Based on a True Story (2023) s02e04 Episode Script

1
[ROMY] Once again, the blood
of innocent women is being shed
all over the pristine
sidewalks of West L.A.
But thus far, we've seen no
link between these latest victims
of our heretofore
hibernating Westside Ripper.
Still think the killer is the
Westside Ripper. Fuckin' idiots.
[ROCHELLE] We hope that,
despite this horrible tragedy,
they can rest in peace.
[ROMY] Speaking of resting in peace,
right now, get 30%
off of Whisper Bedding.
Enter code "RespectTheVictims"
at checkout.
[NATHAN] Babe, you down here?
- Uh
- [PODCAST TURNS OFF]
Yeah. Can you hold on one second?
[NATHAN] Just thinking it
might be a good time for
Y'all ready for this?
[VOCALIZING]
Babe, sorry. You know, I'm
studying for the license renewal.
So, I'm just, like, really,
really overwhelmed with all of it.
- Okay.
- Yeah. Just give me, like, a second.
- All right. Maybe later.
- Uh
- You all right?
- Yep.
Do you
[QUIRKY MUSIC PLAYING]
[ROCHELLE] Just like
you, gentle listeners,
we at "Sisters in
Crime" are losing sleep
over these horrific slayings.
- Unable to take our minds off
- [MOANING]
the shape-shifting,
diabolical monster committing them.
- [APPLAUSE ON VIDEO]
- Obsessions like these may be good for the pod,
but on the home front, they
take their toll on the fam.
Hey, babe.
Y'all ready for this?
[TENNIS MATCH PLAYING ON VIDEO]
Are you ready for this?
[TENNIS MATCH CONTINUES ON VIDEO]
[SIGHS]
Oh, hey. Just getting Jaden
ready for the Burbank Semis.
- [QUIRKY MUSIC PLAYING]
- [AVA SIGHS]
[ROMY] What is it
about our modern society
that makes people, women especially,
so obsessed with serial killers,
even now, as one looms over Los Angeles?
Perhaps it's the tantalizingly thin line
between observing a crime
and being a part of one yourself.
[AVA] What do you think these
dead bodies have in common?
You're probably not used to me talking
to you like that. How about this?
[IN BABY VOICE] Do you see any
connection with these dead bodies? Huh?
Look. This is the number three.
What do we think that means? Huh?
My little murder bunny.
[IN NORMAL VOICE] I should not
be calling you that, should I?
Okay, okay, this victim is Anna.
She's a doctor, yeah.
Kinda like the lady that
gives you your shots.
But Anna is a sex
therapist and psychiatrist.
You won't need those
things for a few years.
It's a little early to be talking
to your kid about sex therapy.
Ah! What are you doing
down here? Why are you here?
- Oh, my God. This is so concerning.
- It is not.
Okay, nothing is more concerning
that your Harry Styles fan fiction.
Can you do me a favor?
I need you to take him for,
like, six or seven hours.
- I Wait.
- I love you. Don't tell Nathan
anything I'm doing down here.
Don't leave me in the
murder hole with your baby.
I have to go pretend
I read the newspaper.
Nice to meet a fan of our
work, especially a young one.
Yes, that one took a lot of
work. We're very proud of it.
And by "we," I mean me.
Yeah, I also actually wanted
to tell you how sorry I was
about your-your colleague
that was ugh
Wendy Jenkins, the one that was killed.
It's just terrible what happened to her.
Thank you. She was a
great friend and co-worker.
[SIGHS] I'm so sorry. I mean,
who would wanna do
something like that to her?
Do you know if-if, uh,
she had any enemies?
Hell yeah. She was an
investigative journalist.
Just last year, she wrote exposes
bringing down tobacco lobbyists,
that state senator caught
going to the sex parties,
medical providers in bed
with big pharma, on and on.
Do you-do you know anyone
I maybe could speak to
at this big pharma place?
Oh.
I know what's going on here.
You're a copy chaser, aren't ya?
I don't I don't think so. I
don't know what that means, though.
A journo jockey. [LAUGHS]
Consider me interested. Let me
get you one of my business cards.
- Oh. Oh, thank you.
- No, that's a receipt.
Sorry. No.
Ah!
[SIGHS]
- Hello.
- Hi.
I have an appointment with Dr. Friedman.
- Oh, no. You haven't heard.
- What?
Dr. Friedman was killed.
Oh, my God!
- I know
- This is terrible. Oh, no.
I'm so sorry. Were
you a patient of hers?
- I feel like I would know you if
- I was.
I haven't been here in a very long time.
Probably far before you
started working here.
- I started three years
- Four years.
It's been four years
since I've been here.
That's probably why
you don't recognize me.
What happened? Do you know?
- We don't know much yet.
- But she probably knew the killer, right?
Everyone knows the killer usually.
Did she ever mention anyone suspicious
that came in here, or she
felt uncomfortable around,
or maybe someone that she
felt was holding a grudge?
Did she have a husband? It
is always the husband, right?
- No.
- Oh.
Dr. Friedman shared this practice
with her wife for years.
- Oh.
- She didn't have a husband.
- Oh, well
- I'm gonna have to ask you to leave,
or I can call security.
How dare you?
I am a patient.
And I will call security on you.
Okay, I'm not gonna
do that. I'm gonna go.
And three, two, one. Great job, buddy!
God, you're gonna be
so ready for this match.
Bartlett versus Merrick, round two.
Thrilla in Beverly Hilla.
I can't believe I finally get
a rematch with this asshole.
- Yes.
- Just gotta figure out how to tell Ava.
What are you talking about?
Why would you tell Ava?
I don't like sneaking around.
I mean, we're used to being
on the same page, and
[SIGHS] we're out of sync.
[GRUNTS]
We haven't had sex since Jack was born.
Aw, Nathan.
That's tough, man. I-I feel ya.
You and Tory are going
through a dry patch, too?
What you talking about?
No. I can't keep her off me.
She keeps asking me to
choke her during sex,
which, obviously, I can't do,
you know, given my past.
Didn't you stab your victims?
Nathan, it is all related, all right?
I can't just play with this stuff.
That's like asking Ohtani to
play a game of Wiffle ball.
Sorry. So you think you
were the Ohtani of murdering?
I don't think anything, Nathan. I know.
Oh, my God. I miss that rush.
Sobriety is a bitch.
- You okay, pal?
- Yeah, no, no. I'm fine.
I think I'm just tired
from all the relentless sex.
[SIGHS] I remember when Ava was a freak.
- What the hell you doing?
- Stay alert.
For what? A punch in tennis?
A punch in life, Nathan. Do
me a favor. Stand up straight.
Puff your chest out. Come on!
Look, Ava's not gonna
wanna be with some sloucher,
or sulker, or a whiner.
She's gonna wanna be with a killer.
Come on.
Let's go.
- One, two, three, four. [GRUNTS]
- That's it.
- [GRUNTING]
- Come on, killer.
[SHOUTING]
Okay, here's what I have.
First victim, Wendy Jenkins, okay?
The journalist who pissed a lot
of people off with her exposes.
Then Anna Friedman. She's a
psychiatrist and sex therapist
with a very rude receptionist.
Then there's Carly Warren.
I don't know much about her.
She's a mom. I don't know
- Ooh, Carly's a little freak. Nice.
- What do you mean?
Well, she has the number
three stamp on her wrist.
[AVA] You mean that tattoo?
That's not a tattoo. That's
a stamp for Third Base.
- The what?
- It's an underground sex party.
- How do you know what that is?
- You're so boring.
- Oh, my God. Don't answer that.
- Why don't you know about it?
Just don't talk for a second. Ugh. God.
"Conservative state senator caught
attending underground sex party."
That's Wendy's article.
Anna's a sex therapist.
Holy shit! That's the connection. Sex!
Sex and murder. Sounds about right.
The killer must have met all
his victims at this sex party.
That must be where he finds them. Ah!
- [EXCLAIMING EXCITEDLY]
- [EXCLAIMS]
- Ah!
- Oh.
Thank you so much for being so slutty.
Hey, babe, what's up?
Just kicked some ass at the gym.
I think we should go to a sex party.
Holy shit! It worked.
Are you all right? You look like you did
when you found out Hall and
Oates were suing each other.
- I couldn't believe it.
- Okay. I know it's a little out-there.
But don't you feel like we've been
in a strange, weird space lately?
Yeah, yeah. I guess we've
been in a little bit of a
Joyless, sexless march to death?
I was gonna say "a momentary dry spell."
I found out about this
crazy party from Tory.
We could just go, have
a fun night, observe.
We don't have to do anything.
We just, you know, can spice things up.
Okay. Yeah.
Old Anytime Ava is back.
"Anytime Ava"? Wow.
You're making me sound
like the most popular hooker
in the saloon.
It's "sex worker," babe.
Do you have to Why?
- Two Cadillac margaritas.
- Sure.
Thank you. Two more.
Ugh. I'm exhausted.
This Westside Ripper
case is kicking my ass.
Yeah. Tell me about it.
I mean, I'm exhausted too.
Just, you know, from life.
So, hey, you, um
any closer to solving this thing?
Uh, I thought we had something
when we found skin underneath
the victim's fingernails.
- Really?
- But DNA sample just came back
like me on all the dating apps.
- No match.
- Oh. [LAUGHS] That is
That's good. That was
that was that was good.
You know, I'm just, like,
so fascinated by what you do.
How do you investigate a crime?
How do you even start that? How do
you get people to tell you stuff?
Why? You're not spying on
your sister again, are you?
'Cause I thought that didn't
go over so well last time.
Oh, no, no, no. No. [LAUGHS] No.
The only investigating
I'm doing these days is
w-who shit their pants?
- [LAUGHS]
- So, you know
All signs lead to that guy.
Talk about Jack the Ripper, huh?
- I'm in a pleather body prison.
- You look beautiful.
I cannot believe you
brought a bottle of wine.
What? You can never show
up at a party empty-handed.
It's a sex party, not a dinner party.
I love wine after sex.
Wait. Hold on. Are we sure this is it?
I mean, I expected
something a little different.
What do you want, a neon sign
that says, "Sex party here"?
Yes! That would be very helpful.
- Ooh, this is exciting.
- Yeah.
Now, it's probably gonna be a
bit jarring when we first walk in.
- 'Cause of all the people having sex?
- Yeah. Just try not to stare.
How about you try not to
stare? And stop mansplaining
a sex party that I invited you to.
[BUZZER SOUNDS]
- [UPBEAT RAP SONG PLAYING]
- I'm callin' it how I see it ♪
These bitches be fake winnin' ♪
I wouldn't wanna be near 'em ♪
Oh.
Something tells me this is it.
[NATHAN] Is it the
naked woman in the cage?
Okay. That's probably an
indicator we're at the right place.
Imagine how awkward it would've been
if we strolled into a random party?
- Would've been so embarrassing.
- Let's wash our hands.
- Oh, yes. That's good.
- Gotta practice good hygiene.
You know what? That's just lube.
Now, I've just got
lube all over my hands.
- Do you need some?
- Nah, I'm good.
- He's got enough.
- He's good.
I just wanna go around really quickly
and discuss what everyone's
green lights and red lights are.
Roxy, you've been here before.
- Why don't you start?
- [ROXY] After last time
[WHISPERING] That means what they
like and what they don't like.
I think I understand.
I'm a pain switch and
a watersports bottom.
Huh. That's nice.
It's my turn? Okay.
Um, well [INHALES]
Never tried any watersports.
Um We did go snorkeling
on our honeymoon.
I-I'm pretty inexperienced
here. We basically do normal sex.
Uh W-what I mean, like, is boring.
Okay, I'll go. So, I like scratching.
Really looking for someone
who also enjoys scratching.
It's called cat play. What about you?
You look like you'd
be into some cat play.
- Uh sure.
- Prove it.
Let me see your arms. Got any scratches?
[LAUGHING] T-this is a sex
party. Everybody has scratches.
That's probably true.
- What are you doing?
- What?
"Cat play"? That's very specific.
- I thought we were here to observe.
- We are.
So what? I'm just answering questions.
- When in Rome
- Right.
"When in Rome "
[SENSUAL HIP-HOP SONG PLAYING]
[AVA] I actually come here all the time.
I feel like I would've remembered
someone as beautiful as you.
Well, okay, I was here
August 13th, 16th, and 20th.
Were you here any of those days?
I mean, I think so. What is this?
Um, this is just me being
a very bossy teacher.
- If you don't give me the answers I need
- Can I talk now?
Right now? Can I In
the other room there?
Uh, yeah. Don't go anywhere. Hold on.
[SCOFFS] I was getting
somewhere with that guy.
What the hell's going on? You're
avoiding me, asking weird questions.
Why are we here?
[AVA SIGHS]
Okay. Okay. The truth is
I figured out that the copycat killer
found his victims at this party.
I figured if we came
here, I could find this guy
and, like, I don't
know, solve this case.
I knew something was up. You've
been lying to me this whole time?
No! I mean, kind Not really.
You didn't exactly like me being
involved in all the murder stuff.
I don't care about that.
I thought we were coming here
to rekindle our relationship,
but obviously, you don't care about it.
That's not true. It-it can be both.
This is your classic
two-birds-one-sex-party situation.
Okay, you seem to be enjoying yourself
talking to other people at this thing.
- I think I'll do the same.
- Come on
Hey, I'm Matt. Um [CLEARS THROAT]
- I'm 112 days sober, and
- Nice.
- [CLAPPING]
- Thank you.
And, um, lately,
I've just been worrying
about falling off the wagon.
There's this new person who's
uh, doing my old job,
and they're good at it.
They're really goddamn good at it,
and, um, I just feel like
they're getting all
this attention and credit
for stuff that they haven't
earned, that they do not deserve.
Yeah, and it just
really makes me wanna
uh, makes me wanna drink.
So
What? I say something wrong?
Oh, no. No. Just something
I'll mention to you after group.
Am I in trouble or something?
I really don't wanna cross talk,
but would love to continue this
conversation with you in private
when we're done.
Well, I mean, anything you wanna
say to me, Georgia, in private,
you can say in front of the group.
[CLEARS THROAT] I don't mind.
Unless you're afraid to.
Okay, fine.
I'm not trying to judge you,
but I don't think you're
here because of your drinking.
I think it's something else.
I'm sorry. What?
I think perhaps you're
here for your anger.
My anger is fine.
[GEORGIA] Well, I've
observed you here for a while,
and I haven't seen you
really engage with the steps.
You haven't attempted to make amends.
My situation is a little
more complicated than most.
You wouldn't necessarily
understand. It's not your fault.
I'm sorry to say this,
but you are not special.
[GROUP MURMURING]
[MENACING MUSIC PLAYING]
I hear you. I really do,
but, uh my situation
really is different.
I can't explain it, so you'll
just have to take my word for it.
Your anger is a manifestation of shame,
and the only way to get rid
of shame is to make amends.
Maybe once you do that,
you'll be able to forgive yourself.
Or maybe this whole sobriety
thing is just kinda bullshit.
I mean, I sit here every week,
and I look at you,
and you say that you're happy,
that you found serenity and peace.
Honestly, looking at you
[CLICKS TONGUE] I just see a
bunch of miserable fucking losers.
[MURMURING]
Honestly, it's sad.
I just gotta speak my truth.
I'm sorry, Georgia, if that's, uh
A perfect example of
what I'm talking about.
["THE TRUTH" BY HANDSOME
BOY MODELING SCHOOL PLAYING]
I mean, did I lie to him? Sure, sure.
But it's not like I came
here to look for another guy.
And look, there he is over there,
laughing it up with Miss Fucking No-Bra.
You know what no one
tells you? No one tells you
how to get the spark back after a
baby comes. No, no. It's a mystery.
You know, I thought this
would be so fun to do together.
I thought we'd come to this party,
and it would bring us closer together.
But all it's doing is
pushing us farther apart.
Ugh. I get it.
- [CRACKS]
- [MAN GRUNTS]
I've been married 15
years, have three kids.
It does not get any easier.
Oh. Well, congratulations.
Oh, that's not my husband.
Oh, right. Duh! [LAUGHS]
It is hard maintaining a relationship.
You know what you need to remember?
- Always put you first.
- Yeah, true.
[SIGHS] I didn't think I'd be
getting such good relationship advice
[WHISPERS] at a sex party.
Why? 'Cause we're all freaks?
- No.
- We're not real people?
No. Oh, my God. Not
freaks. I like it here.
I'm just fucking with you.
Oh, my God. [LAUGHS]
You make a friend? [GROANS, MOANS]
No. I mean, I got woken up
at 5:00 a.m. this morning
to make waffles that
look like the Paw Patrol.
And now, here I am, whipping
the crap out of this guy.
- Yeah.
- I mean, it is kind of fun
to be desired by other people.
It kind of gives you the
confidence to be a better partner,
to be a better mommy.
You know, maybe you're right.
Maybe a little jealousy isn't
the worst thing in the world.
In fact, maybe it's
the perfect little spice
to get things back on track.
Well, thank you. You
have been very helpful.
And thank you for helping
in whatever way you just did.
- Not a problem.
- [WOMAN] You shut the fuck up!
[MAN SCREAMS, GROANS]
- [WOMAN] You only speak when you're spoken to.
- [MAN] Oh, really?
- [WHIP CRACKING]
- [MAN SCREAMING, MOANING]
[WOMAN] Oh, are you tired?
["THE TRUTH" CONTINUES]
[WOMAN MOANING]
Nathan, we both know this
has gone on long enou
Hi. I'm Doug.
This is not at all what it looks like.
- Wait. It's not?
- The truth is all there is ♪
- I was talking to this woman
- Uh, yeah.
You mean the, uh, the braless
wonder? I saw that. I'm cool with it.
But this is This is throwing
me for a little bit of a loop.
- But I'll go with it.
- No. Hold on. Come here. Can I talk to you?
She was telling me
about your victim, Carly.
- You remember my victim's name? Oh, my God.
- Yeah.
She introduced me to this guy. He
was the last person to be with Carly.
Then I noticed the scratches on his arm,
so I tied him up. I thought it was
the best way we could question him.
Oh, my God. That's, like, the
nicest thing you've ever done for me.
I'm a little turned on right now.
Okay, babe. The killer.
Yeah, no. Killer. Yeah, yeah.
- [NATHAN] Let's get in there. Okay, so, Doug
- Doug.
- Yeah. You, uh you knew Carly, right?
- Hmm.
- How'd you know that?
- We know a lot of things about you, Doug.
Sure do. We know a lot of things.
I don't have to talk to you.
Just because you restrained
me against my will
Unless that's part of the game,
in which case well played, sir.
- It's not.
- Oh.
- [SIGHS]
- I'm not telling you shit.
For all I know, you're both cops.
Okay. Um, let me just
- You wanna do it?
- Yeah. You, um
- You cared about Carly, right?
- Of course.
So do we. We just wanna
know what happened to her.
We are all friends here, I promise.
[DOUG SIGHS]
I could never kill Carly. I loved her.
She was my naughty nurse.
- Medical play, that's probably
- I think I got it.
The night that she was
killed, I was at another party,
where you have to give
consent to be hurt.
- Okay.
- Mm-hmm.
I have photos. I can show you.
- Sure. Where Okay.
- Whip it out.
- Don't say "whip it out" here.
- Yeah, let me whip 'em out.
Oh, I can't because you tied me up.
- Come on, man.
- Where's your phone?
- They're in my pants.
- Get 'em. Go. Get in there.
- [NATHAN] Got you. Here it is.
- Don't touch my ChapStick.
- Got it.
- Okay. Now here it is. Okay.
- Code, please?
- I got the code.
- Never mind.
- Watch that.
- It's in Photos.
- Photos.
- Vacation.
- Okay.
Boner Town.
- Doug, I mean
- Boner Town.
- You don't have to name it that.
- It's my phone.
- Okay, here we go.
- [SIGHS] Oh, my God.
- [NATHAN] Yep.
- [AVA] These are time-stamped.
Fuck! It couldn't have been him.
- [EXCLAIMS]
- Oh!
- [LAUGHS]
- That's not funny.
- What are you doing, Doug?
- It's pretty funny.
- Ugh!
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I-I just wanted to deliver for you.
You did. You did. I love you. Thank you.
So I'm hearing we're not
gonna fuck. Is that right?
[DOOR SHUTS IN DISTANCE]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
Sorry.
[SIGHS]
Can I help you?
Are you the sister of Chloe Lake?
Look, if you're here for an
interview, or a podcast, or whatever,
don't bother. I'm not interested.
Oh, no. It's nothing
like that. I just, um
Uh, I just wanted to say
I just wanted to say I'm sorry.
I am I am so sorry
for what happened to her.
Thank you.
I appreciate that.
So tragic.
You know, the way she died.
You must be unable to move on from that
or-or-or think about anything else.
[WOMAN CHUCKLES WRYLY]
I prefer to think about how she lived.
- That's all that matters to me.
- Mm.
Not how she died.
Yeah, but su-surely it matters a bit.
Not really, no.
Her life had so much more
meaning than her manner of death.
Yeah, but her murder, it was
it was a big deal.
People acted like
it for a few months,
and now, no one cares.
They're on to the next.
Surely somebody cares.
You've just gotta find them.
You know, when I found AA
- I'm not a drunk.
- Right, but there's a grief support group.
They meet right before us.
It's at a church just off Pico.
- I don't know. It could be pretty helpful.
- Why do you care?
Who are you anyway? What is this?
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
I'm nobody.
I'm sorry to bother you.
[CLATTERING]
That's, uh
Hey.
Hey.
Are you gonna tell me what's wrong?
Uh, no, it's nothing. I'm fine.
Matt
Look, if we're gonna get married,
we're gonna have to be open
and honest with each other.
Okay.
You want honest?
It turns out that
my life has meant nothing.
- That's not true.
- No, it is.
It's all been meaningless.
What are you talking about?
What if I told you this
whole sobriety thing
is just not working for me?
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
What if I told you
there's only one way that
I can feel like myself again?
[AVA] Babe, that was amazing.
[SIGHS] We should really
go to more sex parties.
Yeah.
Maybe next time, we could try
the naughty-nurse medical play thing.
Oh, my God.
What? I thought this was a safe zone.
I indulged your Ray Romano fantasy.
No, babe, no. That's it!
The victims all have
some sort of connection
to the medical world.
The doctor, the naughty nurse,
the journalist that wrote
the article on big pharma.
- Oh, shit.
- The killer must have some sort of vendetta
against the medical field.
I gotta go to my murder
board and figure it out.
- Unless you want me to stay.
- Of course I do.
But you're so pumped up,
and I love you like this.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
[SIGHS]
Mm-hmm. Okay.
[QUIETLY] Let's see what
we got here. [CLEARS THROAT]
Hello. So I feel I have a civic duty
to share what I know
before this monster
[INHALES] Wow.
Just a lot of my face
antagonizing a serial killer.
Let's start over. What
do we got? Dinosaur.
Hmm. Octopus.
Hmm. Kardashian.
- [TAPS]
- Wow. No. Okay.
- Oh, bunny. Aw! Okay, that'll work.
- [TAPS]
Hello, everyone.
This is Murder-Bunny.
And I have some really
important information
on the serial killings that
are happening right now in L.A.
The killer is targeting people
in the medical community.
I repeat, the next victim is gonna
be someone in the medical world.
So, please, stay on high alert.
Mr. Leto, they're ready for you on set.
Mr. Leto, hello?
- He's not answering.
- [MAN ON WALKIE-TALKIE] Just go in.
I'm so sorry if I'm interrupting
your sound bath again, but
Oh. [CHUCKLES SOFTLY] Sorry.
Didn't realize you were
sleeping. It's just
uh, Sorkin's starting to
get a little antsy, and
["BROKEN MAN" BY ST. VINCENT PLAYING]
On the street, I'm
a king-sized killer ♪
Mr. Leto?
[SPLUTTERING] Dr. Fauci? Oh, my God!
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
Help!
Help! I need a medic!
Help!
Lover, nail yourself right to me ♪
If you go, I won't be well ♪
I can hold my arms wide open ♪
But I need you to drive the nail ♪
Like, what are you looking at? ♪
Well, who the hell
do you think I am? ♪
Hey, what are you looking at? ♪
Like you've never seen a broken man ♪
Oh ♪
Oh ♪
But how do you see me now? ♪
Oh ♪
If I stopped cracking up myself ♪
[SONG ENDS]