American Gothic (1995) s01e02 Episode Script

Previously on American Gothic.
I'll handle this.
Someone's at the door.
Deputy! Keep that monster away from my boy.
I have the sad duty of reporting the victim's father is our prime suspect.
I want the boy.
Caleb isn't going anywhere until I say so.
This document grants me sole custody of Caleb.
And I'd like you to sign it.
He's coming.
Are you a ghost? No.
Angel? I'm your family.
Be careful, Caleb.
Someone's at the door.
No more running, son.
That's good liquor you're wasting there, son.
I ain't your son.
I beg to differ.
Caleb! The water truck should be there Hold the water truck.
Deb, the farm house is toast.
We got a 10-year-old boy with a 30-minute start.
I want him back by sundown.
The man who comes through for me wins a steak dinner.
What the hell is this, Sheriff, High Noon? This boy isn't a criminal.
He's just running because he's lost his family and he's scared.
He's running, Doctor, because you couldn't keep him in your hospital.
And I couldn't keep you out.
You want to do something for this boy just leave him the hell alone.
We're wasting time.
I don't believe we've met.
Not officially, anyway.
Gail Emory.
And I know we have.
Where you been all these years, missy? Lose your car keys? Lucas, she's Caleb's cousin.
Was I talking to you? If you're looking for the mall, it ain't built yet.
I'm coming with you to find Caleb.
Got the family nose for news, do you? If that's what it takes to get your attention.
Ma'am, you already have my attention.
That's Sheriff Lucas Buck.
That's Buck with a "B.
" Gentlemen, we have an esteemed member of the press joining us this afternoon.
Please make her feel welcome, and feel free to sing my praises.
Sadly, the good doctor will be needed elsewhere.
Something's up at the hospital.
I have to get back.
Go ahead.
I'll be fine.
That boy is gonna need medical attention as soon as he's found.
You understand me? Howdy, boys.
Meet Dr.
Crower.
Get, get.
Let's go.
Get out there, come on.
Does Caleb know his father is dead? I don't see how he could, he been running all night.
You have to understand, ma'am, when something like this happens to a child you just can't When I was 8 years old I lost my parents.
I do understand.
Shoot.
Course you did.
Then you know how traumatic something like this can be.
I believe Caleb burned down his house as a cry for help to protest the loss of his sister.
Well, that's one theory.
You got a better one? Maybe he just wanted to get away from you.
Must be tough working for a man like that.
Or maybe not.
Look, whatever you think about Lucas, he's helped out a lot of folks in this town.
How's that? Well, by giving them a second chance.
After high school, I went down to Georgia, run fullback.
Junior year, I blew my knee out and the same week, my girlfriend got pregnant.
So suddenly I had no scholarship, no money, and a baby on the way.
So he gave you a job? Not only that, he paid for my damn wedding.
Course, now I'm divorced, and hardly ever see my kid but still I can't forget what Lucas done for me.
You're a loyal man.
Well, you got to be.
No matter what it costs you? Dr.
Truelane to O.
R.
please.
Dr.
Truelane to O.
R.
You the coroner? Yes.
Yes, ma'am, I am.
I got Lucas' message.
How much time will you need? Look, I don't usually work this way.
I understand.
How much time? Well, I suppose an hour would keep things within the realm of possibility.
An hour for two autopsies? You're faster than I am.
You make sure the doctor doesn't disturb me.
Honey, I'm craving medical attention.
I'm coming for you, boy.
Deputy, thanks for the ride.
Say, Doc.
Are you gonna be examining Mr.
Temple's body any time soon? That's up to the coroner.
Oh, yeah.
Right.
Why? It's nothing really, but I mean, I don't know if you happen to know how he died.
I found the body.
Then so you do know about the The pen in his windpipe? Yeah.
The pen.
Yeah, what about it? Well, now, this was a suicide, right? It looks that way.
Well, did anybody happen to mention to you who the pen belonged to? No.
Well, it was mine.
Now, you got to believe me when I say that I didn't have anything to do with Gage's death.
I swear, I'd never do nothing like that but I loved that pen.
I see.
And I'd really like to get it back.
And how did Mr.
Temple get ahold of it? Well, now, I don't know that.
But I swear I had nothing to do with it.
You got to believe me.
I believe you, Ben but I'm not the one you have to convince.
Look, I'm meeting the coroner this afternoon.
When he's done with his autopsy, I'll see what I can do.
Okay, Doc.
I appreciate that.
You know it was kind of like a lucky charm, you know.
My mom gave it to me.
Well, you take care of yourself, Doc, and everything is going to be fine.
And don't worry about the boy.
We're gonna find him.
Everything is going to be fine.
Everything is going to be fine.
I'll call you when I'm finished.
All right.
Oral report to be transferred to short-form protocol.
I, Curtis Z.
Webb, performed autopsy on the body of Gage Temple at 10.
30 a.
m.
From the anatomic findings and pertinent history I ascribe the death to suicide.
And I'm a lying sack of goat manure.
I, Curtis Z.
Webb performed autopsy on the body of Merlyn Ann Temple at From the anatomic findings and pertinent history I ascribe the death to "massive head trauma.
" God forgive me.
Someone's at the door.
Someone's at the door.
Someone's at the door.
Someone's at the door.
Someone's at the door.
Merlyn? Is this what I look like? You look the same.
I don't feel the same.
Caleb, it's nice to see you again.
For me, too, Merly.
The sheriff is after me.
He thinks he's my daddy.
What do you think? I think he's crazy.
This whole thing is crazy.
He wants to raise you in his image, Caleb.
You can't run forever.
Why not? I don't need him.
I don't need nobody.
I'm gonna make it hard for them.
I'm going to a secret place.
Caleb.
That's where I'm going.
And this sweatshirt ought to give them dogs something to look for downstream.
Get it? That's why I got to go upstream.
I'll paddle my way to hell and back to get away from that sheriff.
You want to come with me? Be careful, Caleb, you may not like what you find up there.
All right, then.
I'll tell you what I find, I guess.
See you later, Merlyn.
This isn't exactly an emergency.
I'm sorry.
I guess I got a little hysterical.
How did this happen? Well, you know kids, sometimes they like to roughhouse.
A child did this? Well, I'm a school teacher, Dr.
Crower? And I was wrestling with one of my boys on the playground and he got a little frisky.
Must have been a pretty big boy.
I'm going to give you a tetanus shot.
Will it be painful? Not really.
Hip? That'd be fine.
Someone once told me that you should always make yourself laugh when you're getting a shot.
That way, you don't feel the pain as much.
But I think in life, you have to take the good with the bad.
Do we have a choice? Always have a choice, Doctor.
Which one would you prefer? I'm gonna need you to turn around.
Silly me.
Everything all right? Heaven.
All right.
Hurry up.
Hurry up.
You sure work fast, Doc.
I know I work fast.
Why don't you try doing the same? Where are they going? Down the hall for pick up.
Oh, no.
Let me get out of here.
Don't.
Don't bury Don't bury the truth.
Don't bury the truth.
You sure we're going the right way? We're moving away from town.
Caleb wouldn't go back there.
Town means hospital.
Dr.
Crower seems to think the boy only ran because you scared him.
That doctor should take a pill.
If Caleb had been with me last night, none of this would have happened.
What do you want with him? I'm just doing my job, ma'am.
Got to protect my people.
Like you did my parents? I believe your tone has offended someone.
For almost 20 years now, I've questioned how my parents died.
And last month I finally got the coroner's report.
You're the one who found them.
How come you never contacted me? They died in a fire, ma'am.
Did you really want the grisly details? No, they died because they were trapped in a building.
Someone had locked them in there.
Miss Coombs, I really have to get going.
I'm sorry.
Here I am going on about me and you've got all these wounded souls to heal.
Is this your family? Beautiful ladies.
Yes, they were.
Past tense? Doctor, I am so sorry.
I had no idea.
That's okay.
That's fine.
Now, if you don't mind.
Am I interrupting something? No.
You feel better.
Is the coroner here yet? Just left.
I thought he was doing the autopsies on the Temple girl and her father.
Yeah, I thought so, too.
But he just got the bodies and hauled them out of here.
And what are we gonna do with this? Sorry, Dan.
I would have been there.
That woman just wouldn't leave.
Not that it wasn't enjoyable on some level.
Keep it on a superficial level.
I've heard stories about her that would make your toes curl.
Come on with it, girl.
They really burying these two side-by-side? Yeah.
First thing in the morning.
That's foul.
Just 'cause he killed her, don't mean they can't share the same worms.
No offense, Daddy, but this ain't your best work.
I only had two hours.
You know, Sheriff put in a rush.
"Rest in Pease.
" Rest in pease? You got him resting in peas, Daddy.
I'll rest you.
Well, we'll fix it tomorrow.
Come on, Teapot.
I got a shovel at home with your name on it.
If you ever kill me hope you'll do it with something cleaner than a shovel.
How about a pen? What What are you Hey! Sheriff? Dogs found this about a quarter of a mile downriver.
Smart boy.
What are you doing? Praying.
Merlyn? I used to be able to feel the sun.
I miss it.
Why are you still running? Daddy is dead, Merlyn.
Seen his grave.
Yours, too.
Everybody is dead.
Not everybody.
I ain't going in there.
That man needs your help.
He's a monster.
No.
Can you understand his pain, Caleb? He's just hurt.
I would think you could understand that, Caleb.
Look I want to free you.
But if you don't Don't do that.
Listen, I'm gonna free you.
We're gonna be friends, right, if I do? Sorry I ran out on you but I didn't know what you was all about.
God, you're freezing.
Can you walk? We got to find you a doctor.
Sol.
Sol? You don't have to pay me nothing.
I guess we could use some food.
All right, Sol, I'm gonna get us some food and try to find you a doctor.
I'll be back with help, Sol.
I promise.
No one knows why these things happen.
And maybe it's not our job to ask.
But, like the Reverend said, we can take comfort knowing that Gage and Merlyn are in a better place.
I plant this tree in their memory, hopeful that someday it might capture the spirit of the family.
Thank you all for coming.
Thank you, Sheriff.
How well did you know Gage Temple? Not too well.
He pretty much kept to himself.
Neighbors said he was a quiet man, never gave anyone any trouble.
Getting all the facts, ma'am? What's happening with Caleb? A crew has been out since dawn.
Now that we know where he's traveling we could have your little cousin back home in no time.
Can we offer you a ride back to town, Miss Emory? No, thank you.
Want to make sure you're taken care of.
Tourists are our lifeblood, right, Ben? Is that why they keep disappearing? Fire up the car.
You know, according to my editor this county is like the Bermuda Triangle of tourism.
We rank lowest in serious crime in the entire state, ma'am.
And highest in missing persons.
Last spring, there was a reporter from the Miami Tribune.
He came up here to investigate.
And he hasn't been heard from since.
Well, this is a recreational area.
Between the woods and the beaches, accidents happen.
Maybe he was a poor swimmer.
Or maybe he was just a poor judge of character.
Good day, Sheriff.
Sorry, I didn't get to meet your little friend.
You will.
Hello.
Hello? Hello.
Yes, sir? Is your father home? Daddy.
Daddy.
We're eating cake.
What kind of cake? Goat cheese.
Mr.
Webb? Yes, sir.
I'm Matt Crower.
I missed you yesterday.
Right, the new doctor.
Could we have a word? Go on to your mama, Taylor.
She's a sweet girl.
Yes, she is.
A little slow.
How can I help you, Doc? I was curious about the result of your autopsies on Gage and Merlyn Temple.
Thank you.
Eli, food.
This here is Eli.
He's my sweetie pie.
He's our big boy.
Why did you release their bodies from the hospital so early? You know the amazing thing about goats? They'll eat anything.
Most self-sufficient creatures in the world.
Feed them shoes, get back milk.
Mr.
Webb That nanny over there is expecting.
Should have kids by Christmas.
The Temples were buried this morning.
How did you have time to complete your work? The girl took a shovel to the head, am I right? According to the Sheriff.
And the father was found with a pen in his throat, self-inflicted.
Is that your finding? Well, there was blood all over his hand.
What about the angle of entry or the depth of the wound? You know what I love about these animals? They accept things as they are.
You didn't do any autopsies, did you? I take pride in my work, Doctor.
But sometimes, other forces prevail.
Girl died of head trauma.
Father was a suicide.
I accept that.
And I suggest you do the same.
Mr.
Webb Lucas Buck was the last person to see these people alive.
He was also the last person to see Caleb Temple's mother before she died.
That's three members of the same family gone.
Why are you protecting him? Because I have a family, too.
Caleb.
You really my cousin? Yeah.
How come I never heard of you? I left town a long time ago.
Before you were born.
You working with the Sheriff? No.
I'm here to help you.
Well, I don't need no help.
I need a ride.
Get in.
Daddy, why do you put trees on these things? Supposed to represent death and rebirth.
It's also easy to paint.
So, what do you think? I liked him better in "pease.
" Get my coat, girl.
Daddy what was you saying about rebirth? This wasn't no bigger than a shrub a minute ago.
God.
Come on, Teapot.
I can get it.
Holy Mother of God.
No, I said come on.
Teapot! Rita, I'm going to need an ambulance.
They'll never find him.
I got to take you.
Hold off, Rita.
Caleb, I can't let you leave again.
If anything happens But look, the man is expecting me.
Look, he even gave me some money for food.
You got to trust me.
I won't run away, I promise.
This is the guy.
What guy? Rafael Santo.
He's a reporter my editor told me about.
He's been missing for months.
I thought you said his name was Sol.
Who cares what his name is.
We gonna help him or not? This son of a bitch is really beginning to irk me.
Well, don't doctors usually talk to the coroner after there has been a suicide? Yeah, but my coroners don't usually talk back.
Hey, Sheriff, got your chocolates.
Glad to hear it, Louise, you have a killer birthday, now.
Maybe Curtis thought he was doing you a favor.
Are you defending him? No, I'm just Don't drop the loyalty ball, Ben.
Feeling better, Albert? Appreciate you straightening things out with my boss, Lucas.
You bet.
This coroner made a big mistake, Ben.
And if you don't see that, you don't see much.
I'm not being disloyal, Lucas.
I'm just trying to clarify.
That's all.
Good.
Because if this doctor gives me anymore trouble you're gonna shoot him.
Damn.
Thank you.
Hey, baby.
What's the matter? Eli.
Lunch time, Eli.
You told me this was handled.
Well, I'm sorry, Lucas, but I just couldn't hurt him.
So you kept him as a pet? I liked him, okay? To tell you the truth, he kind of liked me.
This is a real problem, Selena.
Well, look if the doctor finds him before we do, maybe it's not such a bad thing.
Rafael hasn't been eating lately and I've been kind of worried about him.
Rafael is a reporter.
He's gonna report things.
He won't say a word.
Really? What did you do? Bite off his tongue in a fit of passion.
Mr.
Santo, can you hear me? Okay, you're going to be all right.
I'm here to help you, okay? He's hypothermic.
I don't think he's gonna make it to the hospital.
Is there anything we can do for you? It's Spanish.
Sol.
Sun.
Matt, he's freezing.
Where do you want them? Here, can you cover him up? Sure.
Caleb, come here.
Do you think you can get up there and pry off one of those boards? Well, if this is what Sol wants, this is what Sol is gonna get.
Y'all were right.
Sol is warming right up.
That was just what you needed, huh, Sol? Matt? Look.
Look at this.
Just what you needed.
What's the matter with him? He's gone, Caleb.
But he can't be, I got you here in time.
You did everything that you could.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
It wasn't supposed to happen.
Caleb.
Caleb! Well, now, look who's found our fugitive.
This the man? What are you doing here? I might ask you the same question.
I've been hunting this fellow for months ever since he attacked and robbed Miss Coombs.
Wait a minute.
This man is from the Miami Tribune.
And somebody has been keeping him here.
That someone was his partner, ma'am.
His partner in crime obviously double-crossed him.
What partner? You have this person in custody? Well, we did till we buried him this morning.
Afraid Gage Temple was more dangerous than anyone realized.
I'm gonna need that for evidence.
Merlyn! Merlyn! Merlyn, you lied to me.
You said I could help that man.
You did help him.
You gave him what he needed.
He didn't need to die.
I don't want to see you no more, you understand? You're dead.
Dead as he is.
I live in you, Caleb.
And so does your father.
Just get out of here, will you? Leave me alone.
Merlyn, look out.
Merlyn! Merlyn.
Merlyn, you all right? Merlyn.
Merlyn!