The Pretender s01e20 Episode Script

Baby Love

- Previously on The Pretender.
- Yes, Mr.
Parker.
Angelo is searching the Internet for any signs ofJarod now.
SL-27.
What does it mean, Jacob? [Miss Parker.]
SL 27.
What does it mean? [Tires Screeching.]
- Does he have a name? - They're calling him Jarod.
- He misses his parents.
- He'll forget them soon enough.
Kri kra toad's foot Geese walk barefoot - Found these blueprints in the gutter.
- He's nearby.
Find him! Let's move! Go! - [Car Door Opens, Closes.]
- [Footsteps.]
[Bottle Rattling.]
[Clanking.]
[Footsteps Departing.]
Hey! - Blue sedan.
- Get in! This is Parker.
We're in pursuit of a blue sedan.
[Thumping.]
[Crying.]
[Man Narrating.]
- [Knocking.]
- Christine! Christine? - Jarod? - I'm sorry, Christine.
- I know it's late.
- It's 3:00 in the morning.
God isn't even awake.
I know.
Listen, I need to move back in for a little while.
Not smellin' like that you're not.
- Please.
- Look, Jarod I owe you big time for what you did for me, but my husband's comin' back tomorrow.
- If Axe finds a man livin' upstairs, he'll have a stroke.
- [Soft Cry.]
Oh, my God.
Where did you get it? A man threw him in the Dumpster.
Oh, my God.
How could someone do that? How could someone throw away a baby? It's a crazy world.
Babies havin' babies people don't know what they want or what they have.
It's freezing in here.
You have to call the police.
I'm the only family he has right now.
He's cold, he's scared, and he's alone.
Don't you like babies? Of course.
It's just that if Axe didn't get the job in Houston he'll have a stroke ifhe comes back and finds a baby here.
- He doesn't like babies? - No.
Yes.
That's not the point.
- He's hungry.
- How can you tell? Because I'm hungry.
Wanna Wanna lay down? There you go.
There you go.
Why-Why would Jarod risk getting caught over a random set of blueprints? [Chuckles.]
WhereJarod's concerned, there's never anything random.
Hmm.
Boy Genius is a regular I.
M.
Pei.
Wait.
What's this? SL 27? I'll be around.
Kri kra toad's foot Geese walk barefoot Kri kra toad's foot Geese walk barefoot Who taught you that song? I don't know.
My mother, I think.
You think? When I was little, I was taken from my family.
I was raised by some people people that had no business dealing with children.
I'm sorry.
Look, Jarod, I appreciate everything you did for me.
That phony lawsuit that lady filed against the shop would have busted me - if you hadn't stepped in, but, still, I can't let you - [Jarod, Babytalk.]
[Baby Cries Out.]
- Holler downstairs if you need any help, okay? - Christine? Thanks.
- [Man.]
Does he have a name? - [Man #2.]
They're calling him Jarod.
- He misses his parents.
- He'll forget them soon enough.
[Tones Beeping.]
- [Ringing.]
- This is Sydney.
- How could somebody abandon a child? - Jarod.
I mean, something so vulnerable so defenseless.
- How could they do that? - Is this about your parents? - It's about all parents.
- [Sydney Sighs.]
Well, there's no easy answer to that.
Who knows what, uh what pressures some people face.
Is this what you were looking for earlier at that architectural firm? Those blueprints? Is that a lead to your parents? You'll figure it out.
Hey.
[Clears Throat.]
It's, uh, for my little girl.
She's very fortunate to have such an attentive father.
I, uh, did the search you requested.
Found two inactive license plates with "SL 27," but both owners died in the '70s.
SL 27 is also the generic name for an antibiotic developed by an Israeli pharmaceutical company in 1983.
That's beyond the date of significance.
Well if you told me more, Sydney, I might be able to help.
Broots, it's best that nobody else be involved in this.
Broots, anything on SL 27 yet? Uh Perhaps you both should have a talk.
[Keyboard Clacking.]
[Knocking.]
- Shh.
- Still sleepin'? Like a baby.
- What are you doin'? - Setting it up.
If anybody files a missing persons report with the police department, I'll get a signal.
Jarod, you can't keep this child.
Last night is one thing, but somewhere somebody's looking for this baby.
I've been monitoring every police channel, every television station, every newspaper.
- Nobody's looking for him.
- But, Jarod Somebody threw him in a Dumpster.
Do you want me to turn him over to that person? If his mother's out there searching, I'll find her.
But I'm not gonna give him to anybody till I know he's gonna be okay.
I don't want him to grow up alone.
- [Baby Crying.]
- Are you hungry again? - That's not a bottle cry.
- How do you know? Seven younger brothers and sisters.
Better change him.
[Crying Continues.]
I killed the security cameras, and I swept the room for bugs.
- I think we're safe.
- You think? One never knows in the Centre, do one? Let's proceed.
This belonged to one of the children my mother rescued from the Centre.
Look at this.
"SL 27.
" Why did you keep this information secret? Why, I could ask the same question of you.
When my brother regained consciousness, he wrote this to me.
Hmm.
There has to be a clue in the calculations thatJarod dropped.
Broots, keep on searching for that connection.
Look, I don't know if you guys missed it, but, uh the only people who know about this SL 27 thing are either dead or comatose.
And those people are important to us like your daughter is to you.
I'm asking for your help, Broots as a friend.
Please.
[Buzzing.]
What is he doing? - He appears to be expressing his individualism.
- Is that good? [Raines.]
It's dangerous.
Angelo, I want you to run a check on every aspect of Centre security.
Every system, every level, every mode of access and egress.
Optical, physical, electronic.
[Wheezing.]
Everything.
Do you understand? Angelo? [Buzzer Clicks Off.]
[Chatter, Baby Crying.]
- Excuse me, ma'am.
- I'll be right with you.
Yes, I'm looking at the file.
We've placed a call to the biological grandparents but the status is still unclear.
- Sure.
Can I help you? - We'd like to talk to somebody about a missin' child.
I'll be one more minute.
No, it's against the law to prematurely place a child without the signature of a biological family member.
I realize you love the baby, but this is the way it has to be handled.
I know this is hard, Jarod, but I think it's the best thing Jarod? Are you insane? You can't just walk out with this baby.
- Well, I can't leave him with them.
- Jarod, he doesn't belong to you.
[Sighs.]
I know.
He belongs with his parents or with someone who loves him.
Twenty-four hours.
Then we take the baby to the police no matter what.
Deal? Deal.
One more thing.
Give him a name, will ya? He has a name.
I just have to find out what it is.
- What is it? - They all have red decals.
The man who dumped this baby had the exact same decal on the back of his car.
What are you sayin'? A cop threw this baby away.
- Talk to me, Broots.
- You'll never guess what I found out.
The architectural firm you chased Jarod from was The same one that built the Centre.
- How did you know that? - [Ringing.]
- This is Sydney.
- [Jarod.]
Any luck? - With what? - Well, hello, Miss Parker.
SL 27.
Those calculations, Jarod what do they mean? Just digging up some more dirt on the Centre.
- I don't follow.
- Do the math, Sydney.
It doesn't add up.
I'm surprised that Broots hasn't figured it out yet.
- Dirt.
- I gotta go.
It's the baby's nap time.
Did he say baby? I'll be damned.
was carted off for the Centre's underground construction.
But the Centre's 26 sublevels only occupy There's enough missing dirt for another sublevel.
[Sydney.]
SL 27.
Sublevel 27.
This is my mother.
We're going to find yours.
- I promise.
- [Christine.]
Well, that's a sight.
- You and Axe ever think about having kids? - Axe? No.
No way.
Besides, I got the shop to worry about.
Any luck with that license plate? Not yet.
I have to get inside the police department and find out who was driving that car, but I'm going to need your help.
Jarod, I've got customers.
I can't go chasin' Christine? Somebody took my spot.
- Axe.
! - Your husband's gone two weeks, and all you can say is "Axe"? - How'd it go? - Ah, came up empty.
Who are you? Hi.
I'm Jarod.
- Who's this? - Um, I can explain.
Uh Would you look at them eyes? Do you mind? No, not at all.
[Chuckling.]
That's a fine-looking boy.
It-It is a boy? - Yes.
- Hey, hey.
- Hey, hey.
- You like kids? Like 'em? I'd have a whole tribe if Christy would cooperate.
You ever need a babysitter, I'm your man.
I'll remember that.
Better move the truck.
[Woman Over Scanner, Indistinct.]
- Anything come over the scanner? - Not yet.
Why did you lie about Axe? I grew up with seven brothers and sisters.
I was the oldest, and my mother was Well, she wasn't what you'd call "hands on.
" What about your father? He was busy with his other family across town.
It was up to me to make sure Ari and William were fed and Matty was dressed and Jeremy didn't stay up late, and Ella did her homework.
I got out of Little Rock and moved in with Axe.
I want to be able to think about Christine for a while.
Does that make me a bad person? No.
It makes you human.
- [Man.]
See you later, Frank.
- [Woman Over Loudspeaker.]
Bill, pick up line two.
[Man.]
We better put it up on the lift.
[Woman Over Loudspeaker.]
Chuck, come to the parts desk.
Hey, sport take a look at this unit? No problem.
Accidentally clipped a junkie who decided not to cooperate.
Guess he'll cooperate next time.
Get this unit fixed.
I wanna get out of here fast.
Whatever you say, uh, Detective Geary, David W.
Those look straight to you? - Yeah.
- I'll be back.
[No Audible Dialogue.]
[Broots.]
Okay, it's right around here somewhere.
- What is? - Sewer access.
Broots, the sewer main is on the other side of the complex.
I know.
Which makes me wonder why there's a manhole cover right here.
Help me, Sydney.
- [Air Hissing.]
- Oh! - [Sydney.]
Can you smell that? - Smell it? I can taste it.
[Air Hissing.]
After you.
How-How do you know it's not wired down there? I ran Centre security for three years.
I know what I'm doing.
Yeah, well, you didn't know about SL 27.
Get in.
You know I'm not sure my medical insurance covers this sort of thing.
Sydney, put some light on me.
Ow! [Broots.]
What died down here? What didn't? Let's go.
Okay.
- [Announcer, Indistinct.]
- [Axe Chuckles.]
You see that? Now sometimes, it's better to be lucky than good.
Me and my old man used to watch hoops on the tube.
I figured someday, me and my kid would do the same.
Christine told me what's going on.
You really think that cop's involved? His name is David Geary.
He's a special investigator for D.
A.
Mitch Meyers.
- Ugh, bureaucrats.
- Sounds like you're not a big fan of city hall.
I spent 20 years drivin'a garbage rig for the city.
Couple of months ago, I blow out my back liftin' an industrial bin.
City cans me, cuts off my disability checks.
I can't get anotherjob.
You're a garbageman? Sanitation engineer.
- Wow.
- You know, Jarod I seen a lot of dirty things on the street.
But why anyone would want to hurt something as wonderful as this is beyond me.
Yeah.
- [Beeps.]
- What's that? A missing persons report was just logged on to the police database.
It's the first match I've found.
Jeanette Connelly.
Reported missing by her next-door neighbor along with her five-month-old son Michael.
Hello, Michael.
Of course there's a missing persons on her.
She's missing.
Don't get your panties in a wad.
Everything's fine.
[Woman Over Radio.]
Officer's requesting backup at San Pedro and 9th.
[Broots.]
There must be a hundred rooms down here.
What was this place? Whatever it was, it must've been one hell of a fire that stopped it.
Yes.
There was a rumor of a fire in the summer of'82.
I spent that summer in France with my father.
I wish I was there right now.
[Sydney.]
Rumor is it was the fire that left Raines chained to his oxygen tank.
Too bad it didn't finish the job.
[Broots.]
Hey, look.
Footprints.
And they're fresh.
Whoa.
[Broots.]
Who played with toys down here? [Miss Parker.]
Ajack-in-the-box? Fascinating.
- Broots.
- Huh? - Check out the suit.
- [Broots.]
It's always Broots.
[Yelling.]
There's a There's a bullet hole in his eye.
- Come on.
- Somehow, I get the feeling he's the lucky one.
[Beeping.]
[Raines.]
What is it, Angelo? Sublevel security alert? [Beeping Continues.]
[Beeping Continues.]
[Woman Over Police Radio, Indistinct.]
[Jiggling Lock.]
She's not there.
Police officer, ma'am.
It's not likeJeanette to disappear, not with that new baby.
She's a nice girl, smart.
- I told everything to the other policeman.
- Other policeman? - When? - Ten, 15 minutes ago, before you got here.
- [Man.]
Dispatch, this is 36.
- [Man #2.]
Go, 36.
[Man #1.]
Uh, we found a jumper below the East River Bridge.
Female Caucasian, early 20s, no I.
D.
May have been there a few days.
Transporting her to St.
Mary's under suicide watch.
Over.
[Man #2.]
Copy that, 36.
- What aboutJeanette? - Don't worry, ma'am.
I'll take care ofJeanette.
[Broots.]
Whoa! - [Glass Breaking.]
- Oh, God.
Syringes? What is it? This place has all the components of a sim lab.
[Broots.]
I never knew there was another sim lab in the Centre.
[Sydney.]
Neither did I.
[Broots.]
What the hell is that? Birthing table.
- With shackles? - [Pager Beeping.]
Uh-oh.
- It's Mr.
Raines.
- What are you waiting for? - Miss Parker.
- What is this place? Whatever it was, it wasn't a filing room.
These haven't been burnt.
These were brought here.
All these files pertain to the Pretender project.
This box is all aboutJarod.
What is that? A hood.
Must've been Jarod's.
Sydney, there is no date of death listed forJarod's parents.
As far as these documents are concerned, they were alive when Jarod was brought here.
Jarod was stolen.
I think you should look at this entrance record.
- There's no names, nothing to follow.
- Hmm.
But there is a signature by a special expediter who broughtJarod to the Centre.
Special expediter Jacob.
That signature is my brother Jacob.
[Cell Phone Ringing.]
What? Raines has Angelo sanitizing the security system.
- Does he know where we are? - No, I don't think so.
- You don't think? - Yes.
No! I don't know! It was weird.
Raines was real suspicious, and Angelo just kept giggling.
And, man, you're not gonna believe his head.
Just keep yours cool.
- It's Raines.
- He knows.
Just grab the files.
These files have been collected by someone.
- Removing them will arouse suspicion.
- This may be our only chance.
I want to find out the truth as much as you do.
But at this point, caution is key.
Detective Dave Geary.
You've got thatJane Doe.
[Jarod.]
Come on.
Come on.
[Woman.]
Still checking, Detective.
Suicide attempt.
[Woman.]
It's just not coming up.
Oh, here it is.
Room 708.
Jeanette.
Jeanette, wake up.
Please, no more.
I don't need any more sedatives.
- I'm not crazy.
- I know.
Oh, no, no.
I didn't try to kill myself.
There was a man, and he threw me off the bridge.
It was a policeman.
Why won't anyone believe me? - I believe you.
- Well, who are you? My name is Jarod.
I'm here to help you.
- He took my baby.
- I have your baby.
- He's with me.
- Where's Michael? He is safe, but we must get out of this hospital.
The man who tried to kill you is here.
[Woman Over P.
A.
.]
Dr.
Peterson, call your service.
Dr.
Peterson, call your service.
[Chatter, Indistinct.]
- [Engine Starting.]
- [Tires Screeching.]
I was so afraid I would never see him again.
Where'd you find him? That's not important.
What's important is you're together now.
Jeanette why would a police detective want you and Michael dead? - Was it because of Mitch Meyers? - Yeah.
Is Michael Mitch's son? I was working as an intern in his office.
I thought he was good.
I thought he meant the things that he said.
We had an affair.
He said he didn't love his wife anymore, and he was gonna leave her.
I mean, I could barely pay for my rent so I told him he had to take responsibility for his son.
And? He said he would do the right thing, and l-I believed him.
I mean, I didn't think It's okay.
Detective Geary came, and he told me that Mitch wanted to see me because he wanted to help us.
And l I didn't think.
We just got in the car, and the next thing I knew I'm being dragged out on the bridge, and all I could hear was my Michael crying.
I oughta break the bastard's neck.
- Now can we go to the police? - [Jarod.]
No.
We have to play a little politics with the D.
A.
first.
I wanna help.
For Michael.
Isn't tomorrow garbage day? Mitch Meyers, please.
It's urgent.
[Meyers.]
Jeanette, listen to me.
- When he was born - [Jeanette.]
His name is Michael.
Right.
When Michael was born, I thought I could finally make the break.
Then I started thinking how it might look my wife, my children, you being so young.
Everything I have worked for all the good I have done it would be going down the drain.
- So you tried to kill us? - No, that's not what I wanted.
That's not who I am.
I love you.
Look, if you don't want the truth played out on the 11:00 news you have Detective Geary bring $50,000 to the alley where he left Michael at 2:00.
[Truck Approaching.]
Police officer.
You're gonna have to take this trash another time.
We collect it now.
You guys don't know what you're doin'.
You feeling naked? A little vulnerable? It's terrifying, isn't it? Being at someone else's mercy completely defenseless like a little baby tossed in a Dumpster in the middle of the night.
You threw away an innocent baby.
- [Click.]
- I've been waiting for this moment ever since I saw you standing in the alley.
As district attorney, I have worked hard for this city to repair the faith, the belief and the leadership of your elected officials.
Excuse me.
Mrs.
Meyers? Hi.
- My name is Jeanette Connelly.
family values, responsibilities Your husband and I have been having an affair.
I am a man who believes in commitment.
Janmy wife of 15 years my two beautiful daughters Jessica and Lindsay.
I know what it takes to build a successful family.
It takes honesty.
[Jeanette Over Speaker.]
You tried to kill me and our son.
[Meyers Over Speaker.]
Jeanette, listen to me.
I was frightened of what you might do, might say.
Everything I have worked for all the good I have done it would be going down the drain.
- So you tried to kill us? - No, that's not what I wanted.
That's not who I am.
I told Geary to frighten you.
That's all.
I didn't know he was gonna take it as far as murder.
You have to believe me.
[Groans.]
Oh! I almost forgot.
Now they're straight.
[Michael Crying.]
- Thanks, Axe.
- Bye-bye toJarod.
- Hey.
Come here.
- Bye, Jarod.
Thanks, Christine.
Hey, little man, it was very nice to meet you.
I want you to do me a favor.
I want you to always listen to your mom.
Never, ever forget her.
Okay? There's my boy.
Hi! How're you doin'? - Thank you.
- Good luck.
Thank you.
- Say bye-bye, sweetie.
- Bye.
Bye.
[Sydney.]
Broots has circumvented the security sensors.
We have 10 minutes.
Let's just take a closer look at those files and get the hell out ofhere.
It's all gone.
Raines.
[Sydney.]
No.
If Raines knew we found those files we'd be dead.
Well, if he didn't take them, who did? [Mews.]

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