Culprits (2023) s01e01 Episode Script

1
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
(WHIMPERS)
(PANTING)
(CAR ALARM BEEPS)
(GUNSHOT)
- (GUNSHOT)
- (GRUNTS)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES)
CHILDREN: Can't stop,
can't stop the beat ♪
- I won't stop, won't stop ♪
- I won't stop, won't stop ♪
- Won't stop the beat, and go ♪
- Won't stop the beat, and go ♪
Everybody move your
feet and feel united ♪
Whoa ♪
Everybody move your
feet and feel united ♪
Whoa ♪
Go.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO)
Nobody's coming, Joe.
No one's ever coming.
Oh, best be careful.
Always.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Hey!
JOE: Okay.
Yours, mine? Careful. Fingers.
Good morning.
- Hi.
- Good morning.
- Yeah, he's a really great guy.
- He's so lovely.
- Hi.
- Hey, guys. What's going on?
STUDENT: Ow.
(MURMURING)
(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)
- (JOE GROWLS)
- (GRUNTS)
- You picking us up today?
- JOE: Probably.
Hey, who's that kid
throwing stones over there?
Taylor Bedrosian. His daddy is rich.
Okay. Okay. Go, go, go.
Have fun. Be you. Okay?
- Good luck with your thing.
- Thanks, sweetheart. Go.
- BUD: Love you. Bye.
- Love you.
- FRANKIE: Love you.
- Both of you.
- BUD: See you later.
- Bye.
BUD: I'm gonna race you.
(SOFT MUSIC)
(LOUD KNOCKING)
Officer?
You're not supposed to be in here.
This is private property.
Can you step outside
and show me some ID?
Sir, this is my store. I own it.
This store has been empty for years.
JOE: I just bought it.
My name is Joe Petrus.
I need to see that ID.
This really you?
Yeah.
You new in town?
Lived here couple of years.
Well, I think I would
have remembered seeing you.
Okay.
I guess we're done here.
(HORNS HONKING)
METCALF: I used to know Bill Campfer.
Last owner of the hardware store.
Good man, Bill. I used
to love that store.
Broke my heart to see it close down.
End of an era.
Oh, you want to change
the use of the building?
A liquor license.
You're turning Bill's store into a bar?
A bistro.
- Bistro?
- JOE: A restaurant.
Farm-to-plate.
Mm. Well, that street, that
block, it's an area with heritage.
- With history.
- But right now, it's dying.
There are three empty
stores within one block.
People don't want
loud music, drunk kids.
You're right. Which is why I wanna help
make it a place that the
community gathers, you know,
with-with families.
I want to be part of
something that can
that can help the people of this
town, that can make them feel
you know, feel proud
of their neighborhood.
Well, people are proud of
their neighborhoods already,
Mr. Petrus. I can assure you.
I (STUTTERS)
- Sir, I didn't mean to imply that you
- (SOFT CHUCKLE)
Well, okay, Mr. Petrus, your
application seems in order.
We'll process it, but we
can't promise anything.
You may get some
negative local feedback.
You know, because
Because what?
Liquor license.
Of course.
Well, thank you for coming in.
(TENSE MUSIC)
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
(MACHINES WHIRRING)
Fuck.
(STUDENTS CHATTERING)
BUD: I won.
I know. I'll win tomorrow though.
- FRANKIE: I am way faster than you.
- BUD: Oh, you're older than me,
- so you're slower
- You okay, Joe?
Uh, yeah, sweetheart.
- Um, I'm fine.
- (DOOR CLOSES)
- How was school?
- FRANKIE: Okay.
We learned about planets.
JOE: Oh, yeah? What did you learn?
FRANKIE: One year on Neptune is
the same as a 165 years on Earth.
FRANKIE: Hold on.
(BUD MUTTERING)
Jules.
We're back.
- Wait for me.
- Wait, wait, wait.
BUD AND FRANKIE: Hi, Dad.
JULES: What's the rush?
Slow down, please. Slow down.
- FRANKIE: We're gonna play video games.
- Yeah, half an hour.
- Half an hour, then homework, please.
- FRANKIE: Two hours.
How was the meeting? You didn't call.
Oh, no.
JOE: I
I think I fucked it up.
You always think that.
- I'm sure you did great.
- No, no.
- How was your day?
- Good.
I showed three properties,
- got an offer on one.
- Ooh.
Remember I have my book group tonight.
Pauline's hosting.
- Doesn't Pauline have cats?
- Oh, yes. Three of the fuckers.
You should take an antihistamine.
Remember what happened last time.
Joe, if I take a pill, I can't drink.
And what's the point of
book group if I can't drink?
(CHUCKLES)
- Who chose the book?
- Me.
We're doing this.
JOE: Oh, your white
moms are gonna love this.
JULES: They made me read Hillbilly
Elegy. They can suck it up.
Where did you find this?
JULES: Tucked away.
You should be more careful with
your things. It's all torn up.
I'm gonna take a shower first.
You mind getting dinner ready?
- JOE: Mm-mm.
- I bought lasagna. It's in the oven.
Oh, lasagna, it's all
just cheese and carbs.
(CHUCKLES)
The kids like it. (SOFT CHUCKLE)
Just do some pushups after or something.
(LIGHT TAP)
What was that for?
Nothing.
(RAIN PATTERING)
(LIGHT SNORING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
(CAR ENGINE STARTING)
(CAR HONKING)
We're here, sir.
Mr. Bardwell, welcome.
GO-BETWEEN: Everyone is waiting.
So let's get on with it.
Good evening, gentlemen.
Well, as you have all dragged me,
I'm guessing you've got a proposal?
We do, Mr. Bardwell.
We've all spoken. We
want to make you an offer.
An offer?
For what?
For your business.
My business is not for sale.
You said we're here to
negotiate a truce, not a buyout.
ELDERLY CRIME HEAD:
Sorry. You misunderstood.
This isn't a buyout.
This is a hostile takeover.
What the fuck did you just say?
You break too many rules, Don.
DON: There are no rules.
ELDERLY CRIME HEAD:
Without rules, it's chaos.
DON: I like chaos.
- My business is chaos.
- Well, now your business is
going out of business.
(TENSE MUSIC)
- Fuck!
- Get on the ground!
(OVERLAP SHOUTING)
GUNMAN: Stop! Stop! Stop!
(JOE GRUNTS)
Come on.
(JOE AND DON GRUNT)
(CRIME HEADS GROAN)
(JOE GRUNTS)
(BOTH GRUNT)
(BOTH GRUNT)
GUNMAN 1: Hey, don't let them go!
(GUNSHOTS)
Come on.
GUNMAN 2: Bastard!
Move! Come back here!
DON: Oh, shit.
Oh, fuck!
(LOUD BANGING)
(BOTH GROAN)
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
BARDWELL: Where's fucking the car?
(WOMAN YELPS)
(WOMAN GROANS)
Oh. Fucking hurry up.
(TIRES SCREECHING)
(TENSE MUSIC)
(MUSIC STOPS)
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
(JOE GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
(JOE GRUNTS)
(GROANS)
(THUDS)
Fuck.
(JOE GRUNTS)
(PANTING)
(JOE CONTINUES GRUNTING)
Oh, shit.
(JOE GRUNTS)
(COUGHS)
(SIGHS)
(ZIPPER RASPS)
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(ROCK MUSIC BLARING)
(CARS HONKING)
(GASPS, SCREAMS)
Hey! Hey!
(DOG BARKING)
Hello.
Uh, yeah, there's been a
been a car accident and someone's hurt.
The corner of Lassiter and Hill.
Let me get you to look right here. Good.
Good.
Left eye. Yeah.
Right eye.
- Good.
- Is he okay?
Yeah. Just some bruising.
Okay, I'll take it from here.
OFFICER: You've been drinking?
- No.
- OFFICER: Can I get you to stand up, sir?
All right, deep breath in.
Blow out as hard as you can.
Okay.
Okay.
So, what are you doing out at this hour?
Oh, nothing.
I couldn't sleep, so I just
went for a drive for some air.
A drive?
This your neighborhood?
- No.
- No.
Okay.
I'll give you a ride to the station.
We need you to give
an official statement.
Can't I do that here? Right now?
A hit-and-run is serious, especially
if it ends up as manslaughter.
You're a key witness.
If we go on to catch the guy,
your statement will be important.
Well, what about my car?
It's evidence for now.
We'll tow it, impound it
give you a receipt.
I just really wanna go home.
I bet.
But you got to do this. Okay?
This is something you got to do.
Right this way.
All right. We're good.
- MAN 1: Ride away.
- OFFICER: Yep.
- MAN 1: Got it?
- MAN 2: Yeah.
Watch your head.
(ENGINE STARTS)
One, two, three, go ♪
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC PLAYING)
(PANTING)
FIXER: David Marking?
You are David Marking, correct?
Who are you?
Do you know Dianne Harewood?
Only by reputation.
She'd like to meet with you.
- Me?
- You.
Why?
Meet her. She'll tell you.
What if I say no?
If you know who Dianne Harewood
is, then you know you can't say no.
So stop fucking around and follow me.
(HORNS HONKING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
Sit down.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
Do you know who I am?
What you know about me?
You're dangerous.
Do I look dangerous to you?
You've caught my eye, David.
I see something in you.
I think you're talented.
I suspect that for much of your life,
you've been vastly underestimated.
I think most people don't
realize your potential.
Maybe even you don't realize it.
What is this?
Why didn't you just let
them kill Don Bardwell?
At the house in Chelsea.
Your boss, Don Bardwell.
Why did you go to such
lengths to save his life?
I don't know anyone called Don Bardwell.
Okay.
But hypothetically, let's
say you did save his life.
By doing so, you would have put
rather a large target on your own back.
You could have just put
your hands up, step back.
Let them kill him.
Sixty-forty, they'd have let you live.
As I said
I don't know what you're talking about.
However
Yes?
You take a job,
you agree to the terms.
You deliver.
You don't just give up and surrender.
I'm planning a job, David.
And I'd like for you to
come and work with me on it.
The job is risky.
And will attract a lot of heat.
So it's a one-and-out.
And it would require you to
leave your current life behind
and never return to it.
Severing all ties.
And starting over.
New identity.
No coming back.
I assume that's not a deal breaker.
By all accounts, you're
an untethered man.
What's the job?
You'll only know that
once you're inside.
- How big?
- Low sevens.
- Split between how many?
- Low sevens.
Each.
You don't even know me.
I know almost everything
about you, David.
If I didn't, I wouldn't
be sitting here right now.
You said "risky".
How risky?
We're going to be fucking
with some very serious people.
And after, you'd get me a new identity?
A new life?
You don't have to commit now,
but I need to know if you're interested.
- Hypothetically
- I'm interested.
Excellent.
We'll be in touch.
Stay for 10 more minutes, then leave.
And, David
not a breath, not a word to anyone.
Or it'll be over for you in short order.
Understood?
OFFICER: Mr. Petrus?
Okay.
I typed up your statement. I
just need you to read and sign.
Are you sure about that license plate?
Yeah.
- Why? Who's it belong to?
- I can't say.
But you better be sure.
How's the woman that got hurt?
Alive, but in a bad way.
- Skull fracture, cracked vertebrae.
- Jesus.
Yeah. It's touch and go
whether she'd be able to walk.
I'll get someone to drive you home.
No, no, it's not a
problem. I'll get a cab.
Oh, it's the least we can
do for a good Samaritan.
- Really, it's fine
- Mr. Petrus, an officer will drive you.
Just hang tight.
(CAR ALARM BEEPS)
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
(LOUD CLANKING)
GARBAGE MAN: Come on. Let's go.
(THRILLING MUSIC)
(BEEPS)
(GROANS)
(RUMBLING)
(TRUCK WHIRRING)
(YELPS)
(GROANS)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTING CONTINUES)
(GRUNTING)
(GRUNTING)
(THRILLING MUSIC CONTINUES)
(GROANS)
(JOE PANTING)
(GRUNTS)
(PANTING)
(DANCE MUSIC)
(GRUNTS)
Is that tiring?
Can I help you?
David Marking?
I'm Detective Sergeant Mike Salanger.
I have a few questions for you.
- About what?
- I think you know about what.
No, I don't.
Yeah, you do.
Listen, can you come with me
somewhere a little quieter?
I don't think you want
your colleagues and clients
to hear what we have to discuss.
Show me that badge again.
This is not a police station.
It's a safe house.
We have to be very careful, David.
For your sake.
SALANGER: This is DI Kerry
Darge. She's leading this case.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Take a seat, David.
Sit down, David.
Am I under arrest?
Last Sunday morning, you
met with Dianne Harewood.
Harewood is a thief, a career criminal.
A very dangerous and vile human being.
- I don't know anybody called Harewood.
- You were seen, David.
Together.
In front of the Rothkos in Tate Britain.
SALANGER: Did you like them?
The Rothkos.
What?
SALANGER: The Seagram
series. The Rothkos.
I mean, you see them in
a book and you're like,
"Sure, red, bold, whatever."
And you see them in real life,
it's just this whole other thing.
SALANGER: The scale, the depth.
They're brutal.
Emotional.
What are you talking about?
The Rothkos.
What the fuck's a Rothko?
Jesus fucking Christ.
We were following her, David.
DARGE: We saw you meet
Harewood in the gallery.
And she's planning something big.
She's been recruiting people for a job,
and last Sunday, she recruited you.
No.
Yeah.
Take the job.
What?
When Harewood comes back
to you, yeah, say yes.
Take the job, and be our
eyes and ears on the inside.
Be our ears and eyes, and
help us catch her in the act.
If you help us to do this,
we'll give you immunity.
A whole new identity.
Protection.
I'm a personal trainer.
I just say encouraging things to
white women while they do crunches.
I'm not who you think I am.
SALANGER: David, we know
you work for Don Bardwell.
We have witnesses who saw you
come out of a building in Chelsea
and steal a car at gunpoint.
I mean, that alone is 10 to 15.
But here's the thing.
After you left that building,
there were three people
found dead inside.
Three.
Now, if we can make just one of those
murders stick to you, just one
that's it. That's life.
That's you done.
You've got the wrong man.
David, stop lying.
Do the right thing.
If you think I've committed
a crime, arrest me.
Or else, let me go.
- David
- Now.
You're making a mistake.
Now!
(CLANKS)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
(COUGHS)
(SIGHS)
(MUSIC FADES)
(ALARM BLARING)
Good morning!
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
FRANKIE: Can we have
pancakes and choco chips?
- Wow.
- And watch TV and play tablets?
- No TV, just breakfast first.
- TV? Tablets? Yeah? Okay.
Breakfast first and then we'll
talk about TV and tablets. Okay?
- Come on. Come on, buddy.
- JULES: Careful down the stairs, please.
- You okay?
- (GROANS)
What the hell?
What happened?
Shit, you're all beat up.
I was in a car crash.
- What?
- Oh, yeah.
Last night, I I snuck
out. I got into a crash.
Hit-and-run, but not my fault.
I don't
You snuck out for what?
Joe, are you in some sort of trouble?
No, no, I couldn't sleep. I
I went to the store.
- The store?
- You know, I needed to look at it.
I don't know, with everything happening,
with the meeting, I couldn't sleep.
I just wanted to go,
you know, stand in the
store and make plans.
I'm sorry. I know it's stupid, but
No. No. I get it.
It's peculiar,
but I get it.
Why didn't you call me?
I didn't wanna wake you, wake the kids.
I just wanted to deal
with it and come home.
- Are you okay? Are you hurt?
- I'm fine, I'm fine. Just
I just need some Advil and some sleep.
Okay.
Stay in bed.
- I'll deal with the kids.
- Thank you.
You smell weird.
Go. Go give them breakfast.
Pancakes or whatever.
(CLICKS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(UPBEAT MUSIC SWELLS)
(SIGHS)
Pull. Don't use your shoulders
so much. Come on. There.
Core. There, there, there.
Pull up, pull up. There
we go. There we go.
That was an easy one.
I gave you an easy one.
WOMAN: Yeah?
Mm-hm.
Yup.
Hold, hold, hold. Good.
Relax.
(CAR ALARM BEEPS)
What the fuck?
(JOE GRUNTS)
(JOE COUGHS)
FIXER: Shut up.
JOE: Fuck! Let me fucking go!
(TENSE MUSIC)
Hey, do the fuck, you
fucking Let me go. Fuck!
- JOE: Let me fucking go!
- FIXER: Hey, hey.
Calm down or I'll slit
your fucking throat.
JOE: What the fuck do you
want? Where the fuck am I?
(CAR DOOR OPENS)
DIANNE: You disappoint me, David.
Was I not clear?
Did I not explain what
would happen to you
if you spoke to anyone
about our meeting?
I didn't speak to anyone.
You spoke to the police.
- No.
- No?
They spoke to me.
They know you're planning something.
They're watching you.
They knew you offered me a job.
They wanted me to take it.
Why?
Spy on you, snitch on
you, help them catch you.
I see.
Mm.
Wait, wait, wait. Wait,
I'm telling the truth.
(BREATHES SHAKILY)
- (CUFFS CLANK)
- (JOE GRUNTS)
(CAR DOOR OPENS)
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
Hello again.
You were testing me?
It's just part of the
recruitment process.
You passed.
DIANNE: Fixer will take you home.
Pack a bag. Make it count.
You're never going back
there again after tonight.
That okay?
Okay.
Just essentials.
Nothing personal. No
photos. No documents.
Where's your passport?
Top drawer.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
JOE: You okay?
- Hey, Bud?
- Yeah?
Bunny's got to stay here.
He can't go to school.
- No.
- Yeah.
- No.
- Come on.
- Fine.
- Thank you.
I'm gonna put him right here.
JOE: Hey, is your friend Tyler okay?
FRANKIE: Taylor. And he's not my friend.
Taylor's dad's in jail.
He's not in jail. He just got arrested.
Everyone's talking about it.
What's, uh, what's
Taylor last name again?
It's Taylor Bedrosian.
Even my teacher's talking about it.
She said his dad did a hit-and-hope.
- FRANKIE: Hit-and-run, stupid.
- BUD: Don't call me stupid.
- FRANKIE: Then don't be stupid.
- Don't call me stupid.
- Then don't be
- Hey, hey, hey.
- She started it first.
- JOE: Come on.
Listen, don't believe
everything you hear
and don't tell stories
about other people.
- Are you talking to her?
- I'm talking to both of you.
- JOE: Okay?
- BUD: Okay.
JOE: Okay. Go. Have fun, be you.
BUD: See you later.
JOE: Bye.
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
Shit.
Stunt driver Marcello Bari was found
murdered in his home this morning.
Bari appeared in
numerous Hollywood movies,
until a crash during the filming
- of the movie Gas Panic
- Fuck.
led to the death
of two crew members.
Since his career ended, Bari lived
as a recluse in Northern Italy.
He was found dead this morning
with multiple gunshot wounds.
Police have yet to comment on his death
and no suspects have been named.
DIANNE: Now listen up.
Just because you were invited
here, it doesn't make you great.
It doesn't make you special.
Not one of you is special.
But do it right, and this
job will make you special.
Do everything I say
and this job will be the
greatest thing you ever do.
Three things.
Three things you need to do.
One, listen to the plan.
Two, memorize the plan.
Three, stick to the plan.
Don't improvise. Don't second-guess.
Don't think.
Stick to the plan.
The plan is God.
The plan is king.
The plan is your heartbeat, your
dreams, your blood, your soul,
your everything.
Stick to the plan.
Some of you have led crews before,
some of you have reputations,
but none of that counts
for anything here.
Here, there is one voice that
matters. One and one only.
And that is the voice
that is speaking right now.
Understood?
Good.
Now, rules.
Don't ever tell anyone your real name,
even if you think they already know it.
Don't tell them where you're from.
Don't tell them what you've done before
even if it seems they already know it.
We're all blank canvases here now.
We exist only for this job.
And then we cease to exist afterwards.
In the interim, we will be called
and only called by these names.
Memorize them.
I'm Brain.
This is Fixer.
That is Right Hand.
Soldier.
Officer.
Muscle.
Driver.
Like being in a movie, no?
This is going to be fun.
DIANNE: Now
let's talk about the plan.
(CLOSING THEME MUSIC)