The Pretender s01e08 Episode Script
Not Even A Mouse
[Young Jarod.]
I just wanna know who I am.
I can stand anything for that.
I'll never give up, Sydney, ever.
It's been three days, Jarod, with temperature over 100 degrees.
You don't have to go on, Jarod.
I can do it.
I just wanna know who I am.
[Young Jarod.]
I can stand anything for that.
- [Beeping.]
- Where did they find this? Cleanup crew found it in a cabin about 50 miles south of Albuquerque.
- [Sydney.]
A gift from Jarod.
- Hmm.
So, what does it mean? I'm not sure what the original intent of the simulation was.
I'll have to run it through the archives.
Save your sweat.
It's just another diversion.
I beg to differ, Miss Parker.
This is very important toJarod.
He's reaching out, taking a leap of faith.
[Jarod Shouting.]
All right.
Now, remember what you learned in class.
- I think I'm gonna throw up! - Oh, no, no.
You're gonna be just fine! - Well, you're the expert.
- Sort of.
Sort of? Exactly how many times have you jumped? - Counting this? - Yes! One.
[Woman Screaming.]
[Man Narrating.]
Tough jump? I may have underestimated my payload.
Well, they come in all shapes and sizes.
Rub some of this on it.
- What is it? - Horse liniment.
They use it on thoroughbreds when they pull a muscle.
A few more of them El Paso housewives you'll be drinkin' the stuff.
[Sighs.]
Another satisfied customer.
Nice to see that you can carry your weight around here.
The instructor job is yours if you still want it.
- Great! It's a pleasure to be here.
- Good.
Crockett.
Did I get a call from Tasco? [Crockett.]
Phone hasn't rung all day.
[Woman.]
How's the old girl holding up? [Scoffs.]
I was able to patch the leak in the fuel pump but she's definitely on death's door.
Just hold her together for a few more days and I'll have that new plane flown in from Phoenix.
Your résumé is very impressive.
Lofty credentials for someone looking to teach the public to tuck and roll.
- Why us? - Well, I'm on the run from a secret organization.
I needed a place to hide out for a while.
[Broots.]
We've been over this simulation a dozen times.
I'm not sure I understand the point.
[Miss Parker.]
Sydney didn't always have method, just madness.
It was a psychological study to determine if the mind can enable the body to exceed its natural capabilities when an emotional stimulus is applied.
Like when when a car's on top of a child, and the mother lifts it off with one hand.
Exactly.
[Man.]
Miss Parker, this birthday gift just arrived.
Is today your birthday? How old are you? Oh.
Young, I'm sure.
Jarod.
Know this man? I've never seen him before in my life.
Interesting.
It's a dead flower, Sydney, not the Shroud ofTurin.
[Jarod.]
Excuse me for saying this but it doesn't exactly look like business is booming.
We've had some problems, but they're all behind us now.
Problems? I lost my partner a couple of months ago.
Tom Miles? I saw the picture of the two of you in the hangar.
He, uh, made a jump about - Tom was always testing himself.
- Testing? He took one canteen of water, a compass, and a knife, and hiked back in.
It was this yearly ritual.
Uh, something went wrong and he died.
So all I can do now is make Tom's dream of turning Blue Desert into the best skydiving school in Texas come true.
We're gonna get a new jump plane, redo the hangar.
Maybe even build a new indoor training facility.
- Hmm.
- Tom deserves that.
It's not much to look at, but, uh, the A.
C.
works.
There's a phone and VCR.
And for the most part, it keeps the snakes out.
- Well, I'm sure it will be fine.
- [Horn Honks.]
What are you doing way out here in the middle of the day? Well, I had some business over in Mason County, so thought I might see if you wanted to get some lunch.
Meat loaf's on special at the diner.
Unless I'm interrupting something.
Oh, Jarod Cochran, this is, uh, Sheriff Dwight Kunkle.
- Sheriff.
- Mr.
Cochran.
Jarod here is our latest addition to thejump school.
Huh.
Where you from? Oh, here and there.
Whichever way the wind blows.
How about that lunch? - Well, I was just gonna show Jarod - Oh, no, no.
You two go ahead.
I'll be just fine.
Nice to meet you, Sheriff.
Cochran.
[Starts Engine.]
[Man.]
You're late.
I've been waiting for you.
- Excuse me? - I was told a traveler would come seeking truth.
- Told by whom? - The sky fathers.
What you would call a gut feeling.
They said you would need a guide.
I don't understand.
See what I mean? How'd he do that? [Miss Parker.]
Well? [Broots.]
I ran his picture through the system.
If he's any kind of Centre contractor then he's either been deleted or he's out of our clearance level.
Nobody's out of my clearance level.
- What about this? - Torture.
- Torture? - Jarod's playing games.
- Why? - Because he wants to give me an aneurysm.
I don't know why.
It's just what he does.
What about the picture? I blew it up three ways from Sunday.
See, let me show you.
All I got is a street sign.
Black Ridge Lane.
I don't know if that helps with anything.
Maybe the location.
Maybe you're right.
Maybe he just wants to torture you.
- Broots.
- What? - Zoom in on that.
- What? [Miss Parker.]
The reflection on the windshield.
[Keyboarding.]
[Miss Parker.]
Again.
Again.
- One more time, sharper.
- [Computer Beeping.]
[Miss Parker.]
Maine.
I'll be damned! [Vehicle Approaching.]
Let me get that.
- [Breathing Heavily.]
- Are you okay? - I just lost my grip.
- Why don't you come sit down? I'm a little dizzy.
Uh, can I get you something? A glass of water or something? No, I just need to catch my breath.
- Can I ask you something? - Sure.
- Who are you? - [Chuckles.]
My name is Jarod.
Angela.
I, uh, need to put these things in the shed.
No, no.
Let me get that.
- Are you learning to jump? - Uh, no.
Actually, I just started working here.
- You're the new instructor.
- You sound disappointed.
I just didn't expect Carol to hire someone so soon after - What? - Baby's kicking.
- He must not like the heat.
- It's a boy? His father must be very proud.
His father's dead.
The first rule of skydiving is to respect your equipment.
Because without it, you die.
Do you understand? [All.]
Hai.
Now, the key to a safe jump is to open your chute at the right altitude.
And we do that by pulling the silver handle.
We do not pull the orange handle.
You ready to give it a try? All right.
We're over the target, and we jump.
[Jarod.]
The ground is rushing towards us.
You are ready to open your chute.
- You pull the silver handle.
! - [Grunts.]
[Engine Winds Down.]
I guess it lost somethin' in the translation.
[Grunting.]
[Sydney.]
Benjamin Thomas Miller.
Single.
Runs the local bed-and-breakfast.
I'm looking for dirt, Sydney.
There isn't any.
I don't think he's even had a parking ticket.
- [Sydney.]
Not him.
- Well, then why would Jarod lead us here? He didn't.
The little red notebook was the Miss Parker Edition.
Meaning? He wanted you here, alone.
[Cell Phone Ringing.]
What? [Jarod.]
Let's see.
It's 12:00 noon, where you are.
I recommend the Monte Cristo.
You can't beat a sandwich with syrup.
It is a little bit fattening.
What the hey.
You could stand to put on a few pounds.
How would you know? Oh, you never know who might be peeking over your transom.
Uh, uh, uh.
Setting back the bathroom scale three pounds, that's cheating.
- What do you want, Jarod? - Same thing you do.
Answers.
By now, I would imagine that you are staking out the Green Ridge Diner where Ben Miller is finishing up his usual lunch.
[Jarod.]
Diet cola, B.
L.
T.
, no mayo.
I am impressed with your eye for detail.
I can see I'm going to have to secure my cell phone number.
Mmm.
Those Centre operators, they will transfer you anywhere with the right clearance code.
You should look into that.
Yeah, I would.
Except I'm too busy chasing ghosts.
- Well, Ben Miller, he's more of a skeleton.
- [Miss Parker.]
Skeleton? Check your closet lately? Get out.
- Excuse me? - Get out.
Try the Monte Cristo.
I hear it's excellent.
- Ready? - Hai.
! - Sayonara.
- [Yelling.]
- Ready? - Hai.
! - Sayonara.
! - [Yells.]
Hey.
What's this for? For lunatics.
[Wind Blowing.]
[Jarod Laughing.]
This was awesome.
You know, this thing would work really well in the snow.
[Clears Throat.]
Yeah.
Carol Bates says you used to be a skydiver.
Well, I made a jump or two.
- You miss it? - It? The adrenaline rush.
Pushing the envelope and living to tell about it.
Well, sometimes that envelope's a little thinner than it looks.
You talking about Tom Miles? I took him up that day.
You know, the sad part is, that was gonna be his last jump.
Isn't it a little difficult to run a jump school if you don't jump? Hey.
This school has just barely eked by for years.
Tom didn't care about any of that.
He was just a plain old simple guy.
All he really cared about was his wife and that baby comin'.
[Sighs.]
He loved this place.
He just wanted to have a chance to share it with his son before somebody come along and spoiled it.
Expect he pushed that envelope one too many times.
From what I understand, Tom was a survival expert.
He successfully made that jump and trek into the desert a dozen times before he died.
Just 'cause you can do something, doesn't mean you should.
But, hey, it's the desert.
Strange things can happen out there.
[Man.]
So many lies, so little time.
You need some soda.
- Who are you? - Two Feathers, son of War Eagle.
Ever heard of me? No.
That's 'cause everybody calls me Ernie.
I'm guessing it's a peach.
- [Ernie.]
How.
- [Jarod Exhales.]
What is it you want? - I told you I was sent to be your guide.
- Yes.
The sky fathers who speak to you from your gut.
Bingo.
- Where are you guiding me to? - The truth.
I know it's overwhelming, but I'm an Indian, so what do you want from me? Meet me tonight.
- We can talk later.
- Wait.
- How will I find you? - Follow the path of the iron horse.
- The what? - The train tracks.
Didn't you ever see a John Wayne movie? And bring some of that leftover meat loaf with you.
- What meat loaf? - [Wind Blows.]
[Lamp Shatters.]
[Exhales.]
- Huh.
- [Knocking On Door.]
[Jarod.]
I don't know who you think you're dealing with but I'm getting pretty tired of your magic tr I have to admit.
I've had warmer welcomes.
Did you see an old man? Huh.
Never mind.
I, um, wanted to apologize for the way I acted yesterday.
- Oh, it's okay.
- No, you're new here.
There's no way you could've known.
And I'd like to make it up to you.
- How about a home-cooked dinner tonight? - That would be wonderful.
Great.
Hope you like meat loaf.
[Door Creaking.]
Be right with you.
Now, what can I do for I was hoping you'd come.
What are you talking about? You look just like her.
Like who? Your mother.
Thank you.
I'm sure this won't take long.
Sheriff, I was wondering if I might have a minute.
Mr.
Cochran, I'm due in Dallas in about three hours.
Maybe some other time.
Oh, okay.
I just wanted to ask you a question about Tom Miles.
- But we'll do it another time.
- What about Tom? Well, I understand that you found his body.
- That's right.
- Must have been a pretty gruesome sight.
Body out there in the desert for, what, three days? - Four.
- Four, ugh.
See, what I don't understand is why would a survival expert like Tom Miles allow himself to die of dehydration? What are you so interested in a dead man for? Well, I met his widow.
Seemed like a very nice lady.
Never mind.
Have a very nice day.
Oh, Sheriff, one other quick question.
Was there an autopsy done on the body? Of course.
Just because we live in the backwaters doesn't mean we're backwoods.
Thank you very much.
[Woman.]
She ate the whole meat loaf? Well, then it is no wonder she can't find panty hose to fit those thick thighs of hers then, huh? - [Door Opens.]
- Yeah.
[Chuckles.]
Oh.
I'll call you later.
- [Jarod.]
Afternoon.
- Afternoon.
Buddy Slocum Jr.
I represent the southwest regional office of the Internal Revenue Service.
I.
R.
S.
? I need to have a word with a Sheriff Dwight Knuckle.
Kunkle.
The sheriff's name is Kunkle.
Sheriff Knuck Kunkle is in Dallas for the afternoon.
Well, that could pose a dilemma.
Buddy.
Maybe I can help you.
Yes.
As a matter of fact, maybe you can.
Do you have some information on a Mr.
Thomas Miles? Well, he's dead.
Not as far as the I.
R.
S.
is concerned.
Well, thanks again, ma'am.
[Angela.]
Tom was gonna finish the baby's room when he got back.
He must have been very excited about becoming a father.
[Angela.]
It was his whole world.
Before Tom went off on the last jump he told me how important it was for him to be a good father to teach our son about life.
He used to say that life was meant to be lived and death wasn't something to be afraid of.
Is that why he made those jumps into the desert? Carol's right.
It's important that his son know who his father was.
- The things he cared about.
- Carol said that.
She said that if the school closed, then Tom's death would be meaningless.
- Thank God for Tom's insurance money.
- What do you mean? We're gonna use it to rebuild the jump school.
Hasn't been easy for her.
[Jarod.]
Because of the business? Because of the history between them.
- The history? - Carol and Tom were together long before we met.
They grew apart, fell out.
He used to say she was unhappy, but he never spoke bad about her.
I think it's nice that she wants to keep his dream alive.
[Beeping.]
- Just tell me you've given up.
- [Young Jarod.]
No.
Admit it to yourself and I'll make this stop! Not for me.
[Young Jarod.]
I'll never give up.
[Echoing.]
Never give up.
Mr.
Two Feathers? Uh, Mr.
Two Feathers? Ernie? Oh! [Gasps.]
Would you please stop doing that? I see you remembered.
Thank you.
Your meat loaf.
You left your hat.
Thank you.
Sit down.
Is this where you live? You expected a teepee? It's 43 feet of good living, satellite TV.
I even get dirty movies.
- Compliments of Uncle Sam.
- Uncle who? There was a question about a certain piece of tribal land and who owned it.
- And this was your settlement? - I would've settled for a new hat.
White people.
I don't know how we lost the country.
You told me before that you were going to guide me to the truth.
Oh, that.
My family's lived under this sky for over seven generations.
I've seen many things in the desert.
Things? I found the body of the man who walks on clouds.
I thought Sheriff Kunkle found Tom Miles's body.
It wouldn't be smart for an Indian to ride into town with a white war hero strapped across the grille of his motor home.
Why would a survival expert like Tom Miles die of dehydration when all those yucca plants were around him? When I saw his face, I knew what happened.
According to the police report the wounds on his face were inflicted by an animal.
It was no animal.
It was his madness.
I've seen it only one time before in my life during the vision quest.
Vision quest? Ayoung man of age drinks from the root of the belladonna plant in the hopes of going to the world beyond.
If the mixture is wrong, he could lose himself, go mad.
Belladonna.
Who else knows about this plant? Anyone who's lived their life in the desert would know.
I see your gut talks to you too.
Hmm.
This is pretty good.
Jarod worked the place about a month.
He was quite the fix-it man.
- He's a genius.
- I don't know about that.
But he could fix a tractor, talk your ear off.
That fella was always askin' questions.
I didn't come here to talk aboutJarod.
Well, that's funny.
All he wanted to talk about was you.
- Me? - He said you two had grown up together.
Seemed disappointed when I didn't know much.
Guess your mother never told you about this place.
No.
She didn't.
She came here exactly this time every year.
She loved the spring.
She said she liked what it did to the world.
Aunt Dorothy.
Excuse me? She used to tell me she was visiting her sister.
Ah.
I'm sure she had her reasons.
When your mother didn't show up, I got worried.
I never knew exactly how I was pretty young.
But I do remember that her death was, uh, sudden.
Is there anything of hers It would mean a lot to me if I could see where she stayed.
[Crockett.]
Look here, Carol, it's just not workin'out.
! I have to move on.
- Once we get the new plane from Phoenix, we're fine.
- You know I can't go back there! [Rifling Papers.]
[Woman.]
Tasco Sport Adventure.
[Jarod.]
I'm trying to put together a vacation.
You come highly recommended.
Yes, sir.
At Tasco Sport Adventure, you get the vacation of a lifetime.
Bungee jumping and then golf helicopter snow skiing in the Andes, or shark hunting off the Barrier Reef.
Actually, I had skydiving in mind.
You're in luck! In two months, we're opening a skydiving school near El Paso.
[Jarod.]
Well, that sounds interesting.
Very interesting.
- Uh, I'll let you know.
- Thanks for calling.
[Tools Clanking.]
- [Wrench Racheting.]
- Ow! - [Slams Tools Down.]
- Piece of crap! - Oh, come on, Crockett.
- God! Oh - [Inhales, Coughs.]
- Plane only has to last a few more days.
- You scared me there, bub.
- Why? Because you thought I was Carol? She scares you, doesn't she, Crockett? Or should I say Angus? Angus Marin? Who are you? Somebody who found out you're a wanted man and is going to use it to their advantage.
- Just like Carol did.
- You sound like you have been drinking that horse liniment.
I know Carol's using Angela to get to Tom Miles's insurance money.
So she can refurbish this jump school and increase the price that Tasco Adventures is willing to pay for it.
I also know you are getting 25% of whatever Carol's stake is in the sale.
What I don't know is why.
Is it because you know she killed Tom Miles? Or because you helped her? This was her room.
[Ben.]
I haven't touched anything since she left.
- [Soft Chuckle.]
- What? Looking at you standing there, I thought for a minute I saw Catherine again.
You call if you need anything.
See, Tom and Carol come out here as young lovers, bought this place together.
Only it was 60-40, Tom's favor.
After they broke up, he met Angela, and got married.
He was here for life, and Carol knew it.
She wanted to sell, but he could never get the cash together.
By that time, the place had gotten so run down till And that's when the people from Tasco came around.
Wavin' long green.
But Tom didn't want the place destroyed.
So, when Carol couldn't get her money and get out, shejust shut down.
Then what happened? She came out to the hangar the morning of the jump, switched Tom's canteen.
I didn't think anything about it at the time.
It didn't mean anything then.
But later on, after he died, I got to thinkin' about it.
When I asked her She threatened to turn you in to the police.
She offered me a percentage just to help her get the place turned around for the sale to Tasco.
We looked at each other andjust knew.
Willing to hate each other long enough to get our payoffs and get on with our lives.
Well, unfortunately for Tom Miles, he won't be able to get on with his.
[Wrench Clinking.]
[Southern Accent.]
Yes.
I'd like to order a slab of beef ribs.
Well, that's fantastic.
But I'd like them raw.
Yes, raw.
So, let's get this straight.
If I arrive in Phoenix first, I get the plane? Well, I'll get there first.
- Have you seen Crockett? - No.
Is there something wrong? I just got a call from Phoenix.
There's another party interested in the plane.
They're gonna make a deal with the first one who shows up! Oh.
Well, shouldn't be more than a six or seven-hour drive.
I don't have six or seven hours.
Well, I could fly you.
- You're a pilot? - Mm-hmm.
- How long till we can take off? - Twenty minutes.
- [Ben.]
How 'bout some coffee? - [Miss Parker.]
Thank you.
- How'd you sleep? - Well.
Better than that, actually.
This place tends to do that to people.
Sure you don't want to take some of her things with ya? No.
I have everything I need.
Besides, this is where she belongs.
You were in love with her, weren't you? Your mother was a very special woman.
There was a part ofher I knew better than anyone.
But there was a part of her she kept hidden.
- Separate.
- Did she ever talk about him? No.
She left it all behind when she came here.
But she always missed her little girl.
I'll get you some breakfast.
Thank you.
- Why are we heading north? - Weather radar.
There's a storm front moving in from the southwest so I figured it would be safer if we flew around it.
How long to Phoenix? - About an hour, hour and a half.
- [Engine Sputters.]
What's wrong? We're losing pressure.
I think it's the fuel pump.
This terrain is much too dangerous to land.
If the overflow of fuel should reach the engine, the whole plane could explode.
We're going to have to jump.
- Jump? - Jump.
Relax.
We're skydiving instructors, remember? What the hell do you mean he was polite? You just give out confidential crime scene files to anybody who walks in here with a smile on their face? He said he was with the I.
R.
S.
Damn it, Aida.
I've told you a million times.
- Police business is - [Jarod On Radio.]
Alpha-Tango-997.
This is a Mayday.
I repeat, this is a Mayday.
Our aircraft is on fire.
We're going to parachute approximately 37 miles due north of Fort Hancock.
Mayday.
Mayday.
[Transmission Turns Off.]
You call the civil air patrol.
Dispatch Search and Rescue right now.
Going my way, Sheriff? [Grunting.]
- Are you okay? - [Grunting.]
Ah, I think I broke my leg.
Hey.
[Grunting.]
- Don't worry.
Somebody'll find us.
- [Grunts.]
I'm not so sure.
What are you saying? There's a chance that nobody knows we're out here? I don't know.
I don't know if the Mayday transmission made it out.
[Sighs.]
Well, what the hell do you suggest we do? [Jarod.]
There's about six or seven hours left of sunlight.
If you travel lightly, you can make it to Fort Hancock by dark.
- Me? What if I don't make it? - You'll make it.
- [Sighs.]
- Head due south.
And here's a full canteen of water.
Make sure you drink plenty of it.
You wouldn't want to end up like Tom.
I'll see you soon.
Count on it.
[Voice Whispering.]
Carol.
[Chanting.]
- [Voice Whispering.]
Carol.
- [Echoing.]
Who's there? [Gasps.]
[Voice Whispering.]
Carol.
What's happening to me? [Jarod.]
Same thing that happened to Tom Miles.
- Tom? - Now, maybe you can imagine how Tom felt those last moments.
Dying out here, all alone.
Tom.
Tom, I'm sorry.
You took his canteen, and you poisoned it with belladonna.
The harder the sun bore down, the more delirious he became with every tainted drink.
And every minute that passed was just another agonizing moment when he realized he would never see his baby that he wanted so much.
It got so bad that he wandered in circles.
He clawed at his own body to fight off the madness that you created for him.
[Echoing.]
The madness that you created for him.
[Breathing Heavily.]
No.
It was a school and a family.
You took that away.
! You just gave it to her.
! [Crying.]
Till there was nothing left for me.
So you left a widow behind and a baby to be born fatherless.
Tom, I just wanted what I deserved.
Something tells me you're going to get just that.
[Cell Phone Rings.]
Hello, Jarod.
With instincts like that, you'll catch me yet.
Not if you keep throwing me off the trail.
Oh, I didn't throw you off.
I just put you on a different one.
Is that all you do, Jarod? Dig up the past? That's easy for you to say.
You have one.
Although, it's not quite what you thought it was, is it? Happy birthday.
[Angela.]
Okay, sweetie.
Let's go night-night.
[Fussing.]
Ho, white man.
Came by to say good-bye, thank you.
Well, so long, and you're welcome.
When we first met, you told me you were gonna help me discover the truth.
I was kind of hoping it would have been about myself.
About who I am.
We each take a journey we're meant to take.
For some, it's clear.
For others, not so clear.
Am I going the right way? Just keep listening to your gut.
[Wind Blows.]
[Mews.]
I just wanna know who I am.
I can stand anything for that.
I'll never give up, Sydney, ever.
It's been three days, Jarod, with temperature over 100 degrees.
You don't have to go on, Jarod.
I can do it.
I just wanna know who I am.
[Young Jarod.]
I can stand anything for that.
- [Beeping.]
- Where did they find this? Cleanup crew found it in a cabin about 50 miles south of Albuquerque.
- [Sydney.]
A gift from Jarod.
- Hmm.
So, what does it mean? I'm not sure what the original intent of the simulation was.
I'll have to run it through the archives.
Save your sweat.
It's just another diversion.
I beg to differ, Miss Parker.
This is very important toJarod.
He's reaching out, taking a leap of faith.
[Jarod Shouting.]
All right.
Now, remember what you learned in class.
- I think I'm gonna throw up! - Oh, no, no.
You're gonna be just fine! - Well, you're the expert.
- Sort of.
Sort of? Exactly how many times have you jumped? - Counting this? - Yes! One.
[Woman Screaming.]
[Man Narrating.]
Tough jump? I may have underestimated my payload.
Well, they come in all shapes and sizes.
Rub some of this on it.
- What is it? - Horse liniment.
They use it on thoroughbreds when they pull a muscle.
A few more of them El Paso housewives you'll be drinkin' the stuff.
[Sighs.]
Another satisfied customer.
Nice to see that you can carry your weight around here.
The instructor job is yours if you still want it.
- Great! It's a pleasure to be here.
- Good.
Crockett.
Did I get a call from Tasco? [Crockett.]
Phone hasn't rung all day.
[Woman.]
How's the old girl holding up? [Scoffs.]
I was able to patch the leak in the fuel pump but she's definitely on death's door.
Just hold her together for a few more days and I'll have that new plane flown in from Phoenix.
Your résumé is very impressive.
Lofty credentials for someone looking to teach the public to tuck and roll.
- Why us? - Well, I'm on the run from a secret organization.
I needed a place to hide out for a while.
[Broots.]
We've been over this simulation a dozen times.
I'm not sure I understand the point.
[Miss Parker.]
Sydney didn't always have method, just madness.
It was a psychological study to determine if the mind can enable the body to exceed its natural capabilities when an emotional stimulus is applied.
Like when when a car's on top of a child, and the mother lifts it off with one hand.
Exactly.
[Man.]
Miss Parker, this birthday gift just arrived.
Is today your birthday? How old are you? Oh.
Young, I'm sure.
Jarod.
Know this man? I've never seen him before in my life.
Interesting.
It's a dead flower, Sydney, not the Shroud ofTurin.
[Jarod.]
Excuse me for saying this but it doesn't exactly look like business is booming.
We've had some problems, but they're all behind us now.
Problems? I lost my partner a couple of months ago.
Tom Miles? I saw the picture of the two of you in the hangar.
He, uh, made a jump about - Tom was always testing himself.
- Testing? He took one canteen of water, a compass, and a knife, and hiked back in.
It was this yearly ritual.
Uh, something went wrong and he died.
So all I can do now is make Tom's dream of turning Blue Desert into the best skydiving school in Texas come true.
We're gonna get a new jump plane, redo the hangar.
Maybe even build a new indoor training facility.
- Hmm.
- Tom deserves that.
It's not much to look at, but, uh, the A.
C.
works.
There's a phone and VCR.
And for the most part, it keeps the snakes out.
- Well, I'm sure it will be fine.
- [Horn Honks.]
What are you doing way out here in the middle of the day? Well, I had some business over in Mason County, so thought I might see if you wanted to get some lunch.
Meat loaf's on special at the diner.
Unless I'm interrupting something.
Oh, Jarod Cochran, this is, uh, Sheriff Dwight Kunkle.
- Sheriff.
- Mr.
Cochran.
Jarod here is our latest addition to thejump school.
Huh.
Where you from? Oh, here and there.
Whichever way the wind blows.
How about that lunch? - Well, I was just gonna show Jarod - Oh, no, no.
You two go ahead.
I'll be just fine.
Nice to meet you, Sheriff.
Cochran.
[Starts Engine.]
[Man.]
You're late.
I've been waiting for you.
- Excuse me? - I was told a traveler would come seeking truth.
- Told by whom? - The sky fathers.
What you would call a gut feeling.
They said you would need a guide.
I don't understand.
See what I mean? How'd he do that? [Miss Parker.]
Well? [Broots.]
I ran his picture through the system.
If he's any kind of Centre contractor then he's either been deleted or he's out of our clearance level.
Nobody's out of my clearance level.
- What about this? - Torture.
- Torture? - Jarod's playing games.
- Why? - Because he wants to give me an aneurysm.
I don't know why.
It's just what he does.
What about the picture? I blew it up three ways from Sunday.
See, let me show you.
All I got is a street sign.
Black Ridge Lane.
I don't know if that helps with anything.
Maybe the location.
Maybe you're right.
Maybe he just wants to torture you.
- Broots.
- What? - Zoom in on that.
- What? [Miss Parker.]
The reflection on the windshield.
[Keyboarding.]
[Miss Parker.]
Again.
Again.
- One more time, sharper.
- [Computer Beeping.]
[Miss Parker.]
Maine.
I'll be damned! [Vehicle Approaching.]
Let me get that.
- [Breathing Heavily.]
- Are you okay? - I just lost my grip.
- Why don't you come sit down? I'm a little dizzy.
Uh, can I get you something? A glass of water or something? No, I just need to catch my breath.
- Can I ask you something? - Sure.
- Who are you? - [Chuckles.]
My name is Jarod.
Angela.
I, uh, need to put these things in the shed.
No, no.
Let me get that.
- Are you learning to jump? - Uh, no.
Actually, I just started working here.
- You're the new instructor.
- You sound disappointed.
I just didn't expect Carol to hire someone so soon after - What? - Baby's kicking.
- He must not like the heat.
- It's a boy? His father must be very proud.
His father's dead.
The first rule of skydiving is to respect your equipment.
Because without it, you die.
Do you understand? [All.]
Hai.
Now, the key to a safe jump is to open your chute at the right altitude.
And we do that by pulling the silver handle.
We do not pull the orange handle.
You ready to give it a try? All right.
We're over the target, and we jump.
[Jarod.]
The ground is rushing towards us.
You are ready to open your chute.
- You pull the silver handle.
! - [Grunts.]
[Engine Winds Down.]
I guess it lost somethin' in the translation.
[Grunting.]
[Sydney.]
Benjamin Thomas Miller.
Single.
Runs the local bed-and-breakfast.
I'm looking for dirt, Sydney.
There isn't any.
I don't think he's even had a parking ticket.
- [Sydney.]
Not him.
- Well, then why would Jarod lead us here? He didn't.
The little red notebook was the Miss Parker Edition.
Meaning? He wanted you here, alone.
[Cell Phone Ringing.]
What? [Jarod.]
Let's see.
It's 12:00 noon, where you are.
I recommend the Monte Cristo.
You can't beat a sandwich with syrup.
It is a little bit fattening.
What the hey.
You could stand to put on a few pounds.
How would you know? Oh, you never know who might be peeking over your transom.
Uh, uh, uh.
Setting back the bathroom scale three pounds, that's cheating.
- What do you want, Jarod? - Same thing you do.
Answers.
By now, I would imagine that you are staking out the Green Ridge Diner where Ben Miller is finishing up his usual lunch.
[Jarod.]
Diet cola, B.
L.
T.
, no mayo.
I am impressed with your eye for detail.
I can see I'm going to have to secure my cell phone number.
Mmm.
Those Centre operators, they will transfer you anywhere with the right clearance code.
You should look into that.
Yeah, I would.
Except I'm too busy chasing ghosts.
- Well, Ben Miller, he's more of a skeleton.
- [Miss Parker.]
Skeleton? Check your closet lately? Get out.
- Excuse me? - Get out.
Try the Monte Cristo.
I hear it's excellent.
- Ready? - Hai.
! - Sayonara.
- [Yelling.]
- Ready? - Hai.
! - Sayonara.
! - [Yells.]
Hey.
What's this for? For lunatics.
[Wind Blowing.]
[Jarod Laughing.]
This was awesome.
You know, this thing would work really well in the snow.
[Clears Throat.]
Yeah.
Carol Bates says you used to be a skydiver.
Well, I made a jump or two.
- You miss it? - It? The adrenaline rush.
Pushing the envelope and living to tell about it.
Well, sometimes that envelope's a little thinner than it looks.
You talking about Tom Miles? I took him up that day.
You know, the sad part is, that was gonna be his last jump.
Isn't it a little difficult to run a jump school if you don't jump? Hey.
This school has just barely eked by for years.
Tom didn't care about any of that.
He was just a plain old simple guy.
All he really cared about was his wife and that baby comin'.
[Sighs.]
He loved this place.
He just wanted to have a chance to share it with his son before somebody come along and spoiled it.
Expect he pushed that envelope one too many times.
From what I understand, Tom was a survival expert.
He successfully made that jump and trek into the desert a dozen times before he died.
Just 'cause you can do something, doesn't mean you should.
But, hey, it's the desert.
Strange things can happen out there.
[Man.]
So many lies, so little time.
You need some soda.
- Who are you? - Two Feathers, son of War Eagle.
Ever heard of me? No.
That's 'cause everybody calls me Ernie.
I'm guessing it's a peach.
- [Ernie.]
How.
- [Jarod Exhales.]
What is it you want? - I told you I was sent to be your guide.
- Yes.
The sky fathers who speak to you from your gut.
Bingo.
- Where are you guiding me to? - The truth.
I know it's overwhelming, but I'm an Indian, so what do you want from me? Meet me tonight.
- We can talk later.
- Wait.
- How will I find you? - Follow the path of the iron horse.
- The what? - The train tracks.
Didn't you ever see a John Wayne movie? And bring some of that leftover meat loaf with you.
- What meat loaf? - [Wind Blows.]
[Lamp Shatters.]
[Exhales.]
- Huh.
- [Knocking On Door.]
[Jarod.]
I don't know who you think you're dealing with but I'm getting pretty tired of your magic tr I have to admit.
I've had warmer welcomes.
Did you see an old man? Huh.
Never mind.
I, um, wanted to apologize for the way I acted yesterday.
- Oh, it's okay.
- No, you're new here.
There's no way you could've known.
And I'd like to make it up to you.
- How about a home-cooked dinner tonight? - That would be wonderful.
Great.
Hope you like meat loaf.
[Door Creaking.]
Be right with you.
Now, what can I do for I was hoping you'd come.
What are you talking about? You look just like her.
Like who? Your mother.
Thank you.
I'm sure this won't take long.
Sheriff, I was wondering if I might have a minute.
Mr.
Cochran, I'm due in Dallas in about three hours.
Maybe some other time.
Oh, okay.
I just wanted to ask you a question about Tom Miles.
- But we'll do it another time.
- What about Tom? Well, I understand that you found his body.
- That's right.
- Must have been a pretty gruesome sight.
Body out there in the desert for, what, three days? - Four.
- Four, ugh.
See, what I don't understand is why would a survival expert like Tom Miles allow himself to die of dehydration? What are you so interested in a dead man for? Well, I met his widow.
Seemed like a very nice lady.
Never mind.
Have a very nice day.
Oh, Sheriff, one other quick question.
Was there an autopsy done on the body? Of course.
Just because we live in the backwaters doesn't mean we're backwoods.
Thank you very much.
[Woman.]
She ate the whole meat loaf? Well, then it is no wonder she can't find panty hose to fit those thick thighs of hers then, huh? - [Door Opens.]
- Yeah.
[Chuckles.]
Oh.
I'll call you later.
- [Jarod.]
Afternoon.
- Afternoon.
Buddy Slocum Jr.
I represent the southwest regional office of the Internal Revenue Service.
I.
R.
S.
? I need to have a word with a Sheriff Dwight Knuckle.
Kunkle.
The sheriff's name is Kunkle.
Sheriff Knuck Kunkle is in Dallas for the afternoon.
Well, that could pose a dilemma.
Buddy.
Maybe I can help you.
Yes.
As a matter of fact, maybe you can.
Do you have some information on a Mr.
Thomas Miles? Well, he's dead.
Not as far as the I.
R.
S.
is concerned.
Well, thanks again, ma'am.
[Angela.]
Tom was gonna finish the baby's room when he got back.
He must have been very excited about becoming a father.
[Angela.]
It was his whole world.
Before Tom went off on the last jump he told me how important it was for him to be a good father to teach our son about life.
He used to say that life was meant to be lived and death wasn't something to be afraid of.
Is that why he made those jumps into the desert? Carol's right.
It's important that his son know who his father was.
- The things he cared about.
- Carol said that.
She said that if the school closed, then Tom's death would be meaningless.
- Thank God for Tom's insurance money.
- What do you mean? We're gonna use it to rebuild the jump school.
Hasn't been easy for her.
[Jarod.]
Because of the business? Because of the history between them.
- The history? - Carol and Tom were together long before we met.
They grew apart, fell out.
He used to say she was unhappy, but he never spoke bad about her.
I think it's nice that she wants to keep his dream alive.
[Beeping.]
- Just tell me you've given up.
- [Young Jarod.]
No.
Admit it to yourself and I'll make this stop! Not for me.
[Young Jarod.]
I'll never give up.
[Echoing.]
Never give up.
Mr.
Two Feathers? Uh, Mr.
Two Feathers? Ernie? Oh! [Gasps.]
Would you please stop doing that? I see you remembered.
Thank you.
Your meat loaf.
You left your hat.
Thank you.
Sit down.
Is this where you live? You expected a teepee? It's 43 feet of good living, satellite TV.
I even get dirty movies.
- Compliments of Uncle Sam.
- Uncle who? There was a question about a certain piece of tribal land and who owned it.
- And this was your settlement? - I would've settled for a new hat.
White people.
I don't know how we lost the country.
You told me before that you were going to guide me to the truth.
Oh, that.
My family's lived under this sky for over seven generations.
I've seen many things in the desert.
Things? I found the body of the man who walks on clouds.
I thought Sheriff Kunkle found Tom Miles's body.
It wouldn't be smart for an Indian to ride into town with a white war hero strapped across the grille of his motor home.
Why would a survival expert like Tom Miles die of dehydration when all those yucca plants were around him? When I saw his face, I knew what happened.
According to the police report the wounds on his face were inflicted by an animal.
It was no animal.
It was his madness.
I've seen it only one time before in my life during the vision quest.
Vision quest? Ayoung man of age drinks from the root of the belladonna plant in the hopes of going to the world beyond.
If the mixture is wrong, he could lose himself, go mad.
Belladonna.
Who else knows about this plant? Anyone who's lived their life in the desert would know.
I see your gut talks to you too.
Hmm.
This is pretty good.
Jarod worked the place about a month.
He was quite the fix-it man.
- He's a genius.
- I don't know about that.
But he could fix a tractor, talk your ear off.
That fella was always askin' questions.
I didn't come here to talk aboutJarod.
Well, that's funny.
All he wanted to talk about was you.
- Me? - He said you two had grown up together.
Seemed disappointed when I didn't know much.
Guess your mother never told you about this place.
No.
She didn't.
She came here exactly this time every year.
She loved the spring.
She said she liked what it did to the world.
Aunt Dorothy.
Excuse me? She used to tell me she was visiting her sister.
Ah.
I'm sure she had her reasons.
When your mother didn't show up, I got worried.
I never knew exactly how I was pretty young.
But I do remember that her death was, uh, sudden.
Is there anything of hers It would mean a lot to me if I could see where she stayed.
[Crockett.]
Look here, Carol, it's just not workin'out.
! I have to move on.
- Once we get the new plane from Phoenix, we're fine.
- You know I can't go back there! [Rifling Papers.]
[Woman.]
Tasco Sport Adventure.
[Jarod.]
I'm trying to put together a vacation.
You come highly recommended.
Yes, sir.
At Tasco Sport Adventure, you get the vacation of a lifetime.
Bungee jumping and then golf helicopter snow skiing in the Andes, or shark hunting off the Barrier Reef.
Actually, I had skydiving in mind.
You're in luck! In two months, we're opening a skydiving school near El Paso.
[Jarod.]
Well, that sounds interesting.
Very interesting.
- Uh, I'll let you know.
- Thanks for calling.
[Tools Clanking.]
- [Wrench Racheting.]
- Ow! - [Slams Tools Down.]
- Piece of crap! - Oh, come on, Crockett.
- God! Oh - [Inhales, Coughs.]
- Plane only has to last a few more days.
- You scared me there, bub.
- Why? Because you thought I was Carol? She scares you, doesn't she, Crockett? Or should I say Angus? Angus Marin? Who are you? Somebody who found out you're a wanted man and is going to use it to their advantage.
- Just like Carol did.
- You sound like you have been drinking that horse liniment.
I know Carol's using Angela to get to Tom Miles's insurance money.
So she can refurbish this jump school and increase the price that Tasco Adventures is willing to pay for it.
I also know you are getting 25% of whatever Carol's stake is in the sale.
What I don't know is why.
Is it because you know she killed Tom Miles? Or because you helped her? This was her room.
[Ben.]
I haven't touched anything since she left.
- [Soft Chuckle.]
- What? Looking at you standing there, I thought for a minute I saw Catherine again.
You call if you need anything.
See, Tom and Carol come out here as young lovers, bought this place together.
Only it was 60-40, Tom's favor.
After they broke up, he met Angela, and got married.
He was here for life, and Carol knew it.
She wanted to sell, but he could never get the cash together.
By that time, the place had gotten so run down till And that's when the people from Tasco came around.
Wavin' long green.
But Tom didn't want the place destroyed.
So, when Carol couldn't get her money and get out, shejust shut down.
Then what happened? She came out to the hangar the morning of the jump, switched Tom's canteen.
I didn't think anything about it at the time.
It didn't mean anything then.
But later on, after he died, I got to thinkin' about it.
When I asked her She threatened to turn you in to the police.
She offered me a percentage just to help her get the place turned around for the sale to Tasco.
We looked at each other andjust knew.
Willing to hate each other long enough to get our payoffs and get on with our lives.
Well, unfortunately for Tom Miles, he won't be able to get on with his.
[Wrench Clinking.]
[Southern Accent.]
Yes.
I'd like to order a slab of beef ribs.
Well, that's fantastic.
But I'd like them raw.
Yes, raw.
So, let's get this straight.
If I arrive in Phoenix first, I get the plane? Well, I'll get there first.
- Have you seen Crockett? - No.
Is there something wrong? I just got a call from Phoenix.
There's another party interested in the plane.
They're gonna make a deal with the first one who shows up! Oh.
Well, shouldn't be more than a six or seven-hour drive.
I don't have six or seven hours.
Well, I could fly you.
- You're a pilot? - Mm-hmm.
- How long till we can take off? - Twenty minutes.
- [Ben.]
How 'bout some coffee? - [Miss Parker.]
Thank you.
- How'd you sleep? - Well.
Better than that, actually.
This place tends to do that to people.
Sure you don't want to take some of her things with ya? No.
I have everything I need.
Besides, this is where she belongs.
You were in love with her, weren't you? Your mother was a very special woman.
There was a part ofher I knew better than anyone.
But there was a part of her she kept hidden.
- Separate.
- Did she ever talk about him? No.
She left it all behind when she came here.
But she always missed her little girl.
I'll get you some breakfast.
Thank you.
- Why are we heading north? - Weather radar.
There's a storm front moving in from the southwest so I figured it would be safer if we flew around it.
How long to Phoenix? - About an hour, hour and a half.
- [Engine Sputters.]
What's wrong? We're losing pressure.
I think it's the fuel pump.
This terrain is much too dangerous to land.
If the overflow of fuel should reach the engine, the whole plane could explode.
We're going to have to jump.
- Jump? - Jump.
Relax.
We're skydiving instructors, remember? What the hell do you mean he was polite? You just give out confidential crime scene files to anybody who walks in here with a smile on their face? He said he was with the I.
R.
S.
Damn it, Aida.
I've told you a million times.
- Police business is - [Jarod On Radio.]
Alpha-Tango-997.
This is a Mayday.
I repeat, this is a Mayday.
Our aircraft is on fire.
We're going to parachute approximately 37 miles due north of Fort Hancock.
Mayday.
Mayday.
[Transmission Turns Off.]
You call the civil air patrol.
Dispatch Search and Rescue right now.
Going my way, Sheriff? [Grunting.]
- Are you okay? - [Grunting.]
Ah, I think I broke my leg.
Hey.
[Grunting.]
- Don't worry.
Somebody'll find us.
- [Grunts.]
I'm not so sure.
What are you saying? There's a chance that nobody knows we're out here? I don't know.
I don't know if the Mayday transmission made it out.
[Sighs.]
Well, what the hell do you suggest we do? [Jarod.]
There's about six or seven hours left of sunlight.
If you travel lightly, you can make it to Fort Hancock by dark.
- Me? What if I don't make it? - You'll make it.
- [Sighs.]
- Head due south.
And here's a full canteen of water.
Make sure you drink plenty of it.
You wouldn't want to end up like Tom.
I'll see you soon.
Count on it.
[Voice Whispering.]
Carol.
[Chanting.]
- [Voice Whispering.]
Carol.
- [Echoing.]
Who's there? [Gasps.]
[Voice Whispering.]
Carol.
What's happening to me? [Jarod.]
Same thing that happened to Tom Miles.
- Tom? - Now, maybe you can imagine how Tom felt those last moments.
Dying out here, all alone.
Tom.
Tom, I'm sorry.
You took his canteen, and you poisoned it with belladonna.
The harder the sun bore down, the more delirious he became with every tainted drink.
And every minute that passed was just another agonizing moment when he realized he would never see his baby that he wanted so much.
It got so bad that he wandered in circles.
He clawed at his own body to fight off the madness that you created for him.
[Echoing.]
The madness that you created for him.
[Breathing Heavily.]
No.
It was a school and a family.
You took that away.
! You just gave it to her.
! [Crying.]
Till there was nothing left for me.
So you left a widow behind and a baby to be born fatherless.
Tom, I just wanted what I deserved.
Something tells me you're going to get just that.
[Cell Phone Rings.]
Hello, Jarod.
With instincts like that, you'll catch me yet.
Not if you keep throwing me off the trail.
Oh, I didn't throw you off.
I just put you on a different one.
Is that all you do, Jarod? Dig up the past? That's easy for you to say.
You have one.
Although, it's not quite what you thought it was, is it? Happy birthday.
[Angela.]
Okay, sweetie.
Let's go night-night.
[Fussing.]
Ho, white man.
Came by to say good-bye, thank you.
Well, so long, and you're welcome.
When we first met, you told me you were gonna help me discover the truth.
I was kind of hoping it would have been about myself.
About who I am.
We each take a journey we're meant to take.
For some, it's clear.
For others, not so clear.
Am I going the right way? Just keep listening to your gut.
[Wind Blows.]
[Mews.]