT.
DIFFERENT GOOD
OR DIFFERENT BAD?
JUST DIFFERENT.
BUT... DON'T WORRY.
YOU'RE STILL THE PRETTIEST GIRL
I'VE EVER SEEN.
I GOT YOU SOMETHING.
HUH? OH.
BUT...
I DIDN'T GET YOU
ANYTHING.
THAT'S OKAY.
YEAH, THIS, UM,
IT WAS MY MOM'S.
SHE COLLECTED BOOKS,
AND I KNOW LES MISERABLES
IS YOUR FAVORITE,
OR THE ONLY ONE
YOU'VE EVER READ TO THE END.
ALEX... I CAN'T KEEP THIS.
IT WAS YOUR MOM'S.
I WANT YOU TO HAVE IT.
WE DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF HER STUFF LEFT.
HE, UM, HE MADE US GIVE AWAY
ALL OF HER CLOTHES ALREADY.
IT FELT REALLY SOON AND
I WASN'T REALLY READY FOR IT.
"HE" MEANING
YOUR DAD, RIGHT?
LOOK, I'M SURE...
HE'S FINE,
AND...
HE'S JUST DEALING WITH I THE ONLY WAY HE KNOWS HOW.
YEAH...
YEAH, YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT.
I'M SORRY. THIS MUST BE
GETTING REALLY BORING FOR YOU.
NO. NO, NO.
[]
OKAY.
[]
RECEIPTS, RECEIPTS...
MISCELLANEOUS.
[]
CAR?
I FOUND A RECEIP FOR A NEW MUSTANG
IN MY DAD'S NAME,
AND THE REGISTRATION
IS UNDER "RUTH WEBBER."
I'M SORRY, I JUST...
I COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT HE WOULD HAVE AN AFFAIR.
I'M SORRY
YOU HAD TO FIND OUT THIS WAY.
LOOK, BUT EVEN--
EVEN IF...
HE DID HAVE AN AFFAIR,
HE WAS STILL AT THE PARTY
AT CAMP WESTDALE
WHEN MY MOM WAS MURDERED,
SO HE COULDN'T HAVE SHOT HER.
YOU KNOW, HE COULD'VE
HIRED SOMEBODY
TO END YOUR MOTHER'S LIFE,
RATHER THAN DO IT HIMSELF.
YOU REALLY HATE
MY DAD, DON'T YOU?
IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL.
I HATE THE CASE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
MURDER USED TO BE SHOCKING,
BUT NOW IT'S BECOME ORDINARY.
I DON'T THINK
YOUR MOTHER'S DEATH
WAS ORDINARY.
DO YOU?
NO.
LOOK, IT'S ALMOS FOUR MONTHS LATER
AND NO ONE IS EVEN TALKING
ABOUT IT ANYMORE.
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T!
FUNERALS AND SUDDEN DEATHS
CREATE THIS MOMEN OF HEIGHTENED AWARENESS,
WHERE WE STOP AND WE REALIZE
HOW TEMPORARY LIFE IS,
AND HOW EVERYTHING CAN STOP,
ANYTIME.
BUT LIVING WITH THAT AWARENESS
IS JUST...
IT'S... IT'S TOO--
IT'S TOO PAINFUL,
SO PEOPLE HAVE TO LET THINGS
GO BACK TO NORMAL.
EXCEPT PEOPLE
LIKE YOU AND ME...
[QUIETLY]: ...WE CAN'T.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
PEOPLE LIKE YOU?
YEAH, I LOST SOMEONE,
JUST LIKE YOU, ALEX.
WHO DID YOU LOSE?
MY SISTER.
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?
SHE WAS MURDERED.
[]
WHO DID IT?
HER CASE WAS NEVER SOLVED.
BUT YOUR CASE...
IS NOT GONNA END LIKE HERS.
OKAY?
NO.
[]
AT THIS SPECIAL TIME
OF YEAR
HEY!
I'M SO VERY GLAD
YOU'RE HERE
MERRY CHRISTMAS
AW!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU
I HEAR SLEIGH BELLS
IN THE DISTANCE
AND SONGS SUNG
BY A CHOIR
IT'S SNOWIN'
AND IT'S BLOWIN'
SO LET'S STAY HERE
BY THE FIRE
[QUIET FOOTFALLS PASSING]
[DOOR BANGS]
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
[]
[]
[FAINTLY]: HEY!
[]
[ENGINE STARTS]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[CELL RINGING]
[EXHALES]
ALEX,
IT'S 3:00 IN THE MORNING.
I JUST SAW HIM WITH RUTHIE.
THEY WERE HAVING SEX
IN THE CAR THAT HE BOUGHT HER.
HE OPENED PRESENTS WITH US
AND PRAYED WITH US
AND THEN WENT OUT AND HAD SEX
WITH HER ON CHRISTMAS.
HOW DID YOU SEE ALL THAT?
I FOLLOWED HIM. HE LEFT THE HOUSE AT 2:00.
DID HE SEE YOU?
NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
OKAY, ALEX. LISTEN.
I NEED YOU
TO GO HOME RIGHT NOW.
BUT WHAT ABOU WHAT I JUST SAW?
I KNOW IT'S CONFUSING,
BUT I NEED YOU TO GO HOME,
RIGHT NOW,
GET INTO BED AND GO TO SLEEP.
WHY ARE YOU SO MAD AT ME?
BECAUSE WHAT YOU JUST DID
COULD'VE BLOWN UP
IN BOTH OUR FACES.
JUST... [HUFFS] YOU'LL HEAR FROM ME.
[BEEPS PHONE OFF AND GROANS]
[]
[]
[DOOR OPENING]
I KNOW YOU'RE AWAKE.
ALEX, THE ENGINE'S WARM.
YOU LEFT THE LIGHTS ON
IN THE CAR.
WHERE WERE YOU?
UM... [SIGHS]
COME ON, ALEX.
I WAS OUT WITH CODY.
YEAH.
YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT I--
THAT'S WHA I THOUGHT.
I REMEMBER THAT.
I WAS 17...
[SIGHS]: ONCE.
YEAH. UM.
I'M SORRY. I...
I WON'T SNEAK OUT AGAIN.
THAT'S OKAY.
THAT'S OKAY, HONEY.
I WAS JUST...
I WAS JUST WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
I WENT OUT LOOKING FOR YOU,
BUT I GUESS
YOU BEAT ME BACK HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU
GIVE ME YOUR CAR KEYS?
I'LL TURN THE LIGHTS OFF
IN YOUR CAR.
OKAY.
[KEYS JANGLE]
THANKS.
GOOD NIGHT.
[RELIEVED SIGH
AS DOOR SHUTS]
[QUIET CHATTER OF PATRONS]
WHY DON'T YOU
HAVE A SEAT?
I CAN'T BE LATE
FOR CLASSES.
I'VE MISSED TOO MUCH
SCHOOL ALREADY.
THOSE ARE
BOTH THEIR WILLS,
INSURANCE PAPERS,
MY DAD'S ADDRESS BOOK.
I'LL PICK THEM UP
IN TWO HOURS,
GO HOME,
PUT EVERYTHING BACK,
AND THEN PICK UP
THE KIDS, OKAY?
OKAY. THANKS.
LISTEN.
HEY.
I KNOW
THIS IS HARD.
I REALLY DO.
[SHE CHUCKLES DRYLY]
NO. NO, YOU WANNA KNOW
WHAT'S HARD?
IS WAKING UP EVERY MORNING
AND HAVING TO PRETEND
LIKE I DIDN'T SEE HIM
HAVING SEX WITH THAT WOMAN.
I WATCH HIM
HAVING BREAKFAST,
SMILING, DRINKING COFFEE,
AND I JUST WAN TO SCREAM AT HIM,
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
OUR MOM IS DEAD!"
AND THEY'RE SELLING
VANILLA LATTES
WHERE HER PET STORE USED TO BE,
AND SOME DETECTIVE IS TRYING TO
CONVINCE ME THAT HE KILLED HER.
BUT I CAN'T SAY
ANY OF THAT TO HIM,
BECAUSE I'M NOT ALLOWED TO TALK
TO ANYONE BUT YOU,
AND WHEN I NEEDED
TO TALK TO YOU,
YOU HUNG UP ON ME.
I'M SORRY.
I'LL BE BACK IN TWO HOURS.
[]
[COPIER WHIRS]
HEY, JOE.
HEY.
I JUST GOT BACK
FROM THE D.A.'S OFFICE.
UH, HE'S GOING TO
FILE TODAY
ON THAT ROBBERY/ATTEMPTED MURDER
OF THE LIQUOR STORE CLERK.
GOOD!
YEAH, HE WANTED TO
SAY THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR THE EVIDENCE TRAIL.
ALL THE MARKERS
WERE VERY, UH...
THOROUGH.
HE'D NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE IT.
GOOD TO HEAR.
YEAH. YOU SEEM
PREOCCUPIED LATELY.
YEAH. I'VE GOT SOME
OTHER THINGS GOING ON.
YEAH, THAT'S WHA I WAS HOPING
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
HEY, WAIT. WAIT UP.
[QUIETLY]: LOOK,
A COUPLE OF THE GUYS
SAID THEY SAW YOU TODAY
IN A DINER
WITH A TEENAGE GIRL.
AND THEY, UH...
THEY REACHED OU TO ME, CONCERNED.
YOU WANT TO
TALK ABOUT ANYTHING?
NO.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN.
IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
[]
[BACKGROUND CHATTER,
INDISTINCT]
OKAY. I MADE COPIES.
MAKE SURE
YOU PUT EVERYTHING BACK
EXACTLY WHERE
YOU FOUND IT, OKAY?
YEAH, I KNOW.
I'M NOT STUPID.
AND, UH, CHECK OU THE ADDRESS BOOK.
YOU SHOULD RECOGNIZE
THE MAJORITY OF THE NAMES,
SO LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S
ANY UNFAMILIAR ONES.
LOOK. I HAD AN IDEA.
THERE'S THIS GUY,
FRANK BREWSTER?
MY DAD DIDN'T SEEM VERY HAPPY
THAT HE WAS AT THE FUNERAL.
HE WOULD TAKE US FOR LUNCH
ONCE A YEAR,
BUT MY DAD REALLY
DIDN'T LIKE HIM.
FRANK WAS CHECKED OUT CLEAN.
LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S
ANY UNFAMILIAR NAMES IN THERE.
WHY ARE YOU SO COLD
AND PROFESSIONAL
ALL THE TIME,
LIKE YOU HAVE NO EMOTIONS?
WE CAN'T MEET AT THE DINER
ANYMORE.
WHY? IT'S CLOSE TO MY SCHOOL.
WHEN I FIND A NEW LOCATION, I'LL
LET YOU KNOW.
WHAT ABOUT RUTHIE WEBBER?
MAYBE SHE WANTED MY DAD
ALL FOR HERSELF.
WE'VE QUESTIONED RUTHIE.
SHE'S GOT AN ALIBI.
BUT SO DOES MY DAD!
YOU BELIEVE THEIR ALIBIS,
AND NOT HIS. WHY?
WHY DO YOU THINK, ALEX?
HUH?
YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S LATE. I...
I HAVE TO GO.
[]
[]
[LAUGHING]
OKAY. HERE'S OUR SELECTION.
"CREAMY DILL PICKLE." YES.
[MARISSA, AS DOOR OPENS]:
ALL RIGHT?
[CODY]: READY TO GE SOME OM-NOM-NOM-NOMS?
[LAUGHS]: WHAT?
[CODY]: IT'S WHA THEY CALL SNACKS,
'CAUSE YOU'RE, LIKE,
"OM-NOM-NOM-NOM!"
[MARISSA LAUGHING]
DILL PICKLE AND CHEESY NACHOS?
THINK "NACHO-CHEESE."
[BAGS RUSTLING]
[CHUCKLING AWKWARDLY]
HEY.
[MARISSA]: HEY.
WHAT ARE YOU
GUYS DOING?
UH, WE'RE JUST SHOPPING
FOR HIGH-QUALITY FOOD
FOR THE SENIOR CLASS
SKI TRIP.
[]
DID YOU READ MY TEXT?
NO, I'M...
I'M SORRY.
I'VE JUST GOT A LOT GOING ON.
YOU KNOW WHAT, ALEX?
WE'RE BUSY, TOO.
BUT WE KEEP CALLING YOU
AND WE KEEP TEXTING YOU,
BUT YOU JUST NEVER
ANSWER US.
WE REALLY ARE WORRIED.
WHEN DID...
YOU GUYS
START HOOKING UP?
WHAT? NO--
THAT WAS A LO OF "WE"S.
"WE TEXTED." "WE CALLED."
"WE'RE WORRIED."
YOU KNOW WHAT, ALEX?
NO. MARISSA--
NO. YES, CODY AND I
ARE TOGETHER NOW.
BUT YOU WANT TO
KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE WE SPEN SO MUCH TIME
TALKING ABOUT YOU,
AND WORRYING ABOUT YOU,
AND BEING HURT BY YOU,
THAT IT...
IT JUST HAPPENED.
[]
I DON'T CARE.
I DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS
IN THIS STUPID TOWN ANYMORE.
[FOOTSTEPS]
SEAN, DID YOU
DO YOUR HOMEWORK?
NOT YET.
NO VIDEO GAMES
UNTIL YOUR HOMEWORK'S DONE.
YOU KNOW THE RULES.
WHOA. TAKE IT EASY, ALEX.
A GUY CAN RELAX AND CHILL WITH
HIS OLD MAN FROM TIME TO TIME.
RELAX AND CHILL?
EVER SINCE MOM DIED,
YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO BE
HIS BUDDY INSTEAD OF HIS DAD.
HOW DARE YOU TALK TO ME
THAT WAY, IN FRONT OF SEAN?
HE LOOKS UP TO YOU,
AND YOU'RE LETTING HIM
SLACK OFF,
SO I HAVE TO COME IN,
AND I HAVE TO BE
THE BAD GUY.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I AM SICK OF IT!
CONGRATULATIONS, ALEX.
YOU SOUND JUST LIKE YOUR MOM.
ALWAYS BITCHING AT ME.
OH, YEAH?
ALWAYS
BITCHING AT YOU?
IS THAT WHY
YOU HAD AN AFFAIR?
WHO TOLD YOU THAT?
IT'S A SMALL TOWN, DAD.
PEOPLE TALK.
IT'S NOT TRUE, ALEX.
HER NAME'S RUTHIE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO
LIE TO ME, DAD.
[]
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
[]
DID YOU STOP LOVING MOM?
NO...
ALEX, NO! OF COURSE NOT.
YOUR MOM WAS THE...
THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.
SHE STILL IS!
I MADE A MISTAKE.
ARE YOU STILL SEEING RUTHIE?
NO, HONEY.
OF COURSE NOT.
THAT WAS OVER
LAST YEAR.
I PROMISE.
[]
OKAY.
[]
[]
OH, HON, YOU CAN'T BE IN HERE.
IT'S 21-AND-OVER.
I'M NICK CARLETON'S
DAUGHTER.
[]
DID YOU KILL MY MOM?
[]
I DIDN'T KILL
YOUR MOM.
I WAS JUST AS
SHOCKED AS ANYBODY.
THE TRUTH IS,
FIRST THING
I THOUGHT ABOU WAS YOU KIDS.
WERE YOU THINKING ABOUT US
WHEN YOU HAD AN AFFAIR
WITH MY DAD?
WOW. YOU ARE SOMETHING.
WHY DID YOU STAR SLEEPING WITH HIM,
IF YOU KNEW HE WAS MARRIED?
I KNOW
THIS PROBABLY DOESN'T MEAN MUCH,
COMING FROM ME,
BUT I'M SORRY ABOU WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR MOM.
DO YOU THINK THAT MY DAD
HAD SOMETHING TO DO
WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?
[EXHALES HEAVILY]
THAT WAS MY SECOND THOUGHT.
YEAH.
[]
[ENGAGES LOCK]
WE NEED TO TALK.
WHERE WERE YOU?
I WAS OUT FOR A DRIVE,
LIKE I SAID.
OUT FOR A DRIVE?
WELL, YOU'VE BEEN GONE
FOR HOURS.
THE KIDS ARE ASLEEP.
WHERE WERE YOU?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
EXCUSE ME?
SORRY, IT'S NONE OF MY BUS--
NONE OF MY BUSINESS?
WHAT HAS GOTTEN
INTO YOU LATELY?
YOUR GRADES
ARE PLUMMETING,
THERE'S NO GROCERIES
IN THIS HOUSE,
YOU'RE STAYING OU TILL ALL HOURS?
IS THAT HOW
YOU TAKE CARE OF THIS FAMILY?
YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD TALK!
WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
I DO NOT KNOW...
I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
I AM THE MOTHER, THE MAID,
THE COOK, THE DRIVER.
THE REAL QUESTION IS, DAD,
WHO ARE YOU?
WHO ARE YOU?
BECAUSE I DON' KNOW ANYMORE.
DON'T... YOU JUDGE ME.
DON'T YOU DARE JUDGE ME.
I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD TIME
TO MOURN MY WIFE,
I'VE BEEN SO WORRIED
ABOUT ALL OF YOU.
-SO BUSY WORRYING ABOUT US?
-THAT'S RIGHT.
SO WORRIED THA YOU'VE BEEN OU
IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGH SCREWING RUTHIE
IN HER BRAND-NEW CAR?
[SMACK]
[ALEX GASPS AND WINCES]
[SLAMS DOOR]
[]
I'M SO SORRY.
THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE,
IT WAS WRONG.
I FEEL AWFUL. I'M...
[SIGHS]
I'VE BEEN ASKING A LOT OF YOU
LATELY, TOO MUCH.
IT'S JUST, WITH
MOM BEING GONE,
I...
I FIND IT HARD--
[VOICE BREAKS, CLEARS THROAT]
IT'S HARD,
AND I KNOW IT'S HARD.
AND I WANT YOU
TO KNOW
THAT I'M STILL HERE,
I'M STILL YOUR DAD.
I STILL LOVE YOU.
AND I HOPE
YOU KNOW THAT.
[]
[]
[]
WHAT'S--
WHAT'S GOING ON?
MY FATHER SLAPPED ME.
HE NEVER HIT ME BEFORE.
MAYBE HE KNOWS.
MAYBE I BLEW IT SOMEHOW.
OKAY, OKAY--
IS THERE ANY REASON
WHY HE WOULD BE SUSPICIOUS?
I DON'T THINK SO.
I HAVE BEEN SO CAREFUL.
[VOICE BREAKS]:
BUT I'M... I'M TIRED.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA
HOW HARD IT IS
TO BE IN THAT HOUSE
WITH HIM.
[]
[]
'KAY, LOOK AT ME.
LOOK AT ME.
TELL ME ABOUT THE ADDRESS BOOK.
UM... THERE WAS ONE NAME
THAT I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE.
BRUCE WILKINS?
YEAH, WE'RE AWARE OF HIM.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN INFORMAL
TALK WITH HIM
TOMORROW AT THE STATION.
ANYTHING ELSE
WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
[MEEKLY]:
I SPOKE TO RUTHIE WEBBER.
YOU DID WHAT?
DAMN, ALEX!
THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR
WILL JEOPARDIZE OUR CASE
AND PUT YOU IN DANGER!
IS THAT WHA YOU WANT TO DO?
PLEASE!
STOP YELLING AT ME.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO
THINGS LIKE THAT,
YOU'RE GONNA
GET YOURSELF KILLED.
THEY'RE LEAVING.
[STARTS ENGINE]
[]
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
LISTEN TO ME.
SOMEBODY SHOT YOUR MOTHER
IN THE HEAD FOUR TIMES,
EXECUTION-STYLE,
AND THAT SOMEBODY COULD
JUST AS EASILY SHOOT YOU.
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE,
ONCE YOU'VE CONVINCED YOURSELF
IT'S OKAY TO KILL SOMEBODY,
YOU CAN KILL AGAIN.
NOW...
WE'RE NOT THERE YET...
WE'RE REALLY CLOSE,
BUT WE NEED A MURDER WEAPON.
HAVE YOU SEEN
A GUN AT YOUR HOUSE?
WHAT? NO.
WE DON'T HAVE A GUN.
OKAY, LOOK, I WANT YOU
TO GET OUT OF THE CAR,
GO HOME,
BECAUSE THERE MUST BE
A PLACE WHERE
YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED YET.
I'VE LOOKED EVERYWHERE!
NOW.
[]
[]
[]
"DEAR HELEN--
"I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU SAID YOU'D MARRY ME.
I'M THE LUCKIEST GUY
IN THE WORLD."
"I LOVE YOU. FRANK."
FRANK?
[]
[CAR APPROACHING,
WHEELS SCREECH]
[RUSTLING]
[]
[]
WHAT ARE YOU
DOING DOWN HERE?
I'M-- I'M GETTING BABY PHOTOS
FOR A SCHOOL PROJECT.
NOW?
SHOULDN'T YOU BE AT SCHOOL?
YEAH, I SHOULD.
I'M JUST ON MY LUNCH BREAK,
SO I'M...
I'M GONNA GO BACK
RIGHT NOW.
[]
ARE YOU COMING?
NO.
NO. NOW THA I'M DOWN HERE,
I REMEMBER I NEED
A FEW THINGS.
OKAY.
ALEX?
WATCH YOUR STEP.
[]
[]
-HEY.
-ALEX?
WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?
IS THIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE TRUE?
ARE YOU MY FATHER?
[]
[KETTLE WHISTLING]
I ALWAYS WANTED
TO TELL YOU,
BUT, UH...
BUT YOUR MOTHER
THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER
TO LET YOU THINK
NICK WAS YOUR FATHER.
I JUST--
I ALWAYS THOUGH THAT THEY WERE MARRIED
BEFORE I WAS BORN.
[FRANK CHUCKLES]: HMM.
THAT'S NOT TRUE
EITHER.
YOUR MOM AND I
WERE MARRIED
WHEN SHE MET NICK.
LIVED IN A LITTLE HOUSE
ON MISSION BEACH.
[EXHALES]
WHAT HAPPENED?
SHE FELL IN LOVE
WITH HIM.
FOR YEARS,
I BLAMED NICK FOR STEALING HER,
BUT, UH...
I GUESS YOU CAN'T REALLY STEAL
WHAT NEVER BELONGED TO YOU.
YOU WERE TWO YEARS OLD
WHEN SHE LEFT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
SHE WOULD DO THAT.
DON'T BE MAD
AT HER, ALEX.
YOUR MOTHER LOVED YOU
MORE THAN SHE LOVED ANYONE.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?
SHE LIED TO ME
ABOUT WHO MY DAD WAS.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
ALL YOUR MOTHER
EVER WANTED TO DO
WAS TO BE A MOTHER.
I REMEMBER WHEN
YOU WERE FIRST BORN,
SHE LOOKED RIGHT INTO YOUR EYES
AND SAID,
"NOW I KNOW WHAT LOVE IS."
SHE MEANT IT.
YOUR MOTHER
LOVED YOU, ALEX.
SHE JUST DID WHAT SHE THOUGH WAS BEST FOR YOU.
IT ALL FEELS LIKE A BAD DREAM.
[]
[]
[CLASS BELL RINGS]
[]
ALEX!
SORRY IT'S LATE.
I LOOK FORWARD
TO READING IT.
BUT, ALEX,
I'M CONCERNED.
YOU WERE TAKING
COLLEGE PREP CLASSES,
BUT WITH YOUR MARKS DOWN,
I'M AFRAID THERE'S
NOT ANY PLACE
THAT'S GOING
TO ACCEPT YOU.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
WHY?
HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND
ABOUT COLLEGE?
LOOK, SOMEONE HAS TO TAKE CARE
OF MY BROTHER AND SISTER.
MISS HETHERINGTON,
I KNOW THAT YOU CARE,
BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS,
SO, PLEASE,
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO
CLOSE THE CASE THAT EARLY,
DID YOU?
NO, I DIDN'T.
THEN WHY DID YOU?
I NEEDED
PEOPLE TO RELAX
AND HOPEFULLY
MAKE A MISTAKE.
LOOK.
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO MEET YOU IN PERSON
AS MUCH ANYMORE.
WHAT'D I DO WRONG?
NO! IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.
IT'S THE CASE.
I'M GONNA SPEED UP
THE PROCESS.
YOU KNOW BRUCE WILKINS?
HE WAS CONTACTED
TO COMMIT A MURDER
THAT FOLLOWED THE EXACT SAME
M.O. AS YOUR MOTHER'S DEATH.
HE WASN'T GIVEN
THE VICTIM'S NAME,
BUT HE WAS GIVEN A GUN,
ADVANCED HALF THE FEE,
BUT, IN THE END,
HE COULDN'T GO THROUGH WITH IT.
WAS IT NICK
WHO CONTACTED HIM?
YES. IT WAS.
[]
HOW MUCH WAS
HE GONNA PAY HIM?
5,000.
$5,000 TO KILL MY MOTHER?
THAT'S ALL HER LIFE WAS WORTH?
[]
[STARTS ENGINE]
[]
[]
[BIRDSEED SPILLING]
[]
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
HELLO?
[ALEX]: I FOUND A GUN.
WHERE IS IT NOW?
IT WAS IN MY MOM'S PET SUPPLIES IN THE GARAGE.
I DIDN'T EVEN
THINK TO LOOK THERE.
HE NEVER EVEN
GOES IN THE GARAGE.
OKAY, NOW LOOK. CALM DOWN.
YOU NEED TO FOCUS.
WHERE'S YOUR FATHER NOW?
HE TOOK THE KIDS OU FOR PIZZA.
ALL RIGHT. LISTEN.
YOU NEED TO PUT BACK THE GUN.
MEET ME TOMORROW
AT THE D.M.V. PARKING LO AT 9:00 A.M.,
AND DON'T BE LATE.
I'M NEVER LATE.
[]
[FAMILY'S VOICES NEARING]
-CAESAR SALAD.
-HEY.
THANKS.
YOU'RE SWEATING.
WHY ARE YOU SWEATING?
I, UH...
I WENT FOR A RUN.
YEAH. I MISS RUNNING.
OKAY. WELL, UM...
GOOD NIGHT.
[]
ALEX. ALEX?
WAKE UP.
IT'S ALMOST 8:30.
WHAT?
WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP?
DAD TOLD ME
TO LET YOU SLEEP IN.
IS DADDY MAD?
NO. HE'S MAKING BREAKFAST.
EGGS AND BACON.
[SIGHS]: I REALLY DON'T WAN TO GO TO SCHOOL TODAY.
I'VE GOT THIS STUPID
SOCIALS TES ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS,
OR SOMETHING.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I HATE?
ELLIE, I LOVE YOU
SO MUCH.
YEAH, YEAH, I KNOW,
BUT JUST GET OFF OF ME.
YOU'RE HURTING ME.
COME ON, BREAKFAST.
LET'S GO, LET'S GO,
LET'S GO.
OKAY, OKAY!
WHY IS EVERYTHING DEROGATORY?
DEGRADING?
HEY. WE GOT EGGS.
ALL RIGHT. COOL.
HEY, ALEX.
BREAKFAST.
I GOTTA GO.
HEY.
HI.
I'M GLAD YOU CAME.
I GOT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
[ALEX]: THAT ONE.
YOU'RE SURE?
YEAH. I'M SURE.
.22 RUGER.
SIX LANDS AND GROOVES
IN A RIGHT-HAND TWIST.
IS THAT THE GUN
THAT KILLED HER?
IT'S CONSISTEN WITH THE PROJECTILES,
AND THE TYPE OF GUN
WILKINS SAID
NICK GAVE HIM
TO COMMIT THE CRIME.
WHAT TIME DOES
HE LEAVE FOR WORK?
HE SHOULD'VE
LEFT ALREADY.
ALL RIGHT, LOOK.
I'LL NEED YOU
TO BRING THE GUN
TO THE POLICE STATION.
WRAP IT IN A CLOTH
SO YOU DON'T GET ANY MORE
FINGERPRINTS ON IT.
WHAT HAPPENS THEN?
WELL, IF IT'S A MATCH,
WE'LL ARREST NICK,
AND HE'LL GO TO PRISON
FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
YOU KNOW, I WAS...
I WAS UP ALL NIGHT THINKING,
YOU KNOW, IS THIS FAIR?
MY BROTHER AND SISTER,
THEY ALREADY LOST THEIR MOM.
NOW THEY'RE GOING TO
LOSE THEIR DAD, TOO?
I MEAN,
WHO IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF US?
DID YOU EVEN THINK OF THAT?
HONESTLY, ALL I CARED ABOUT WAS
FINDING YOUR MOTHER'S KILLER.
SO...
LOOK, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE,
I'LL GIVE YOU A CHOICE.
YOU CAN GO HOME,
PRETEND YOU NEVER SAW THE GUN,
I'LL STOP
THE INVESTIGATION,
AND YOUR LIFE GOES BACK
TO THE WAY IT WAS.
OR YOU BRING THE GUN
TO THE STATION IN AN HOUR,
AND NICK WILL GO TO PRISON.
YOU KNOW, THE LAST THING
MY MOM SAID TO ME
WAS THAT I WAS A GIFT,
BUT I THINK THE REAL GIF IS THE ONE I CAN GIVE HER NOW,
SO I WILL BE THERE AT 10:00,
WITH THE GUN.
[]
[CAMERA SHUTTER SNAPPING]
OH, SHE'S COMING THIS WAY.
I'M GONNA BACK UP, OKAY?
[]
[STARTS ENGINE]
[]
[]
[SEED SPILLING]
[]
[DOOR THUDS SHUT]
KIDS...
WHY DON'T YOU
GO UPSTAIRS AND PACK?
LIKE I TOLD YOU.
WHY ARE YOU PACKING?
WE'RE GOING ON A TRIP!
JUST THE TWO OF US.
WHERE?
I DON'T KNOW YET.
IT'S A SURPRISE.
HEY, DAD!
CAN ALEX COME?
NOT THIS TIME,
I'M AFRAID, HONEY.
-ALL RIGHT.
-GO PACK.
[KEYS JANGLING]
[]
WE NEED TO TALK.
[]
I KNOW YOU HAVE
THE GUN.
WHAT GUN?
THE GUN IN YOUR BACKPACK.
HOW DID YOU KNOW?
I DIDN'T. TILL JUST NOW.
[SIGHS, FRUSTRATED]: THAT GUN.
MOVED IT THREE TIMES.
CLOSET, BASEMENT,
GARAGE.
[CHUCKLES BITTERLY] TSK.
[]
ARE YOU TELLING ME
YOU LET A MINOR CHILD
GO BACK INTO A HOUSE
WITH A MURDER SUSPEC TO RETRIEVE A POSSIBLE
MURDER WEAPON?
I DIDN'T HAVE
A CHOICE, SIR.
YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE!
[SNAPS]: LISTEN TO ME!
ALEX CARLETON WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE HERE AT 10:00.
NOW, I GAVE YOU THE ADDRESS,
AND I NEED YOU
TO BACK ME UP.
SIR.
LET'S GO.
HEY, GUYS.
GO WAIT IN THE CAR.
ALEX AND I HAVE TO TALK
ABOUT SOMETHING. OKAY?
OKAY. WE'LL BE
WAITING OUTSIDE.
ALL RIGHT.
GO AHEAD, ELLIE.
IT'S OKAY.
BYE.
[DOOR SHUTS]
[EXHALES]
HERE'S WHA I WANT YOU TO DO.
I WANT YOU
TO GIVE ME THE GUN.
PUT ALL THIS BEHIND US.
WE'LL PRETEND IT NEVER HAPPENED.
NO, I CAN'T. I CAN'T.
ALEX, OKAY, I WANT YOU
TO GIVE ME THE GUN.
I WANT YOU TO DO--
[ROARS]: AS YOU'RE TOLD!
BECAUSE
I'M YOUR FATHER.
YOU ARE NOT.
NO, I'M-- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN,
NO, I'M NOT?
I MEAN YOU'RE NOT...
I MEAN YOU'RE NOT MY DAD.
FRANK BREWSTER...
IS MY DAD.
I'M THE ONLY FATHER
YOU'VE EVER KNOWN.
I FED YOU, HONEY, I...
I RAISED YOU. [SIGHS]
HONEY, I LOVED YOU.
NOW GIVE ME THE GUN.
OR WHAT? YOU'LL SHOOT ME?
ALEX, I WOULD NEVER HURT YOU.
NO, YOU HIRE PEOPLE TO DO THA FOR YOU.
ALEX, DON'T TALK ABOUT THINGS
THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!
YOUR MOTHER...
YOUR MOTHER WANTED
TO DIVORCE ME.
SHE FOUND OUT ABOUT RUTHIE
AND SHE WANTED TO GET A DIVORCE.
THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU
JUST GIVE HER A DIVORCE?
BECAUSE I COULDN'T GIVE HER
A DIVORCE!
BECAUSE I COULDN' BREAK UP THE FAMILY!
THIS FAMILY IS OUR LIFE.
YOUR MOTHER
WAS TRYING TO RUIN IT,
AND NOW YOU ARE
TRYING TO RUIN IT!
[ALEX SHRIEKS]
[ALEX CRIES OUT]
[GASPS]
[CRASHING]
DAD, NO. DAD!
DAD! NO!
NO! [SOBS]
[SOBBING AND GASPING]
[]
[]
[CRACK]
[NICK THUDS AND GASPS]
-[NICK WHEEZING]
-DON'T MOVE.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
YEAH. [PANTING]
[NICK GROANS]
[]
[]
[]
[DETECTIVE ROBINSON]:
WERE YOU SURPRISED
THAT YOUR FATHER
TRIED TO HURT YOU?
[ALEX]: YES.
BUT IT'S LIKE
DETECTIVE MORAN ONCE TOLD ME--
ONCE A PERSON DECIDES
THAT THEY CAN KILL SOMEONE,
THEY CAN KILL AGAIN.
[]
I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
WHAT DON'T YOU
UNDERSTAND, ALEX?
WELL, WHY IS DETECTIVE MORAN
ON TRIAL?
THIS ISN'T A TRIAL.
IT'S AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS
HEARING.
DETECTIVE MORAN
KNOWINGLY PUT YOU
IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
THAT'S RECKLESS ENDANGERMEN OF A MINOR,
WHICH IS AGAINST THE LAW.
[ALEX]: WELL, DID
DETECTIVE MORAN KNOW
THAT ASKING ME TO HELP HIM
WOULD GET HIM FIRED?
ACCORDING
TO HIS TESTIMONY, YES.
BUT IF HE HADN' ASKED ME TO HELP HIM,
THEN NICK NEVER
WOULD HAVE GONE TO JAIL.
[ROBINSON]:
I UNDERSTAND THAT,
BUT DETECTIVE MORAN STILL
VIOLATED YOUR RIGHTS.
BUT IF WE HADN'T,
WE WOULDN'T KNOW
WHO KILLED MY MOTHER.
[]
WOW. ARE WE DONE HERE?
YES, MA'AM,
WE ARE.
YOU KNOW, AT FIRST,
I HATED WHAT DETECTIVE MORAN
WAS ASKING ME TO DO,
BUT WE GOT OUR ANSWERS...
AND NOW THE ONLY QUESTION
THAT I HAVE LEFT IS,
HOW DO YOU THANK SOMEONE
WHO CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
BECAUSE YOU DID.
YOU CHANGED MY LIFE,
AND I WILL NEVER
BE ABLE TO SAY
THANK YOU ENOUGH
FOR EVERYTHING
THAT YOU DID FOR ME.
[]
[ALEX]: IN THE INTERNAL
AFFAIRS HEARING,
DETECTIVE JOSEPH MORAN
WAS FOUND GUILTY
FOR THE RECKLESS ENDANGERMEN OF A MINOR.
WHEN I ASKED HIM
HOW HE FELT ABOUT THAT,
HE SAID HE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE
ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY.
BRUCE WILKINS
HAD A SOLID ALIBI
AT THE TIME
OF MY MOTHER'S DEATH,
BUT HE TESTIFIED AT THE TRIAL
THAT NICK TRIED TO HIRE HIM
TO KILL HER.
NICK WAS FOUND GUILTY
OF SOLICITATION OF MURDER
AND SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS
IN PRISON.
MY BROTHER AND SISTER
STILL BELIEVE
THAT NICK IS INNOCEN AND STOPPED SPEAKING TO ME
FOR HELPING DETECTIVE MORAN.
IN PRISON,
NICK NEVER ADMITTED GUIL AND WAS DIAGNOSED
AS A SOCIOPATH.
AS I LEARNED
IN LES MISERABLES,
WHEN ALL THE MASKS
ARE REMOVED,
YOU ARE LEF WITH WHO YOU REALLY ARE,
SO I CHANGED MY LAST NAME
TO BREWSTER,
AND GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE
WITH MY FATHER, FRANK,
BY MY SIDE.
AS FOR WHO ACTUALLY
PULLED THE TRIGGER,
MY MOTHER'S KILLER
HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND.
[]
I THOUGHT IT DIDN'T MATTER
WHAT I FELT INSIDE
I DIDN'T SEE A DIFFERENCE
TO ANYONE ON THE OUTSIDE
COULDN'T FIND A REASON
NO WAY TO BELIEVE
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING
MORE TO ME
...SO FAR
COORDINATES WERE OFF
I'M CHANGED BY
ALL THE THINGS YOU SAW IN ME
I'VE NEVER FEL SO UNDERSTOOD
YOU GAVE MY VOICE
ANOTHER CHANCE TO BREATHE
LIKE IT SHOULD
AND I'M CHANGED FOR GOOD
[GUNSHOT FIRES]
[AS BODY THUDS,
ATTACKER FIRES THREE ROUNDS]
[]
[SIREN BEGINS WAILING]
STOP PLAYING WITH
THE SIREN, MARISSA.
YOU'RE NOT 12.
WELL, IF YOU KEEP TREATING ME
LIKE I'M 12,
I'LL ACT LIKE I'M 12.
IT'S YOUR SENIOR YEAR.
CAN YOU PLEASE TRY
AND AVOID GETTING ARRESTED?
WHERE'D BE
THE FUN IN THAT?
I'LL KEEP HER OUT OF TROUBLE.
THANK YOU, ALEX.
HE READ SOMEWHERE
THAT A TEENAGER'S BRAIN ISN' WIRED LIKE AN ADULT'S BRAIN.
THAT'S WHY HE THINKS
WE CAN'T TELL
A GOOD IDEA
FROM A BAD IDEA.
OKAY. WELL, THAT TATTOO
WAS A BAD IDEA.
[FORCES A CHUCKLE]:
SHE'S KIDDING.
[EXTRA CHEERY]: BYE!
THANKS FOR THE RIDE!
MARISSA!
I SHOULD KILL YOU
FOR TELLING HIM
ABOUT MY TAT.
YOU KNOW,
YOU MIGHT NO EVEN LIKE JAMES
AFTER NEXT WEEK.
YOU'RE SO INTERCHANGEABLE
WITH EVERYTHING.
EXCEPT WHEN
IT COMES TO YOU.
YOU'RE MY GIRL,
FOREVER.
-FOREVAH!
OOH, I'M AFRAID NOT!
SHE'S MY GIRL.
CAN I TALK TO YOU?
PRIVATELY?
SURE.
[BACKGROUND CHATTER]
SO...
ARE YOU OKAY?
I MEAN,
ABOUT LAST NIGHT?
YEAH.
YEAH. ARE YOU?
YEAH! ME? YEAH.
I MEAN, LIKE, HELL, YEAH!
IT WAS AMAZING.
OKAY...
SO, NOT TOTALLY AMAZING,
BUT I PROMISE
I WILL GET BETTER AT IT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE
I DIDN'T...
HURT YOU?
NO. I'M... I'M OKAY.
I JUST MAYBE THOUGH IT WOULD BE EASIER.
OH, GOD. I DID HURT YOU.
NO. I TALKED TO MY MOM,
THOUGH, AND SHE SAID--
YOU TOLD YOUR MOTHER?
OF COURSE.
[SIREN WAILING]
HMM.
IT'S OKAY, THOUGH.
IT'S OKAY.
SHE LISTENED,
AND SHE DIDN'T GET MAD,
AND SHE KNEW
IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME.
IT'S-- IT'S REALLY...
IT'S REALLY OKAY.
WAIT. WHAT ABOUT YOUR DAD?
[LAUGHS]: I'M...
NEVER TELLING MY DAD.
HE WOULD KILL YOU.
[CHUCKLES UNEASILY]
OKAY.
SO MUCH
NEW INFORMATION.
[SHE LAUGHS]
[]
[MARISSA]: HEY, LET'S GO.
WE'RE GONNA BE LATE
FOR CLASS.
DID YOU SEE AMY YET?
[]
GOOD MORNING!
AND WELCOME TO ADVANCED
PLACEMENT WORLD LITERATURE.
I'M MISS HETHERINGTON,
AND I TRUST YOU ALL
DID YOUR SUMMER READING,
SO WE CAN DIVE RIGHT INTO
LES MISERABLES
BY VICTOR HUGO.
YES? EXCELLENT.
HEY, ALEX.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK
THE THEMES OF IDENTITY
IN THIS NOVEL ARE?
WELL, ALL OF
THE CHARACTERS
ALL USED A PSEUDONYM
OR A DISGUISE
TO HIDE WHO THEY REALLY ARE,
SO I GUESS...
WELL, I THINK
WHAT HUGO IS TRYING TO SAY
IS THAT WE CAN
NEVER REALLY KNOW SOMEONE.
EXCEPT THE HONEST CHARACTERS,
BECAUSE, BY THE END,
THEY REVEAL
WHO THEY REALLY ARE.
VERY PERCEPTIVE.
WHO ELSE?
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
SORRY TO INTERRUP YOUR CLASS, MA'AM,
BUT I NEED TO SPEAK
WITH ONE OF YOUR STUDENTS.
OF COURSE, OFFICERS.
DAD, IT WAS A TATTOO.
IT'S NOT LIKE I'M SELLING
COCAINE TO FIFTH GRADERS.
QUIET, MARISSA.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT YOU. ALEX...
CAN YOU, UH, GRAB YOUR THINGS
AND COME WITH ME, PLEASE?
RIGHT NOW, HONEY.
[]
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
JUST COME WITH ME.
[]
[OFFICER MICHAEL DRAKE]:
SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
[]
OKAY, IF I COULD GET EVERYBODY
TO OPEN THEIR BOOKS
TO PAGE SEVEN, PLEASE.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AT THE INTRODUCTION.
[]
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
I'LL EXPLAIN LATER.
IT WILL BE FINE.
[]
WHY CAN'T YOU JUS TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON?
THERE'S BEEN AN ACCIDEN AT THE PET STORE
AND YOUR MOM'S BEEN HURT.
BUT SHE'S ALL RIGHT,
ISN'T SHE?
JUST SIT TIGHT, OKAY?
DOES MY DAD KNOW?
DID SOMEBODY CALL MY DAD?
YES. HE'S ON HIS WAY
FROM WESTDALE,
BUT HE KNOWS THAT YOU'RE SAFE
AND THAT YOU'RE WITH ME.
WHERE'S MY BROTHER AND SISTER?
ANOTHER CAR
HAS BEEN DISPATCHED
TO PICK THEM UP.
THEY'RE GONNA TAKE THEM
BACK TO MY HOUSE FOR NOW,
AND CLAIRE CAN LOOK AFTER THEM.
[]
[CHIRPING]
[QUIET MURMURING,
POLICE RADIOS CRACKLING]
[SIREN WHINES DOWN]
[PANICKY]: OH, MY GOD. MOM?
[GASPS]
[MICHAEL]:
ALEX, STAY IN THE CAR.
[TIRES AND BRAKES SCREECHING]
[]
[]
[CRIES OUT]: NO!
ALEXANDRA CARLETON?
YOU'RE THE OLDEST, RIGHT? 17?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
TO YOUR MOTHER?
WHERE IS YOUR FATHER?
[ROARS]:
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
I'LL HAVE ALL OF YOUR BADGES!
PROTECT THE CRIME SCENE!
[]
ALEX?
HONEY,
I'M SO SORRY.
SO SORRY.
I DON'T HAVE THE WORDS.
IT'S JUST SO HORRIBLE.
IS MY DAD HERE?
NO, HONEY, THE POLICE
ASKED TO SEE HIM FIRST,
BUT SEAN AND ELLIE
ARE HERE, THEY'RE INSIDE.
ALEX?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
THE COPS PULLED ME
OUTTA HISTORY CLASS.
MOM HAD...
ANANANT.
AT THE PET STORE.
SHE GOT HURT--
ALEX, JUST TELL ME.
WHAT HAPPENED TO MOM?
WAIT.
MOM'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE ME
TO SWIM MEET TODAY.
ALEX, IT'S THE SEMI-FINALS.
I CAN'T MISS IT!
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
HAVE YOU HEARD
WHAT HAPPENED TO HELEN?
THEY'VE LOCKED DOWN
THE STREET,
THEY'VE TOLD EVERYONE
TO STAY IN THEIR HOUSE.
WELL, STACY, MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO
BACK TO YOUR HOUSE, THEN.
OKAY? JUST UNTIL
IT'S ALL CLEAR.
BUT DID YOU SEE THE NEWS?
[]
SORRY.
NOT THE RIGHT TIME.
[ALEX]: SEAN!
[TV REPORTER]: ...DETAILS
ARE STILL FORTHCOMING.
KEEP IT HERE
FOR THE VERY LATES ON THIS TRAGIC STORY.
...WAS MURDERED
EXECUTION-STYLE--
HELEN ELIZABETH CARLETON
WAS SHOT FOUR TIMES IN THE HEAD EARLY THIS MORNING,
A CRIME OCCURRING
IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.
CARLETON WAS THE OWNER
OF A PET STORE
ON GRAND BOULEVARD,
WHERE THE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE.
SHE WAS 45 YEARS OLD.
[GASPS IN HORROR] NO!
...UNDER INVESTIGATION.
REPORTING LIVE--
[SIBLINGS CRYING OUT IN GRIEF
AND PANIC]
[ELLIE WAILING]
ALEX? ALEX!
ALEX!
[]
MR. CARLETON?
DETECTIVE JOSEPH MORAN.
WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE.
THIS IS MY PARTNER,
DETECTIVE REED.
HELLO.
AT THIS TIME,
WE'D PREFER I IF YOU DIDN'T SPEAK
TO THE REPORTERS.
NICK? DO YOU KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR WIFE?
MR. CARLETON, WOULD YOU
GIVE US A FEW WORDS?
NICK! THE MURDER
WAS EXECUTION-STYLE--
-THAT'S ENOUGH!
-ANY IDEA WHO DID IT?
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
BACK OFF!
[REPORTERS CONTINUE CLAMORING
AS DOOR SLAMS]
[NICK]: THAT REPORTER--
WHAT DID THAT REPORTER MEAN?
"EXECUTION-STYLE?"
WE'RE GONNA BRIEF YOU
AT THE STATION LATER.
RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE TO
IDENTIFY THE BODY.
I'M SORRY,
IT HAS TO BE DONE.
[]
RIGHT UP HERE.
[]
[SHEET RUSTLES]
[GASPS SOFTLY]
[]
YEAH. THAT'S HER.
THAT'S HER.
THAT'S HELEN.
WHY DIDN'T YOU...
WHY DIDN'T YOU
CLEAN HER FACE UP?
OKAY? I-I KNOW SHE'S DEAD,
BUT HOW COULD YOU SHOW...
[SOBS]: HOW COULD YOU SHOW HER
TO ME LIKE THAT?
[]
[MORAN]:
LIKE I SAID, MR. CARLETON,
WE HAVE FAITH THA WITNESSES WILL COME FORWARD.
[REED]: BUT FIRST,
WE HAVE TO
RULE OUT ANYONE
CLOSE TO HER.
LIKE ME?
THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN,
ISN'T IT?
YES.
UNFORTUNATELY.
SEE, WHEN A WOMAN IS MURDERED,
THE HUSBAND OR BOYFRIEND
QUITE OFTEN
BECOMES THE FIRST SUSPECT.
MAY WE ASK WHERE
YOU WERE THIS MORNING?
YEAH, YOU CAN ASK.
I WAS AT CAMP WESTDALE.
AT A WORK PARTY.
I'M THE REQUISITIONS MANAGER,
ONE OF OUR SECRETARIES IS...
...IS RETIRING.
LOOK, I WANT TO KNOW WHO KILLED
MY WIFE AS MUCH AS YOU,
AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER
ALL YOUR QUESTIONS,
BUT WILL YOU PLEASE JUST TELL ME
WHAT HAPPENED,
SO I CAN GET HOME TO MY KIDS?
[]
ACCORDING TO THE CASINGS
AT THE SCENE,
THE WEAPON WAS A .22 RUGER.
APPARENTLY, THE KILLER,
OR KILLERS,
WERE WAITING UPON HER ARRIVAL.
[]
AFTER SHE PARKED HER CAR
AND GOT OUT,
THEY PUT THE GUN
TO THE BACK OF HER HEAD...
[SHOT ECHOES]
...AND FIRED FOUR SHOTS
AT POINT-BLANK RANGE.
IF IT'S ANY CONSOLATION...
SHE DIED INSTANTLY.
[COUGHS]
[NICK CLEARS HIS THROAT]
[INHALES SHAKILY]
DADDY! [BAWLING]
NO!
WHAT TOOK YOU
SO LONG?
I'M SORRY, SEAN.
I HAD TO GO DIRECTLY
TO THE POLICE STATION,
BUT I'M HERE NOW.
I'M HERE NOW.
NICK. I AM SO SORRY.
WHERE'S ALEX?
[ELLIE SOBS] DADDY!
[]
[SOBS]
[]
[]
[SOBBING QUIETLY]
[]
[]
[ALEX WEEPS]
SHE'S REALLY GONE,
ISN'T SHE?
[]
I KEEP WONDERING
IF HE'S...
OUT THERE,
WATCHING US.
WAS MOM JUST IN THE WRONG PLACE
AT THE WRONG TIME, OR...
OR IS HE GONNA COME
AFTER ALL OF US?
LISTEN TO ME.
I WILL NEVER LET ANYONE
HURT YOU.
ANY OF YOU.
EVER.
OKAY?
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[MOURNERS CHATTING,
QUIET AND INDISTINCT]
THANKS.
-CLAIRE.
-I'M SO SORRY.
ANYTHING YOU NEED.
OKAY?
ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU.
HEY. HI.
THANKS FOR COMING.
-YEAH.
-HOW YOU HOLDING UP?
[QUIET CHATTER CONTINUES]
HONEY,
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I GOT THIS.
WHY DON'T YOU GO
TAKE A BREAK?
THANKS, DAD.
THANKS FOR COMING.
HI, ALEXANDRA.
OH, HI.
UM... MR. BREWSTER, RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU'VE GROWN SO MUCH.
YOU LOOK MORE AND MORE
LIKE YOUR MOM EVERY YEAR.
OH...
I'M SO SORRY,
I WASN'T THINKING.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHA YOU MUST BE FEELING RIGHT NOW.
I'M FINE. THANKS.
ALEX, UH...
IF YOU EVER NEED TO TALK,
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT I'M HERE FOR YOU.
YEAH. OKAY.
FRANK.
GOOD OF YOU TO COME.
YOU HAVE
MY SYMPATHIES, NICK.
THANK YOU.
ALEX, WHY DON'T YOU GO SEE
IF YOUR BROTHER AND SISTER
ARE READY TO GO?
-YEAH.
-OKAY?
OKAY.
THANKS, HONEY.
[QUIET CHATTER AMONGST MOURNERS]
YOU DON'T BELONG HERE.
IT'S INAPPROPRIATE.
UH, I HAVE A RIGH TO PAY MY RESPECTS.
THAT'S TRUE.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
[]
SO I'M ASKING YOU NICELY...
STAY AWAY FROM MY FAMILY.
[]
[]
[]
[EXHALES WEARILY]
HI.
I'M DETECTIVE
JOSEPH MORAN.
YEAH. I REMEMBER.
ARE YOU GOING TO
FIND THE KILLER?
YES.
I TAKE RANDOM ACTS
OF VIOLENCE PERSONALLY.
THIS IS MY CARD.
MY CELL NUMBER'S
ON THE BACK.
LISTEN, UH, I'D LIKE
TO CONTACT YOU LATER.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO HELP ME
FIND YOUR MOTHER'S KILLER?
[]
SO, WHO MURDERS
A SUBURBAN HOUSEWIFE AND MOTHER,
IF IT'S NOT THE HUSBAND
OR BOYFRIEND?
SHE HAVE
AN INSURANCE POLICY?
NOPE. NO FINANCIAL GAIN.
OKAY. SO IT'S, UH...
IT'S ANOTHER WOMAN.
YOU KNOW, WE KICK A FEW PILLOWS,
WE FIND HER, SOLVED THE CASE.
YOU CAN'T RUSH THESE THINGS.
[SCOFFS]
LOOK.
I KNOW
THIS ISN'T OAKLAND,
IT'S A SMALL TOWN.
YOU KNOW, WE AVERAGE
THREE MURDERS A YEAR HERE.
MOST OF THOSE INVOLVE ALCOHOL,
A SHOTGUN,
AND A NAKED ASS CRAWLING OUT OF
A BEDROOM WINDOW.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO
HAVE CASES GO UNSOLVED.
MY ARREST RECORD IN OAKLAND
WAS THE BEST IN THE DEPARTMENT.
OKAY?
I'LL FIND HIM.
I JUST NEED YOU TO TRUST ME
TO DO IT MY WAY.
MORAN?
WE'RE GOING TO ANNOUNCE
THAT MONETARY REWARD
FOR INFORMATION
ON THE LOCAL NEWS TONIGHT.
THANK YOU, SIR!
IN MY EXPERIENCE,
PEOPLE TALK LOUDER
WHEN THEY GET PAID.
THEY'D BETTER.
STEP IT UP, DETECTIVES.
YES, SIR.
[MUTTERS]: YES, SIR.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
UM, WE'RE GOING
BOWLING.
-BOWLING?
-YOU BOWL?
CAN YOU BOWL?
[MARISSA]: OH, HEY, NICK.
-HEY, GUYS.
-HEY.
[ANNOUNCER]:
RUNNERS, TAKE YOUR MARKS.
READY?
SET.
[PISTOL BLASTS]
[]
[]
[CROWD CHEERS]
[]
[MARISSA]: GO! GO!
GO, ALEX!
[]
[CROWD CHEERING]
YOU'RE SO WORTH I YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE
IT TAKES
TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
YOU'RE SO WORTH I THERE'S NO ANY PART OF ME...
WELL DONE.
THANK YOU.
GREAT JOB!
YOU ROCKED THAT.
YOU WERE LIKE...
SHH...
IN FRONT OF
EVERYBODY ELSE.
THAT WAS SO FAST!
YEAH. THAT WAS,
LIKE, A PERSONAL
BEST TIME, RIGHT?
PROBABLY.
YEAH, I THINK SO.
YEAH.
DAD, I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU CAME.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO
TAKE OFF WORK,
IT'S JUST TRIALS.
I'M NOT GONNA MISS
THESE THINGS.
HEY, WHAT HAPPENED
AT THE START?
OH. NOTHING.
NOTHING. I JUST...
WASN'T READY,
THAT'S ALL.
YOU DID GREAT.
YOU'RE SO WORTH I YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE IT TAKES
TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
[DOORS BANGING]
I'LL GO
AND START DINNER.
ACTUALLY, AL-- WAIT A MINUTE.
NO, JUST HOLD ON A SECOND.
JUST WAIT A MINUTE.
WE'RE JUST A LITTLE EARLY,
THAT'S ALL.
WHAT'S GOING ON, DAD?
PATIENCE, YOUNG BUCK.
PATIENCE.
[SEAN, STUNNED]:
YOU BOUGHT ME A DIRT BIKE?
-I BOUGHT YOU A DIRT BIKE!
-YES! THANK YOU!
-YOU'RE WELCOME.
-YES!
YES!
[KIDS RUNNING]
HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO
HAVE A DIRT BIKE, DAD.
THEY'RE NOT SAFE.
HONEY, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I HAD ONE
WHEN I WAS A KID.
I'LL TEACH HIM
TO RIDE IT.
NO. YOU HAVE TO
TAKE IT BACK.
HONEY...
LOOK HOW HAPPY HE IS.
I THINK I JUST BECAME
FATHER OF THE YEAR.
YEAH, BUT WHEN
HE ASKED FOR ONE,
MOM SAID NO.
ALEX.
IT'S MY DECISION, OKAY?
[SIGNS FORM]
THANKS.
DAD!
CAN YOU COME AND HELP?
[NICK LAUGHS]
[ALEX SIGHS]
LOOK AT THIS! HUH?
RULE NUMBER ONE: HELMET!
ALL RIGHT.
GIVE HIM THAT HELMET.
[LAUGHTER AND CHATTER]
YEAH. WELL, WE'RE, UH...
WE'RE DOING OKAY.
WE'RE DOING... BETTER.
BUT, LOOK, ELISE,
THE KIDS ARE HERE, SO, UH...
YEAH. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING IN.
YEAH. I'LL CALL YOU BACK LATER.
I WILL. [PHONE BEEPS]
[KIDS BANTERING]
SO... WHAT DO YOU GUYS
HAVE GOING ON FOR TODAY?
UH, NOT MUCH, WHY?
WELL, UH, BECAUSE I THOUGH IT MIGHT BE TIME TO PACK UP
YOUR MOTHER'S THINGS.
[]
YOU GUYS, LOOK.
I KNOW
THAT'S NOT EASY TO HEAR, BUT...
MAYBE THE BEST THING
THAT WE CAN DO HERE
IS TRY TO GET BACK TO NORMAL,
SOMEHOW,
AND I'M JUST AFRAID THAT SEEING
YOUR MOTHER'S THINGS
LYING AROUND EVERY DAY,
IT JUST MAKES I THAT MUCH HARDER
FOR ALL OF US TO...
MOVE ON.
[]
SO... HUSBAND HAS AN ALIBI.
SOMEBODY ELSE JUS WALKS UP TO THIS WOMAN
IN BROAD DAYLIGH AND SHOOTS HER FOUR TIMES
IN THE HEAD?
HOW CAN THERE BE NO WITNESSES?
THE REWARD MONEY
HASN'T PANNED OUT.
THERE HAS TO BE
A ROAD NOT TAKEN.
FIND IT.
[DET. WELSH WALKS OFF]
JOE, MAN, UH,
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU,
BUT, UH...
I WAS WONDERING
IF YOU HAD ANY UPDATE
ON THE CARLETON CASE?
YOU'RE CLOSE WITH THE FAMILY,
RIGHT?
YEAH. NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR.
ALEX HAS BEEN
BEST FRIENDS
WITH MY DAUGHTER
SINCE GRADE SCHOOL.
WHAT DO YOU...
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ALEX?
SHE'S A GOOD KID.
RESPONSIBLE.
THEY LOOKED EXACTLY ALIKE, TOO.
SAME SMILE, SAME LAUGH.
[MIKE]: YOU KNOW,
DETECTIVE REED SAID
THERE ARE STILL NO WITNESSES
FOR A HIT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.
ISN'T THAT UNUSUAL?
WILL YOU EXCUSE ME?
YEAH.
[SHUTS ENGINE OFF]
[DOOR BANGS SHUT]
[SIGHS EMOTIONALLY]
HANG ON.
ISN'T THA YOUR MOTHER'S SWEATER?
UM, YEAH.
PUT IT IN THE BOX, HONEY.
NO. I WANT TO KEEP IT.
IT'S ONLY GOING TO UPSE YOUR BROTHER AND YOUR SISTER
WHEN THEY SEE IT.
WE DON'T WANT THAT.
DO WE?
[]
COME ON, SWEETHEART.
[]
THANK YOU.
[DOOR THUDS]
[]
WELL... AHEM. THAT'S DONE.
[]
LOOK, GUYS...
I KNOW, THIS IS HARD.
CLOTHES ARE JUST THINGS
YOU BUY AT THE STORE,
AND YOUR MOTHER WILL BE
IN YOUR HEARTS... ALWAYS.
[]
EXCUSE ME?
HI.
I'M ALEX CARLETON.
I'M HERE TO TALK
TO THE DETECTIVE
ON MY MOTHER'S CASE.
I THINK HIS LAST NAME
WAS MORAN.
I'M SORRY,
MAY I ASK HOW OLD YOU ARE?
PERHAPS IT WOULD BE BETTER
IF YOUR FATHER
OR ANOTHER ADUL CAME INTO THE STATION.
WHY DOES ANOTHER ADUL HAVE TO COME IN?
LOOK. I'M HER DAUGHTER.
THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH.
WHY DON'T I
TAKE A MESSAGE
AND SOMEONE WILL CALL
YOUR FATHER WITH AN UPDATE?
NO. I WANT TO TALK TO HIM NOW.
CAN YOU PLEASE CALL HIM?
I SAID
I'LL DELIVER THE MESSAGE.
[SIGHS]: NO! YOU KNOW WHAT?
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
MY MOTHER WAS MURDERED,
AND I HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HER CASE.
I AM HER DAUGHTER,
DO YOU NOT GET THAT?
[]
[SIGHS, IRATE]
[]
THAT WAS SOME...
DISPLAY.
YES, IT WAS.
[]
[]
ALEX!
-HEY.
-HEY!
WAIT UP.
YOU WERE GREAT.
YOU COULD GO
TO THE STATE FINALS
WITH THOSE TIMES.
I JUST TOLD THE COACH
I QUIT.
QUIT?
YOU HAVEN'T QUI ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE BEFORE.
WELL, I HAVE TO
BE AT HOME MORE.
I'VE GOT TO TAKE
CARE OF THE KIDS.
[MARISSA]:
"THE KIDS?"
YOU SOUND LIKE
AN AMISH WIFE.
LOOK, YOU'RE COMING
TO THE BOWLING ALLEY
TONIGHT, RIGHT?
I COM...
I COMPLETELY FORGOT.
I'VE GOT TO HELP ELLIE
WITH HER SCHOOL PROJECT.
[TEXT ALERT CHIMING]
UH, ELLIE, I AM GOING TO
PUT AWAY THE GROCERIES
AND THEN I'LL HELP YOU
WITH YOUR HOMEWORK, OKAY?
'KAY.
[DOOR OPENS AND THEN SHUTS]
HEY, GUYS.
HEY! HEY.
HOW'RE YOU DOING?
GOOD.
OH, SMELLS GOOD.
UM, WE HAVE TO EA RIGHT AWAY, THOUGH,
'CAUSE I HAVE TO
GO SOMEWHERE,
AND SEAN WON'T DO
HIS HOMEWORK.
HE'S GETTING A "C"
IN ALGEBRA.
SEAN! DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
[DOORBELL RINGS]
DAD, ARE YOU GOING TO
GET THAT?
[SEAN]: HE WENT UPSTAIRS.
[ALEX, QUIETLY]
HE WENT UPSTAIRS.
OH, HI.
HI.
DID THEY TELL YOU
THAT I CAME TO TALK TO YOU?
YES, MA'AM.
IS YOUR FATHER HOME?
YEAH.
MAY I?
YEAH.
DAD?
[FLOORBOARDS CREAKING]
DAD!
[FOOTFALLS ON STEPS]
MR. CARLETON.
-DETECTIVE.
-YEAH.
-HI. IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
-YEAH.
DOES THIS MEAN YOU'VE GO SOME GOOD NEWS FOR US?
NOT GOOD,
I'M AFRAID.
AT THIS TIME, WE MUS OFFICIALLY CLOSE HELEN'S CASE.
CLOSE...
CAN YOU JUST DO THAT?
DON'T YOU HAVE ANYTHING
TO TELL US?
WELL, YOUR WIFE
WAS WELL-LOVED IN THIS TOWN,
SHE HAD NO ENEMIES,
SO WE STILL MAINTAIN
IT WAS A RANDOM INCIDENT,
PROBABLY A ROBBERY GONE BAD,
POSSIBLY FOR DRUG MONEY.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY,
AFTER THREE MONTHS,
WE'VE EXHAUSTED ALL OF OUR LEADS
WITHOUT PRODUCING
A VIABLE SUSPECT.
THAT'S NOT FAIR!
I AM EQUALLY FRUSTRATED
BY THE LACK OF MOVEMEN IN THE CASE.
I'M SORRY.
SO THAT'S WHAT YOU CAME HERE
TO TELL ME,
IN FRONT OF MY CHILDREN,
THAT HELEN'S MURDER
IS NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED?
I WISH I HAD BETTER NEWS.
I WILL LEAVE YOU GUYS TO IT.
[DOOR THUDS]
HEY!
I THOUGHT YOU SAID
YOU TOOK RANDOM ACTS
OF VIOLENCE PERSONALLY?
I DO.
[]
[BACKGROUND MUSIC PLAYING,
PATRONS CHATTING]
-HERE YOU GO.
THANKS.
WHAT?
THE REWARD SIGN'S
STILL UP.
[]
SEAN? SEAN!
WHY DID YOU JUST DO THAT?
IT'S OVER. DETECTIVE DICKWAD
CLOSED THE CASE.
WHOA. WATCH YOUR MOUTH.
MOM NEVER WOULD'VE
LET YOU TALK LIKE THAT.
HI, GUYS.
HOW'S IT GOING?
[MUSIC FILTERING FROM SHOP]
ALEX,
CAN I TALK TO YOU A MINUTE?
I'VE GOT MY HANDS FULL.
CAN IT WAIT?
IT'LL JUST TAKE A MINUTE.
OKAY, LOOK.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER.
OKAY. COME ON.
I'LL MEET YOU AT HOME.
WHAT IS IT?
WHY DIDN'T YOU SHOW UP
AT THE BOWLING PARTY?
OH...
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEY CLOSED MY MOM'S CASE
LAST NIGHT,
AND IT KIND OF TOOK OVER
MY LIFE, SO.
[PHONE BEEPING]
ALEX, WE REALLY HAVE TO TALK.
[PHONE BEEPING]
I HAVE TO ANSWER THIS.
HELLO?
[BACKGROUND CHATTER]
THANK YOU.
[DOOR BELL JINGLES]
HELLO.
HI.
THANKS FOR COMING.
HAVE A SEAT.
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME FOOD?
SOMETHING TO DRINK?
NO, THANKS.
I'M SORRY
WE CLOSED THE CASE,
BUT THE TRUTH IS,
I NEVER STOPPED WORKING ON IT,
AND I'VE HAD A FEW BREAKS.
FIRST, ALEX, I DON'T BELIEVE
YOUR MOTHER'S DEATH
WAS A ROBBERY.
SHE HAD OVER $200 IN HER PURSE
AND IT WASN'T TOUCHED.
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHAT I ASKED YOU
AT THE FUNERAL?
YEAH, IF I WOULD HELP YOU
FIND MY MOTHER'S KILLER.
YES. WELL, IT TURNS OUT,
I NEED YOUR HELP NOW.
SO, WOULD YOU BE WILLING
TO HELP ME?
YES.
OF COURSE I WILL.
SEE, ALEX, ME TALKING TO YOU
LIKE THIS, A MINOR--
I'M A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL!
WELL, FOR THIS
TO WORK,
EVERYTHING WE DO
MUST REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.
YOU CAN'T MENTION ME TO ANYONE--
YOUR FATHER, YOUR BROTHER
OR SISTER, YOUR BOYFRIEND,
YOUR FRIENDS AT SCHOOL--
NO MATTER HOW HARD IT GETS.
NOW, I'VE GOT TO BE FRANK.
BECAUSE THE CRIME
WASN'T A ROBBERY,
WE MUST ASSUME
IT WAS PERSONAL.
SEE, 9 OUT OF
10 PEOPLE
DIE AT THE HANDS
OF SOMEBODY THEY KNOW.
YOU THINK MY MOM KNEW
WHO KILLED HER?
YES.
BUT IF IT WAS SOMEONE
THAT SHE KNEW,
THEN DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA
OF WHO IT WAS?
I HAVE A FEW IDEAS.
[]
[MURMURS]: OKAY.
[FRIDGE DOOR RATTLES]
I HAVE TO SKIP MY FIRST CLASS
AND STUDY FOR MY FINALS TODAY.
CAN YOU TAKE THE KIDS
TO SCHOOL FOR ME?
YEAH. WHERE--
WHERE ARE MY...
-[KEYS JANGLE]
-OH, THANKS.
SEAN! WHERE'S ELLIE?
SHE'S OUTSIDE.
[]
[MURMURING FAINTLY]
CRAZY. THIS IS CRAZY.
[SIGHS]
[]
[REED]:
LOOK, JUST BLANKET THE STORE.
LOTS OF PICTURES.
STANDARD STUFF, RIGHT?
OKAY? THANKS.
WHY DOES CRIME GO UP DURING
THE MERRIEST TIME OF YEAR?
LACK VERSUS LUST.
THOSE WHO THINK THEY LACK
SUDDENLY LUST FOR MORE.
[PHONE CHIMES]
I GOTTA GO.
CAN YOU
FINISH UP HERE?
WHAT? YOU GOT A HOT DATE?
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
TERRY.
[DOOR BELL JINGLES]
HEY.
SORRY I'M LATE.
THAT'S OKAY.
I JUST WANTED
TO TELL YOU THAT I WENT AHEAD
AND WENT THROUGH
MY MOTHER'S THINGS,
LOOKING FOR THREATENING LETTERS
OR SOMETHING,
BUT I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING.
DID YOU LOOK THROUGH
YOUR FATHER'S THINGS?
WHY?
LOOK. I'M NOT GONNA
LIE TO YOU.
YOUR FATHER IS A SUSPECT HERE.
WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THAT.
YOU KNOW WHAT? NO.
[GLASS TOPPLES]
YOU KNOW WHAT?
MY FATHER LOVED MY MOTHER.
THEY WERE MARRIED FOR 18 YEARS.
WE HAVE INFORMATION, OKAY?
REASON TO BELIEVE--
...HE'S PLAYING A ROLE--
OH, YEAH? WHAT INFORMATION?
HE'S BEEN HAVING
AN AFFAIR FOR TWO YEARS,
WITH A BARTENDER
NAMED RUTHIE WEBBER.
NOW PLEASE SIT DOWN.
I DON'T...
BELIEVE YOU.
HE WOULDN'T DO THAT.
HE'S INNOCENT.
I KNOW HE IS.
WELL, THEN HELP ME PROVE IT.
WELL, HOW AM I SUPPOSED
TO DO THAT?
I NEED YOU TO GO
THROUGH HIS FILES,
BRING ME HIS RECEIPTS,
HIS ADDRESS BOOK.
REPOR UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR.
YOU KNOW, SPENDING LOTS,
STAYING OUT LATE.
YOU WANT ME
TO SPY ON MY OWN FATHER?
LOOK, YOU CAN WORRY ABOUT THAT,
OR YOU CAN WORRY ABOU WHO KILLED YOUR MOTHER.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP ME
PROVE YOUR FATHER'S INNOCENCE,
THIS IS WHA YOU HAVE TO DO, ALEX.
[]
[DOOR SHUTS, KEYS JANGLING]
HEY.
WELL!
IT'S ABOUT TIME
YOU FILLED THOSE OUT.
YOU NEED ANY HELP?
LET'S SEE. [SIGHS]
[]
NO WEST COAST SCHOOLS?
[]
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO
DO WITHOUT YOU?
[FORCES A CHUCKLE]
I GOTTA GO MAKE DINNER.
[]
[LAUGHS]: SEAN!
WHERE'S DAD?
I DON'T KNOW.
[SHIVERS]: HEY! WHEW.
JUST, UH, TAKING CARE OF
A LITTLE SOMETHING OUTSIDE.
[SIGHS AND CLEARS HIS THROAT]
[ALEX SETS A DISH DOWN]
WHAT?
NOTHING.
YOU'RE STARING AT ME.
DID YOU HEAR SOMETHING TODAY
I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
NO.
YOU TOLD HER, DIDN'T YOU?
HUH?
-I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
-ME NEITHER!
TELL ME WHAT?
DAD GOT YOU AN EARLY
CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
ELLIE!
-A CAR!
-OH...
YOU BOUGHT ME A CAR?
TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
HANG ON A SECOND.
YOU BOUGHT ELLIE A COMPUTER,
SEAN A NEW DIRT BIKE,
AND NOW
YOU'RE BUYING ME A CAR?
YEAH.
WHERE ARE YOU GETTING
ALL THE MONEY FROM?
OUR SAVINGS.
LOOK, HONEY,
MOM'S CAR IS SHOT,
AND, BESIDES,
IT CAN'T BE EASY FOR YOU
TO DRIVE HER CAR
EVERY DAY, SO.
[LAUGHS]
WHOO!
[ALEX LAUGHS]
OH, MY--
[GASPS]: WHAT?
[LAUGHING]: THIS IS AMAZING!
[CHUCKLES]:
YOU TOTALLY DESERVE IT.
YOU HAVE REALLY STEPPED UP
AND TAKEN CARE OF THIS FAMILY.
I AM JUST SO PROUD OF YOU.
THANKS, DAD.
AH, YOU'RE WELCOME.
[CHUCKLES]
-HEY, DAD?
-MM-HMM?
UM, YOU DON'T KNOW ANYONE
WHO WOULD'VE WANTED TO HURT MOM,
DO YOU?
NO!
NO, I-I CAN' THINK OF ANYONE.
BELIEVE ME, I HAVE TRIED.
Y-Y-YOUR MO--
YOUR MOM WAS...
SHE WAS AMAZING,
AND EVERYBODY LOVED HER,
AND WHO WOULD WAN TO HURT HER? WHY?
[BREATHES DEEPLY,
THEN SIGHS]
I WAS JUST TOLD THAT--
THAT MOST PEOPLE
ARE KILLED BY SOMEONE
THAT THEY KNOW.
WHO TOLD YOU THAT?
JUST SOMETHING THAT I HEARD.
HEY. LOOK AT ME.
YOUR MOM...
WAS KILLED
BY SOME HORRIBLE STRANGER.
SOME ROBBERY GONE BAD.
AND IT WAS AWFUL...
BUT THESE THINGS HAPPEN,
AND NOW WE'VE GOT TO
TRY TO PUT IT BEHIND US.
'KAY?
-YEAH.
-YEAH?
YEAH, YEAH.
YOU'RE RIGHT. UM...
HEY, LOOK,
DO YOU MIND
IF I GO SEE CODY?
I JUST HAVE SOMETHING
THAT I WANT TO GIVE HIM.
WELL, YOU, UH...
[KNOCKS ON HOOD]
...GO RIGHT AHEAD,
I GO YOU COVERED HERE.
-THANKS, DAD.
-YEAH.
YOU SEEM DIFFERENT.
DIFFERENT GOOD
OR DIFFERENT BAD?
JUST DIFFERENT.
BUT... DON'T WORRY.
YOU'RE STILL THE PRETTIEST GIRL
I'VE EVER SEEN.
I GOT YOU SOMETHING.
HUH? OH.
BUT...
I DIDN'T GET YOU
ANYTHING.
THAT'S OKAY.
YEAH, THIS, UM,
IT WAS MY MOM'S.
SHE COLLECTED BOOKS,
AND I KNOW LES MISERABLES
IS YOUR FAVORITE,
OR THE ONLY ONE
YOU'VE EVER READ TO THE END.
ALEX... I CAN'T KEEP THIS.
IT WAS YOUR MOM'S.
I WANT YOU TO HAVE IT.
WE DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF HER STUFF LEFT.
HE, UM, HE MADE US GIVE AWAY
ALL OF HER CLOTHES ALREADY.
IT FELT REALLY SOON AND
I WASN'T REALLY READY FOR IT.
"HE" MEANING
YOUR DAD, RIGHT?
LOOK, I'M SURE...
HE'S FINE,
AND...
HE'S JUST DEALING WITH I THE ONLY WAY HE KNOWS HOW.
YEAH...
YEAH, YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT.
I'M SORRY. THIS MUST BE
GETTING REALLY BORING FOR YOU.
NO. NO, NO.
[]
OKAY.
[]
RECEIPTS, RECEIPTS...
MISCELLANEOUS.
[]
CAR?
I FOUND A RECEIP FOR A NEW MUSTANG
IN MY DAD'S NAME,
AND THE REGISTRATION
IS UNDER "RUTH WEBBER."
I'M SORRY, I JUST...
I COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT HE WOULD HAVE AN AFFAIR.
I'M SORRY
YOU HAD TO FIND OUT THIS WAY.
LOOK, BUT EVEN--
EVEN IF...
HE DID HAVE AN AFFAIR,
HE WAS STILL AT THE PARTY
AT CAMP WESTDALE
WHEN MY MOM WAS MURDERED,
SO HE COULDN'T HAVE SHOT HER.
YOU KNOW, HE COULD'VE
HIRED SOMEBODY
TO END YOUR MOTHER'S LIFE,
RATHER THAN DO IT HIMSELF.
YOU REALLY HATE
MY DAD, DON'T YOU?
IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL.
I HATE THE CASE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
MURDER USED TO BE SHOCKING,
BUT NOW IT'S BECOME ORDINARY.
I DON'T THINK
YOUR MOTHER'S DEATH
WAS ORDINARY.
DO YOU?
NO.
LOOK, IT'S ALMOS FOUR MONTHS LATER
AND NO ONE IS EVEN TALKING
ABOUT IT ANYMORE.
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T!
FUNERALS AND SUDDEN DEATHS
CREATE THIS MOMEN OF HEIGHTENED AWARENESS,
WHERE WE STOP AND WE REALIZE
HOW TEMPORARY LIFE IS,
AND HOW EVERYTHING CAN STOP,
ANYTIME.
BUT LIVING WITH THAT AWARENESS
IS JUST...
IT'S... IT'S TOO--
IT'S TOO PAINFUL,
SO PEOPLE HAVE TO LET THINGS
GO BACK TO NORMAL.
EXCEPT PEOPLE
LIKE YOU AND ME...
[QUIETLY]: ...WE CAN'T.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
PEOPLE LIKE YOU?
YEAH, I LOST SOMEONE,
JUST LIKE YOU, ALEX.
WHO DID YOU LOSE?
MY SISTER.
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?
SHE WAS MURDERED.
[]
WHO DID IT?
HER CASE WAS NEVER SOLVED.
BUT YOUR CASE...
IS NOT GONNA END LIKE HERS.
OKAY?
NO.
[]
AT THIS SPECIAL TIME
OF YEAR
HEY!
I'M SO VERY GLAD
YOU'RE HERE
MERRY CHRISTMAS
AW!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU
I HEAR SLEIGH BELLS
IN THE DISTANCE
AND SONGS SUNG
BY A CHOIR
IT'S SNOWIN'
AND IT'S BLOWIN'
SO LET'S STAY HERE
BY THE FIRE
[QUIET FOOTFALLS PASSING]
[DOOR BANGS]
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
[]
[]
[FAINTLY]: HEY!
[]
[ENGINE STARTS]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[CELL RINGING]
[EXHALES]
ALEX,
IT'S 3:00 IN THE MORNING.
I JUST SAW HIM WITH RUTHIE.
THEY WERE HAVING SEX
IN THE CAR THAT HE BOUGHT HER.
HE OPENED PRESENTS WITH US
AND PRAYED WITH US
AND THEN WENT OUT AND HAD SEX
WITH HER ON CHRISTMAS.
HOW DID YOU SEE ALL THAT?
I FOLLOWED HIM. HE LEFT THE HOUSE AT 2:00.
DID HE SEE YOU?
NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
OKAY, ALEX. LISTEN.
I NEED YOU
TO GO HOME RIGHT NOW.
BUT WHAT ABOU WHAT I JUST SAW?
I KNOW IT'S CONFUSING,
BUT I NEED YOU TO GO HOME,
RIGHT NOW,
GET INTO BED AND GO TO SLEEP.
WHY ARE YOU SO MAD AT ME?
BECAUSE WHAT YOU JUST DID
COULD'VE BLOWN UP
IN BOTH OUR FACES.
JUST... [HUFFS] YOU'LL HEAR FROM ME.
[BEEPS PHONE OFF AND GROANS]
[]
[]
[DOOR OPENING]
I KNOW YOU'RE AWAKE.
ALEX, THE ENGINE'S WARM.
YOU LEFT THE LIGHTS ON
IN THE CAR.
WHERE WERE YOU?
UM... [SIGHS]
COME ON, ALEX.
I WAS OUT WITH CODY.
YEAH.
YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT I--
THAT'S WHA I THOUGHT.
I REMEMBER THAT.
I WAS 17...
[SIGHS]: ONCE.
YEAH. UM.
I'M SORRY. I...
I WON'T SNEAK OUT AGAIN.
THAT'S OKAY.
THAT'S OKAY, HONEY.
I WAS JUST...
I WAS JUST WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
I WENT OUT LOOKING FOR YOU,
BUT I GUESS
YOU BEAT ME BACK HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU
GIVE ME YOUR CAR KEYS?
I'LL TURN THE LIGHTS OFF
IN YOUR CAR.
OKAY.
[KEYS JANGLE]
THANKS.
GOOD NIGHT.
[RELIEVED SIGH
AS DOOR SHUTS]
[QUIET CHATTER OF PATRONS]
WHY DON'T YOU
HAVE A SEAT?
I CAN'T BE LATE
FOR CLASSES.
I'VE MISSED TOO MUCH
SCHOOL ALREADY.
THOSE ARE
BOTH THEIR WILLS,
INSURANCE PAPERS,
MY DAD'S ADDRESS BOOK.
I'LL PICK THEM UP
IN TWO HOURS,
GO HOME,
PUT EVERYTHING BACK,
AND THEN PICK UP
THE KIDS, OKAY?
OKAY. THANKS.
LISTEN.
HEY.
I KNOW
THIS IS HARD.
I REALLY DO.
[SHE CHUCKLES DRYLY]
NO. NO, YOU WANNA KNOW
WHAT'S HARD?
IS WAKING UP EVERY MORNING
AND HAVING TO PRETEND
LIKE I DIDN'T SEE HIM
HAVING SEX WITH THAT WOMAN.
I WATCH HIM
HAVING BREAKFAST,
SMILING, DRINKING COFFEE,
AND I JUST WAN TO SCREAM AT HIM,
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
OUR MOM IS DEAD!"
AND THEY'RE SELLING
VANILLA LATTES
WHERE HER PET STORE USED TO BE,
AND SOME DETECTIVE IS TRYING TO
CONVINCE ME THAT HE KILLED HER.
BUT I CAN'T SAY
ANY OF THAT TO HIM,
BECAUSE I'M NOT ALLOWED TO TALK
TO ANYONE BUT YOU,
AND WHEN I NEEDED
TO TALK TO YOU,
YOU HUNG UP ON ME.
I'M SORRY.
I'LL BE BACK IN TWO HOURS.
[]
[COPIER WHIRS]
HEY, JOE.
HEY.
I JUST GOT BACK
FROM THE D.A.'S OFFICE.
UH, HE'S GOING TO
FILE TODAY
ON THAT ROBBERY/ATTEMPTED MURDER
OF THE LIQUOR STORE CLERK.
GOOD!
YEAH, HE WANTED TO
SAY THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR THE EVIDENCE TRAIL.
ALL THE MARKERS
WERE VERY, UH...
THOROUGH.
HE'D NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE IT.
GOOD TO HEAR.
YEAH. YOU SEEM
PREOCCUPIED LATELY.
YEAH. I'VE GOT SOME
OTHER THINGS GOING ON.
YEAH, THAT'S WHA I WAS HOPING
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
HEY, WAIT. WAIT UP.
[QUIETLY]: LOOK,
A COUPLE OF THE GUYS
SAID THEY SAW YOU TODAY
IN A DINER
WITH A TEENAGE GIRL.
AND THEY, UH...
THEY REACHED OU TO ME, CONCERNED.
YOU WANT TO
TALK ABOUT ANYTHING?
NO.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN.
IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
[]
[BACKGROUND CHATTER,
INDISTINCT]
OKAY. I MADE COPIES.
MAKE SURE
YOU PUT EVERYTHING BACK
EXACTLY WHERE
YOU FOUND IT, OKAY?
YEAH, I KNOW.
I'M NOT STUPID.
AND, UH, CHECK OU THE ADDRESS BOOK.
YOU SHOULD RECOGNIZE
THE MAJORITY OF THE NAMES,
SO LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S
ANY UNFAMILIAR ONES.
LOOK. I HAD AN IDEA.
THERE'S THIS GUY,
FRANK BREWSTER?
MY DAD DIDN'T SEEM VERY HAPPY
THAT HE WAS AT THE FUNERAL.
HE WOULD TAKE US FOR LUNCH
ONCE A YEAR,
BUT MY DAD REALLY
DIDN'T LIKE HIM.
FRANK WAS CHECKED OUT CLEAN.
LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S
ANY UNFAMILIAR NAMES IN THERE.
WHY ARE YOU SO COLD
AND PROFESSIONAL
ALL THE TIME,
LIKE YOU HAVE NO EMOTIONS?
WE CAN'T MEET AT THE DINER
ANYMORE.
WHY? IT'S CLOSE TO MY SCHOOL.
WHEN I FIND A NEW LOCATION, I'LL
LET YOU KNOW.
WHAT ABOUT RUTHIE WEBBER?
MAYBE SHE WANTED MY DAD
ALL FOR HERSELF.
WE'VE QUESTIONED RUTHIE.
SHE'S GOT AN ALIBI.
BUT SO DOES MY DAD!
YOU BELIEVE THEIR ALIBIS,
AND NOT HIS. WHY?
WHY DO YOU THINK, ALEX?
HUH?
YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S LATE. I...
I HAVE TO GO.
[]
[]
[LAUGHING]
OKAY. HERE'S OUR SELECTION.
"CREAMY DILL PICKLE." YES.
[MARISSA, AS DOOR OPENS]:
ALL RIGHT?
[CODY]: READY TO GE SOME OM-NOM-NOM-NOMS?
[LAUGHS]: WHAT?
[CODY]: IT'S WHA THEY CALL SNACKS,
'CAUSE YOU'RE, LIKE,
"OM-NOM-NOM-NOM!"
[MARISSA LAUGHING]
DILL PICKLE AND CHEESY NACHOS?
THINK "NACHO-CHEESE."
[BAGS RUSTLING]
[CHUCKLING AWKWARDLY]
HEY.
[MARISSA]: HEY.
WHAT ARE YOU
GUYS DOING?
UH, WE'RE JUST SHOPPING
FOR HIGH-QUALITY FOOD
FOR THE SENIOR CLASS
SKI TRIP.
[]
DID YOU READ MY TEXT?
NO, I'M...
I'M SORRY.
I'VE JUST GOT A LOT GOING ON.
YOU KNOW WHAT, ALEX?
WE'RE BUSY, TOO.
BUT WE KEEP CALLING YOU
AND WE KEEP TEXTING YOU,
BUT YOU JUST NEVER
ANSWER US.
WE REALLY ARE WORRIED.
WHEN DID...
YOU GUYS
START HOOKING UP?
WHAT? NO--
THAT WAS A LO OF "WE"S.
"WE TEXTED." "WE CALLED."
"WE'RE WORRIED."
YOU KNOW WHAT, ALEX?
NO. MARISSA--
NO. YES, CODY AND I
ARE TOGETHER NOW.
BUT YOU WANT TO
KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE WE SPEN SO MUCH TIME
TALKING ABOUT YOU,
AND WORRYING ABOUT YOU,
AND BEING HURT BY YOU,
THAT IT...
IT JUST HAPPENED.
[]
I DON'T CARE.
I DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS
IN THIS STUPID TOWN ANYMORE.
[FOOTSTEPS]
SEAN, DID YOU
DO YOUR HOMEWORK?
NOT YET.
NO VIDEO GAMES
UNTIL YOUR HOMEWORK'S DONE.
YOU KNOW THE RULES.
WHOA. TAKE IT EASY, ALEX.
A GUY CAN RELAX AND CHILL WITH
HIS OLD MAN FROM TIME TO TIME.
RELAX AND CHILL?
EVER SINCE MOM DIED,
YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO BE
HIS BUDDY INSTEAD OF HIS DAD.
HOW DARE YOU TALK TO ME
THAT WAY, IN FRONT OF SEAN?
HE LOOKS UP TO YOU,
AND YOU'RE LETTING HIM
SLACK OFF,
SO I HAVE TO COME IN,
AND I HAVE TO BE
THE BAD GUY.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I AM SICK OF IT!
CONGRATULATIONS, ALEX.
YOU SOUND JUST LIKE YOUR MOM.
ALWAYS BITCHING AT ME.
OH, YEAH?
ALWAYS
BITCHING AT YOU?
IS THAT WHY
YOU HAD AN AFFAIR?
WHO TOLD YOU THAT?
IT'S A SMALL TOWN, DAD.
PEOPLE TALK.
IT'S NOT TRUE, ALEX.
HER NAME'S RUTHIE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO
LIE TO ME, DAD.
[]
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
[]
DID YOU STOP LOVING MOM?
NO...
ALEX, NO! OF COURSE NOT.
YOUR MOM WAS THE...
THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.
SHE STILL IS!
I MADE A MISTAKE.
ARE YOU STILL SEEING RUTHIE?
NO, HONEY.
OF COURSE NOT.
THAT WAS OVER
LAST YEAR.
I PROMISE.
[]
OKAY.
[]
[]
OH, HON, YOU CAN'T BE IN HERE.
IT'S 21-AND-OVER.
I'M NICK CARLETON'S
DAUGHTER.
[]
DID YOU KILL MY MOM?
[]
I DIDN'T KILL
YOUR MOM.
I WAS JUST AS
SHOCKED AS ANYBODY.
THE TRUTH IS,
FIRST THING
I THOUGHT ABOU WAS YOU KIDS.
WERE YOU THINKING ABOUT US
WHEN YOU HAD AN AFFAIR
WITH MY DAD?
WOW. YOU ARE SOMETHING.
WHY DID YOU STAR SLEEPING WITH HIM,
IF YOU KNEW HE WAS MARRIED?
I KNOW
THIS PROBABLY DOESN'T MEAN MUCH,
COMING FROM ME,
BUT I'M SORRY ABOU WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR MOM.
DO YOU THINK THAT MY DAD
HAD SOMETHING TO DO
WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?
[EXHALES HEAVILY]
THAT WAS MY SECOND THOUGHT.
YEAH.
[]
[ENGAGES LOCK]
WE NEED TO TALK.
WHERE WERE YOU?
I WAS OUT FOR A DRIVE,
LIKE I SAID.
OUT FOR A DRIVE?
WELL, YOU'VE BEEN GONE
FOR HOURS.
THE KIDS ARE ASLEEP.
WHERE WERE YOU?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
EXCUSE ME?
SORRY, IT'S NONE OF MY BUS--
NONE OF MY BUSINESS?
WHAT HAS GOTTEN
INTO YOU LATELY?
YOUR GRADES
ARE PLUMMETING,
THERE'S NO GROCERIES
IN THIS HOUSE,
YOU'RE STAYING OU TILL ALL HOURS?
IS THAT HOW
YOU TAKE CARE OF THIS FAMILY?
YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD TALK!
WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
I DO NOT KNOW...
I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
I AM THE MOTHER, THE MAID,
THE COOK, THE DRIVER.
THE REAL QUESTION IS, DAD,
WHO ARE YOU?
WHO ARE YOU?
BECAUSE I DON' KNOW ANYMORE.
DON'T... YOU JUDGE ME.
DON'T YOU DARE JUDGE ME.
I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD TIME
TO MOURN MY WIFE,
I'VE BEEN SO WORRIED
ABOUT ALL OF YOU.
-SO BUSY WORRYING ABOUT US?
-THAT'S RIGHT.
SO WORRIED THA YOU'VE BEEN OU
IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGH SCREWING RUTHIE
IN HER BRAND-NEW CAR?
[SMACK]
[ALEX GASPS AND WINCES]
[SLAMS DOOR]
[]
I'M SO SORRY.
THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE,
IT WAS WRONG.
I FEEL AWFUL. I'M...
[SIGHS]
I'VE BEEN ASKING A LOT OF YOU
LATELY, TOO MUCH.
IT'S JUST, WITH
MOM BEING GONE,
I...
I FIND IT HARD--
[VOICE BREAKS, CLEARS THROAT]
IT'S HARD,
AND I KNOW IT'S HARD.
AND I WANT YOU
TO KNOW
THAT I'M STILL HERE,
I'M STILL YOUR DAD.
I STILL LOVE YOU.
AND I HOPE
YOU KNOW THAT.
[]
[]
[]
WHAT'S--
WHAT'S GOING ON?
MY FATHER SLAPPED ME.
HE NEVER HIT ME BEFORE.
MAYBE HE KNOWS.
MAYBE I BLEW IT SOMEHOW.
OKAY, OKAY--
IS THERE ANY REASON
WHY HE WOULD BE SUSPICIOUS?
I DON'T THINK SO.
I HAVE BEEN SO CAREFUL.
[VOICE BREAKS]:
BUT I'M... I'M TIRED.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA
HOW HARD IT IS
TO BE IN THAT HOUSE
WITH HIM.
[]
[]
'KAY, LOOK AT ME.
LOOK AT ME.
TELL ME ABOUT THE ADDRESS BOOK.
UM... THERE WAS ONE NAME
THAT I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE.
BRUCE WILKINS?
YEAH, WE'RE AWARE OF HIM.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN INFORMAL
TALK WITH HIM
TOMORROW AT THE STATION.
ANYTHING ELSE
WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
[MEEKLY]:
I SPOKE TO RUTHIE WEBBER.
YOU DID WHAT?
DAMN, ALEX!
THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR
WILL JEOPARDIZE OUR CASE
AND PUT YOU IN DANGER!
IS THAT WHA YOU WANT TO DO?
PLEASE!
STOP YELLING AT ME.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO
THINGS LIKE THAT,
YOU'RE GONNA
GET YOURSELF KILLED.
THEY'RE LEAVING.
[STARTS ENGINE]
[]
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
LISTEN TO ME.
SOMEBODY SHOT YOUR MOTHER
IN THE HEAD FOUR TIMES,
EXECUTION-STYLE,
AND THAT SOMEBODY COULD
JUST AS EASILY SHOOT YOU.
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE,
ONCE YOU'VE CONVINCED YOURSELF
IT'S OKAY TO KILL SOMEBODY,
YOU CAN KILL AGAIN.
NOW...
WE'RE NOT THERE YET...
WE'RE REALLY CLOSE,
BUT WE NEED A MURDER WEAPON.
HAVE YOU SEEN
A GUN AT YOUR HOUSE?
WHAT? NO.
WE DON'T HAVE A GUN.
OKAY, LOOK, I WANT YOU
TO GET OUT OF THE CAR,
GO HOME,
BECAUSE THERE MUST BE
A PLACE WHERE
YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED YET.
I'VE LOOKED EVERYWHERE!
NOW.
[]
[]
[]
"DEAR HELEN--
"I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU SAID YOU'D MARRY ME.
I'M THE LUCKIEST GUY
IN THE WORLD."
"I LOVE YOU. FRANK."
FRANK?
[]
[CAR APPROACHING,
WHEELS SCREECH]
[RUSTLING]
[]
[]
WHAT ARE YOU
DOING DOWN HERE?
I'M-- I'M GETTING BABY PHOTOS
FOR A SCHOOL PROJECT.
NOW?
SHOULDN'T YOU BE AT SCHOOL?
YEAH, I SHOULD.
I'M JUST ON MY LUNCH BREAK,
SO I'M...
I'M GONNA GO BACK
RIGHT NOW.
[]
ARE YOU COMING?
NO.
NO. NOW THA I'M DOWN HERE,
I REMEMBER I NEED
A FEW THINGS.
OKAY.
ALEX?
WATCH YOUR STEP.
[]
[]
-HEY.
-ALEX?
WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?
IS THIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE TRUE?
ARE YOU MY FATHER?
[]
[KETTLE WHISTLING]
I ALWAYS WANTED
TO TELL YOU,
BUT, UH...
BUT YOUR MOTHER
THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER
TO LET YOU THINK
NICK WAS YOUR FATHER.
I JUST--
I ALWAYS THOUGH THAT THEY WERE MARRIED
BEFORE I WAS BORN.
[FRANK CHUCKLES]: HMM.
THAT'S NOT TRUE
EITHER.
YOUR MOM AND I
WERE MARRIED
WHEN SHE MET NICK.
LIVED IN A LITTLE HOUSE
ON MISSION BEACH.
[EXHALES]
WHAT HAPPENED?
SHE FELL IN LOVE
WITH HIM.
FOR YEARS,
I BLAMED NICK FOR STEALING HER,
BUT, UH...
I GUESS YOU CAN'T REALLY STEAL
WHAT NEVER BELONGED TO YOU.
YOU WERE TWO YEARS OLD
WHEN SHE LEFT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
SHE WOULD DO THAT.
DON'T BE MAD
AT HER, ALEX.
YOUR MOTHER LOVED YOU
MORE THAN SHE LOVED ANYONE.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?
SHE LIED TO ME
ABOUT WHO MY DAD WAS.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
ALL YOUR MOTHER
EVER WANTED TO DO
WAS TO BE A MOTHER.
I REMEMBER WHEN
YOU WERE FIRST BORN,
SHE LOOKED RIGHT INTO YOUR EYES
AND SAID,
"NOW I KNOW WHAT LOVE IS."
SHE MEANT IT.
YOUR MOTHER
LOVED YOU, ALEX.
SHE JUST DID WHAT SHE THOUGH WAS BEST FOR YOU.
IT ALL FEELS LIKE A BAD DREAM.
[]
[]
[CLASS BELL RINGS]
[]
ALEX!
SORRY IT'S LATE.
I LOOK FORWARD
TO READING IT.
BUT, ALEX,
I'M CONCERNED.
YOU WERE TAKING
COLLEGE PREP CLASSES,
BUT WITH YOUR MARKS DOWN,
I'M AFRAID THERE'S
NOT ANY PLACE
THAT'S GOING
TO ACCEPT YOU.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
WHY?
HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND
ABOUT COLLEGE?
LOOK, SOMEONE HAS TO TAKE CARE
OF MY BROTHER AND SISTER.
MISS HETHERINGTON,
I KNOW THAT YOU CARE,
BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS,
SO, PLEASE,
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO
CLOSE THE CASE THAT EARLY,
DID YOU?
NO, I DIDN'T.
THEN WHY DID YOU?
I NEEDED
PEOPLE TO RELAX
AND HOPEFULLY
MAKE A MISTAKE.
LOOK.
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO MEET YOU IN PERSON
AS MUCH ANYMORE.
WHAT'D I DO WRONG?
NO! IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.
IT'S THE CASE.
I'M GONNA SPEED UP
THE PROCESS.
YOU KNOW BRUCE WILKINS?
HE WAS CONTACTED
TO COMMIT A MURDER
THAT FOLLOWED THE EXACT SAME
M.O. AS YOUR MOTHER'S DEATH.
HE WASN'T GIVEN
THE VICTIM'S NAME,
BUT HE WAS GIVEN A GUN,
ADVANCED HALF THE FEE,
BUT, IN THE END,
HE COULDN'T GO THROUGH WITH IT.
WAS IT NICK
WHO CONTACTED HIM?
YES. IT WAS.
[]
HOW MUCH WAS
HE GONNA PAY HIM?
5,000.
$5,000 TO KILL MY MOTHER?
THAT'S ALL HER LIFE WAS WORTH?
[]
[STARTS ENGINE]
[]
[]
[BIRDSEED SPILLING]
[]
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
HELLO?
[ALEX]: I FOUND A GUN.
WHERE IS IT NOW?
IT WAS IN MY MOM'S PET SUPPLIES IN THE GARAGE.
I DIDN'T EVEN
THINK TO LOOK THERE.
HE NEVER EVEN
GOES IN THE GARAGE.
OKAY, NOW LOOK. CALM DOWN.
YOU NEED TO FOCUS.
WHERE'S YOUR FATHER NOW?
HE TOOK THE KIDS OU FOR PIZZA.
ALL RIGHT. LISTEN.
YOU NEED TO PUT BACK THE GUN.
MEET ME TOMORROW
AT THE D.M.V. PARKING LO AT 9:00 A.M.,
AND DON'T BE LATE.
I'M NEVER LATE.
[]
[FAMILY'S VOICES NEARING]
-CAESAR SALAD.
-HEY.
THANKS.
YOU'RE SWEATING.
WHY ARE YOU SWEATING?
I, UH...
I WENT FOR A RUN.
YEAH. I MISS RUNNING.
OKAY. WELL, UM...
GOOD NIGHT.
[]
ALEX. ALEX?
WAKE UP.
IT'S ALMOST 8:30.
WHAT?
WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP?
DAD TOLD ME
TO LET YOU SLEEP IN.
IS DADDY MAD?
NO. HE'S MAKING BREAKFAST.
EGGS AND BACON.
[SIGHS]: I REALLY DON'T WAN TO GO TO SCHOOL TODAY.
I'VE GOT THIS STUPID
SOCIALS TES ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS,
OR SOMETHING.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I HATE?
ELLIE, I LOVE YOU
SO MUCH.
YEAH, YEAH, I KNOW,
BUT JUST GET OFF OF ME.
YOU'RE HURTING ME.
COME ON, BREAKFAST.
LET'S GO, LET'S GO,
LET'S GO.
OKAY, OKAY!
WHY IS EVERYTHING DEROGATORY?
DEGRADING?
HEY. WE GOT EGGS.
ALL RIGHT. COOL.
HEY, ALEX.
BREAKFAST.
I GOTTA GO.
HEY.
HI.
I'M GLAD YOU CAME.
I GOT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
[ALEX]: THAT ONE.
YOU'RE SURE?
YEAH. I'M SURE.
.22 RUGER.
SIX LANDS AND GROOVES
IN A RIGHT-HAND TWIST.
IS THAT THE GUN
THAT KILLED HER?
IT'S CONSISTEN WITH THE PROJECTILES,
AND THE TYPE OF GUN
WILKINS SAID
NICK GAVE HIM
TO COMMIT THE CRIME.
WHAT TIME DOES
HE LEAVE FOR WORK?
HE SHOULD'VE
LEFT ALREADY.
ALL RIGHT, LOOK.
I'LL NEED YOU
TO BRING THE GUN
TO THE POLICE STATION.
WRAP IT IN A CLOTH
SO YOU DON'T GET ANY MORE
FINGERPRINTS ON IT.
WHAT HAPPENS THEN?
WELL, IF IT'S A MATCH,
WE'LL ARREST NICK,
AND HE'LL GO TO PRISON
FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
YOU KNOW, I WAS...
I WAS UP ALL NIGHT THINKING,
YOU KNOW, IS THIS FAIR?
MY BROTHER AND SISTER,
THEY ALREADY LOST THEIR MOM.
NOW THEY'RE GOING TO
LOSE THEIR DAD, TOO?
I MEAN,
WHO IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF US?
DID YOU EVEN THINK OF THAT?
HONESTLY, ALL I CARED ABOUT WAS
FINDING YOUR MOTHER'S KILLER.
SO...
LOOK, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE,
I'LL GIVE YOU A CHOICE.
YOU CAN GO HOME,
PRETEND YOU NEVER SAW THE GUN,
I'LL STOP
THE INVESTIGATION,
AND YOUR LIFE GOES BACK
TO THE WAY IT WAS.
OR YOU BRING THE GUN
TO THE STATION IN AN HOUR,
AND NICK WILL GO TO PRISON.
YOU KNOW, THE LAST THING
MY MOM SAID TO ME
WAS THAT I WAS A GIFT,
BUT I THINK THE REAL GIF IS THE ONE I CAN GIVE HER NOW,
SO I WILL BE THERE AT 10:00,
WITH THE GUN.
[]
[CAMERA SHUTTER SNAPPING]
OH, SHE'S COMING THIS WAY.
I'M GONNA BACK UP, OKAY?
[]
[STARTS ENGINE]
[]
[]
[SEED SPILLING]
[]
[DOOR THUDS SHUT]
KIDS...
WHY DON'T YOU
GO UPSTAIRS AND PACK?
LIKE I TOLD YOU.
WHY ARE YOU PACKING?
WE'RE GOING ON A TRIP!
JUST THE TWO OF US.
WHERE?
I DON'T KNOW YET.
IT'S A SURPRISE.
HEY, DAD!
CAN ALEX COME?
NOT THIS TIME,
I'M AFRAID, HONEY.
-ALL RIGHT.
-GO PACK.
[KEYS JANGLING]
[]
WE NEED TO TALK.
[]
I KNOW YOU HAVE
THE GUN.
WHAT GUN?
THE GUN IN YOUR BACKPACK.
HOW DID YOU KNOW?
I DIDN'T. TILL JUST NOW.
[SIGHS, FRUSTRATED]: THAT GUN.
MOVED IT THREE TIMES.
CLOSET, BASEMENT,
GARAGE.
[CHUCKLES BITTERLY] TSK.
[]
ARE YOU TELLING ME
YOU LET A MINOR CHILD
GO BACK INTO A HOUSE
WITH A MURDER SUSPEC TO RETRIEVE A POSSIBLE
MURDER WEAPON?
I DIDN'T HAVE
A CHOICE, SIR.
YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE!
[SNAPS]: LISTEN TO ME!
ALEX CARLETON WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE HERE AT 10:00.
NOW, I GAVE YOU THE ADDRESS,
AND I NEED YOU
TO BACK ME UP.
SIR.
LET'S GO.
HEY, GUYS.
GO WAIT IN THE CAR.
ALEX AND I HAVE TO TALK
ABOUT SOMETHING. OKAY?
OKAY. WE'LL BE
WAITING OUTSIDE.
ALL RIGHT.
GO AHEAD, ELLIE.
IT'S OKAY.
BYE.
[DOOR SHUTS]
[EXHALES]
HERE'S WHA I WANT YOU TO DO.
I WANT YOU
TO GIVE ME THE GUN.
PUT ALL THIS BEHIND US.
WE'LL PRETEND IT NEVER HAPPENED.
NO, I CAN'T. I CAN'T.
ALEX, OKAY, I WANT YOU
TO GIVE ME THE GUN.
I WANT YOU TO DO--
[ROARS]: AS YOU'RE TOLD!
BECAUSE
I'M YOUR FATHER.
YOU ARE NOT.
NO, I'M-- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN,
NO, I'M NOT?
I MEAN YOU'RE NOT...
I MEAN YOU'RE NOT MY DAD.
FRANK BREWSTER...
IS MY DAD.
I'M THE ONLY FATHER
YOU'VE EVER KNOWN.
I FED YOU, HONEY, I...
I RAISED YOU. [SIGHS]
HONEY, I LOVED YOU.
NOW GIVE ME THE GUN.
OR WHAT? YOU'LL SHOOT ME?
ALEX, I WOULD NEVER HURT YOU.
NO, YOU HIRE PEOPLE TO DO THA FOR YOU.
ALEX, DON'T TALK ABOUT THINGS
THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!
YOUR MOTHER...
YOUR MOTHER WANTED
TO DIVORCE ME.
SHE FOUND OUT ABOUT RUTHIE
AND SHE WANTED TO GET A DIVORCE.
THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU
JUST GIVE HER A DIVORCE?
BECAUSE I COULDN'T GIVE HER
A DIVORCE!
BECAUSE I COULDN' BREAK UP THE FAMILY!
THIS FAMILY IS OUR LIFE.
YOUR MOTHER
WAS TRYING TO RUIN IT,
AND NOW YOU ARE
TRYING TO RUIN IT!
[ALEX SHRIEKS]
[ALEX CRIES OUT]
[GASPS]
[CRASHING]
DAD, NO. DAD!
DAD! NO!
NO! [SOBS]
[SOBBING AND GASPING]
[]
[]
[CRACK]
[NICK THUDS AND GASPS]
-[NICK WHEEZING]
-DON'T MOVE.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
YEAH. [PANTING]
[NICK GROANS]
[]
[]
[]
[DETECTIVE ROBINSON]:
WERE YOU SURPRISED
THAT YOUR FATHER
TRIED TO HURT YOU?
[ALEX]: YES.
BUT IT'S LIKE
DETECTIVE MORAN ONCE TOLD ME--
ONCE A PERSON DECIDES
THAT THEY CAN KILL SOMEONE,
THEY CAN KILL AGAIN.
[]
I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
WHAT DON'T YOU
UNDERSTAND, ALEX?
WELL, WHY IS DETECTIVE MORAN
ON TRIAL?
THIS ISN'T A TRIAL.
IT'S AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS
HEARING.
DETECTIVE MORAN
KNOWINGLY PUT YOU
IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
THAT'S RECKLESS ENDANGERMEN OF A MINOR,
WHICH IS AGAINST THE LAW.
[ALEX]: WELL, DID
DETECTIVE MORAN KNOW
THAT ASKING ME TO HELP HIM
WOULD GET HIM FIRED?
ACCORDING
TO HIS TESTIMONY, YES.
BUT IF HE HADN' ASKED ME TO HELP HIM,
THEN NICK NEVER
WOULD HAVE GONE TO JAIL.
[ROBINSON]:
I UNDERSTAND THAT,
BUT DETECTIVE MORAN STILL
VIOLATED YOUR RIGHTS.
BUT IF WE HADN'T,
WE WOULDN'T KNOW
WHO KILLED MY MOTHER.
[]
WOW. ARE WE DONE HERE?
YES, MA'AM,
WE ARE.
YOU KNOW, AT FIRST,
I HATED WHAT DETECTIVE MORAN
WAS ASKING ME TO DO,
BUT WE GOT OUR ANSWERS...
AND NOW THE ONLY QUESTION
THAT I HAVE LEFT IS,
HOW DO YOU THANK SOMEONE
WHO CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
BECAUSE YOU DID.
YOU CHANGED MY LIFE,
AND I WILL NEVER
BE ABLE TO SAY
THANK YOU ENOUGH
FOR EVERYTHING
THAT YOU DID FOR ME.
[]
[ALEX]: IN THE INTERNAL
AFFAIRS HEARING,
DETECTIVE JOSEPH MORAN
WAS FOUND GUILTY
FOR THE RECKLESS ENDANGERMEN OF A MINOR.
WHEN I ASKED HIM
HOW HE FELT ABOUT THAT,
HE SAID HE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE
ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY.
BRUCE WILKINS
HAD A SOLID ALIBI
AT THE TIME
OF MY MOTHER'S DEATH,
BUT HE TESTIFIED AT THE TRIAL
THAT NICK TRIED TO HIRE HIM
TO KILL HER.
NICK WAS FOUND GUILTY
OF SOLICITATION OF MURDER
AND SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS
IN PRISON.
MY BROTHER AND SISTER
STILL BELIEVE
THAT NICK IS INNOCEN AND STOPPED SPEAKING TO ME
FOR HELPING DETECTIVE MORAN.
IN PRISON,
NICK NEVER ADMITTED GUIL AND WAS DIAGNOSED
AS A SOCIOPATH.
AS I LEARNED
IN LES MISERABLES,
WHEN ALL THE MASKS
ARE REMOVED,
YOU ARE LEF WITH WHO YOU REALLY ARE,
SO I CHANGED MY LAST NAME
TO BREWSTER,
AND GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE
WITH MY FATHER, FRANK,
BY MY SIDE.
AS FOR WHO ACTUALLY
PULLED THE TRIGGER,
MY MOTHER'S KILLER
HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND.
[]
I THOUGHT IT DIDN'T MATTER
WHAT I FELT INSIDE
I DIDN'T SEE A DIFFERENCE
TO ANYONE ON THE OUTSIDE
COULDN'T FIND A REASON
NO WAY TO BELIEVE
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING
MORE TO ME
...SO FAR
COORDINATES WERE OFF
I'M CHANGED BY
ALL THE THINGS YOU SAW IN ME
I'VE NEVER FEL SO UNDERSTOOD
YOU GAVE MY VOICE
ANOTHER CHANCE TO BREATHE
LIKE IT SHOULD
AND I'M CHANGED FOR GOOD