Murder in a Small Town (2024) s01e03 Episode Script

1
- This this is the real deal.
- Go go.
- Rescue: HI-Surf.
- Bring it on.
Bring it on the floor.
Wow and universal basic guys.
How much did you spend on this?
Can't put a price tag on saving lives.
Nailed it.
All available now.
♪
♪
♪
Hello?
Is someone here?
Yeah.
It's been a minute.
What are you doing here?
- It's nice.
- We had an agreement.
We were gonna stay out
of each other's lives!
You've done a good job with this place.
- No, no, no, no, no.
- No.
Zoe! Zoe!
Calm down.
I need your help.
Now listen to me.
I owe money to some very bad people.
I owed them for a long
time and now I'm screwed.
They're coming after me.
Well, that's your problem.
It's yours too.
Because next they'll
come after my family.
And that means you, little sister.
You're the only family I have
whether you like it or not.
How much?
Hundred thou.
What? A hundred thousand?!
Come on. It's not
like you don't have it.
You took your share of dad's estate.
You bought this place.
What, it's worth what?
A couple million now.
- That's it. I'm calling the police.
- No! You do not want to do it!
Don't. Don't test me, Benjamin.
Zoe
I am your brother. I looked out for you.
You abandoned me!
And now you just show
up begging for money!
You know exactly why I cut ties.
You think I want to be here?
If I don't pay these
guys, we're both dead.
Hi, I'm at I'm at 5525 Francis Road.
I'm trapped and there's a
man who's threatening my life.
[HAMMERING]
Boss. Sorry I'm late.
Elsie had a situation at the salon.
I had to drive Sophie home from hockey.
No worries, Sid. I
appreciate the helping hand.
How'd Sophie do?
Great. Other than the game misconduct.
Sophie's a gentle soul,
but she's, you know, sturdy.
One of their forwards pissed her off.
Is that your truck?
Yeah. Yeah. I drove it home yesterday.
Going local, huh?
Alright, so new deck.
Yeah.
For days like today.
Elsie's brother and me built one
last year at my place.
You ever taken on something this big?
No.
Spectacular.
Yep. Nice.
You're not even looking.
A view like this, you gotta absorb it.
A pod of killer whales. How
often do you see that, huh?
Killer whales. Imagine.
Let's go do the Strachan guy.
Works for me.
Guns?
Probably.
No muss, no fuss.
We'll decide when we get there.
We should get something to eat.
[DAVID] Not burgers,
something local. Local cuisine.
[RANDY] Yeah. Killer whale and chips.
I have no idea where my brother went.
He lived somewhere
near Seattle, I think.
So you two weren't very close then.
Estranged would be putting it mildly.
He wants money.
He said that he has
to pay some people back
or else they're going to kill him.
Kill him, Ms. Strachan.
My brother scams people.
Pump and dumps, crypto,
that sort of thing.
I'm just I'm so glad that he's gone
and I'm so grateful to
you for coming so quickly.
Huh?
Uh, we're gonna take a look
around, uh, the property ma'am,
and, uh, make sure he really is gone.
In the meantime, keep your
doors and windows locked
and call us if he bothers you again.
Thank you, Officer.
You just can't help yourself, can you?
No ma'am. I was born charming.
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
Benjamin, don't call me again.
[BENJAMIN] I have the diary
and I have you on tape.
Unless you help me. I swear to God.
I'll take them to the police.
I'll ruin your life, little sister!
[HANGS UP]
Benjamin!
[NOTIFICATION ALERT]
Hey fellas.
Ah. Morning Glory muffin
and a dark roast, large.
A man we can all rely on.
Uh-huh.
Right behind you.
- Hey Stranger.
- Hey.
I've been meaning to call you,
but it's just been crazy at work.
Oh, I've been busy too.
So, how have you been?
[POLICE SIREN CHIRPS]
Could not find a parking
spot. Can you believe it?
In Gibsons?
- Well
- God help us all.
Uh, Karl Alberg, Roger Galbraith.
Roger and I went to
high school together.
I didn't know you had someone visiting.
He's an old friend.
And you invited me to
the prom, of course.
But that was only because
you'd just broken up
with Conrad Milbers.
Cass actually dumped a lot
of dudes in high school.
Cass
Don't even. I'm gonna find us a table.
Okay.
[FAN] Roger over here!
[FANS CLAMOR]
Roger Galbraith.
Braddock's Crossing.
I was the co-lead for
the first four seasons.
The good seasons.
Yeah. Yeah. No.
No? Oh, oh, you know me from hang on.
Still Waters.
Right?
That one?
- Yeah. Yeah.
- Yup.
Uh-huh.
Do you want to join us?
Thanks, but, uh, duty calls.
Okay.
[FAN] Hi.
[CASS LAUGHS]
Good weekend?
Hmm. Not as busy as yours.
Sarge told me about your new deck.
Yeah. Yeah. It's going great.
Yeah, that's what he said.
Uh-huh.
And a brand new old
beater truck too, huh?
Uh-huh.
Oh. Uh, him and Edwina
are waiting for you.
Benjamin Strachan.
This guy's been up on
assault charges twice.
He's got a long criminal record.
There's a fraud conviction
and two guys attacked him outside a club
in Everett six days ago?
Who attacked him?
This is from Everett PD.
That's where he lives, apparently.
He's a widower, wife
died three years ago.
- Attacked.
- No arrests.
The sister's on her own. Zoe Strachan,
she has a place a couple
of miles past Wilson Creek.
So what are you thinking?
I think we need to take this seriously.
You were on the call?
What's your take, Andy?
Neighbors filed a
complaint about a year ago,
said Zoe Strachan tried to kill her dog.
I'll take a drive out that way.
Check with Everett.
Find out what they know
about the attackers.
Well, well
it only takes a year
for you guys to respond.
No, I don't have proof, but
I know damn well she did it.
Woman shows up at my door making threats
and two days later, Max disappears.
What kind of threats was she making?
Oh, good Lord.
[SIGHS] Uh, she'd sick her lawyer,
animal control, shoot
the creature, all kinds.
Wow.
Max is barking. She said, uh,
disrupted her equanimity of mind.
[SCOFFS]
The thing is Max didn't
bark, hardly ever,
unless he was afraid.
Are you afraid of your
neighbor, Mrs. Houston?
No.
Alright, I guess I am.
Ms. Strachan
I'm Chief Alberg.
I'm fine. Thanks.
Assuming that's why you're here.
No more trouble.
Oh, with my brother? No.
I haven't heard another peep from him.
You know what you're doing.
Yeah. I used to help my father.
Uh, your neighbor She
says her dog went missing.
Actually, she says that I killed it.
Did you?
Nine-inch nail between the eyes
and the rest of the neighborhood pets
are under the foundation.
Bad joke.
I'm sorry I
Anything else?
Your brother didn't exaggerate
when he said that people were after him.
There was an incident about a week ago.
Yeah, well my brother
is his own worst enemy.
Well, this may mean
you're in danger too.
I appreciate the concern.
Not much riles you,
does it, Ms. Strachan?
[LAUGHS]
Zoe.
Holly, what the hell?
Hey, Dad.
Honey.
Uh, my boyfriend
turned out to be a jerk.
Hmm.
And, um, anyway, I wanted to see you.
Geez, kiddo, you should have called.
Oh, you must be freezing.
Oh no. This isn't cold,
I'm from Minnesota.
Look at you, you're so tall.
Casa Alberg.
You never used to be
this much of a slob.
Huh?
No. No. It's it's good.
I like it. Declining standards.
[LAUGHTER]
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
Get outta here.
Nice.
Yeah. No kidding.
Pretty sick.
Sick?
- [LAUGHS]
- That's right.
I'm not up with the
lingo of your people.
- It's okay. You learn.
- Mm-hmm?
You'll learn.
I got this cat. Uh,
Felix, you'll like him?
He is very sweet.
I don't I don't know if he's my cat.
Oh honey.
It so nice to see you.
Thank you for coming.
Ms. Strachan Your
brother owes us money.
Fellas, please
Let's not be hasty.
Zoe.
[ZOE] The people coming
after you, they're in Gibsons!
What?
[ZOE] You were right.
They threatened to hurt me.
Are you
[ZOE] No, I got away,
but they are serious.
They know where I live.
- Do you have the money?
- Not yet, but I can get it.
Ben, I'm afraid to go home.
[YEN] I did some more
digging on the brother.
- And?
- You need to see this.
Hey Sarge! We've got a body.
[SID] On the beach, out by Gospel Rock.
It's looking like a homicide.
White male in his '40s.
I'm on my way.
Cause of death.
TBD may have drowned, but
there's multiple injuries
probably sustained in the fall.
Puncture wound.
Not a knife though.
Boss!
Where are they? Where are they?
I'm sorry to have to call
you here, Ms. Strachan.
Could you identify?
Yes. Yes. That's my brother.
[TEARY] What happened?
It's too early to say.
Oh, God!
We'll need a notify next
of kin other than yourself.
My parents, um, died years ago.
Benjamin and I were not
in each other's lives
Chief Alberg, at all.
But he was he was still my brother.
Corporal Yen.
We'll need a statement.
Yes, of course.
I'm sorry for your loss.
The current must have brought him here.
♪
Seems like he was attacked.
Someone was waiting.
Not just one.
First attacker wearing heavy boots
goes down here.
[MUFFLED SCREAM]
Second attacker also
wearing heavy boots.
Different tread.
[FIGHTING GRUNTS]
Glove.
Hardware store.
Ran the plates.
Registered to Benjamin Strachan.
Looks like somebody
searched it and torched it.
The body was found.
Uh, there.
Where's Zoe Strachan's place? Humor me.
Uh, there.
About a mile or so on the opposite side.
Give or take.
She's an aunt.
Odd she didn't mention that.
I asked her about next of kin.
Zoe Strachan.
Yeah, there was a friendship bracelet
around Benjamin's wrist.
You're a father, Sid.
Steph made me a locket
for Christmas one year
with a picture in it.
I want everything every
police has on the assault.
We need a tracks track
Strachan's movements.
When he arrived on the coast
where he stayed, who he interacted with.
And I want to know where the kid is.
Hello?
You don't remember me?
I'm your Aunt Zoe.
I'm here to help.
[SHIP'S HORN]
[KNOCKING] Morning, Chief.
You used to live out by Wilson Creek.
You ever run across as Zoe Strachan?
Uh, I've heard people talk about her.
She's been on the coast
10, 12 years, I think.
Friends?
I don't think she likes people.
She's got that big old place.
Too bad it's stolen.
Land, right?
She's got money obviously.
Do you know how she makes it?
Investments, as far as I know.
The rich get richer
unless they're stupid,
then they get tax breaks.
Maybe try talking to Elsie Sokolowski.
Sid's wife?
She used to do Zoe Strachan's hair.
She used to come in
every two to three weeks.
But that was a few years ago.
What was she like?
Oh, quite nice when things go her way.
And boy does she hold a
grudge when they don't.
Madeline, one of my
juniors, really a sweet girl.
Not the sharpest pair of scissors.
She messed up La Strachan's, highlights
and my god from smiley
face to Hulk in 0.4 seconds.
It was actually terrifying?
Did she ever talk about her family?
Oh, they're from Oregon.
Hmm. Down in wine country,
the Willamette Valley. I
think she said Corvallis.
Oh. Uh, thanks Elsie. Um, I owe you one.
Well maybe send Sid home
on time once in a while.
What have you done to my husband, Chief,
so keen about the job
ever since you took over?
You married a good man.
If he doesn't finish the
drywall, he's a dead man.
[LAUGHS]
[KNOCKING]
License and registration please.
You're Police Chief Alberg.
When me and Cass bumped into you,
I thought you were just some guy.
Some guy's my alter ego.
Oh, that's good.
Hey, speaking of I'm
flying back to LA on Friday.
She's gonna come with me.
I mean, I've asked, I hope she comes.
I bet she could use a vacation.
A few days, the weekend.
Probably, maybe, probably.
But uh, the reason I
bring it up, I just
You and Cassandra, are you
Have a nice day, Roger.
Hello.
[RINGS BELL]
We're checking local motels.
Uh, do you guys have anybody here
by the name of Benjamin Strachan?
Strachan?
Oh, well, checked in on Sunday.
Hey Corporal, nothing much in the room,
but, uh, Strachan checked
in a couple days ago.
You said there were a
couple guys looking for him.
About mid to late '20s.
I got descriptions and
partial license plate numbers.
[YEN] Good work.
- Sorry, what was that?
- I said don't push your luck.
I'd really like to speak to my dad.
He had to go away, darling.
Just for a few days.
He asked me to take care of you.
Now listen, we have to think
your dad had something of mine.
I already told you.
I don't know anything.
And he never mentioned anything!
Maybe a tape that he was
keeping or maybe a diary.
No.
Injuries were massive.
A broken leg. Internal hemorrhaging.
They might have killed
him if he'd lived.
Except someone finished him first.
His fingernails.
Yes.
Yeah, I saw them before
they zipped the bag.
Benjamin fought for his life.
Oh, we may find skin
traces, but you know,
DNA results, they take time.
Doctor, what'd I miss?
Ask Isabella to get a number
for me, Corvallis Police.
Corvallis?
Yeah, I'm gonna follow up on something.
Oh, and uh, your wife says hi
and finish the damn drywall.
Boss, we've got an ID on the attackers.
David and Randy Desrosiers.
Brothers?
Cousins, each with
priors. Usually LA based.
And we've got a
description on the vehicle.
So unless they got the 6:00 AM ferry.
They're still on the coast.
Watch the ferries, the
roads, if they move.
Got it.
Hunter, you wouldn't want
someone to steal your toys, would you?
No.
That's how I feel about my tape.
It's very important to me.
I don't know where it is, honest.
I need to know that you are
telling me the truth, Hunter.
'Cause when people lie to me
I'm telling the truth.
Someone very dear to me died long ago
in a very tragic circumstance.
Granny Sturgess.
She, she wasn't my real grandmother.
She was one of the neighbors,
but she was very kind to me
and I loved her, Hunter.
And then one day out of
the blue, she betrayed me
and it broke my heart.
I'm so sorry.
And then one day, oh my God, she died.
It was terrible.
I wept for days.
Do you know why I'm
telling you this, Hunter?
I thought she was my friend
and I want to believe that
we could be good friends.
But you're not making
it very easy for me.
I should call my grandpa.
- No.
- Really? I have to.
Hunter no, we need to sort this out.
Oh!
Oh, what am I going to do with you?
Just a coffee please, Phyl.
So you and Roger
Galbraith spent the night?
No. Who said that?
Cass. Small town.
He dropped you off at work this morning?
No, he didn't?
Yes. Okay. We had breakfast
together at a restaurant
and then my car wouldn't start.
Okay. The truth will come out.
Bree told you this, didn't she?
I protect my sources. Look no judgment.
[SING-SONGY] Roger, Roger Galbraith.
I am not rogering Roger.
Come on. Why not? He is hot and famous.
Well, half-ass famous,
but all the way hot.
Phyllis, he is my friend.
You know I'm with Karl.
[RADIO] You're on FM 107.5.
And here's your weather update.
Snow's making an appearance,
but it won't stick around for long.
Expect it to melt quickly
as temperatures rise into spring mode.
So enjoy that wintery
scene while it lasts.
Stay with us, we're
going to be talking later
to city counsellor
[CAR BEEP]
Help you with those?
Thank you.
How you holding up?
Life goes on, I'm afraid.
You ran into someone.
Actually, they ran into me.
Accidents happen. Live and let live.
It's very forgiving of you.
[SMALL CHUCKLE]
You're very good at that.
That steely gaze and cryptic silence.
I bet people just start babbling.
I need you to come to
the station, Ms. Strachan.
Make a formal statement.
Thought I made one this morning.
That would be good.
I can take that for you.
I'm all right.
Hacking back the blackberry bushes
This time of year.
Predatory nature never sleeps.
Is there any aspect of
your previous statement
that you'd like to
revisit, Ms. Strachan?
No. No. I can't think of anything.
You told Corporal Yen that
you were home last night.
I was.
All night?
Alone.
And the scratch on your arm.
Didn't we just address that?
Why do you suppose your brother
went out to the cliffs last night?
Um, I couldn't say. To meet them?
Them?
Mm. Whoever attacked him.
David and Randy Desrosiers,
do you know them?
Of course not.
Do you?
I don't suppose you
spoke to your brother
after he left your house on Sunday.
No, I didn't, Karl.
No communication whatsoever.
That's an assertive
name, isn't it, Karl?
It's a name that knows
exactly what it wants.
Look, do we have to do this?
Can we just go out for a drink?
Cab Sauv for you?
I'm guessing full bodied red.
Oh. No, you're a beer
drinker aren't you, Karl?
Crisp and cold and German.
What if there was
someone else out there
when your brother fell?
The Desrosiers are triplets now.
[MUFFLED SCREAM]
To make sure.
Of what?
Should I call my lawyer, Karl?
That's up to you.
I think we're done here.
That was something different.
I've been looking the wrong way, Sid.
I've been locked onto
the physical evidence
trying to figure out what's missing.
But it's her.
You look into her eyes
and there's an absence,
there's something
missing in Zoe's Strachan.
Whoa.
Okay, Corporal Yen.
This is weird. An
alert's been triggered.
A couple in Midwest, name of Mulhearn.
Their grandson missed his check-in call.
Boy's been spending two weeks
with his dad unsupervised.
And
His name, Hunter Strachan.
[ZOE] Hunter.
The manager never said
he had a kid with him.
Did you ask?
Well, I mean, not not straight out,
but I I searched the room.
Well, there's a damned cot.
You think of mentioning that.
I already looked there.
Seriously? I'm not lying.
[YEN] Come on.
The grandparents?
Still trying to connect.
Nothing under Desrosiers.
Try calling the neighbors.
Boss, there's a Sergeant
Dosanjh calling from Corvallis.
[DOSANJH] I remember Benjamin all right.
He was quite the hellion,
but I almost kind of
liked him, you know?
What about the sister?
Whole other ball game. She'd been 18.
The neighbor, a nice
old gal, Rita Sturgess.
Someone snuck into her
house and stole some jewelry.
Hunter.
[DOSANJH] Zoe claimed it was her
brother, but nobody believed her.
The thing is,
two weeks later, the
Sturgess house catches fire,
middle of the night.
Arson?
[DOSANJH] Inconclusive.
House burns down and Rita
Sturgess doesn't make it out
trapped inside, eighty-two years old.
[ZOE] Hunter.
[SHAKY BREATHING]
That's great. I'll send a couple unis.
That was Sergeant
Taylor up in Earl's Cove.
They caught the Desrosiers
trying to catch a ferry.
Have they got the boy?
No boy, but we should
probably get up there.
Uh, Gainer, Turcotte go please.
This was found in Benjamin
Strahan's motel room.
It looks like he stashed these.
Zoe Strachan's diary from 20 years ago.
And this.
Oh. Isabella.
Old school tape. You got
something to play that on?
[CHUCKLES] Maybe last century.
I'll check storage.
There's junk you wouldn't
believe back there.
[SID] Junk? I love cassettes.
Hey Sarge
You need to see this.
Hunter.
- [PANICKED BREATHING]
- I know you're in there.
I can see you.
Tell you what? We'll
get something to eat.
[RHYTHMIC TAPPING]
Open the door, sweetheart.
I could order pizza.
How does that sound?
You like pizza?
Hunter, I know you're upset,
but this isn't going to solve anything.
Ready or not, here I come.
[SCREAMS]
[ZOE] You filthy,
ungrateful You hurt me!
Rita Sturgess: January 14th, 1927
- May 3rd, 2002.
See you in hell.
There's a lot of entries like that.
Really weird and seriously twisted.
Success!
It's in the file room
under p for Paleolithic.
Oh, come on. Just
give it to the old guy.
[ZOE] And she deserved it.
[BENJAMIN] Zoe, what what did you do?
[ZOE] Granny Sturgess told lies.
She betrayed me, Benjamin.
And I'm not going to be hurt again.
[BENJAMIN] Just say it.
[ZOE] I set her house
on fire, all right?
Do you suppose there's
something wrong with me?
I sometimes think there
must be, but I don't care.
Don't you say a word, Benjamin.
- [BENJAMIN] Of course not.
- [ZOE] To anyone.
- [BENJAMIN] You're my sister.
- [ZOE] I'll come to your house.
[HANGS UP]
Where's the boss?
I warned you that it wasn't safe.
All those tools and chemicals.
So easy for an accident to happen.
Especially to a little
boy who hurts people
and plays with fire.
[PANICKED BREATHING]
[SIRENS WAILING]
I am on my way to the Strachan place.
I need back up.
[SID] On my way, boss.
[SIRENS WAILING]
[ALBERG] She may have the kid.
There's a structure on fire
- [POLICE SIRENS WAILING]
- [DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[WHIMPERING]
[HUNTER] Help!
Hunter!
Hang on buddy, I got you!
[SCREAMS]
Hey, hey, hey!
Look at me!
Come here, come on.
[HUNTER WHIMPERING]
I'm gonna push!
- I can't fit!
- Push!
I can't fit!
- Get up! Get up!
- Help me!
I gotcha! Come on!
Take him! Take him! Get him away!
Boss!
[POUNDING ON DOOR]
Boss, get up! Get up!
Up! Dammit!
Get up! Get up! Get up! Come on.
Up, up, get up!
Out the door. Here we go, here we go!
[COUGHING]
Oh, what kind of an idiot
busts into a burning building, man.
[COUGHS]
You look like you needed saving.
[SIRENS WAILING IN THE DISTANCE]
I'll do your drywall.
[LAUGHS]
Not a chance.
I don't know what I do without you, Sid.
I got this.
Okay.
[CHATTERING OVER POLICE RADIO]
Arson's a specialty
of yours, Ms. Strachan.
No fatalities this time.
You look like a roasted pig.
Your brother knew, didn't he?
He tried to blackmail you.
Aren't you clever?
The smartest boy in all of Gibsons.
Come on.
Hey, your grandparents are on the way.
Enjoy your night. What's left of it?
Yeah. Draft night fantasy hockey.
A bunch of us are, uh, getting together.
You know, uh
I'm more of a basketball person.
Andy
That was not my finest
hour at the motel.
Yeah.
Well, it wasn't mine either.
Corp. I know I screwed
up. I let you down.
Well, tomorrow will be better.
Night, Officer.
Cassandra
you been here long?
I heard, obviously. Are you okay?
Yeah. Just tired.
- Thank God.
- Yeah.
It's part of the job.
I thought your daughter
would still be around.
Yeah. No, unfortunately.
Whirlwind visit, come and gone,
but she'll be back.
Yeah. I think she
really liked the place.
Yeah. Or she liked being with her dad.
Yeah. Go figure.
Thought you were, you
were going to Los Angeles.
So did Roger, apparently.
Um, he took off last night.
Roger tends to create his own reality.
Have you ever built
anything like this before?
I mean, I had a I had
an uncle who built stuff.
Um, and I helped out sometimes.
[LAUGHS] I had two uncles, both
of them were fairly useless.
So, so was my dad, I think.
I don't, I don't really remember him.
Heart attack. I was eight.
I didn't know.
For the record,
I am really happy that you
didn't get yourself killed.
Um, for the record, so am I.
You still smell like
smoke? Not in a bad way.
Yeah, no, it adds to my devilish charm.
Oh, Yes. Eau de Mephistopheles.
[LAUGHS]
You did leap through
flames to rescue people.
Well, just one person.
A little per it was a kid.
Says the one who carried
the giraffe on his back.
Oh, it was kind of hot though.
I mean, did you wear a Cape?
You said Friday, right?
Uh, Saturday. Whichever is best.
I'm here now.
I, uh, I should probably
take a shower first.
Yeah, eventually.
I don't know how I
lived without you. ♪
♪
Without ♪