The Walls Are Watching (2022) Movie Script
1
Mr. Stenza...
Please, call me Theodore.
Maybe it's best
if we keep this formal.
I'm afraid, Mr. Stenza,
that we are out of options.
Out of options?
I mean, there's always options.
You've defaulted
on your payment.
Sir, I was laid off.
I've been on more
job interviews than
you could ever imagine.
Then all of the sudden
the job interviews
started to dry up.
You'd think after 40 years
of engineering experience
that might mean something,
but to them it was...
that I'm old.
I'm not old.
And, sir...
I haven't given up.
Well, I admire
your persistence, but...
Please, listen.
Let's just make a deal.
I'm told you
already worked one out
with my predecessor.
Then let's make another deal!
Please, let's make another deal!
My wife and I have
worked our entire lives
to make that house our home.
For our family...
for our son.
And ever since I lost them,
that house is all
I have left of them.
Look, I'm sorry,
but it's out of my hands.
You have 35 days to
vacate the premises.
Mr. Stenza...
do you understand?
Oh, Mr. Stenza!
It says here that
you are a veteran?
Thank you for your service.
Mitch!
Yeah?
No, wait, let me guess.
One of your friends
is pregnant again.
Better.
Better, uh...
twins!
Speaking of babies,
what's the one thing
that's stopping us
from having one?
We've been married
for three months.
Cold.
We want to enjoy
each other and have
enough fun to last a
lifetime before we do?
Colder.
Our dream house.
There's my
smart husband.
Mm-hmm.
And...
there it is.
Foreclosure?
Hmm, that is a far cry
from our dream house.
This is more house
than we'd be able to afford
for the next five years.
It's a perfect
first home for us.
For our family.
The auction
is tomorrow.
Which
means maybe not
a lot of people know about it.
Plus, we've already
talked to the bank
and we know what we've
been approved for.
Ugh.
I don't know, honey, I
don't think we're ready.
Okay, then,
when will we be?
It's a scary, huge
adult life step.
And that is what
married people do.
They take a bunch of adult
life steps together.
Let's at least try, huh?
You bid up to the number
the bank gave us
and maybe we get lucky.
Okay, I'll go.
Yes!
Oh hey, that
bracelet looks
mighty nice on you.
Uh-oh.
Besides,
you are my sun,
my moon, and my stars.
All right, folks,
you are going to love me
for this one.
Next up is the residence at
1319 Redwood, Los Angeles.
Do I hear 425?
I got 425, do we hear 430?
430, bidder, bidder, 430,
430, 430, bidder at 430.
Bidder 425 going once,
425 going twice...
Going to need
to speak up, son.
430, got 430.
Do I hear 433...
I got 433.
Candidate Two: 435!
435, new
bid's 435, 435, 435.
Okay, 435 going once,
435 going twice...
438 is a new
bid, 438, 440, 440, 440,
bidder 440, bidder,
bidder, bidder.
440, 440, 440?
Okay, 438 going once,
438 going twice.
Sold.
Congratulations, son.
Thank you.
Ah, let me guess,
you went over
your target number.
By the price
of approximately
one honeymoon.
Oh, newlyweds!
Yeah.
That you got the house.
It's kind of a silver lining.
Thank you.
You
own a bank sale.
And bad life choices
lose them everything,
but it means that a nice,
lovely young couple such as
yourselves get to start
their lives out properly.
Then it's not so tragic.
That's a way
of looking at it.
Okay,
enough of my rambling.
Go tell that wife of
yours the good news.
I will.
And thanks again, I really
appreciate this.
What the hell?
Ahh!
No, no, no,
don't worry about me,
I've got this.
Damn, girl,
you been working out?
I know.
You need help?
No, I got it.
Hey, be careful, please.
I'm three
feet off the ground.
I think I'm going to be okay.
Now, are you sure
you want this down?
Oh, I have big
plans for this porch.
Is there any
part of the house
that you don't have
big plans for?
My office.
I have even bigger
plans for that.
Oh, okay,
look at you.
Could you, uh...
Oh, yeah, sorry.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Such a gentleman!
You know.
You know me!
Are you as
happy as I am?
I am.
And a little overwhelmed.
Is that good?
Mostly.
It's a lot.
I think I need a raise.
And you need more patients.
I just hope we're up for this.
We will be.
We've got a whole
lifetime to work on it.
What are you
thinking about?
How weird it is
to look to my right
and not see the kitchen.
It's a little late
for a welcome party.
Hmm.
Can I help you?
I know it's late.
Forgive me so much for
intruding on you guys,
but I'm Theodore.
Theodore Stenza?
This used to be my home.
Mitch?
Umm, Mr. Stenza,
we're about go to bed.
I realize that.
I just wanted to say good-bye.
Is that okay?
Of course,
Mr. Stenza.
Yeah.
Please, come in.
Thank you so much.
Yeah.
Well, I must
confess that I'm not here
to exchange pleasantries,
Mr. Bordine.
I've been talking to all
of my cousins and my aunts
and my uncles, and we
believe we can raise
the money right up to
about what you guys paid.
Um...
I'm sorry, are you
saying you want to...
Buy my house back.
Please.
Listen, I, I
completely understand
where you're coming from, but...
Do you, really?
Young man, you and
your lovely wife
are just getting started.
You have your entire
lives to build beautiful,
loving memories together.
This is all I have
left of my wife.
My family.
I literally built
this house for us.
This is the life
we built together.
So, please, let me
buy my house back.
When you did
you lose your wife?
Five years ago, yesterday.
And when I'm in here,
it's as if she never left.
It can be hard,
saying good-bye.
That's why
I don't want to have to.
I understand.
I understand how it feels
when a door closes.
Especially if we don't
know how, where,
or when the next door will open.
Fear, insecurity, even panic.
Well, I'm not
scared, I'm not panicking.
I know, because you
are one of those people
who makes things happen.
For people like you,
who are persistent,
another door does always open.
I want my house back.
It's just that simple.
And I can be persistent.
Look, you're right,
I don't know what
it's like to lose my house or...
my wife.
You know, I feel for you,
sir, I really do.
But we can't sell
you this house.
Even if we wanted to, after
closing costs and moving
costs and everything else,
we'd be going in the hole.
So, I'm sorry, but
this is our house now.
I understand.
Well, under the circumstances,
I can't say I wish
you all the best.
But I do respect
the both of you,
and I respect your decision.
You're persistent, like me.
I will look for that open door.
Just like you said, doc.
Oh, by the way, the third
step on those stairs,
it squeaks.
Used to be on my to-do
list and I guess now
it's on your to-do list.
Yeah,
I'll get on that.
Forgive me for the intrusion.
It's okay.
Yeah, good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Well, that was a fun night in.
Mitch, he's lost.
I feel bad for him.
Yeah, well,
we're finally not lost.
Okay, we have a home.
So, I feel bad for
him, I wish him well,
but can we just
settle into our lives
and not worry about
everyone else's?
Okay?
Okay.
I'm sorry.
Okay.
There was
something in his eyes.
He's really hurting, Mitch.
It's a shame.
I just hate being
the reason why another
person is so sad.
We're
not the reason!
In school we
learned about depression
and ways it can lead to
sociopathic behavior.
You talk to him
for all of five minutes
and he's a depressed sociopath?
No, I'm just
saying he believes
we stole his house.
We don't know this man.
Or what he's capable of.
Yeah, well, I know
what I'm capable of.
Wow.
Really?
Do these cheesy lines
work on your wife?
All the time.
All the time.
I won't let them
take you away from me.
It's so much better
doing it in your own house.
Maybe because
we don't have to worry
about the neighbors hearing?
I think
it's the space.
Now I have enough room for
all of my sweet moves.
Gah.
Oh hey, I'm going
to be home late tomorrow.
I'm putting in some OT.
I've had a mortgage all
of one day and I already
know why my dad had ulcers.
I will be busy
putting finishing touches
on the home office,
getting ready for
my very first client
in my very own office.
Ooh, you're
going to be great.
And the office looks great.
I'm really proud of you, babe.
Well, I can't have
my husband getting ulcers.
Not until we have a
daughter or two, that is.
All right.
Good night.
Hey, just be home
by 8:00 tomorrow, okay?
I will be cooking us our
very first home-cooked meal.
Home-cooked right
here in our home.
You know, most
people would find that
whole repeating the
word home thing
over and over again annoying.
But not this guy,
I actually enjoy it.
Bring it on.
Oh, okay, I was
thinking about making
steak and home fries, maybe.
One more.
We can
invite our homies.
That's the one.
There we go.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Good night.
Night.
Huh.
Hey, this is
Mitch Bordine.
Please leave a message
and I'll get back
to you as soon as I can.
Hey, babe.
You put the porch
swing back up, huh?
I like it.
Be nice to sit out
here one day and watch
our four children
frolicking on the lawn.
I had to, I'm sorry.
Couldn't resist.
I love you.
It was a great first night.
Well, he's, he's handling it.
You know Mitch, he
tries to be cool
but I can sense
when he's anxious.
We're enjoying just the
two of us for now, Mom.
Yes, for now.
For now is as long
as I want it to be.
I swear, if you
bring up grandkids
once this weekend...
Mom!
My house, my rules.
Yeah, it does actually feel
pretty good to say that.
Now I know why you
and Dad said it
every time you had the chance.
I'm in the kitchen.
I'll send you a video.
I love you too.
See you Saturday.
Tori: Oh, thank goodness!
You were anxious
about the GPS again.
Tori: Yeah, you
can't trust them.
I have nightmares all
of the time I'm going
to drop the kids off at
the wrong babysitter.
Would you like
to come inside?
Tori: Sure.
So, how do you
like the new office?
Tori: It's nice.
I'm the one who
fought for this new house.
I can already see my
husband stressing about it.
And every time he does,
I have to fight
the guilt away.
Tori: How do you do it?
Well, I try to keep
in mind that every person
is free to make
their own decisions
and I am not
responsible for them.
Tori: Does it work?
Sometimes.
The thing about emotion, Tori,
is that it feels real
because it's here.
Our brain knows that
the emotion is false,
but our body refuses to listen.
Which is why we let
the feeling happen,
we let it wash over us,
we let it run through us.
And, when it's done, we let
the brain take back over.
The last thing we do is let
the emotion take control.
Tori: Sounds really hard.
It is a fight
every day, Tori.
Would you like to work
on some exercises?
All right, let's
breathe in for five.
In, one, two, three, four, five.
Hold, and out, two,
three, four, five.
Good job.
We let it do whatever
it's going to do
and then we assert our control.
Tori: You really
feel guilty about
this whole husband thing, huh?
You're deflecting.
This isn't about
my husband, Tori.
It's about to be.
I'll see
you on Tuesday.
Night!
Tori: Bye.
Okay, where
were we?
No!
No!
No, no!
Hey, babe.
You put the porch
swing back up, huh?
I like it.
Be nice to sit out here
one day and watch our
four children
frolicking on the lawn.
I love you.
Hi, this is Erica Bodine.
Leave a message.
What's going
on there, baby-baby?
I'm just calling to wish
you good luck today.
Also, I don't know
what you're talking
about with the swing.
It was down when I left.
I think.
I honestly don't remember.
If this is your way of
telling me you want
it back up, I'm okay with that.
I kind of like the idea
of us sitting there
waiting for the
nursing home to call.
Okay, I will see you
when I get home.
I love you.
Okay, bye.
I didn't think you were going
to struggle so much.
I mean, I don't know
why I thought that,
but of course, of course
you would struggle.
Of course.
Mr. Stenza?
Everybody's calling me that now.
I can call you
whatever you want.
Thank you for
being so accommodating.
I just want to
know what you want.
What I want?
I thought I was perfectly
clear of what I wanted.
I wanted my life back!
I wanted my life back!
Didn't I ask you?
Didn't I beg you
the very same thing?
Didn't I?
Yes.
Didn't I tell
you that I would pay
to get my life back?
And then what did you guys say?
What did you say?
You said, go to hell!
No, no,
we didn't say that.
You made me do this!
I did it, I really did it.
What?
Did what?
I took you.
This is bigger than
the both of us now.
And now that it's started,
I can't go back.
No, of course
you can.
Of course you can!
I am not going to tell
anybody that this happened.
We can, we can start from
the beginning and we can,
we can work together
to get your life back.
Just untie me and,
and open that door,
and then we can go out
there and we can just talk.
You think that I'm one of those
nut jobs that you
work with, don't you?
Don't you?
Well, let me tell you
something, young lady,
I am a model citizen.
I paid my taxes, my head
is screwed on straight,
and this is my home!
We need to talk.
No more talking!
We can talk
about anything,
anything you want!
We can talk and, and
we make it better.
No.
I don't want this
for you, Mr. Stenza.
I'm sure your family wouldn't
want this for you, either.
What do you
know about my family?
I'm sure
that they love you.
You don't talk about my family.
You started this.
When you start something,
you see it all
the way to the end.
You understand that, missy?
I'm going to take
everything away from you.
I am going to do to you
what you did to me.
I didn't do
anything to you.
I'm taking everything away,
piece by piece.
First...
a little phone call.
And then I'm texting your hubby.
Oh, hey, Ms. Moran.
I'm glad you stopped by.
I was checking the numbers...
Mitch.
There's a police officer
waiting for you
in the conference room.
Oh, is
everything all right?
He was polite,
no sense of urgency.
But, Mitch, I really don't
appreciate my employees'
private lives walking into
my business requesting
a private room to ask
a few questions.
Straighten it out.
Yeah, yes.
I'll, I'll get on that.
Umm, sorry.
Thank you.
You want to take a seat, Mitch?
Um...
is there a problem?
That's what we're
going to find out.
You know, when a cop
asks you if you want
to take a seat, he's
not really asking.
You know how to work
a tablet, Mitch?
Yeah.
Great, unlock
that bad boy and take
a gander at the first
picture, will you?
I would do it myself,
but, you know,
sticky fingers.
Ah, code?
Oh, right.
It's one...
two...
three-four-five.
Not a great code, I know,
but it's the only one
I can remember.
Besides, anyone who
steals a cop's tablet
has got to be too dumb
to guess it, right?
You know that guy?
Yeah, I bid on
our house from him.
Sorry, I don't
remember his name.
Sims.
Jonathan Michael Sims.
Okay, do you
want to tell me
what this is all about?
You know, it's never
as easy as I'd like to be.
Okay, here's what
we're going to do...
you and me are just
going to sit here
for a little bit like
a couple of old pals.
After all, if it
turns out I'm wrong,
I'd like you to
still have a job.
I'm sorry, are you
arresting me for something?
Mitch,
Mitch, come on.
Let's not get
ahead of ourselves.
I mean, unless you want
to confess something.
Confess to what?
Mr. Sims died the
night you won your house.
Hit and run.
That,
that's terrible.
Yeah.
You drive a Dodge, right?
Yeah.
Stratus, blue, right?
Yes!
Well, there
was a fabric sample
in the grill of your car...
that at least on the
eyeball test seems to be
from the shirt he was
wearing that night.
Wait, wait, wait.
You, you searched my car?
Well...
it's in the parking lot.
Public property.
And we didn't have to search it,
the fabric was there
flapping in the breeze
for all to see.
Not really smart, if you ask me.
So, you tell me.
If you were a cop...
would you be suspicious?
Well, I don't
know what's going on,
because I didn't do anything.
You know, the problem
with you saying that,
Mitch, is that's exactly
what somebody who did
do something would say.
So, look...
let's just you and me
wait here until the lab
calls me about that
little swatch of fabric.
Sound good?
Excellent.
Damn it!
Must have felt pretty good,
walking around your
old house again.
Yeah.
It was wonderful, even with
all that tacky furniture
you guys put inside there.
But all those wonderful
memories are still there.
Mr. Stenza,
what's next?
I told you, I want your husband
to feel like I do.
That's why he's being
arrested right now
for a hit and run.
What?!
He will lose his job,
he'll have a conviction
on his record.
And whenever he gets
out of prison,
whenever that's going to be,
well, he will be unemployable.
You know, you take
everything away
from a man, you take
away his livelihood.
And that's going to happen
to Mitch soon enough.
I'm trying to
help you, Mr. Stenza.
When you threaten me,
I get scared
and that doesn't further
either of our goals.
I wouldn't
really know about that,
because right now I'm
feeling pretty good.
Well, if it's
threats you like,
then let me tell you
this right now:
if you hurt my husband,
I will do whatever
it takes to cut you into pieces!
Do you understand me?
Wow!
You've got fight in you.
Untie me and
I'll show you how much.
Hey, you remind me...
I don't care
who I remind you of!
Let me out of here!
No.
I built this room
for my son, Max.
He loved it here.
This was his playroom.
Daddy, you want to go
play games down there?
It's my favorite room, Daddy.
I love my safe
place room, Daddy.
Oh, I see.
Now you're all clammed up.
Before, you were Chatty Cathy,
trying to get me to
talk all the time,
and now you're all
boarded up, huh?
Like a virgin on prom night.
Let me go.
No.
My son, he loved to play games.
He couldn't say pick-up truck.
So we'd play the
game hiccup twuck.
I'd put the truck right here.
In the middle of
the room on the rug.
And then I would count to three:
one, two, three.
And whoever could grab
it first, would win.
Daddy, I won.
I won, Daddy!
He was a champ.
I never won.
You sound like
you're a good father.
Yeah.
You know, my son, he had
a lot of fight in him.
A lot of fight!
And I had to tell him
that when he was
in the hospital.
You keep fighting, son.
You make strong, you
keep fighting, son!
I will, Daddy.
I will keep fighting, Daddy.
That had to be
so hard for you.
You'll never know.
But I can see
the pain you're in.
He was six years old.
He was six years old!
So, what would you know
about pain like that, huh?
I know that talking
about it can help.
Do you want to talk about it?
No, no, Theodore, please.
Please!
Who is that?
It's Dan, it's
one of my patients.
He's on the schedule.
If you say anything,
this adventure ends
for all of us.
You understand?
Dan, hi!
Dan: Dr. Bordine,
hey, I'm here.
I didn't want to knock because,
you know, the thing.
Dan, I'm sorry,
I need to cancel today.
Dan: Sorry, that's not
going to work for me.
Dan, I'm sick.
Dan: So am I,
that's why I'm here.
You know I can't have...
You shouldn't
have done that.
Dan has extreme OCD,
he has a method
for ending phone calls.
No, no, stop, no!
Stop it, no, no!
No!
Dan: Who are you?
Sorry, appointment cancelled
for today.
Dan: Wait, no, see, because
she didn't call me.
She's sick.
Dan: But she said she
was going to call me
if she ever needed to cancel.
For whatever reason,
see, that was our deal.
You know,
sometimes life throws you
curveballs, buddy.
Dan: See, that's the thing.
I live my life in ways so
I don't get curve balls.
It's not a choice, you know?
Listen...
Dan: Who are you,
again, anyway?
Where is Erica?
I'm her husband and I'm taking
care of her, okay?
Dan: You're Mitch Bordine?
That is correct.
Dan: You're not him.
I am.
Dan: The photo of Erica and
her husband of three months,
Mitch, on her website
says otherwise.
What the hell is going on here?
I want to talk
to Dr. Bordine!
Ooh!
No, no, no!
Sorry, my wife
hasn't texted me back.
Marital troubles?
No, she's
a psychologist,
she's with patients.
Are you one of
her patients, Mitch?
Is everything
I say to you going
to be something you
find suspicious?
Should it be?
Well, I guess we're
about to find out.
Go for Ivie.
Mm-hmm.
Okay, thank you.
Yeah, bye.
Mitch, looks like you
and I have two choices.
The first one is I escort
you to the parking lot
and put cuffs on there.
The second choice is
way less pleasant
and far more embarrassing.
So, you,
you're arresting me.
The samples
matched, Mitch.
Well, it has
to be planted,
because I didn't hit anybody.
You know, you're
starting to sound
like a guy who is hell
bent on option B.
You really want
everyone in this office
to see me restrain
and put cuffs on you?
I am innocent.
That's what
court is for.
Do I look like
someone who would
lie to you about this?
Do I look like
someone who cares?
Now, you need to pull it
together, pal, right now.
And you need to take a
little walk with me.
Last chance.
Let's go.
Now.
I'm impressed.
You are a fighter.
You know, my wife was a fighter.
Yeah.
So, the, uh...
situation with your
patient makes me realize
that maybe you were right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, why don't you come on out
and let's talk about it, huh?
I need your help.
It's something that
I would never ask for,
but I'm asking you now.
Please, come and help me.
Please, please,
somebody help me!
Watch your head.
Dispatch: Say again,
we have a two-forty at
1319 Redwood Court.
Witness saw an Asian female
in her 20s screaming
for help and being held
against her will by a man.
Long hair, 6'3"...
Hey!
Dispatch: 1319...
Hey!
Dispatch: Redwood.
Calm down.
Look, man, you want to
explain to me why you want
to add resisting arrest
to all the other charges
you're already facing?
What's a two-forty?
The radio?
1319 Redwood, that's my house.
They just said a
woman was screaming
outside of my house.
That's my wife!
You don't know that.
Dispatch, please repeat
the description of suspect.
Dispatch: Long hair,
6 feet 3 inches.
Oh my God.
This is him, this is all him!
Mr. Bordine...
Theodore Stenza,
the owner of
the house before me.
This has got to be him!
Now, what is a two-forty?
Assault.
Unit 21 responding.
Sit down.
Sit down!
I knew this guy in the war,
he did a Wild West show.
Fast draw kind of
stuff, you know?
I bugged him every
night to teach me
how to do that stuff.
So I'm telling you, young lady,
you try another trick
like you just did,
this knife is going
to be in my hand
and in the middle of your
chest before you can make
two steps toward that
door over there.
You understand me?
Big man with
a big knife, right?
You got me this time,
but it ain't happening again.
You play baseball?
Softball?
Hoo, girl, you got a
home run swing, man.
Got some skills, got potential.
What would your
son say about all this?
About the monster you've become?
Nothing.
Your son died,
so you get to kill
whoever you want.
Your wife died, so you get
to hurt and scare people.
You lost your house, so
you can toss away right
and wrong like a bloody towel?
I'm sorry, Theodore.
A million people deal with
things like this every day,
and none of them
use it as an excuse.
You and your fancy schools.
Therapists know it all, huh?
You're in the word business
and you can't even
get that straight.
All you do is talk for a living,
talk, talk, talk, talk, talk.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!
Try doing something
with your hands!
Stop it!
You use my family
as an excuse one more time,
you're done.
I apologize.
You have lost and I am
so sorry for all
that you've been through.
It's hell on Earth.
And you're right, I don't
know how that feels.
You will.
Life reveals
who we truly are,
eventually, and always.
You got your house
back, Theodore.
Just let me go and you can
get back to your life.
My life is over.
No one is
saying that!
I'm saying it.
I am saying
you've won!
I've won?
Does this look like a
victory lap to you?
Huh?
My son thought I was a winner.
You're a winner, Daddy,
just like in the movies.
Did you watch movies
with your son, Theodore?
All the time.
When he was sick.
Then tell me this...
if Max were watching
this movie right now,
would he think you were
the good guy or the bad guy?
I never wanted
this to happen like this.
I'm a good guy.
No, no!
Good people don't hold
others against their will!
And they don't murder people!
I'm a good guy, I'm a good guy!
I'm a good guy.
I'm a good guy, I'm a
good guy, I'm a good guy!
I'm a good guy!
Good guy, I'm a good guy!
Sit down.
Answer it, sell it.
Cops, whoever it is,
tell them you're fine
and sell it.
Erica, hi.
This is Detective Ivie, LAPD.
I'm doing a wellness check.
Over the phone?
Well, you can't
expect us to make
the drive out to
every house, right?
I just need verbal confirmation.
Are you okay?
Yes, I'm okay.
Do you need medical attention?
No.
You're not being
held against your will?
Erica?
No, not being
held against my will.
Great.
Just one more question...
what's your
mother-in-law's name?
Dottie.
How's your mom?
Sheila, I think, Mitch
said her name was.
She's fine, officer.
Sheila's doing just fine.
Erica, could you
put Theodore
on the phone, please?
He wants
to talk to you.
Mr. Stenza, this
is Detective Ivie
with the Los Angeles
Police Department.
How are we doing in there?
We?
Yes, we.
We are in this together.
We're just peachy.
Look, I understand
that you're angry.
I would be, too.
I mean, you had a whole plan,
and now that plan is sideways
and you're feeling
like you're drowning.
But I'm here to tell you
that you're not.
You see, this is your
chance to just grab my hand,
get out of the water, and
still get to live a life.
No, there's no way out.
There's
always a way out.
We sometimes just don't see it.
Who the hell are
you to talk to me, huh?
Hey, I get it, we
don't know each other.
But I'm here to help,
nothing more than that,
okay, Theodore?
I tried to do it the right way
my entire life, I truly did.
I know you did.
And now I'm
going to do it my way.
Look, I'm a
cop, Mr. Stenza.
I've seen a million
of these cases.
Backup is on the way, but
you know LA traffic, right?
What the hell
are you doing?
Is Erica okay?
Is my wife okay?
So it could
be a while longer,
but here's the thing,
they have to take
any deal I give them.
So, if you hurry up and
hash this out with me
right now, I can get you
more than those bums
would ever give you.
I know those stalling tactics.
You ever thought about
being a therapist,
huh, Ivie?
You'd have hit it
out of the park.
A therapist doesn't
have what I have, Theodore,
a get out of jail free card.
I'm listening.
So am I.
What is it that you want?
What do I need to give you
so that you let Erica go
and we all walk out of
here happy and healthy?
What is it that I want?
Let's make it happen.
I want my house
back, that's what I want!
Hey, hey, done.
Really?
Just like that?
My friend,
I've got Mitch
down here in handcuffs.
He'll sell, a good price, too.
Is that going to do it for you?
Let me think
about it for a moment.
Well, don't
take too long,
I'm worried I see
red and blue lights
in the distance.
Well, that was nice, Ivie.
What was?
Believing that
maybe this was all real.
It is real.
Good-bye.
Theodore,
do not hang up.
What?
What is going on?
Come on.
Come on, let's go.
Get up, we're moving.
My wife loved that kitchen.
She made the best
French toast in there.
We moved the coffee maker
closer to the refrigerator
because it was easier
to get to the milk.
I can move it back.
You shouldn't have
hung up on him.
You keep on sounding like
you think there's hope.
The police
are talking to you.
Why isn't there hope?
Because I'm done
talking to the police.
And I'm done talking to you.
Dispatch, this is
unit 21 with the two-forty.
We've got an escalating
situation here at
1319 Redwood.
Can I get an ETA on backup?
No, stop,
Theodore, stop!
Theodore, stop!
No!
Please!
Hey, hey, hey!
Hey, stop!
He's got Erica!
Damn it.
No, I'm
going in there.
Why, why?
So we can have two hostages?
Backup is a couple
of minutes away!
Backup!?
Did you hear her?
She doesn't have a
couple of minutes!
Tell me I'm wrong.
Does she have a
couple of minutes?
I don't know.
Man, if you
don't let me in there,
I swear to God.
Mitch...
He's already
killed one person.
I'm not going to stand
here while that psycho
does whatever he
wants to my wife.
I need permission
to enter your home.
What?
Otherwise, I have
to wait for a warrant.
Do I have your permission?
Yeah, hell
yeah, you do!
Keys, keys, keys.
And I'm going to need
you back in the car.
I can't just have you
standing out here.
Please.
Do not
let him hurt her.
Just turn
on my headlights.
Dispatch, this is unit 21.
I'm breaching the residence.
Attention all units,
I'm going in.
Argh!
Please, no,
Theodore, don't!
Theodore...
they'll take it easy on
you if you just stop this.
Right now, right here.
It's not too late.
Just put the gun down
and I will tell them
that you let me go.
Theodore, please.
Dispatch: Backup
is imminent,
wait for additional
units to arrive.
Repeat, wait on the
additional units.
Don't!
Mr. Stenza!
LAPD!
Come out with your hands up!
I do not want to hurt you!
Erica.
Don't move.
It was either this
or a play jet.
I told my son, son, a play
jet might be more fun.
You could fly it here, fly
it there, land it anywhere.
A pickup truck just
goes back and forth.
Do you know what he said to me?
No, I don't.
He said, Daddy,
red is my favorite color.
Dispatch: 21.
Unit 21, position.
Backup is two minutes away.
The kitchen, first
floor, back of the house.
Erica, want to play a game?
Sit down.
No.
Erica, sit down.
What the hell?
No.
No, no, no, turn
around, turn around!
This isn't your safe
place anymore, Theodore.
The police are going
to walk in that door
and they will do
whatever it takes
to get me out safely.
My wife made
this mobile for our son.
He loved space.
He wanted to be an astronaut.
They will come
in here and they will
see that body.
She worked on
it for about two weeks.
He said his truck
could fly to the moon.
They will kill you.
I don't want that to happen.
This isn't a game.
Right, game.
Sounds like things are getting
real torn up, up there.
It was a pickup truck.
He couldn't say it,
so he called it
his red hiccup truck.
What are you...?
I would count one, two, three...
and whoever could
grab it first won.
No, no.
I never won.
Please.
Oh my God.
One...
No.
Two...
Stop, please.
Please don't make me do this!
Please!
Hey, it's me!
It's me, hey.
Three.
Ahh!
Erica!
Hey!
Jesus Christ.
Erica?
Erica.
You're safe now.
Mitch, get down here.
Erica!
Come on, then.
Let's get you out of here, okay?
Mitch?
Erica?
Mitch.
I love you!
Are you okay?
Are you okay?
Dispatch: All
units on scene,
with multiple casualties.
Scene is secured.
Officer: Clear a path here.
ASD reporting back to base.
Oh, Dan!
Oh my God.
Hey, hey.
There's nothing you
could have done.
Hey, look at me.
Hey.
If you weren't as
strong as you are,
there would be three
of those, okay?
I love you so much.
Hey, um,
I thought you might
like something warm to drink.
Careful, it's hot.
Thank you.
Sure.
He's dead, right?
Yes, he is.
He didn't
give you a choice.
You impress me,
Mrs. Bordine.
You're a very brave woman.
And just so you know,
we have counselors,
therapists, who are trained
to handle these situations.
Handle.
Have any of them
ever killed someone?
I don't know
the answer to that,
but I know that you did
what you had to do
in order to survive.
Bad things happen
to good people.
You're a good person.
I'm just glad we
didn't lose you.
And I thought you agreed
to stay in the car.
Well, don't
I look like someone
who would lie to you?
You do now.
You sure do.
Mitch, I don't
think I can stay here.
If you think
I could sleep through
one more night here,
you're crazy.
This is our home.
And it was his.
No, it's
just a house.
We'll find another one.
Mr. Stenza...
Please, call me Theodore.
Maybe it's best
if we keep this formal.
I'm afraid, Mr. Stenza,
that we are out of options.
Out of options?
I mean, there's always options.
You've defaulted
on your payment.
Sir, I was laid off.
I've been on more
job interviews than
you could ever imagine.
Then all of the sudden
the job interviews
started to dry up.
You'd think after 40 years
of engineering experience
that might mean something,
but to them it was...
that I'm old.
I'm not old.
And, sir...
I haven't given up.
Well, I admire
your persistence, but...
Please, listen.
Let's just make a deal.
I'm told you
already worked one out
with my predecessor.
Then let's make another deal!
Please, let's make another deal!
My wife and I have
worked our entire lives
to make that house our home.
For our family...
for our son.
And ever since I lost them,
that house is all
I have left of them.
Look, I'm sorry,
but it's out of my hands.
You have 35 days to
vacate the premises.
Mr. Stenza...
do you understand?
Oh, Mr. Stenza!
It says here that
you are a veteran?
Thank you for your service.
Mitch!
Yeah?
No, wait, let me guess.
One of your friends
is pregnant again.
Better.
Better, uh...
twins!
Speaking of babies,
what's the one thing
that's stopping us
from having one?
We've been married
for three months.
Cold.
We want to enjoy
each other and have
enough fun to last a
lifetime before we do?
Colder.
Our dream house.
There's my
smart husband.
Mm-hmm.
And...
there it is.
Foreclosure?
Hmm, that is a far cry
from our dream house.
This is more house
than we'd be able to afford
for the next five years.
It's a perfect
first home for us.
For our family.
The auction
is tomorrow.
Which
means maybe not
a lot of people know about it.
Plus, we've already
talked to the bank
and we know what we've
been approved for.
Ugh.
I don't know, honey, I
don't think we're ready.
Okay, then,
when will we be?
It's a scary, huge
adult life step.
And that is what
married people do.
They take a bunch of adult
life steps together.
Let's at least try, huh?
You bid up to the number
the bank gave us
and maybe we get lucky.
Okay, I'll go.
Yes!
Oh hey, that
bracelet looks
mighty nice on you.
Uh-oh.
Besides,
you are my sun,
my moon, and my stars.
All right, folks,
you are going to love me
for this one.
Next up is the residence at
1319 Redwood, Los Angeles.
Do I hear 425?
I got 425, do we hear 430?
430, bidder, bidder, 430,
430, 430, bidder at 430.
Bidder 425 going once,
425 going twice...
Going to need
to speak up, son.
430, got 430.
Do I hear 433...
I got 433.
Candidate Two: 435!
435, new
bid's 435, 435, 435.
Okay, 435 going once,
435 going twice...
438 is a new
bid, 438, 440, 440, 440,
bidder 440, bidder,
bidder, bidder.
440, 440, 440?
Okay, 438 going once,
438 going twice.
Sold.
Congratulations, son.
Thank you.
Ah, let me guess,
you went over
your target number.
By the price
of approximately
one honeymoon.
Oh, newlyweds!
Yeah.
That you got the house.
It's kind of a silver lining.
Thank you.
You
own a bank sale.
And bad life choices
lose them everything,
but it means that a nice,
lovely young couple such as
yourselves get to start
their lives out properly.
Then it's not so tragic.
That's a way
of looking at it.
Okay,
enough of my rambling.
Go tell that wife of
yours the good news.
I will.
And thanks again, I really
appreciate this.
What the hell?
Ahh!
No, no, no,
don't worry about me,
I've got this.
Damn, girl,
you been working out?
I know.
You need help?
No, I got it.
Hey, be careful, please.
I'm three
feet off the ground.
I think I'm going to be okay.
Now, are you sure
you want this down?
Oh, I have big
plans for this porch.
Is there any
part of the house
that you don't have
big plans for?
My office.
I have even bigger
plans for that.
Oh, okay,
look at you.
Could you, uh...
Oh, yeah, sorry.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Such a gentleman!
You know.
You know me!
Are you as
happy as I am?
I am.
And a little overwhelmed.
Is that good?
Mostly.
It's a lot.
I think I need a raise.
And you need more patients.
I just hope we're up for this.
We will be.
We've got a whole
lifetime to work on it.
What are you
thinking about?
How weird it is
to look to my right
and not see the kitchen.
It's a little late
for a welcome party.
Hmm.
Can I help you?
I know it's late.
Forgive me so much for
intruding on you guys,
but I'm Theodore.
Theodore Stenza?
This used to be my home.
Mitch?
Umm, Mr. Stenza,
we're about go to bed.
I realize that.
I just wanted to say good-bye.
Is that okay?
Of course,
Mr. Stenza.
Yeah.
Please, come in.
Thank you so much.
Yeah.
Well, I must
confess that I'm not here
to exchange pleasantries,
Mr. Bordine.
I've been talking to all
of my cousins and my aunts
and my uncles, and we
believe we can raise
the money right up to
about what you guys paid.
Um...
I'm sorry, are you
saying you want to...
Buy my house back.
Please.
Listen, I, I
completely understand
where you're coming from, but...
Do you, really?
Young man, you and
your lovely wife
are just getting started.
You have your entire
lives to build beautiful,
loving memories together.
This is all I have
left of my wife.
My family.
I literally built
this house for us.
This is the life
we built together.
So, please, let me
buy my house back.
When you did
you lose your wife?
Five years ago, yesterday.
And when I'm in here,
it's as if she never left.
It can be hard,
saying good-bye.
That's why
I don't want to have to.
I understand.
I understand how it feels
when a door closes.
Especially if we don't
know how, where,
or when the next door will open.
Fear, insecurity, even panic.
Well, I'm not
scared, I'm not panicking.
I know, because you
are one of those people
who makes things happen.
For people like you,
who are persistent,
another door does always open.
I want my house back.
It's just that simple.
And I can be persistent.
Look, you're right,
I don't know what
it's like to lose my house or...
my wife.
You know, I feel for you,
sir, I really do.
But we can't sell
you this house.
Even if we wanted to, after
closing costs and moving
costs and everything else,
we'd be going in the hole.
So, I'm sorry, but
this is our house now.
I understand.
Well, under the circumstances,
I can't say I wish
you all the best.
But I do respect
the both of you,
and I respect your decision.
You're persistent, like me.
I will look for that open door.
Just like you said, doc.
Oh, by the way, the third
step on those stairs,
it squeaks.
Used to be on my to-do
list and I guess now
it's on your to-do list.
Yeah,
I'll get on that.
Forgive me for the intrusion.
It's okay.
Yeah, good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Well, that was a fun night in.
Mitch, he's lost.
I feel bad for him.
Yeah, well,
we're finally not lost.
Okay, we have a home.
So, I feel bad for
him, I wish him well,
but can we just
settle into our lives
and not worry about
everyone else's?
Okay?
Okay.
I'm sorry.
Okay.
There was
something in his eyes.
He's really hurting, Mitch.
It's a shame.
I just hate being
the reason why another
person is so sad.
We're
not the reason!
In school we
learned about depression
and ways it can lead to
sociopathic behavior.
You talk to him
for all of five minutes
and he's a depressed sociopath?
No, I'm just
saying he believes
we stole his house.
We don't know this man.
Or what he's capable of.
Yeah, well, I know
what I'm capable of.
Wow.
Really?
Do these cheesy lines
work on your wife?
All the time.
All the time.
I won't let them
take you away from me.
It's so much better
doing it in your own house.
Maybe because
we don't have to worry
about the neighbors hearing?
I think
it's the space.
Now I have enough room for
all of my sweet moves.
Gah.
Oh hey, I'm going
to be home late tomorrow.
I'm putting in some OT.
I've had a mortgage all
of one day and I already
know why my dad had ulcers.
I will be busy
putting finishing touches
on the home office,
getting ready for
my very first client
in my very own office.
Ooh, you're
going to be great.
And the office looks great.
I'm really proud of you, babe.
Well, I can't have
my husband getting ulcers.
Not until we have a
daughter or two, that is.
All right.
Good night.
Hey, just be home
by 8:00 tomorrow, okay?
I will be cooking us our
very first home-cooked meal.
Home-cooked right
here in our home.
You know, most
people would find that
whole repeating the
word home thing
over and over again annoying.
But not this guy,
I actually enjoy it.
Bring it on.
Oh, okay, I was
thinking about making
steak and home fries, maybe.
One more.
We can
invite our homies.
That's the one.
There we go.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Good night.
Night.
Huh.
Hey, this is
Mitch Bordine.
Please leave a message
and I'll get back
to you as soon as I can.
Hey, babe.
You put the porch
swing back up, huh?
I like it.
Be nice to sit out
here one day and watch
our four children
frolicking on the lawn.
I had to, I'm sorry.
Couldn't resist.
I love you.
It was a great first night.
Well, he's, he's handling it.
You know Mitch, he
tries to be cool
but I can sense
when he's anxious.
We're enjoying just the
two of us for now, Mom.
Yes, for now.
For now is as long
as I want it to be.
I swear, if you
bring up grandkids
once this weekend...
Mom!
My house, my rules.
Yeah, it does actually feel
pretty good to say that.
Now I know why you
and Dad said it
every time you had the chance.
I'm in the kitchen.
I'll send you a video.
I love you too.
See you Saturday.
Tori: Oh, thank goodness!
You were anxious
about the GPS again.
Tori: Yeah, you
can't trust them.
I have nightmares all
of the time I'm going
to drop the kids off at
the wrong babysitter.
Would you like
to come inside?
Tori: Sure.
So, how do you
like the new office?
Tori: It's nice.
I'm the one who
fought for this new house.
I can already see my
husband stressing about it.
And every time he does,
I have to fight
the guilt away.
Tori: How do you do it?
Well, I try to keep
in mind that every person
is free to make
their own decisions
and I am not
responsible for them.
Tori: Does it work?
Sometimes.
The thing about emotion, Tori,
is that it feels real
because it's here.
Our brain knows that
the emotion is false,
but our body refuses to listen.
Which is why we let
the feeling happen,
we let it wash over us,
we let it run through us.
And, when it's done, we let
the brain take back over.
The last thing we do is let
the emotion take control.
Tori: Sounds really hard.
It is a fight
every day, Tori.
Would you like to work
on some exercises?
All right, let's
breathe in for five.
In, one, two, three, four, five.
Hold, and out, two,
three, four, five.
Good job.
We let it do whatever
it's going to do
and then we assert our control.
Tori: You really
feel guilty about
this whole husband thing, huh?
You're deflecting.
This isn't about
my husband, Tori.
It's about to be.
I'll see
you on Tuesday.
Night!
Tori: Bye.
Okay, where
were we?
No!
No!
No, no!
Hey, babe.
You put the porch
swing back up, huh?
I like it.
Be nice to sit out here
one day and watch our
four children
frolicking on the lawn.
I love you.
Hi, this is Erica Bodine.
Leave a message.
What's going
on there, baby-baby?
I'm just calling to wish
you good luck today.
Also, I don't know
what you're talking
about with the swing.
It was down when I left.
I think.
I honestly don't remember.
If this is your way of
telling me you want
it back up, I'm okay with that.
I kind of like the idea
of us sitting there
waiting for the
nursing home to call.
Okay, I will see you
when I get home.
I love you.
Okay, bye.
I didn't think you were going
to struggle so much.
I mean, I don't know
why I thought that,
but of course, of course
you would struggle.
Of course.
Mr. Stenza?
Everybody's calling me that now.
I can call you
whatever you want.
Thank you for
being so accommodating.
I just want to
know what you want.
What I want?
I thought I was perfectly
clear of what I wanted.
I wanted my life back!
I wanted my life back!
Didn't I ask you?
Didn't I beg you
the very same thing?
Didn't I?
Yes.
Didn't I tell
you that I would pay
to get my life back?
And then what did you guys say?
What did you say?
You said, go to hell!
No, no,
we didn't say that.
You made me do this!
I did it, I really did it.
What?
Did what?
I took you.
This is bigger than
the both of us now.
And now that it's started,
I can't go back.
No, of course
you can.
Of course you can!
I am not going to tell
anybody that this happened.
We can, we can start from
the beginning and we can,
we can work together
to get your life back.
Just untie me and,
and open that door,
and then we can go out
there and we can just talk.
You think that I'm one of those
nut jobs that you
work with, don't you?
Don't you?
Well, let me tell you
something, young lady,
I am a model citizen.
I paid my taxes, my head
is screwed on straight,
and this is my home!
We need to talk.
No more talking!
We can talk
about anything,
anything you want!
We can talk and, and
we make it better.
No.
I don't want this
for you, Mr. Stenza.
I'm sure your family wouldn't
want this for you, either.
What do you
know about my family?
I'm sure
that they love you.
You don't talk about my family.
You started this.
When you start something,
you see it all
the way to the end.
You understand that, missy?
I'm going to take
everything away from you.
I am going to do to you
what you did to me.
I didn't do
anything to you.
I'm taking everything away,
piece by piece.
First...
a little phone call.
And then I'm texting your hubby.
Oh, hey, Ms. Moran.
I'm glad you stopped by.
I was checking the numbers...
Mitch.
There's a police officer
waiting for you
in the conference room.
Oh, is
everything all right?
He was polite,
no sense of urgency.
But, Mitch, I really don't
appreciate my employees'
private lives walking into
my business requesting
a private room to ask
a few questions.
Straighten it out.
Yeah, yes.
I'll, I'll get on that.
Umm, sorry.
Thank you.
You want to take a seat, Mitch?
Um...
is there a problem?
That's what we're
going to find out.
You know, when a cop
asks you if you want
to take a seat, he's
not really asking.
You know how to work
a tablet, Mitch?
Yeah.
Great, unlock
that bad boy and take
a gander at the first
picture, will you?
I would do it myself,
but, you know,
sticky fingers.
Ah, code?
Oh, right.
It's one...
two...
three-four-five.
Not a great code, I know,
but it's the only one
I can remember.
Besides, anyone who
steals a cop's tablet
has got to be too dumb
to guess it, right?
You know that guy?
Yeah, I bid on
our house from him.
Sorry, I don't
remember his name.
Sims.
Jonathan Michael Sims.
Okay, do you
want to tell me
what this is all about?
You know, it's never
as easy as I'd like to be.
Okay, here's what
we're going to do...
you and me are just
going to sit here
for a little bit like
a couple of old pals.
After all, if it
turns out I'm wrong,
I'd like you to
still have a job.
I'm sorry, are you
arresting me for something?
Mitch,
Mitch, come on.
Let's not get
ahead of ourselves.
I mean, unless you want
to confess something.
Confess to what?
Mr. Sims died the
night you won your house.
Hit and run.
That,
that's terrible.
Yeah.
You drive a Dodge, right?
Yeah.
Stratus, blue, right?
Yes!
Well, there
was a fabric sample
in the grill of your car...
that at least on the
eyeball test seems to be
from the shirt he was
wearing that night.
Wait, wait, wait.
You, you searched my car?
Well...
it's in the parking lot.
Public property.
And we didn't have to search it,
the fabric was there
flapping in the breeze
for all to see.
Not really smart, if you ask me.
So, you tell me.
If you were a cop...
would you be suspicious?
Well, I don't
know what's going on,
because I didn't do anything.
You know, the problem
with you saying that,
Mitch, is that's exactly
what somebody who did
do something would say.
So, look...
let's just you and me
wait here until the lab
calls me about that
little swatch of fabric.
Sound good?
Excellent.
Damn it!
Must have felt pretty good,
walking around your
old house again.
Yeah.
It was wonderful, even with
all that tacky furniture
you guys put inside there.
But all those wonderful
memories are still there.
Mr. Stenza,
what's next?
I told you, I want your husband
to feel like I do.
That's why he's being
arrested right now
for a hit and run.
What?!
He will lose his job,
he'll have a conviction
on his record.
And whenever he gets
out of prison,
whenever that's going to be,
well, he will be unemployable.
You know, you take
everything away
from a man, you take
away his livelihood.
And that's going to happen
to Mitch soon enough.
I'm trying to
help you, Mr. Stenza.
When you threaten me,
I get scared
and that doesn't further
either of our goals.
I wouldn't
really know about that,
because right now I'm
feeling pretty good.
Well, if it's
threats you like,
then let me tell you
this right now:
if you hurt my husband,
I will do whatever
it takes to cut you into pieces!
Do you understand me?
Wow!
You've got fight in you.
Untie me and
I'll show you how much.
Hey, you remind me...
I don't care
who I remind you of!
Let me out of here!
No.
I built this room
for my son, Max.
He loved it here.
This was his playroom.
Daddy, you want to go
play games down there?
It's my favorite room, Daddy.
I love my safe
place room, Daddy.
Oh, I see.
Now you're all clammed up.
Before, you were Chatty Cathy,
trying to get me to
talk all the time,
and now you're all
boarded up, huh?
Like a virgin on prom night.
Let me go.
No.
My son, he loved to play games.
He couldn't say pick-up truck.
So we'd play the
game hiccup twuck.
I'd put the truck right here.
In the middle of
the room on the rug.
And then I would count to three:
one, two, three.
And whoever could grab
it first, would win.
Daddy, I won.
I won, Daddy!
He was a champ.
I never won.
You sound like
you're a good father.
Yeah.
You know, my son, he had
a lot of fight in him.
A lot of fight!
And I had to tell him
that when he was
in the hospital.
You keep fighting, son.
You make strong, you
keep fighting, son!
I will, Daddy.
I will keep fighting, Daddy.
That had to be
so hard for you.
You'll never know.
But I can see
the pain you're in.
He was six years old.
He was six years old!
So, what would you know
about pain like that, huh?
I know that talking
about it can help.
Do you want to talk about it?
No, no, Theodore, please.
Please!
Who is that?
It's Dan, it's
one of my patients.
He's on the schedule.
If you say anything,
this adventure ends
for all of us.
You understand?
Dan, hi!
Dan: Dr. Bordine,
hey, I'm here.
I didn't want to knock because,
you know, the thing.
Dan, I'm sorry,
I need to cancel today.
Dan: Sorry, that's not
going to work for me.
Dan, I'm sick.
Dan: So am I,
that's why I'm here.
You know I can't have...
You shouldn't
have done that.
Dan has extreme OCD,
he has a method
for ending phone calls.
No, no, stop, no!
Stop it, no, no!
No!
Dan: Who are you?
Sorry, appointment cancelled
for today.
Dan: Wait, no, see, because
she didn't call me.
She's sick.
Dan: But she said she
was going to call me
if she ever needed to cancel.
For whatever reason,
see, that was our deal.
You know,
sometimes life throws you
curveballs, buddy.
Dan: See, that's the thing.
I live my life in ways so
I don't get curve balls.
It's not a choice, you know?
Listen...
Dan: Who are you,
again, anyway?
Where is Erica?
I'm her husband and I'm taking
care of her, okay?
Dan: You're Mitch Bordine?
That is correct.
Dan: You're not him.
I am.
Dan: The photo of Erica and
her husband of three months,
Mitch, on her website
says otherwise.
What the hell is going on here?
I want to talk
to Dr. Bordine!
Ooh!
No, no, no!
Sorry, my wife
hasn't texted me back.
Marital troubles?
No, she's
a psychologist,
she's with patients.
Are you one of
her patients, Mitch?
Is everything
I say to you going
to be something you
find suspicious?
Should it be?
Well, I guess we're
about to find out.
Go for Ivie.
Mm-hmm.
Okay, thank you.
Yeah, bye.
Mitch, looks like you
and I have two choices.
The first one is I escort
you to the parking lot
and put cuffs on there.
The second choice is
way less pleasant
and far more embarrassing.
So, you,
you're arresting me.
The samples
matched, Mitch.
Well, it has
to be planted,
because I didn't hit anybody.
You know, you're
starting to sound
like a guy who is hell
bent on option B.
You really want
everyone in this office
to see me restrain
and put cuffs on you?
I am innocent.
That's what
court is for.
Do I look like
someone who would
lie to you about this?
Do I look like
someone who cares?
Now, you need to pull it
together, pal, right now.
And you need to take a
little walk with me.
Last chance.
Let's go.
Now.
I'm impressed.
You are a fighter.
You know, my wife was a fighter.
Yeah.
So, the, uh...
situation with your
patient makes me realize
that maybe you were right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, why don't you come on out
and let's talk about it, huh?
I need your help.
It's something that
I would never ask for,
but I'm asking you now.
Please, come and help me.
Please, please,
somebody help me!
Watch your head.
Dispatch: Say again,
we have a two-forty at
1319 Redwood Court.
Witness saw an Asian female
in her 20s screaming
for help and being held
against her will by a man.
Long hair, 6'3"...
Hey!
Dispatch: 1319...
Hey!
Dispatch: Redwood.
Calm down.
Look, man, you want to
explain to me why you want
to add resisting arrest
to all the other charges
you're already facing?
What's a two-forty?
The radio?
1319 Redwood, that's my house.
They just said a
woman was screaming
outside of my house.
That's my wife!
You don't know that.
Dispatch, please repeat
the description of suspect.
Dispatch: Long hair,
6 feet 3 inches.
Oh my God.
This is him, this is all him!
Mr. Bordine...
Theodore Stenza,
the owner of
the house before me.
This has got to be him!
Now, what is a two-forty?
Assault.
Unit 21 responding.
Sit down.
Sit down!
I knew this guy in the war,
he did a Wild West show.
Fast draw kind of
stuff, you know?
I bugged him every
night to teach me
how to do that stuff.
So I'm telling you, young lady,
you try another trick
like you just did,
this knife is going
to be in my hand
and in the middle of your
chest before you can make
two steps toward that
door over there.
You understand me?
Big man with
a big knife, right?
You got me this time,
but it ain't happening again.
You play baseball?
Softball?
Hoo, girl, you got a
home run swing, man.
Got some skills, got potential.
What would your
son say about all this?
About the monster you've become?
Nothing.
Your son died,
so you get to kill
whoever you want.
Your wife died, so you get
to hurt and scare people.
You lost your house, so
you can toss away right
and wrong like a bloody towel?
I'm sorry, Theodore.
A million people deal with
things like this every day,
and none of them
use it as an excuse.
You and your fancy schools.
Therapists know it all, huh?
You're in the word business
and you can't even
get that straight.
All you do is talk for a living,
talk, talk, talk, talk, talk.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!
Try doing something
with your hands!
Stop it!
You use my family
as an excuse one more time,
you're done.
I apologize.
You have lost and I am
so sorry for all
that you've been through.
It's hell on Earth.
And you're right, I don't
know how that feels.
You will.
Life reveals
who we truly are,
eventually, and always.
You got your house
back, Theodore.
Just let me go and you can
get back to your life.
My life is over.
No one is
saying that!
I'm saying it.
I am saying
you've won!
I've won?
Does this look like a
victory lap to you?
Huh?
My son thought I was a winner.
You're a winner, Daddy,
just like in the movies.
Did you watch movies
with your son, Theodore?
All the time.
When he was sick.
Then tell me this...
if Max were watching
this movie right now,
would he think you were
the good guy or the bad guy?
I never wanted
this to happen like this.
I'm a good guy.
No, no!
Good people don't hold
others against their will!
And they don't murder people!
I'm a good guy, I'm a good guy!
I'm a good guy.
I'm a good guy, I'm a
good guy, I'm a good guy!
I'm a good guy!
Good guy, I'm a good guy!
Sit down.
Answer it, sell it.
Cops, whoever it is,
tell them you're fine
and sell it.
Erica, hi.
This is Detective Ivie, LAPD.
I'm doing a wellness check.
Over the phone?
Well, you can't
expect us to make
the drive out to
every house, right?
I just need verbal confirmation.
Are you okay?
Yes, I'm okay.
Do you need medical attention?
No.
You're not being
held against your will?
Erica?
No, not being
held against my will.
Great.
Just one more question...
what's your
mother-in-law's name?
Dottie.
How's your mom?
Sheila, I think, Mitch
said her name was.
She's fine, officer.
Sheila's doing just fine.
Erica, could you
put Theodore
on the phone, please?
He wants
to talk to you.
Mr. Stenza, this
is Detective Ivie
with the Los Angeles
Police Department.
How are we doing in there?
We?
Yes, we.
We are in this together.
We're just peachy.
Look, I understand
that you're angry.
I would be, too.
I mean, you had a whole plan,
and now that plan is sideways
and you're feeling
like you're drowning.
But I'm here to tell you
that you're not.
You see, this is your
chance to just grab my hand,
get out of the water, and
still get to live a life.
No, there's no way out.
There's
always a way out.
We sometimes just don't see it.
Who the hell are
you to talk to me, huh?
Hey, I get it, we
don't know each other.
But I'm here to help,
nothing more than that,
okay, Theodore?
I tried to do it the right way
my entire life, I truly did.
I know you did.
And now I'm
going to do it my way.
Look, I'm a
cop, Mr. Stenza.
I've seen a million
of these cases.
Backup is on the way, but
you know LA traffic, right?
What the hell
are you doing?
Is Erica okay?
Is my wife okay?
So it could
be a while longer,
but here's the thing,
they have to take
any deal I give them.
So, if you hurry up and
hash this out with me
right now, I can get you
more than those bums
would ever give you.
I know those stalling tactics.
You ever thought about
being a therapist,
huh, Ivie?
You'd have hit it
out of the park.
A therapist doesn't
have what I have, Theodore,
a get out of jail free card.
I'm listening.
So am I.
What is it that you want?
What do I need to give you
so that you let Erica go
and we all walk out of
here happy and healthy?
What is it that I want?
Let's make it happen.
I want my house
back, that's what I want!
Hey, hey, done.
Really?
Just like that?
My friend,
I've got Mitch
down here in handcuffs.
He'll sell, a good price, too.
Is that going to do it for you?
Let me think
about it for a moment.
Well, don't
take too long,
I'm worried I see
red and blue lights
in the distance.
Well, that was nice, Ivie.
What was?
Believing that
maybe this was all real.
It is real.
Good-bye.
Theodore,
do not hang up.
What?
What is going on?
Come on.
Come on, let's go.
Get up, we're moving.
My wife loved that kitchen.
She made the best
French toast in there.
We moved the coffee maker
closer to the refrigerator
because it was easier
to get to the milk.
I can move it back.
You shouldn't have
hung up on him.
You keep on sounding like
you think there's hope.
The police
are talking to you.
Why isn't there hope?
Because I'm done
talking to the police.
And I'm done talking to you.
Dispatch, this is
unit 21 with the two-forty.
We've got an escalating
situation here at
1319 Redwood.
Can I get an ETA on backup?
No, stop,
Theodore, stop!
Theodore, stop!
No!
Please!
Hey, hey, hey!
Hey, stop!
He's got Erica!
Damn it.
No, I'm
going in there.
Why, why?
So we can have two hostages?
Backup is a couple
of minutes away!
Backup!?
Did you hear her?
She doesn't have a
couple of minutes!
Tell me I'm wrong.
Does she have a
couple of minutes?
I don't know.
Man, if you
don't let me in there,
I swear to God.
Mitch...
He's already
killed one person.
I'm not going to stand
here while that psycho
does whatever he
wants to my wife.
I need permission
to enter your home.
What?
Otherwise, I have
to wait for a warrant.
Do I have your permission?
Yeah, hell
yeah, you do!
Keys, keys, keys.
And I'm going to need
you back in the car.
I can't just have you
standing out here.
Please.
Do not
let him hurt her.
Just turn
on my headlights.
Dispatch, this is unit 21.
I'm breaching the residence.
Attention all units,
I'm going in.
Argh!
Please, no,
Theodore, don't!
Theodore...
they'll take it easy on
you if you just stop this.
Right now, right here.
It's not too late.
Just put the gun down
and I will tell them
that you let me go.
Theodore, please.
Dispatch: Backup
is imminent,
wait for additional
units to arrive.
Repeat, wait on the
additional units.
Don't!
Mr. Stenza!
LAPD!
Come out with your hands up!
I do not want to hurt you!
Erica.
Don't move.
It was either this
or a play jet.
I told my son, son, a play
jet might be more fun.
You could fly it here, fly
it there, land it anywhere.
A pickup truck just
goes back and forth.
Do you know what he said to me?
No, I don't.
He said, Daddy,
red is my favorite color.
Dispatch: 21.
Unit 21, position.
Backup is two minutes away.
The kitchen, first
floor, back of the house.
Erica, want to play a game?
Sit down.
No.
Erica, sit down.
What the hell?
No.
No, no, no, turn
around, turn around!
This isn't your safe
place anymore, Theodore.
The police are going
to walk in that door
and they will do
whatever it takes
to get me out safely.
My wife made
this mobile for our son.
He loved space.
He wanted to be an astronaut.
They will come
in here and they will
see that body.
She worked on
it for about two weeks.
He said his truck
could fly to the moon.
They will kill you.
I don't want that to happen.
This isn't a game.
Right, game.
Sounds like things are getting
real torn up, up there.
It was a pickup truck.
He couldn't say it,
so he called it
his red hiccup truck.
What are you...?
I would count one, two, three...
and whoever could
grab it first won.
No, no.
I never won.
Please.
Oh my God.
One...
No.
Two...
Stop, please.
Please don't make me do this!
Please!
Hey, it's me!
It's me, hey.
Three.
Ahh!
Erica!
Hey!
Jesus Christ.
Erica?
Erica.
You're safe now.
Mitch, get down here.
Erica!
Come on, then.
Let's get you out of here, okay?
Mitch?
Erica?
Mitch.
I love you!
Are you okay?
Are you okay?
Dispatch: All
units on scene,
with multiple casualties.
Scene is secured.
Officer: Clear a path here.
ASD reporting back to base.
Oh, Dan!
Oh my God.
Hey, hey.
There's nothing you
could have done.
Hey, look at me.
Hey.
If you weren't as
strong as you are,
there would be three
of those, okay?
I love you so much.
Hey, um,
I thought you might
like something warm to drink.
Careful, it's hot.
Thank you.
Sure.
He's dead, right?
Yes, he is.
He didn't
give you a choice.
You impress me,
Mrs. Bordine.
You're a very brave woman.
And just so you know,
we have counselors,
therapists, who are trained
to handle these situations.
Handle.
Have any of them
ever killed someone?
I don't know
the answer to that,
but I know that you did
what you had to do
in order to survive.
Bad things happen
to good people.
You're a good person.
I'm just glad we
didn't lose you.
And I thought you agreed
to stay in the car.
Well, don't
I look like someone
who would lie to you?
You do now.
You sure do.
Mitch, I don't
think I can stay here.
If you think
I could sleep through
one more night here,
you're crazy.
This is our home.
And it was his.
No, it's
just a house.
We'll find another one.