Marvel's The Punisher (2017) s02e04 Episode Script
Scar Tissue
1 Hey, man.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER BUS INTERCOM.]
[RICK.]
What? This is some Edward Scissorhands shit right here.
What happened, Ed? Mommy stick your face in a blender? [LAUGHS.]
[DUMONT.]
Billy [PANTING.]
[GUARD GRUNTS.]
Say something, dummy! You got a tongue in your head? [BILLY.]
Why won't you help me? - [BLOWS LANDING.]
- [BILLY GRUNTING.]
Jesus Christ.
What, are you deaf, too? - [DUMONT.]
Billy! - Man, you are one sad bastard.
[BILLY BREATHING HEAVILY.]
This ain't the short bus, buddy.
[SCOFFS AND CHUCKLES.]
[DUMONT.]
Billy, you're not ready to be on your own, okay? You can trust me.
It's not too late to put this right.
We can do that, you and I.
What do you want, freak? They don't wanna see me Get my dough right, yeah They don't wanna see me Get my dough right, yeah I came from the bottom I came from the bottom, yeah Headed to the top And ain't no doubt about it [THEME MUSIC PLAYING.]
[DINAH.]
I had to get to Castle before they put him in the system.
He called you? Yeah.
He, uh, made it obvious what would happen if I didn't get him out of there, and it's nothing we want.
The terms of the deal we made with him were pretty clear.
Castle was on his own.
Yeah, well, I guess that's the problem with telling lies and covering things up.
You can't really trust anyone afterwards.
A lie that was designed to protect you.
Oh, don't pretend you did it for me.
[GUNNER.]
Where is he now? [DINAH.]
I, uh, dropped him off outside the city.
Told him to get lost.
[GUNNER.]
Why not leave him in the middle of Ohio? [DINAH.]
He wanted to come here.
Did he come here because of Russo? No.
I didn't even tell him about Russo.
We'll talk about Russo when I get back.
You can decide on living arrangements between yourselves.
I'll go to a hotel.
Do not leave, Frank.
For anything.
Frank? Yeah.
Okay.
Your mother tells me you still won't talk to anyone.
[DINAH SIGHS.]
How often do you talk to my mom? How often do you? [SCOFFS.]
I think you need to talk to someone.
Look, I completed the department's required counseling.
Yes, you did.
And then, twice a day, you went and sat at the foot of Russo's bed.
But now you want me to believe you have no plans to go after him? You told me not to.
What happens when Castle does hear about Russo? You may have brought the war right back to our doorstep.
[AMY.]
Are you gonna help her? Is she gonna help us? Why are we here? In New York? In her place? - What? Is she, like, your ex or something? - [SIGHS.]
Because this place looks like it belongs to a serial killer.
Which would make sense.
Who else keeps everything this neat? You know what I mean? I wouldn't be surprised, honestly, to find a nicely-stacked pile of arms in the freezer.
[QUIETLY.]
God damn it.
Why do you have a Homeland Security chopper on call like it's an Uber? Who are you Frank? You're gonna take the bedroom.
I'll take the couch.
[SIGHS.]
[EXHALES.]
[ELK SHRIEKS.]
[ANNOUNCER.]
do so by contacting the Red Cross.
And now, breaking news.
[NEWS ANCHOR.]
Police are searching for Billy Russo, who has escaped from a secure hospital facility and is suspected of several murders.
NYPD says Russo is dangerous and should not be approached.
Russo was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt around 7:00 p.
m.
on the corner of Northern Boulevard and 122nd [SNIFFS.]
[SCOFFS.]
[WATER RUNNING.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER TV.]
[SIGHS.]
[BREATHING DEEPLY.]
[CRYING.]
[CRYING CONTINUES.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER TV.]
Another.
Please.
[NEWS ANCHOR 1.]
And now, a breaking news update.
[NEWS ANCHOR 2.]
Police are searching for this man, who escaped from a secure hospital facility late last night.
The suspect, Billy Russo, is armed and believed to be extremely dangerous.
If you see him, do not attempt to apprehend him.
[BILLY.]
Seventeen [GRUNTING.]
eighteen nineteen [PANTING.]
[GRUNTS, PANTING.]
Twenty.
Pathetic.
How many did you do before? [BILLY.]
I knew this this recruiter for the corps.
Told me that they like to ask that same question.
This one kid, he says, "50," or "100.
" I mean, whatever.
Who cares, right? What he wanted was the kid who said, "I don't know," or or, "More than the next guy.
" The kid who didn't know what he was capable of.
[DUMONT.]
What did you say? They never asked me that one.
[PANTING.]
Shit.
Jesus.
I can't even walk across the room without breaking a sweat.
Is that ever gonna end? You're only six months into your recovery, Billy.
You've achieved a lot in a very short time.
[BILLY.]
Yeah, wiping my own ass again, that was a real milestone.
We've talked about this.
Be kind to yourself.
Hang in there.
[LAUGHING.]
Like the Like the, um kitten.
The kitten.
Hanging on the branch, right? "Hang in there," it says.
I used to love that.
"Hang in there.
" I used to have the, uh the poster.
The poster.
Back in the group home.
[BREATHES DEEPLY.]
As if we had a As if we had a choice, you know? [ECHOING.]
As if we had a choice, you know? [DUMONT.]
Have you seen the skull Have you seen the skull in your dreams lately? - How often? - Look, I really just I hate talking about these dreams.
So can we just not? [DUMONT.]
Billy.
- Billy.
- [INHALES, EXHALES DEEPLY.]
It's like a knot.
We need to work at it.
And we need to break it down so it stops getting in your way.
Okay? There's this thing I do with my TBI patients.
They make masks that help them represent what they want to portray to the outside world.
You already have the mask.
Why don't you try it? You want me to decorate this thing? That's exactly what I mean.
[SCOFFS.]
Well, I'm not in kindergarten, Doc.
And I ain't gonna finger paint.
Just do me a favor and think on this.
What face do you want the world to see? [INHALES SHARPLY.]
[INHALES SHARPLY AND GRUNTS.]
[DINAH.]
Okay, so you wanna fill me in? I don't think you wanna know.
No? No, I've probably flushed my career down the toilet for you already, so For me? [CHUCKLES.]
You're so full of shit, Madani.
Now, see, I called you when I needed you, and you didn't do a goddamn thing, right? But now I'm here because you need me to deal with Billy.
It must mean that, what, officially, you're not allowed to, right? Okay.
They thought Billy would die.
Yeah, he was in a coma for six weeks.
Major surgery where you stabbed him.
Fed through a tube.
Bag on his hip.
Brain injury.
Facial reconstruction.
And then he woke up.
But they never thought he would walk, talk, take a shit or function again.
And he did all those things.
Okay, Frank? Russo dragged himself back from hell.
I mean, imagine the strength that requires.
I don't know.
[DINAH.]
Billy's.
Look at it.
You might have moved on, but he hasn't.
He pretended he didn't remember what happened.
He acted like a basket case.
He bided his time and lulled them into thinking he was harmless.
But, as you can see, he knows.
You are all he thinks about.
Good.
[SIGHS.]
Okay, that blood, it's yours and it's mine and it's his.
Maybe you moved on, Frank.
Maybe you got closure.
Good for you.
But he hasn't.
The only closure Billy would have understood is a bullet in the head.
For Chrissake.
You had the shot.
You didn't take it.
- What do you want from me? - You think I don't know that? I went to see him in the hospital every day once I was recovered.
Because I wanted to hear him admit what he did.
I trusted him just like you.
Yeah, maybe that's why you couldn't kill him either.
- Excuse me? - That's why you couldn't kill him either.
- No.
Killing him would have been too easy.
- Yeah, or too hard.
That why I'm here, Madani? To take the shot that you couldn't? Just give me names.
Names, places.
Anything.
Anything I can use to find him.
You know, I would have thought you knew better by now, Madani.
This shit never ends.
Trust me.
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES.]
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
[BREATHING SHAKILY.]
[AMY.]
Come on, really? Really? [SIMON.]
You got to be faster than that.
- [LAUGHING.]
- Come on.
[AMY.]
Come on.
Stop.
- [LAUGHING.]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[BREATHING SHAKILY.]
[PANTING.]
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
[KNOCKING CONTINUES.]
[FRANK.]
It's me, Curt.
[EXHALES.]
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY.]
You good? So much for the peaceful life, huh? - What the hell you been up to? - Eh, long story.
Are you all right? [FRANK BREATHES DEEPLY.]
Shit, man, you know, why can't we meet up and go fishing in Florida like normal friends, huh? [FRANK.]
You know I don't fish, Curt.
- Have you ever been to Florida? - Stop.
They practically jump into the boat.
I went fishing once with dynamite.
That was pretty fun.
You see? There you go, Frank.
That right there, that's the problem.
- What's that? - That That modern disease.
[CHUCKLES.]
- The need for instant gratification.
- Good to see you, buddy.
Not sure I can say the same.
What's with that? Billy.
If he starts to remember some shit, I'm his first stop.
What do you mean, "starts to remember"? You think he lost his memory? You cracked his head like an egg.
What do you think? [FRANK SIGHS HEAVILY.]
Yo, they still have me down as next of kin.
Can you believe that? Sent me all his shit.
So I went to the hospital.
I had to see for myself.
- And, dude - Yeah.
he was so skinny, he could barely move.
Slurring his words.
Face behind a mask.
And he thought he was there to see me after I lost my leg.
[SIGHS.]
You know that, uh, Madani? She thinks he's just putting on an act, you know, that it's all bullshit.
Mmm-mmm.
No.
Not from where I was standing.
His wires are definitely screwed.
I mean, he thought we were all in the service.
Jesus Christ.
Talked about you like a brother.
See, whatever it is that you wanted him to live with, you knocked it clean out of his head.
And that's the irony.
See, now, everybody but him has to live with what he did.
And what you did, too, Frank.
- You should've put him down for good.
- [SOFTLY.]
Yeah.
[CHUCKLES.]
You see, I figured it's easy not giving a shit.
Not caring about anybody, running from all sorts of feelings, worrying about nobody but yourself.
Sounds miserable as hell, but easy, I guess.
But, Frank, I want a real life.
A life that doesn't include me pulling guard duty in my own apartment.
I get it.
I'm seeing somebody.
Yeah.
I don't know what it is yet, but she's a cool girl.
That's great.
But I don't want her anywhere around this shit.
Hey, look, I get it, Curt.
The last thing I ever wanted was for you to be hurt by this.
- I know.
But here we are.
- Yeah.
So, Billy's running, right? He can't go to you.
He can't go to me.
So where does he go? [SCOFFS.]
What did he do last time, huh? He didn't run.
He didn't hide.
He wanted to settle scores.
But if he don't remember us who the hell would it be? [INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[BOY.]
Run! Run, run! [BILLY.]
I loved baseball, man.
That's the worst part.
I used to love coming down here watching the other kids with their fancy gloves and shit.
I thought I was the next Joe DiMaggio.
I used to head back and and play stickball in the street.
It didn't matter that I didn't have a uniform or a real diamond to play on.
I loved it.
But Arthur he took that away from me.
After my shoulder healed I hated it.
I hated playing.
And, yeah it would hurt, but that wasn't it.
Tell you what, Bill.
I think about the shit you went through.
I was one of these kids.
Never stopped to think about how lucky I was, you know.
The old man was at every single game I played at.
Every single one.
You know, I wish you I wish you had that.
I'm I'm sorry you didn't.
- It made me who I am.
- That's right.
- I guess.
- Mmm-hmm.
Made you into the baddest son of a bitch I ever met in my life.
That's what it made you.
Yeah.
Huh? - [LAUGHS.]
Right.
- Right.
[BILLY.]
Somehow, I always end up here.
Thinking about [INDISTINCT SCREAMING.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
[GASPS.]
[BREATHING SHAKILY.]
Hey.
Hey.
Hey! Let me out! Hey.
Let me out! Let me out! - Hey, you all right? - Hey, hey! Don't lock me inside like that ever again.
Do you hear me? Don't ever do that to me ever again! I hate you.
Don't you ever lock me inside, ever.
All's I got's a TV.
Take it and go.
I'm not going to hurt you Arthur.
You don't remember me? Billy Russo.
I'm from the Ray of Hope Group Home? It's like every time I close my eyes, I smell hot sauce.
I'm never eating hot sauce again.
And blood.
It's got a smell to it.
I never really knew that.
Drink some of this.
Calm you down.
Um, right.
That's not really how caffeine works.
[FRANK.]
Suit yourself.
You know, you should really get your hand looked at.
Looks pretty bad.
You should go to the hospital.
[SIGHS.]
Want to try talking to me? Huh? Tell me what happened.
Um I was getting tacos for us all, and then I was hiding under the bed, and then he came back in, and it was just, like, after that No, wait.
Who who's "he"? Who came back? No.
I Look, I really think we should just get out of here.
That's what Fiona would do.
She'd say, "If you think your cover is blown, just run.
" - Who's Fiona? - Um I worked for her.
Me and the others.
She took care of us, and we did jobs for her.
The kind of jobs that got people trying to kill you? Doesn't sound like she cared about you that much.
Well, you didn't know her, did you? And how'd you end up with her, living a life like that? I don't know.
How does anybody end up doing anything? Anyways, um the next thing I know, I'm under the bed in this motel, and my friends My friends are all bleeding out on the carpet.
And I want to run, but I can't, because that guy the guy the one with the vest and the old-timey preacher shirt he comes back in, and I couldn't run, I couldn't scream, I couldn't I couldn't do anything, because he was literally standing, like, right there.
Where was this? - A job.
In Chicago.
- What was the job? Fiona snuck us onto some catering crew for this funeral.
This fancy event thing.
We had to take pictures of these guys, and I felt super weird about it, because they were, like, hugging and kissing and crying, but Whatever.
It doesn't matter.
[SIGHS.]
You don't get it.
You don't He killed everybody that I've ever cared about.
How do you think that feels? So, what do you want to do about it? Do about it? What can [FRANK.]
What? They're gone.
Dead.
And he wants to kill me, too, now.
Us.
You know, really, what we should do right now is split up and get the H-E-L-L out of here.
- There's this girl I know, Shantel.
- [SCOFFS.]
She's here in the city.
Used to run with us.
She's doing really well.
And she'd hook us up.
I know she would.
[SOFTLY.]
Yeah.
See, I think you know that we can't do that.
You've seen what this guy can do.
You know that he's not gonna stop.
You're gonna run? You're gonna hide? He's gonna find you.
He's connected.
If you go to your friend, she's as good as dead.
You know it, don't you? Then what? Sometimes, kid, you gotta fight.
You take the fight to them.
[ARTHUR.]
You want some coffee? Sure.
I got it on a timer.
Neat, eh? It's been forever since I had coffee.
They won't let me.
Should we make it Irish? Okay.
Oh, it's [SIGHS.]
It's good.
I went to the I went to the group home.
It's all apartments now, or something.
So? [STAMMERS.]
So I didn't know where else to go.
So you came to see me? You expect me to believe that? It's too late, kid.
They took everything.
You're You're at the back of the queue.
What the hell happened to your face? Accident.
[GROANS.]
Messed with my head.
[STAMMERING.]
It's all It's all messed up in there, you know? [SCOFFING CHUCKLE.]
I remembered your address, though.
Clear as day.
Crazy, huh? You were a good-looking kid.
It's a damn shame.
You're still here.
Yup.
Shitty-ass health food of yours, it almost drove us off, but, you and I, we had a deal.
[DINAH.]
Yeah? You want a pancake breakfast, find me Billy.
[FRANK.]
Hmm.
You know I've been thinking about that.
The thing is, if he is bullshitting, you'd probably be dead already.
Okay, I'm listening.
Eat your food.
There's a piece of shit from Billy's childhood, yeah? He When he went after Bill, Bill wasn't having it, so he fought back.
- The guy hurt him.
Hurt him bad.
- Yeah, the, uh, stickball guy.
- That's right, he told you, huh? - Yeah.
Yeah.
Uh, so what about him? There was a time Billy wanted to make him pay.
We went to Bensonhurst.
He wanted to tune the guy up.
The guy showed up, and he changed his mind.
- Do you think he'd go there now? - I don't know, Madani, he might.
Yeah, if he's angry enough.
The guy's name is Arthur Walsh.
He's got to be about 60 years old.
You know, I, um I was thinking maybe I could do this for you.
- You know, keep you out of it.
- In that state? The bullet you took was meant for me, all right? I owe you.
Uh, wow, um Who are you people? [BOTH.]
Shut up.
Frank, I'm gonna do this my way.
Okay? My kind of justice, not yours.
[SIGHS.]
All right, Madani, all I'm saying is if you get him in your sights, you cannot hesitate.
All right? - Because Bill will not.
I don't care - [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Go.
Go.
Now.
Get in the bedroom.
Go.
Hurry up.
Morning, Agent Madani.
Sorry, do you have company? Mahoney, what are you doing here? I wanted to run something by you, one cop to another I'm on my way out.
Russo's journal went missing from the hospital.
It didn't turn up in your pocket, did it? Absolutely not.
Hmm.
[MUTTERS.]
You know, Madani, I had this girlfriend once, Aviva.
I was so in love with her.
It ended badly.
She didn't shoot me, but she may as well have.
[CHUCKLES.]
Is that supposed to be funny? I guess not, but just bear with me.
Do you have a breakfast place you like? - Coffee is great? - [DINAH.]
Yeah, sure.
[BRETT.]
Couple years after we broke up, I see Aviva at my breakfast place, and I'm like, "God damn her.
" You know? "This place is mine.
I showed it to her.
" So, I got, uh, stinking drunk, as one does, and I found her new address and I staked her out.
- Oh, classy.
- I know.
It was a horrible decision.
So, anyway, while I'm waiting to tell her to stay the hell away from my breakfast place I passed out on her doorstep like a complete psycho.
Look, Mahoney, what's your point? My point, Agent Madani, is this: don't show up on Billy Russo's doorstep.
e Metaphorically speaking.
- Or I look like a psycho? - Look, if it were me after what went down, I'd be using every resource at my disposal to kill him.
Tell me, what exactly is it you think went down? You tell me.
You've been lying to me since Russo and Frank Castle went at it at that hotel.
[DINAH.]
I told you then that Russo was dirty.
[BRETT.]
Mmm-hmm.
Well, it seems like you moved on, at any rate.
I'm sorry? Two bowls.
Wow.
You are good.
I mean, you must be the pride of the NYPD.
Now, excuse me, I have to go.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[FRANK SIGHS.]
I'll go take a shower, if you don't mind.
Yeah, as long as you don't want me to watch.
[SCOFFS.]
I was good to you kids.
And what did I get? They took my pension.
That was because of your friend, little Tommy O'Neal.
Because of that prick, I spent ten years in Sing Sing.
You ever been to Sing Sing? No.
I worked all my life.
I volunteered to help you kids.
And for what? What did I get? I tried.
I was there, which is more than I can say for your smackhead mothers and degenerate fathers.
Shit! I loved you kids, and some of you were happy to love me back.
But not you.
[CHUCKLES.]
Remember when you come after me with that stick? Why the hell are you here? Whatever happened in your life ain't my fault.
You can't escape your nature, kid.
I was a marine.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
And is that what you got for your service? Well, thank you, sir.
What, did some hajji jack up your face? Is that why you're here? [LAUGHING.]
Is that why you're here? You ain't so fussy anymore, now you ain't so pretty? [BREATHING HEAVILY.]
How's that one looking? Pretty good.
Yeah.
Uh, just one quick question.
Uh, what's the clock rate on this computer? Do Do you have any other questions? Last one.
Last one.
Promise.
[MAN.]
It's 1.
8 gigahertz.
Oh, shit, the Punisher.
Uh, what's that? This guy killed, like, 50 criminals and escaped from jail.
And everybody thought he was dead, but he wasn't.
I mean, dude was a total badass.
Was? Yeah, I think he's dead for real this time.
Uh, thanks for the info, Mark.
- So, this is a great computer.
- Mmm-hmm.
- Yeah.
How much is it? - Uh, 999, plus tax.
Would you take 700? This isn't an Arabian bazaar.
That's racist.
Shit.
[FLOORBOARD CREAKS.]
[YELLS.]
[PANTING.]
What the hell, Mahoney? Why didn't you identify yourself? [BRETT GRUNTING.]
You okay? [BRETT.]
Shit, that hurts.
Yeah, try taking one in the head.
I could have your badge for this.
You snuck up on a law enforcement officer at a crime scene.
That's on you.
You knew Russo would be here.
Who says this has anything to do with Russo? [BRETT GRUNTS.]
Jeez.
[EXHALES.]
That's not a fun way to go.
Look, Madani, if I forgive you for shooting me, will you please tell me what the hell is going on here? I'll have you up for obstruction! I'm the special agent in charge for New York.
And you, you're an NYPD dick who can't catch his breath.
So go ahead.
Tell everyone I shot you.
Bet the guys at the precinct will love that.
You know what, while you're at it, try and ding me for obstruction.
Let's see how far you get.
Looks like you have a homicide on your hands, Detective.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
[AMY.]
It's me.
They killed your whole family right in front of you.
Why Why didn't you tell me that? And you killed them for it.
Yeah.
That's right.
Did it make you feel better? Sometimes.
Well, what does that mean? You came back.
Hmm.
I did.
My name isn't Rachel, by the way.
It's Amy.
Figured you should probably know that.
Okay.
Okay.
So, no more running? All right, then.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Hello? [BILLY.]
It's me.
It's Billy Russo.
What Are you hurt? [SOFTLY.]
Come in.
I didn't know where else I could go.
[STAMMERING.]
I didn't know who else I could, um How did you find my apartment? I, uh, I followed you home.
Billy, whose blood is this? [BREATHING SHAKILY.]
Please help me.
Come on.
- [CELL PHONE BEEPING.]
- [BREATHING SHAKILY.]
[DUMONT.]
It looks good.
[BILLY.]
Feels the same.
What about up here? [BILLY.]
I don't know.
I did get to thinking about about the people that I do know.
Did know.
My brothers out there They were family.
Never really had that before, you know? You miss them.
I was I was the best version of myself out there in the service.
Swift, silent, deadly.
We all were all of those things.
We were a family, and we were fighting for something.
We weren't afraid of shit.
And now [STUTTERING.]
Now, there's something just, just just on the edges of my mind.
It's like a dark shadow just waiting for me.
The thing is, Doc I deserve to feel the fear.
I don't know why, but I know I deserve this.
What if What if you opened your mind to the idea of redemption? Every human being deserves that.
I promise you.
I will help you get there.
I wouldn't blame you.
You asked me what face it is I want the world to see.
This face.
This This face has everything that I ever did wrong written all over it.
And when I look in the mirror, I want to see I want to see the best version of myself again.
Do you think that that's possible? Do you think that that's possible for someone like me? [PHONE CLICKS.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER BUS INTERCOM.]
[RICK.]
What? This is some Edward Scissorhands shit right here.
What happened, Ed? Mommy stick your face in a blender? [LAUGHS.]
[DUMONT.]
Billy [PANTING.]
[GUARD GRUNTS.]
Say something, dummy! You got a tongue in your head? [BILLY.]
Why won't you help me? - [BLOWS LANDING.]
- [BILLY GRUNTING.]
Jesus Christ.
What, are you deaf, too? - [DUMONT.]
Billy! - Man, you are one sad bastard.
[BILLY BREATHING HEAVILY.]
This ain't the short bus, buddy.
[SCOFFS AND CHUCKLES.]
[DUMONT.]
Billy, you're not ready to be on your own, okay? You can trust me.
It's not too late to put this right.
We can do that, you and I.
What do you want, freak? They don't wanna see me Get my dough right, yeah They don't wanna see me Get my dough right, yeah I came from the bottom I came from the bottom, yeah Headed to the top And ain't no doubt about it [THEME MUSIC PLAYING.]
[DINAH.]
I had to get to Castle before they put him in the system.
He called you? Yeah.
He, uh, made it obvious what would happen if I didn't get him out of there, and it's nothing we want.
The terms of the deal we made with him were pretty clear.
Castle was on his own.
Yeah, well, I guess that's the problem with telling lies and covering things up.
You can't really trust anyone afterwards.
A lie that was designed to protect you.
Oh, don't pretend you did it for me.
[GUNNER.]
Where is he now? [DINAH.]
I, uh, dropped him off outside the city.
Told him to get lost.
[GUNNER.]
Why not leave him in the middle of Ohio? [DINAH.]
He wanted to come here.
Did he come here because of Russo? No.
I didn't even tell him about Russo.
We'll talk about Russo when I get back.
You can decide on living arrangements between yourselves.
I'll go to a hotel.
Do not leave, Frank.
For anything.
Frank? Yeah.
Okay.
Your mother tells me you still won't talk to anyone.
[DINAH SIGHS.]
How often do you talk to my mom? How often do you? [SCOFFS.]
I think you need to talk to someone.
Look, I completed the department's required counseling.
Yes, you did.
And then, twice a day, you went and sat at the foot of Russo's bed.
But now you want me to believe you have no plans to go after him? You told me not to.
What happens when Castle does hear about Russo? You may have brought the war right back to our doorstep.
[AMY.]
Are you gonna help her? Is she gonna help us? Why are we here? In New York? In her place? - What? Is she, like, your ex or something? - [SIGHS.]
Because this place looks like it belongs to a serial killer.
Which would make sense.
Who else keeps everything this neat? You know what I mean? I wouldn't be surprised, honestly, to find a nicely-stacked pile of arms in the freezer.
[QUIETLY.]
God damn it.
Why do you have a Homeland Security chopper on call like it's an Uber? Who are you Frank? You're gonna take the bedroom.
I'll take the couch.
[SIGHS.]
[EXHALES.]
[ELK SHRIEKS.]
[ANNOUNCER.]
do so by contacting the Red Cross.
And now, breaking news.
[NEWS ANCHOR.]
Police are searching for Billy Russo, who has escaped from a secure hospital facility and is suspected of several murders.
NYPD says Russo is dangerous and should not be approached.
Russo was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt around 7:00 p.
m.
on the corner of Northern Boulevard and 122nd [SNIFFS.]
[SCOFFS.]
[WATER RUNNING.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER TV.]
[SIGHS.]
[BREATHING DEEPLY.]
[CRYING.]
[CRYING CONTINUES.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER TV.]
Another.
Please.
[NEWS ANCHOR 1.]
And now, a breaking news update.
[NEWS ANCHOR 2.]
Police are searching for this man, who escaped from a secure hospital facility late last night.
The suspect, Billy Russo, is armed and believed to be extremely dangerous.
If you see him, do not attempt to apprehend him.
[BILLY.]
Seventeen [GRUNTING.]
eighteen nineteen [PANTING.]
[GRUNTS, PANTING.]
Twenty.
Pathetic.
How many did you do before? [BILLY.]
I knew this this recruiter for the corps.
Told me that they like to ask that same question.
This one kid, he says, "50," or "100.
" I mean, whatever.
Who cares, right? What he wanted was the kid who said, "I don't know," or or, "More than the next guy.
" The kid who didn't know what he was capable of.
[DUMONT.]
What did you say? They never asked me that one.
[PANTING.]
Shit.
Jesus.
I can't even walk across the room without breaking a sweat.
Is that ever gonna end? You're only six months into your recovery, Billy.
You've achieved a lot in a very short time.
[BILLY.]
Yeah, wiping my own ass again, that was a real milestone.
We've talked about this.
Be kind to yourself.
Hang in there.
[LAUGHING.]
Like the Like the, um kitten.
The kitten.
Hanging on the branch, right? "Hang in there," it says.
I used to love that.
"Hang in there.
" I used to have the, uh the poster.
The poster.
Back in the group home.
[BREATHES DEEPLY.]
As if we had a As if we had a choice, you know? [ECHOING.]
As if we had a choice, you know? [DUMONT.]
Have you seen the skull Have you seen the skull in your dreams lately? - How often? - Look, I really just I hate talking about these dreams.
So can we just not? [DUMONT.]
Billy.
- Billy.
- [INHALES, EXHALES DEEPLY.]
It's like a knot.
We need to work at it.
And we need to break it down so it stops getting in your way.
Okay? There's this thing I do with my TBI patients.
They make masks that help them represent what they want to portray to the outside world.
You already have the mask.
Why don't you try it? You want me to decorate this thing? That's exactly what I mean.
[SCOFFS.]
Well, I'm not in kindergarten, Doc.
And I ain't gonna finger paint.
Just do me a favor and think on this.
What face do you want the world to see? [INHALES SHARPLY.]
[INHALES SHARPLY AND GRUNTS.]
[DINAH.]
Okay, so you wanna fill me in? I don't think you wanna know.
No? No, I've probably flushed my career down the toilet for you already, so For me? [CHUCKLES.]
You're so full of shit, Madani.
Now, see, I called you when I needed you, and you didn't do a goddamn thing, right? But now I'm here because you need me to deal with Billy.
It must mean that, what, officially, you're not allowed to, right? Okay.
They thought Billy would die.
Yeah, he was in a coma for six weeks.
Major surgery where you stabbed him.
Fed through a tube.
Bag on his hip.
Brain injury.
Facial reconstruction.
And then he woke up.
But they never thought he would walk, talk, take a shit or function again.
And he did all those things.
Okay, Frank? Russo dragged himself back from hell.
I mean, imagine the strength that requires.
I don't know.
[DINAH.]
Billy's.
Look at it.
You might have moved on, but he hasn't.
He pretended he didn't remember what happened.
He acted like a basket case.
He bided his time and lulled them into thinking he was harmless.
But, as you can see, he knows.
You are all he thinks about.
Good.
[SIGHS.]
Okay, that blood, it's yours and it's mine and it's his.
Maybe you moved on, Frank.
Maybe you got closure.
Good for you.
But he hasn't.
The only closure Billy would have understood is a bullet in the head.
For Chrissake.
You had the shot.
You didn't take it.
- What do you want from me? - You think I don't know that? I went to see him in the hospital every day once I was recovered.
Because I wanted to hear him admit what he did.
I trusted him just like you.
Yeah, maybe that's why you couldn't kill him either.
- Excuse me? - That's why you couldn't kill him either.
- No.
Killing him would have been too easy.
- Yeah, or too hard.
That why I'm here, Madani? To take the shot that you couldn't? Just give me names.
Names, places.
Anything.
Anything I can use to find him.
You know, I would have thought you knew better by now, Madani.
This shit never ends.
Trust me.
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES.]
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
[BREATHING SHAKILY.]
[AMY.]
Come on, really? Really? [SIMON.]
You got to be faster than that.
- [LAUGHING.]
- Come on.
[AMY.]
Come on.
Stop.
- [LAUGHING.]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[BREATHING SHAKILY.]
[PANTING.]
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
[KNOCKING CONTINUES.]
[FRANK.]
It's me, Curt.
[EXHALES.]
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY.]
You good? So much for the peaceful life, huh? - What the hell you been up to? - Eh, long story.
Are you all right? [FRANK BREATHES DEEPLY.]
Shit, man, you know, why can't we meet up and go fishing in Florida like normal friends, huh? [FRANK.]
You know I don't fish, Curt.
- Have you ever been to Florida? - Stop.
They practically jump into the boat.
I went fishing once with dynamite.
That was pretty fun.
You see? There you go, Frank.
That right there, that's the problem.
- What's that? - That That modern disease.
[CHUCKLES.]
- The need for instant gratification.
- Good to see you, buddy.
Not sure I can say the same.
What's with that? Billy.
If he starts to remember some shit, I'm his first stop.
What do you mean, "starts to remember"? You think he lost his memory? You cracked his head like an egg.
What do you think? [FRANK SIGHS HEAVILY.]
Yo, they still have me down as next of kin.
Can you believe that? Sent me all his shit.
So I went to the hospital.
I had to see for myself.
- And, dude - Yeah.
he was so skinny, he could barely move.
Slurring his words.
Face behind a mask.
And he thought he was there to see me after I lost my leg.
[SIGHS.]
You know that, uh, Madani? She thinks he's just putting on an act, you know, that it's all bullshit.
Mmm-mmm.
No.
Not from where I was standing.
His wires are definitely screwed.
I mean, he thought we were all in the service.
Jesus Christ.
Talked about you like a brother.
See, whatever it is that you wanted him to live with, you knocked it clean out of his head.
And that's the irony.
See, now, everybody but him has to live with what he did.
And what you did, too, Frank.
- You should've put him down for good.
- [SOFTLY.]
Yeah.
[CHUCKLES.]
You see, I figured it's easy not giving a shit.
Not caring about anybody, running from all sorts of feelings, worrying about nobody but yourself.
Sounds miserable as hell, but easy, I guess.
But, Frank, I want a real life.
A life that doesn't include me pulling guard duty in my own apartment.
I get it.
I'm seeing somebody.
Yeah.
I don't know what it is yet, but she's a cool girl.
That's great.
But I don't want her anywhere around this shit.
Hey, look, I get it, Curt.
The last thing I ever wanted was for you to be hurt by this.
- I know.
But here we are.
- Yeah.
So, Billy's running, right? He can't go to you.
He can't go to me.
So where does he go? [SCOFFS.]
What did he do last time, huh? He didn't run.
He didn't hide.
He wanted to settle scores.
But if he don't remember us who the hell would it be? [INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[BOY.]
Run! Run, run! [BILLY.]
I loved baseball, man.
That's the worst part.
I used to love coming down here watching the other kids with their fancy gloves and shit.
I thought I was the next Joe DiMaggio.
I used to head back and and play stickball in the street.
It didn't matter that I didn't have a uniform or a real diamond to play on.
I loved it.
But Arthur he took that away from me.
After my shoulder healed I hated it.
I hated playing.
And, yeah it would hurt, but that wasn't it.
Tell you what, Bill.
I think about the shit you went through.
I was one of these kids.
Never stopped to think about how lucky I was, you know.
The old man was at every single game I played at.
Every single one.
You know, I wish you I wish you had that.
I'm I'm sorry you didn't.
- It made me who I am.
- That's right.
- I guess.
- Mmm-hmm.
Made you into the baddest son of a bitch I ever met in my life.
That's what it made you.
Yeah.
Huh? - [LAUGHS.]
Right.
- Right.
[BILLY.]
Somehow, I always end up here.
Thinking about [INDISTINCT SCREAMING.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
[GASPS.]
[BREATHING SHAKILY.]
Hey.
Hey.
Hey! Let me out! Hey.
Let me out! Let me out! - Hey, you all right? - Hey, hey! Don't lock me inside like that ever again.
Do you hear me? Don't ever do that to me ever again! I hate you.
Don't you ever lock me inside, ever.
All's I got's a TV.
Take it and go.
I'm not going to hurt you Arthur.
You don't remember me? Billy Russo.
I'm from the Ray of Hope Group Home? It's like every time I close my eyes, I smell hot sauce.
I'm never eating hot sauce again.
And blood.
It's got a smell to it.
I never really knew that.
Drink some of this.
Calm you down.
Um, right.
That's not really how caffeine works.
[FRANK.]
Suit yourself.
You know, you should really get your hand looked at.
Looks pretty bad.
You should go to the hospital.
[SIGHS.]
Want to try talking to me? Huh? Tell me what happened.
Um I was getting tacos for us all, and then I was hiding under the bed, and then he came back in, and it was just, like, after that No, wait.
Who who's "he"? Who came back? No.
I Look, I really think we should just get out of here.
That's what Fiona would do.
She'd say, "If you think your cover is blown, just run.
" - Who's Fiona? - Um I worked for her.
Me and the others.
She took care of us, and we did jobs for her.
The kind of jobs that got people trying to kill you? Doesn't sound like she cared about you that much.
Well, you didn't know her, did you? And how'd you end up with her, living a life like that? I don't know.
How does anybody end up doing anything? Anyways, um the next thing I know, I'm under the bed in this motel, and my friends My friends are all bleeding out on the carpet.
And I want to run, but I can't, because that guy the guy the one with the vest and the old-timey preacher shirt he comes back in, and I couldn't run, I couldn't scream, I couldn't I couldn't do anything, because he was literally standing, like, right there.
Where was this? - A job.
In Chicago.
- What was the job? Fiona snuck us onto some catering crew for this funeral.
This fancy event thing.
We had to take pictures of these guys, and I felt super weird about it, because they were, like, hugging and kissing and crying, but Whatever.
It doesn't matter.
[SIGHS.]
You don't get it.
You don't He killed everybody that I've ever cared about.
How do you think that feels? So, what do you want to do about it? Do about it? What can [FRANK.]
What? They're gone.
Dead.
And he wants to kill me, too, now.
Us.
You know, really, what we should do right now is split up and get the H-E-L-L out of here.
- There's this girl I know, Shantel.
- [SCOFFS.]
She's here in the city.
Used to run with us.
She's doing really well.
And she'd hook us up.
I know she would.
[SOFTLY.]
Yeah.
See, I think you know that we can't do that.
You've seen what this guy can do.
You know that he's not gonna stop.
You're gonna run? You're gonna hide? He's gonna find you.
He's connected.
If you go to your friend, she's as good as dead.
You know it, don't you? Then what? Sometimes, kid, you gotta fight.
You take the fight to them.
[ARTHUR.]
You want some coffee? Sure.
I got it on a timer.
Neat, eh? It's been forever since I had coffee.
They won't let me.
Should we make it Irish? Okay.
Oh, it's [SIGHS.]
It's good.
I went to the I went to the group home.
It's all apartments now, or something.
So? [STAMMERS.]
So I didn't know where else to go.
So you came to see me? You expect me to believe that? It's too late, kid.
They took everything.
You're You're at the back of the queue.
What the hell happened to your face? Accident.
[GROANS.]
Messed with my head.
[STAMMERING.]
It's all It's all messed up in there, you know? [SCOFFING CHUCKLE.]
I remembered your address, though.
Clear as day.
Crazy, huh? You were a good-looking kid.
It's a damn shame.
You're still here.
Yup.
Shitty-ass health food of yours, it almost drove us off, but, you and I, we had a deal.
[DINAH.]
Yeah? You want a pancake breakfast, find me Billy.
[FRANK.]
Hmm.
You know I've been thinking about that.
The thing is, if he is bullshitting, you'd probably be dead already.
Okay, I'm listening.
Eat your food.
There's a piece of shit from Billy's childhood, yeah? He When he went after Bill, Bill wasn't having it, so he fought back.
- The guy hurt him.
Hurt him bad.
- Yeah, the, uh, stickball guy.
- That's right, he told you, huh? - Yeah.
Yeah.
Uh, so what about him? There was a time Billy wanted to make him pay.
We went to Bensonhurst.
He wanted to tune the guy up.
The guy showed up, and he changed his mind.
- Do you think he'd go there now? - I don't know, Madani, he might.
Yeah, if he's angry enough.
The guy's name is Arthur Walsh.
He's got to be about 60 years old.
You know, I, um I was thinking maybe I could do this for you.
- You know, keep you out of it.
- In that state? The bullet you took was meant for me, all right? I owe you.
Uh, wow, um Who are you people? [BOTH.]
Shut up.
Frank, I'm gonna do this my way.
Okay? My kind of justice, not yours.
[SIGHS.]
All right, Madani, all I'm saying is if you get him in your sights, you cannot hesitate.
All right? - Because Bill will not.
I don't care - [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Go.
Go.
Now.
Get in the bedroom.
Go.
Hurry up.
Morning, Agent Madani.
Sorry, do you have company? Mahoney, what are you doing here? I wanted to run something by you, one cop to another I'm on my way out.
Russo's journal went missing from the hospital.
It didn't turn up in your pocket, did it? Absolutely not.
Hmm.
[MUTTERS.]
You know, Madani, I had this girlfriend once, Aviva.
I was so in love with her.
It ended badly.
She didn't shoot me, but she may as well have.
[CHUCKLES.]
Is that supposed to be funny? I guess not, but just bear with me.
Do you have a breakfast place you like? - Coffee is great? - [DINAH.]
Yeah, sure.
[BRETT.]
Couple years after we broke up, I see Aviva at my breakfast place, and I'm like, "God damn her.
" You know? "This place is mine.
I showed it to her.
" So, I got, uh, stinking drunk, as one does, and I found her new address and I staked her out.
- Oh, classy.
- I know.
It was a horrible decision.
So, anyway, while I'm waiting to tell her to stay the hell away from my breakfast place I passed out on her doorstep like a complete psycho.
Look, Mahoney, what's your point? My point, Agent Madani, is this: don't show up on Billy Russo's doorstep.
e Metaphorically speaking.
- Or I look like a psycho? - Look, if it were me after what went down, I'd be using every resource at my disposal to kill him.
Tell me, what exactly is it you think went down? You tell me.
You've been lying to me since Russo and Frank Castle went at it at that hotel.
[DINAH.]
I told you then that Russo was dirty.
[BRETT.]
Mmm-hmm.
Well, it seems like you moved on, at any rate.
I'm sorry? Two bowls.
Wow.
You are good.
I mean, you must be the pride of the NYPD.
Now, excuse me, I have to go.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[FRANK SIGHS.]
I'll go take a shower, if you don't mind.
Yeah, as long as you don't want me to watch.
[SCOFFS.]
I was good to you kids.
And what did I get? They took my pension.
That was because of your friend, little Tommy O'Neal.
Because of that prick, I spent ten years in Sing Sing.
You ever been to Sing Sing? No.
I worked all my life.
I volunteered to help you kids.
And for what? What did I get? I tried.
I was there, which is more than I can say for your smackhead mothers and degenerate fathers.
Shit! I loved you kids, and some of you were happy to love me back.
But not you.
[CHUCKLES.]
Remember when you come after me with that stick? Why the hell are you here? Whatever happened in your life ain't my fault.
You can't escape your nature, kid.
I was a marine.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
And is that what you got for your service? Well, thank you, sir.
What, did some hajji jack up your face? Is that why you're here? [LAUGHING.]
Is that why you're here? You ain't so fussy anymore, now you ain't so pretty? [BREATHING HEAVILY.]
How's that one looking? Pretty good.
Yeah.
Uh, just one quick question.
Uh, what's the clock rate on this computer? Do Do you have any other questions? Last one.
Last one.
Promise.
[MAN.]
It's 1.
8 gigahertz.
Oh, shit, the Punisher.
Uh, what's that? This guy killed, like, 50 criminals and escaped from jail.
And everybody thought he was dead, but he wasn't.
I mean, dude was a total badass.
Was? Yeah, I think he's dead for real this time.
Uh, thanks for the info, Mark.
- So, this is a great computer.
- Mmm-hmm.
- Yeah.
How much is it? - Uh, 999, plus tax.
Would you take 700? This isn't an Arabian bazaar.
That's racist.
Shit.
[FLOORBOARD CREAKS.]
[YELLS.]
[PANTING.]
What the hell, Mahoney? Why didn't you identify yourself? [BRETT GRUNTING.]
You okay? [BRETT.]
Shit, that hurts.
Yeah, try taking one in the head.
I could have your badge for this.
You snuck up on a law enforcement officer at a crime scene.
That's on you.
You knew Russo would be here.
Who says this has anything to do with Russo? [BRETT GRUNTS.]
Jeez.
[EXHALES.]
That's not a fun way to go.
Look, Madani, if I forgive you for shooting me, will you please tell me what the hell is going on here? I'll have you up for obstruction! I'm the special agent in charge for New York.
And you, you're an NYPD dick who can't catch his breath.
So go ahead.
Tell everyone I shot you.
Bet the guys at the precinct will love that.
You know what, while you're at it, try and ding me for obstruction.
Let's see how far you get.
Looks like you have a homicide on your hands, Detective.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
[AMY.]
It's me.
They killed your whole family right in front of you.
Why Why didn't you tell me that? And you killed them for it.
Yeah.
That's right.
Did it make you feel better? Sometimes.
Well, what does that mean? You came back.
Hmm.
I did.
My name isn't Rachel, by the way.
It's Amy.
Figured you should probably know that.
Okay.
Okay.
So, no more running? All right, then.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Hello? [BILLY.]
It's me.
It's Billy Russo.
What Are you hurt? [SOFTLY.]
Come in.
I didn't know where else I could go.
[STAMMERING.]
I didn't know who else I could, um How did you find my apartment? I, uh, I followed you home.
Billy, whose blood is this? [BREATHING SHAKILY.]
Please help me.
Come on.
- [CELL PHONE BEEPING.]
- [BREATHING SHAKILY.]
[DUMONT.]
It looks good.
[BILLY.]
Feels the same.
What about up here? [BILLY.]
I don't know.
I did get to thinking about about the people that I do know.
Did know.
My brothers out there They were family.
Never really had that before, you know? You miss them.
I was I was the best version of myself out there in the service.
Swift, silent, deadly.
We all were all of those things.
We were a family, and we were fighting for something.
We weren't afraid of shit.
And now [STUTTERING.]
Now, there's something just, just just on the edges of my mind.
It's like a dark shadow just waiting for me.
The thing is, Doc I deserve to feel the fear.
I don't know why, but I know I deserve this.
What if What if you opened your mind to the idea of redemption? Every human being deserves that.
I promise you.
I will help you get there.
I wouldn't blame you.
You asked me what face it is I want the world to see.
This face.
This This face has everything that I ever did wrong written all over it.
And when I look in the mirror, I want to see I want to see the best version of myself again.
Do you think that that's possible? Do you think that that's possible for someone like me? [PHONE CLICKS.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING.]