Profiler (1996) s01e02 Episode Script

Try to bag some of the accelerant out of the dirt in the back.
Sam.
Six fires in the last month.
All residential homes.
Five people dead.
Here, we've got a B&E.
One victim: All the fires set in St.
Louis? No.
Two here, two in Nashville, two back in Atlanta.
No connection between the victims.
Just between the scenes.
What is that? How he sets the fires.
It's in the kitchen what's left of it.
Hey, Bailey.
Take a look at this.
Looks like he spent some time here it smells like gasoline.
What's that? Looks like tissue paper.
Dog didn't hit on it, but I'll bag it anyway.
Cigarettes, too? I'm going to take a look around, ok? Bag that whole section.
Grace.
Sam.
This will break your heart.
Toy soldiers.
The victim was 70 years old Grandchildren? Here's the incendiary device A rat? Six homes, six dead rats Lighting the candle gives him time to get away How did it get in? Through the back door Can you smell the accelerant? It doesn't matter if it's a wick or a rat Gasoline's the cause of the fire Look.
The glow is where he threw accelerant.
Overkill Ok so he set two fires in each city, but never two in a row, which means that he's traveling, right? Highway 65 runs from Atlanta to Nashville to St.
Louis.
So what's his connection to those cities? His job.
No, I don't think he has a job.
This guy has a lot of free time, he might even be on disability, or Ok, so, uh, how's he get around? The bus? Carrying a can of gasoline? Well, if he does own a car, it's probably something old and inexpensive, like a bug.
Well, he likes to play with fire, so he may have been burned, so I think we should look for some sort of disfigurement Um, he's probably a white male, high school dropout, he could have a history of substance abuse, and he likes to watch his fires ignite, Ah, you can get all that from looking at a rat? As well as statistics, experience, and six long years of training.
Arsonists generally fit a profile, just like every other criminal.
I mean, this is all preliminary.
It will change as we go along.
It's a damn good place to start.
Enter it into the data base we've got on arsonists.
Let's check out this news footage of the fire scenes.
Pyromaniacs are the ones who do it for the thrill.
They're the ones you're going to find in the crowd scene, and I don't think this guy is a normal arsonist.
Isn't that an oxymoron? What about the symbolism of the rats? To some cultures, the rat is sacred.
I don't know.
It could be some part of a ritual that he does.
There is a lot of anger at these scenes.
No kidding Ok, the red figures are where the bodies were found, flames are where the fire started.
The first three, he started outside, trailing gasoline around the house, then he started getting inside and soaking different rooms.
George, this third fire, he put accelerant on the fence? Completely soaked.
I mean, this guy last night must've been overcome by smoke.
He almost made it out.
They found his body two feet from the back door.
We'll be able to tell a lot more from the autopsy.
I don't see any connection, do you? Uh, well, there's no obvious connections between the victims.
I mean we have three races, five different religions, male, female, the oldest was seventy, the youngest, twenty-eight.
Exactly the same with the houses.
Different years, architecture, located in different areas Maybe there's something in the addresses.
I think it's really important right now to get as much on the victims as possible.
I would like to get aerial photographs of the neighborhoods.
All right None of these homes had children, did they? No Where's the physical evidence from the fires? It's in the lab.
Come.
I'll show you.
The chemical characteristics and properties in the samples from the scene, I think, are going to be normal, everyday gasoline to match the other five.
I tested the tissue, there's no accelerant.
Hello? It's the twisting that's so distinct.
Where are the toy figures from the fourth fire? Well, I guess they weren't collected.
Arson scenes are the worst.
If the evidence isn't burned, firemen either trample it, they hose it, whatever.
Well, Could you check the fourth and fifth fires for the same type of plastic residue? Wasn't there a survivor? Why not just ask him? Yeah, well, I tried, but his wife died in the fire, and he wasn't really interested in dealing with the FBI, so Yeah, well I guess I don't blame him.
I don't know what I'd do if something happened to my husband.
How long have you been married? Twenty-two years.
High school sweetheart.
Love of my life.
Father of my three poodles.
Here, why don't you take a look at the autopsy protocol of our last victim? The others died in their sleep.
Smoke inhalation.
Great.
Well, thanks.
Ok.
Get some rest, you.
Sam Hi.
Look at this.
Did you know that the last victim was unconscious before the fire? Blunt force trauma to the head.
Well, maybe he woke up, startled him, and - Yeah, but he didn't kill him.
He was more interested in the fire.
Did you happen to get the aerial photo - Oh, great.
Yeah, all the houses were within walking distance of a church.
Well-kept, nice neighborhoods.
The perfect place to live.
Maybe he's destroying perfection.
Guess I better lock my doors.
I think that you can rest easy, Bailey.
You know what I don't understand is what he is doing with rats.
Well, they're dirty, disgusting what's that saying, then? "When the world ends all that will be left are rats and cockroaches.
" Maybe he sees himself as indestructible.
Or just dirty and disgusting.
His next step is going to be critical.
Think he's going to step up the pace? I don't know.
I mean, he set two fires in each of the cities.
I'm waiting to see if he moves to another city I don't know.
I cannot get a handle on this guy.
You will.
You've got a good team, Sam.
Focus the investigation.
They're here to follow your lead.
This came for you, care of me.
Jack I'm taking this to Grace We just watched this really cool cartoon about lions and Denzel barked at the tv.
Uh, listen.
I need to talk to Angel for a second, okay? mm-hmm And Chloe I love you I love you, too, mom Angel Angel! What? The phone Who is it? My mom! Hello Hi.
Umm is everything ok? Yeah.
Everything's fine.
Why? No reason.
You you didn't get anything weird in the mail today, did you? No.
What's going on? Nothing.
Nothing.
It's just this case.
You know how I get, uh um, look, Angel, I'm going to have to call you back, so, give Chloe a kiss for me, ok? Bye.
Bye.
Come here.
This is from your mom.
Who's Angel and Chloe? My roommate and my daughter You, uh you live with a woman? Yeah Yeah? Yeah.
For three years.
"Alternative lifestyle kind of thing," right? A "need a place to stay" kind of thing, and my best friend bailed me out.
Did you need something? We're working with George narrowing down the list of possible suspects from the profile you gave us, and, so far, we've got it down to 112.
I should have known you'd have a couch in your office.
What about the victims? Nath and I are going to hit the streets, go banging on some doors.
You want to tag along, see some real police work? Uh, no, thanks.
I'd just slow you down dragging that couch everywhere.
We've got another fire.
Get there while the scene's still hot.
You bet.
We'll videotape everything, get it right back here for you to see.
Yeah, it's not the same The press is going to be all over this.
You can't take the risk.
If you want, you can take a walk-through tomorrow when everything's quiet.
Yeah.
All right This is what we agreed on.
Yes, I know The fire fully engulfed this residential I don't know about you, but this guy's starting to get to me.
Just play it out, all right? Any casualties? No.
They went to the movies.
Nathan, start a k-9 search of the neighborhood.
All right.
Coordinate a canvas.
Three-block radius.
Okay.
I want all the information filtered through you.
That's some barbecue.
It sure is.
Where's Grace? Here, here.
Anything interesting? Yeah, if you're religious.
I'm going to call Sam.
It's the 23rd Psalm.
Thank you, Sherlock.
That's sick.
John and Nathan are running down the toys.
They're probably sold in hundreds of stores between here and St.
Louis.
And the samples from the kitchen areas of four and five both tested positive for the same type of plastic residue.
Why weren't these inside? Did you check the bible pages for ear wax? No.
I checked for fingerprints, and they were clean.
Ear wax? Well, uh it's like he's trying to drown out the noise in his head.
But what is the noise? What is he trying to silence? The sound of the fire? No.
He loves the fires.
Maybe So he twists the paper, sticks it in his ears.
Voices from god.
No, not necessarily.
I mean, last time, he used normal tissue.
Maybe this time he was reaching out for help, asking God to stop the voices.
We'd better check mental institutions.
This is the first house with kids, isn't it? Hmm-hmm He may have been waiting for the the family to leave.
That frustrated him.
The point of origin was the garage? Yeah.
The family left their door open.
He put the rat right on top of the baby stroller.
The corruption of innocence.
Corruption of his innocence maybe.
He makes the perfect imperfect.
So he puts the symbol of disgust on top of the symbol of family.
He's showing us his childhood.
I don't know if he'll be able to restrain himself next time.
You really know your freaks.
I mean, that explains your fan mail.
I processed that letter you gave me, Bailey.
The stain, it's human blood O-negative.
We have prints on the envelope? No.
Do you know what it means? And in this last fire, he purposely waited for the family to leave.
It is the houses he's trying to destroy, not the victims.
You did update the profile on mental illness? Yes, which puts us at 45 suspects.
There is something specific about these houses.
I don't have the answer, but it makes sense in his mind.
I'll get you pictures of the homes before they were burned.
May I see a list of the suspects? I also want to go over some other data Guys I think we have a problem.
Damages in excess of $2.
4 million, What is being dubbed the Reign of Fire.
Besides the local authorities, the FBI has sent in the Violent Crime Task Force to investigate these fires which have citizens from Atlanta to St.
Louis living in terror tonight Turn it off.
And few answers to calm their fears.
Turn it off! I'm sorry, Sam.
I let you down.
It's all right.
It was bound to happen sooner or later.
I just need a couple of hours.
I need to go home and talk to Angel.
Take the chopper.
Skip the crime scenes from now on.
Work from photographs, videos.
Get just as much.
Look, the plan didn't work.
We'll come up with something better.
We'll adjust.
Adjust? Bailey, I don't even use my own name.
I can pull a lot of strings.
I can't control the press, Sam.
I'm going home.
Angel? Chloe? Angel.
Chloe? Is anybody home? Hey.
What are you doing home? Ice cream.
Very good.
My daughter is living well.
Chloe? Mommy! Hi.
Angel bought chocolate ice cream.
I had some, too.
You did? Did you eat something? What's that? I don't know.
Angel, listen to me, ok? What's up? I need you to hit the alarm.
Jack is in the house.
Get Chloe.
We need to get outside and go to the car.
Come here, Chloe, come here.
Mom? I'm scared.
It's ok, it's ok, honey.
Ok? Now I want you to go with Angel.
We're going to go outside.
We're all going to get in the car.
Everything's fine.
Mommy? Shh shh shh.
Go, go, go.
Ok, it's safe It's safe.
Get in.
Get in.
Honey, it's ok.
Here we go Denzel! Ok, stay in the car.
Stay in the car.
Angel, stay in the car! You okay? It's okay.
Ok.
Ok.
It's ok Are you ok? It was Jack.
He was in the house.
We'll get him.
You okay? Chloe? How are you doing? I'm not great.
How are you? I'm ok I've never been so afraid in my life.
That man was in my house, Sam.
I am so sorry, Angel.
Why did he let us out if he was there? Because he enjoys the game.
And he's not finished with me yet.
Believe me, he will be back.
This changes everything.
I know.
What are we gonna do? Breathe out.
Just squeeze, nice and easy.
Went over to the house.
Got some stuff for you guys.
Haven't found the dog yet.
Denzel.
What? His name is Denzel.
Whatever it takes, Sam.
Whatever you need to feel safe, I'll do it.
Three things.
Name them.
First, you find us a place to live.
A safe place where Chloe has somewhere to play.
Second I've already pulled the airline tickets from Detroit to Atlanta for the past two days.
Same with bus tickets.
We'll get him, Sam.
I promise you.
What's the third thing? Teach me how to shoot.
Chloe, what do you think happened the other night? A bad guy broke into our house.
Yeah, and were you scared? Um, sort of.
Were you? Yeah, I was.
But I knew that Angel and I could protect you, so I knew that we would be ok.
You drove really fast, mom.
Yes, I did.
I'm lucky I didn't get a ticket, huh? Yeah.
Are you gonna look for Denzel? I'm really worried about him.
Yeah, I'm gonna go look for him today, ok? Ok.
Um, why don't you go brush your teeth, and I'll come find you later, ok? Ok They're still looking for him, Angel.
I'm sorry.
I know how much he means to you.
Yeah, well, that doesn't help me a whole hell of a lot.
Look, I think that we need to figure out what we're gonna do.
It's not safe for you to go back to the farm.
Well, I've thought about it, and I think if I get a security patrol and some bars on the windows - No, Angel, it still wouldn't be safe.
listen to me, Angel, ok? This is what he does.
This is a game to him, and he is not finished yet.
I mean, he's not gonna kill me.
He hurts me by hurting the people that I love.
Sam, that farm has been in my family for over a hundred years.
I have my studio there.
My whole life.
I know.
I know.
And when we catch him, you can move back in.
Look three years ago, you opened your home to Chloe and me.
You gave us a place to heal, a place where we felt safe.
Now it's my turn.
Hmm.
Unless you're sick of us.
Where will we live? Well, I haven't really figured that out yet.
Um, Bailey is working on it.
Bailey.
Yeah.
Pure Americana.
Where are the similarities? Two of them have picket fences.
Four of them have petunias.
So do half the homes in the country.
Hell, Sam.
I have petunias and a picket fence.
I know.
And I still find that very hard to believe.
Anything on that numerology? No.
These are the suspects that fit your profile between here and St.
Louis.
They're all disfigured in some way, from, uh, scars to missing limbs.
Not everyone with scars grows up to be a monster.
Any of them own vehicles? All of them, including four bugs.
What's the deal with those cars anyway? Well, they're cheap.
Cheap to gas.
I'll run their plates.
Check for traffic tickets.
Also check for drunk driving, disorderly conduct.
We have their addresses? Uh, yeah.
Two of them listed bars, one of them a vacant lot, another a church.
another a church.
A church? Which one was that? Right here.
John and Nathan are out talking to this jewel of humanity as we speak.
He got out of a mental hospital two weeks before the first fire.
What is he doing now? Parole officer says he's a model citizen.
He's gotten two paychecks in a row, which I guess is progress.
No.
I don't think our guy could hold down a job.
All right That makes eight.
Now, four of them have some kind of a connection to Atlanta or Nashville or St.
Louis a birthplace, previous jobs, et cetera.
And one of them was arrested in Nashville Nashville two years ago setting fire to a grocery store.
All right, let's concentrate on these four.
See if anything happened right before the fires like they they lost their jobs, broke up with their girlfriend, something something that made them snap, a stressor.
I'm gonna put a trail on all four of them.
There's still something I don't understand.
What's that? Fire.
Let's go.
Keep it moving Toby Hi Hi My name is Samantha.
I'm a psychologist.
I'm studying arson-related crimes, and I was told that you would be willing to talk to me.
You got a light? I'm sorry.
I couldn't understand you.
Is it true they have childproof lighters now? Yes, that's true.
I'm so glad.
I read your file.
Were you impressed? Or afraid? Just curious.
About me.
You set your first fire when you were four.
Do you remember why? A seat? Thank you.
My kitten.
What happened to your kitten? I burned it dead.
What made you use fire? Why not a rock or something? You have very pretty skin.
Why fire? Ask the vestal virgins.
Servants to Vesta, the Roman Goddess of the Hearth.
They're gonna be a little hard for me to reach right now, Toby, so I'm asking you.
Wow! A student of mythology as well as criminology.
Now, I am really impressed.
I chose fire because it hurts.
Is that what happened in the summer of '85? You wanted to hurt someone.
I never meant to hurt anyone.
You burned thirty-seven apartments, killed twenty-two people.
I tried.
I tried.
Now I'm waiting for the flames of hell.
You wanted to hurt yourself.
I could hurt you right now if I wanted to.
There's a guard right there.
Suck my stump.
It's all right.
It's all right.
Do you have a match? Please? Billy? Billy, can I have a match? Come on, Billy.
Gimme a match.
Can I have a light? Grant.
It's Sam Could you listen to these sick people.
Toby Wick give you a hard time? Yeah, along with a few nightmares.
Bailey, look, I think our guy may be trying to kill himself.
Well, I'll be glad to help him out.
Do you have the pictures of the houses there? Houses.
Before or after? After.
On the ones he got inside, what were the points of origin? Living room, Kitchen, Bedroom, Garage.
He's placing the rat in different rooms.
Uh Hold on a second.
Sam, we've got another fire.
Nashville.
Doctor's making an early house call.
Think she's gonna get dirty? She's wearing black.
I hope this is a good idea.
He's losing control.
This was done in a complete frenzy.
Or there was a hell of a fraternity party.
Do we know where the fire originated? Yeah.
Up in the attic.
But he had a lot of fun down here first.
It's like he's moving through the house in some sort of pattern.
Which is I don't know yet.
We need a break, Sam.
We're lucky no one else has died.
I know.
I know.
We're ready? Yes.
Let's roll.
We're here at the scene of fire number eight, speaking with a member of the FBI's violent crime task force, Special Agent Samantha.
Samantha Waters.
Agent Waters, what can you tell us about this arsonist? What's she doing? Taking her life back.
Either here or in St.
Louis or in Atlanta.
He has a history in arson and mental illness.
Lately, he may be confused and agitated.
Look at your co-workers, your neighbors, your friends.
He's your son or your brother, the guy down at the corner bar.
Jack what's-his-name who lives down the street.
In other words, he could be anybody.
We'll find him.
Thank you very much, Agent Waters.
Going on t.
v.
worked.
The phones are ringing off the hook.
Listen to this.
That was Virginia Henry, sister of that guy Kevin Monk.
She lives in St.
Louis.
Said Kevin drove up to see her yesterday in his Volkswagen, it wasn't in very good shape at all.
Kevin Monk.
His life looks like a train wreck.
He's been setting fires since he was ten.
He went from arson to vandalism, assault, burglary and he just got out of jail for possession of drugs.
When? Five weeks ago.
He was arrested three days ago for drunk driving in St.
Louis.
Why wasn't he picked up? Someone wasn't paying attention.
That's the same day as fire number six.
This also says he has scars.
And get this their parents were buried in Nashville.
It's him.
Ok, he lives here in Atlanta.
Hasn't been home in two days.
I want this out on the wire.
Now.
Put someone on the grave in Nashville.
Nathan, get up to St.
Louis.
Talk to the sister.
John, find a parole officer.
Speak with him.
Find out where he drinks, personal habits, you know the drill.
Sam, let's go.
Let's get a warrant! Now at least we know where he gets the rats.
He's killing the house he grew up in.
He's been destroying the house room by room.
Bailey, I think he wants to destroy himself in this house.
Then we'd better find that house.
Is she cooperating, Nathan? More than that.
It's like she's been waiting to tell someone this all her life.
She's an ad executive, totally normal, but they were both abused.
The mother put them up in the attic to punish them.
The mother locked them in the attic.
He's been working his way towards the attic.
He's completed the house.
And Kevin burned himself when he was eight.
Some Fourth of July family picnic.
He torched a whole boathouse.
Sam doesn't play the lottery, does she? What's the address, Nathan? Uh, 3879 Crestview Street.
Here in Atlanta? Yeah.
Uh, parents are from St.
Louis.
Died in a car wreck about 3 months ago.
A month ago, she sold the house.
Parents are dead, sister sold the house.
Well, that's what made him snap.
Bailey, whoever's living in that house needs to get the hell out.
John, how close are you? I'm almost there.
FBI! Don't you move! Whoever's inside the house, get out now! Don't you move, Monk! Don't you move! Kevin Monk, FBI.
Ok, Kevin, look at me.
Kevin, look at me.
What the hell's goin' on? FBI, sir! Your family's in trouble! Get them out of the house now! Sir! Take your family, get back outside! John! I'm going around back! Listen to me, Kevin.
Listen to me.
Don't, Kevin! Ok.
No, calm down, all right? I need you to put the lighter down.
Don't, Kevin! Don't make me do it! I'll never be bad again.
Kevin, no.
Kevin! No! John? They're all ok.
It's got to be hard for you to understand him.
I don't.
Hope it's play money.
Yeah, right, Bailey.
Your new house.
You've got to be joking.
A fire station? You think this is safe? Those four firemen FBI.
Businesses outside FBI.
You're surrounded by us.
Come on.
Bailey Thought you could use this for your studio, Angel.
"Not so bad" Where's my room? Chloe.
Wait till you see this.
Chloe, put your hand on there.
Not there, silly.
Over here.
Wow.
Mommy.
Do you know what that does? That reads your palm print.
Now no one else can get up here unless they're with one of you three guys.
You're safe.
Mommy, this is so cool.
The most as you'll ever go is back where you used to know if grownups could laugh this slow where as you watch the hours snow Denzel! Years may go by Years may go by He's ok.
De-e-en-n-n-ze-e-el! So hold on to your special friend here, you'll need something to keep her in Bailey? You've got, uh, bulletproof glass, steel doors.
The whole place is wired to me.
Then again, years may go by Thank you so much.
You should feel pretty safe here.
Denzel.
I'll call you later.
Oh, I almost forgot.
Vet says it was a reaction to poison.
Two pills, two times a day, for the next four days.
Thanks, Bailey.
I'll see you later.
When everyday now, secrets end and then again, years may go by years may go by years may go by I know it's not the farm, but Mom, look! I could live here for a couple months.
It might be more than a couple of months.
I can't believe Bailey pulled this off.
Not bad.
A member of the FBI's Violent Crime Task Force.
Special Agent - Samantha.
Samantha Waters.
Agent Waters, what can you tell us about this arsonist? We need the public's help.
Now, if someone knows this man either here, or in St.
Louis, or in Atlanta he has a history of arson and mental illness.
Lately, he may be confused and agitated.
Look at your co-workers, your neighbors, your friends.
He's your son, your brother, the guy down at the corner bar, Jack what's-his-name Jack what's-his-n Jack- Jack- THE END