The Pretender s03e04 Episode Script

- Do you remember what I told you? Do you remember? - Just a little bit of help.
I warned you to stay clear of this place.
I'll do anything that you need done.
I just need something to eat.
Not for me- for my child.
I told you.
This isn't a halfway house.
- Is there a problem here, Manny? - Oh, I didn't see you, Mrs.
- [Woman.]
Is this man disrupting business? Well, he keeps coming in asking if there's any work.
- Give him my table.
- Excuse me? - Treat him and his family the same as any other patron.
- But, Mrs.
- When his family has finished eating, pack a picnic basket and give them enough cash for a hotel room for a week.
- Do you have a problem with that? - No, ma'am.
- It's all right to go get your family now.
- God bless you.
Dignity is usually something you see taken not given.
Family is the most important thing a person can protect.
It's all there is.
You're not from Clear Bay.
No, I'm-I'm not.
Pleasure trip? Business.
Well, I hope you enjoy your stay.
I, uh- I didn't get your name.
Your résumé is impressive.
- Flawed, but impressive.
- Flawed? The job you did in Seattle almost landed you in jail.
Well, I'm here, aren't I? Mr.
Kincade needs a consummate professional.
If he is even slightly associated with incendiary events other arrangements will have to be made.
- Try English.
- How do we know you're any good? You see that 18-footer at the end of the dock? - Yes.
- It belongs to the local sheriff, I believe.
Yes.
Randall Carver.
That's him over there.
- He lives for that boat.
- Not anymore.
[Explosion.]
That's my-That's my boat! [People Screaming, Gasping.]
So, we in business? [Man Narrating.]
There are Pretenders among us.
[Jarod.]
I was taken from my family.
Thirty-six hours and he's already demonstrating more talent than any of our others.
How many people died because of what I thought up? Since I broke out, I've spent every moment searching for my past.
[Miss Parker.]
He's a Pretender- A genius who can become anyone that he wants to be.
- The Centre wants him alive.
- Preferably.
[Miss Parker.]
He defends the weak and abused.
Life's a gift.
- You a doctor? - I am today.
[Miss Parker.]
Hello? Anybody here? [Sniffles.]
Miss Parker.
- What's going on? - I was just, uh, catching up on the pursuit files.
I guess I'll get back to work.
Excuse me.
- Here it comes.
Here it comes.
- [Groaning.]
The second child is a boy.
It's stillborn.
Harold Kincade.
Thanks for coming, Mr.
Burns.
The Venus butterfly.
They say if she lands on you some crap about good luck.
Well, luck didn't help this one very much.
You got that right.
I heard about your show at the marina this morning.
- Fourth ofJuly stuff.
- Well, Sheriff Carver's not celebrating.
The preliminary investigation ruled the explosion accidental.
That's the idea.
Clean, professional.
I wouldn't want anything to happen like what happened last time.
Last time? I read the papers.
I know all about how those people died in your building.
It was an amateurish job.
Just the kind of mess I don't need.
[Woman.]
Harold? [Kincade.]
I thought you were spending the afternoon in town.
I wanted to surprise you.
I had Doris fix us an early dinner.
- No time.
- Well, I'm sure she can- Manny told me you created quite a scene this morning with a homeless man.
It was more than just a homeless man.
He had a little girl who looked like she hadn't had a decent meal in weeks.
My wife's a sucker for the lazy and unmotivated, Mr.
Burns.
Jarod.
Jarod's a designer.
I thought I'd give him a shot at the building downtown.
Could you recommend a place to stay? I'm afraid it's peak season.
There's not gonna be much available in town.
Well, the guesthouse is empty.
I couldn't possibly put anybody out.
My husband is a sucker for the aggressive and industrious.
I'll have the housekeeper open it for you.
We'll talk in the morning.
Don't wait up.
[Miss Parker.]
I swear he was crying.
He was watching his own birth, Parker.
Seeing yourself ripped away from family is enough to tear anyone's heart out.
Since when does Lyle have a heart? Why is it so hard for you to believe he might actually feel loss? After all, Catherine was his mother too.
She may have given him life, but she had nothing to do with who he is.
People change, Parker.
Call it an awakening.
Sydney, we're talking about a man who killed in cold blood.
- You don't "awaken" from that.
- [Door Opens.]
Miss Parker, this was just delivered for you.
Looks likeJarod's handwriting.
[Broots.]
Oh, she's pretty.
"Trust can kill you or set you free.
" I've heard that somewhere before.
It sounds kind of cryptic.
Jarod wouldn't have sent this without a reason.
Find out who she is.
Sure.
[Jarod.]
I grew up a long way away from here.
- That makes two of us.
- Really? I imagined you as a little girl with a pony and private schools leading this charmed life like Alice in Wonderland.
My parents died in a fire when I was a baby.
I was raised by my aunt in a little trailer park just west of Corpus Christi.
That must have been very difficult for you.
She loved me.
That's the last time I remember being truly happy.
And you? Do you have family? I have a sister out there somewhere.
- My brother was killed about six months ago.
- I'm sorry.
- Your parents? - I lost contact with them when I was a child.
I'm still trying to find them.
You should never give up.
The thing you want most in life could be right around the next corner.
I know you're not who you pretend to be.
I used to deny it, but I know what my husband does.
You're not here to design a building.
You're here to burn one down.
That's not really who I am.
I believe you, Jarod.
You're a good man.
I can see it in your eyes.
My husband used to be a good man.
Unfortunately, people change.
Good night.
Good night.
- Daddy? - Ah, angel.
Did you, um, change your hair again? Do you like it? Well, it's your head.
[Chuckles.]
Daddy, I need to talk to you about Lyle.
I don't mean to sound paranoid, but I think he's up to something.
- Did he threaten you? - Threaten? No.
I caught him watching the D.
S.
A.
Of my- of-of our birth.
- So? - So, he was crying.
Ah, I see.
Crying.
And you took that for hostility? Well, no.
But given his track record I thought it was kind of strange.
Now, sweetheart, Lyle's a very deep and complicated man.
- But, Daddy- - No, let me finish.
He came to me a few days ago in confidence and, uh, purged his soul.
I think you could say he's, uh, undergoing a transformation.
You know, he wanted to know the location of your mother's grave.
Can you imagine that? Hmm.
No, I can't.
Sweetheart, I know it's hard for you finding out about your brother the way you did.
But it isn't easy for him either, you know.
Just remember that.
And I do love your hair.
[Jarod On Phone.]
"Trust can kill you or set you free.
" So I've read.
Who's the woman in the picture? [Jarod.]
Someone who got caught up with the wrong people.
[Miss Parker.]
Haven't we all? Some do worse things than others.
Like murdering an innocent woman in an elevator? So what are you trying to tell me? That you have to see people for what they are.
- Keep my eyes open.
- To all possibilities.
Because in the end we all get what we deserve.
[Flames Crackling.]
[Flames Crackling.]
[Kristi Screaming.]
Oh, my God! Jarod, help! It's Harold! - Kristi, what happened? - There was an explosion.
A fire.
I couldn't get to him.
- Where's your husband? - In the bedroom.
Call 911! - Stay here.
- He's my husband! Stay here! [Woman On Radio.]
Truck 89, tanker truck 289.
289, do you copy? - Make sure the fire inspector has complete access to the bedroom.
- Right.
- Tape off the balcony.
- They still haven't found the source of the fire.
Sounds like my boat.
What a mess.
Are you sure you wouldn't rather lie down? I'm sorry to bother you, Ms.
Kincade, but I need to ask you some questions.
- Can't this wait? - You the lawyer? - Tom Byner's my lawyer.
He's on his way.
- I see.
You wanna wait for him, or do you wanna talk to me about this thing? - What are you getting at, Sheriff? - Who are you? Mr.
Burns is a business associate of my husband.
He's our guest.
- What do you wanna know? - Everything you can remember.
I, uh, went to bed around 10:00.
Harold wasn't home yet.
He had a business meeting.
Um, I'd fallen asleep.
I remember Harold climbing into bed.
I don't know what time it was or how long it had been.
What happened next? It's okay.
[Kristi.]
Um, I rolled over away from Harold and I fell back asleep.
And at some point, everything exploded.
I heard Harold scream, and I turned, and he was on fire.
I reached out for him, but the flames were too hot.
There was nothing I could do.
So I ran down the stairs, and I found Doris our housekeeper and that's when she told me what she saw.
- What? - A-A figure.
A man running across the lawn into the woods.
That's all I remember.
I'm gonna have to ask you to come back into town with me, Miss Kincade.
- What? Are you arresting her? - No.
- If everything checks out, she oughta be home by morning.
- Sheriff, this is ridiculous.
- She's been through enough already.
- Mr.
Burns.
The housekeeper's statement takes you away from the scene of the fire.
But, uh, I would appreciate it if you didn't leave town right away.
- Beautiful girl.
- Mmm.
Her name is Che Ling.
That's what it says right here.
She's from the Xinjiang province, one of the poorest regions of Northern China.
- Cut to the chase, Broots.
- Okay.
She applied for a visa 24 months ago.
She received it a year later.
- And that's when she landed in neon city.
- Vegas? - Mm-hmm.
- Ring-a-ding-ding.
Yes.
Las Vegas is the marriage capital of the world.
- Marriage? - Mm-hmm.
- See, Che Ling is a mail-order bride.
- [Sighs.]
Keep digging.
L.
V.
P.
D.
, county marriage records.
- I want this girl.
- Okay.
Men ordering women like they were snow tires.
Well, I'll give you a call later.
- You gonna be all right? - Yes.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Thank you for coming.
- Did Carver put you through the ringer? - I've had better nights.
But I think he's satisfied, at least for now.
I had your housekeeper prepare a spare bedroom, so you can get some rest.
I can't go back to that house.
Not yet.
Well, where can I take you? We have a cabin just outside of town.
- Do you think you could drive me there? - Of course.
Come on.
[Kristi.]
Harold and I used to love this place especially in the early years.
I don't wanna sound disrespectful but your husband didn't seem to treat you very well.
He used to.
The man I loved and married was caring and compassionate.
He just didn't stay that way.
Kristi, there's something I wanna tell you.
The real reason that I came to Clear Bay was- [Sniffing.]
- What is it? - I think you have a cracked line.
Harold never could get that gas leak fixed.
It seemed like every time the gas company came out to fix one break another one would spring up.
I can shut off the main outside, but you should really- really have that replaced.
[Phone Ringing.]
Hello? Yes.
Yes, she is.
It's Tom Byner.
Thank you.
Yes? No, Tom, I don't wanna talk about this.
No, I'll call you.
- What's wrong? - Byner wants to go over Harold's will.
- Now? - Something about tax complications.
I don't know if I can deal with this.
I'm scared, Jarod.
I can tell that the police think that I had something to do with Harold's death.
- Why you? - The estate is worth millions.
Your housekeeper saw someone running from the house, right? - What if they don't believe her? - I'll make them believe her.
I'll prove to them that someone else was there.
Okay? It's been so long since someone's really taken care of me.
I'm- I'm so sorry.
- It's okay.
- No, it's- It's okay.
I'm sorry.
It's strange to say good-bye to someone you've never met.
You can spend every waking hour working your way to the top, and then you get there and you realize that's not even what it's all about.
Are you talking about her? No.
Me.
I've made a lot of mistakes along the way.
I've made excuses for everything I've done, and I can't- I won't blame my past anymore.
I can't move forward without a clean slate.
[Miss Parker.]
She was very compassionate.
I was never allowed a first chance with her but I'd like a second one with you.
[Woman.]
Where did it all go wrong? Who are you, Mr.
Burns? I already told you.
I'm a designer.
And I'm Cindy Crawford.
The only thing that I'm guilty of is bad timing.
- I doubt Mrs.
Kincade would agree with that.
- Meaning? She seems relieved to have someone like you to lean on.
Mrs.
Kincade is a very nice woman.
She's the prime suspect in an active murder investigation.
She had nothing to do with the death of her husband.
Maybe she didn't.
Maybe she did.
I'd appreciate it if you'd leave the investigation to the police.
- A case like this could really make a cop's career.
- What did you say? I'm wondering what you're really interested in- justice or a conviction.
I'm interested in the truth.
And we'll find it.
[Kristi's Voice.]
Our housekeeper told me what she saw.
A man running across the lawn into the woods.
They say the killer always returns to the scene of the crime.
It's times like this I wish I hadn't quit smoking.
What's really bothering you? Lyle is my brother, and he seems sincere.
Oh, Sydney, I want to trust him.
It's just- "Trust can kill you or set you free.
" I remember who first said that to me now.
- Confucius? - Your mother.
I just got this from the Las Vegas Police Department.
It's a 911 Che Ling made the night she disappeared.
- Play it.
- [Woman.]
911.
[Che Ling.]
You have to help me.
He will hurt me.
- Slow down.
What's the problem? - He angry.
He always angry.
Going to hit me, beat me.
He coming back.
- Who is "he"? Your husband? Boyfriend? - He coming.
- Where are you? - 223 Desert Vista Apartments.
- Please, he going to kill me.
- [Thud, Glass Breaking.]
When the police got there, the apartment was empty.
- Mail-order husband? - Vanished.
So was everything connecting him to her.
What about a marriage certificate? There must be some way to find out who she was so afraid of.
I contacted the license bureau.
They couldn't find any record of anyone named Che Ling.
It seems like everything about her is disappearing right in front of our eyes.
This was just delivered for you, Miss Parker.
Another present from Jarod.
[Broots.]
Isn't that your father? - [Tape Rewinding.]
- [Woman.]
Where are you? [Che Ling.]
223 Desert Vista Apartments.
Please, he going to kill me.
Desert Vista Apartments.
You don't think it was your father that Che Ling was so afraid of, do you? Where are you going? To try and find someone to trust.
You wanna tell me again why you came to Clear Bay? I was on retainer to do some work for Harold Kincade.
Mm-hmm.
Like the work you did in Seattle a few years back? I did a background check on you, Burns.
You got a half a dozen arrests for arson.
I got a dead man, a suspicious fire and a whole lot of attitude and it doesn't take a genius to figure it out.
- Now why did you kill Kincade? - I didn't.
- You were on the grounds.
- What about the boot prints? - They're not my size.
- Easy for you to plant.
No, I want them labeled as evidence.
Did Kincade cross you on the deal? Try to rip you off? Is that why you torched him? - Answer me! - I'm not saying anything.
Which puts you right at the top of the list in the murder of Harold Kincade.
- Not unless you have more than a suspect rap sheet.
- Oh, gee.
- Tom, go away.
This is police business.
- Not anymore, it isn't.
I've been retained by Kristi Kincade to represent Mr.
Burns in this matter.
- Kristi sent you? - If you have proof of Mr.
Burns's guilt, charge him.
Otherwise, I suggest you arrange for his immediate release.
Sheriff? What did Burns mean when he asked about the boot prints? You watched my interrogation? I thought I could learn something.
Sheriff, you got a phone call.
They say it's an emergency.
Look, Deputy, why don't you get back out on patrol, huh? We don't want the system to break down now, do we? Hello? Hello? Jarod! I was so worried.
Oh! When I heard you'd been taken in by Sheriff Carver, I thought that- It's okay now.
Everything's okay.
It's like a bad dream.
I'm here now.
[Clears Throat.]
Yes, Doris? Excuse me, Mrs.
Kincade.
I think there's something you should see.
Will you excuse me? Is everything all right? I believed in you.
I thought I'd finally found someone who I could trust.
What are you talking about? - Lighter fluid, fuses, a timer.
- Where did you get this? Did you think that killing him was the only way for us to be together? What? I had nothing to do with the death of your husband.
- Then explain why Doris found all this in the guest room.
- I don't know.
I trusted you! - Wait, wait, wait.
- Don't- Let me go! Not until you listen to me! Now listen to me! Yes, I wanted to see your husband punished.
But after I met you, everything changed.
I had nothing to do with the death of your husband.
I could never do anything like that especially to someone like you.
You have to believe me.
[Siren Wailing.]
Doris.
She called the sheriff.
You gotta run.
- I've done nothing wrong.
- Carver has information about you that says otherwise.
You gotta go.
Go to the cabin.
Wait for me until I come for you.
I'll call Byner and see what we can do.
All right.
I'm innocent.
You have to believe me.
[Elevator Bell Dings.]
- Can we talk? - Nothing would make me happier.
There are things I need to share with you.
I found a photograph.
I'm not sure what it means.
- Photograph? - A picture of- - Miss-Miss Parker? - Not now.
I'm not sure what it means, but I think it concerns us both.
It's imperative we speak now, Miss Parker.
Excuse me.
What do you want? We spoke to the sheriff outside ofTahoe.
He recognized the picture of Che Ling I put on the Internet.
- So? - So she was found three days after that 911 call.
She'd been beaten to death and dumped near the highway.
No one claimed the body.
She was buried in a pauper's grave.
Are you telling me my father secretly married a mail-order bride and then killed her? - No, not exactly.
- The marriage records were erased, of course.
But Broots found this wedding photo in the back issue of a Vegas newspaper.
Son of a bitch.
[Sniffing.]
[Gas Hissing.]
[Beeping.]
Harold never could get that gas leak fixed.
Burns! I know you're in here.
Now let's just end this without anybody gettin' hurt.
- Change of heart? - Jarod! Was this your idea of protecting me? What? No! No, you don't understand.
I talked to Sheriff Carver.
- He's on our side.
- He's on our side? - Yes.
- Then why did he have his gun drawn? He wants to talk to you.
That's all.
I explained everything to him.
I told him you never could have done this.
Please, just go in and talk to him, okay? Okay.
I want this to be over.
I know you do.
Jarod? I love you.
Angel.
We need to talk.
- You look like you just saw a ghost.
- More like the grim reaper.
Oh, I came this close to dropping my guard.
Tears for Mom, trust, second chances.
Something she never got.
- I'm glad it's out in the open.
- Then you admit knowing her? Of course he knew her.
He was married to her, for Pete's sake.
Daddy, you're aware of all this? I told you he confided in me.
[Chuckles.]
You went to Las Vegas.
I have a picture of you outside Che Ling's apartment building.
He was kind enough to help me tie up some loose ends.
You mean cover up a murder, don't you? That's way out ofline.
I was afraid that's what might have happened to her.
Like you didn't know? I had nothing to do with Che Ling's death.
I loved her! Then why all the secrets? Couples have problems.
I came home one day, and she was gone.
She took off with some drifter type, I heard.
Hey, she left because you hit her.
- You see? - Never touched her.
- How do you know? - 'Cause he said he didn't.
Now, everybody makes mistakes.
At least you can give him another chance.
I won't try to justify everything that happened.
But I'm not the same person that I was.
I've changed and I hope that someday you'll understand that embrace it.
This whole deal isn't worth the powder to blow it to hell.
I mean, we're a family.
It's about time we started acting like one.
Now I'm gonna demand that we all go out to dinner together tonight.
Huh? If you can't trust your family, who can you trust? The small bag stays with me.
Make sure the trunks are sent ahead to the airport.
I wish you'd postpone this trip.
- Harold's will is watertight.
That's what you said.
- He's been dead less than a week.
Yesterday, Burns and Carver were blown to bits in a cabin owned by you.
It might look better if you didn't appear so anxious to get out of town.
Let me tell you something, counselor.
Jarod Burns murdered my husband and then killed Sheriff Carver to cover his tracks.
It's just my good fortune that he screwed up and killed himself.
I'm on the flight to Paris in two hours.
Do you have all the bank information? The money will be wired to Paris by the end of the week.
- [Cell Phone Ringing.]
- Yeah.
Are you sure? - Can't it be sent ahead to Paris? - What's wrong? It appears there's an addendum to Harold's original will.
- Meaning? - Without your signature, you'll forfeit a sum of money.
- How much? - $50,000.
But considering the inheritance is nearly 10 million I don't think it's anything you need to worry about.
I don't pay you to think.
Switch my flight to midnight and have your assistant bring me those papers before I leave.
- But what about- - Just do it! Good afternoon, Mrs.
Kincade! - Who the hell are you? - You helped me the other day at your restaurant? What are you doing here? My little girl wanted to thank you.
And we wanted to say how sorry we were for the loss of your husband.
What are you people doing on my property? This is a private residence.
The deputy let us in the front gate.
- The deputy? - I hope we're not interrupting.
- [Glass Breaking.]
- I saw you die.
You should have taken your original flight, Kristi.
But then again, I knew a girl like you couldn't give up $50,000.
- Jarod.
- Maybe you'd better sit down.
You look a little weak in the knees.
I saw you walk into the cabin.
I saw- No, you saw what you wanted to see.
What you didn't see was Sheriff Carver and me go out the back door before your homemade bomb blew it to bits.
Oh, Sheriff Carver, he confessed to the murder of your husband and he implicated you in the whole thing.
- Jarod- - It was a brilliant plan.
Really.
I mean, you had all the bases covered.
I mean, what better partner in a murder than the man who was covering the investigation? And you both played your parts brilliantly.
I'm sorry to bother you, Ms.
Kincade, but I need to ask you some questions.
He was on fire.
Let's go, Sheriff.
Oh, and then there were the subtle touches.
Your tears were so convincing the night you murdered your husband.
- Stay here.
- He's my husband! Stay here! Routine maintenance calls to the gas company about that pesky leak before the "accidental"explosion.
The only thing that was missing was a patsy- a fall guy to come along and pin the whole thing on.
I love you.
[Echoing.]
- Jarod, it was never personal.
- Oh, you're wrong.
It was very personal.
[Handcuffs Clicking.]
You know, there is one thing that I still can't figure out.
What's that? Whatever happened to that happy little girl from Corpus Christi? [Phone Ringing.]
[Phone Ringing.]
- What? - [Jarod.]
I assume you found Che Ling.
I found her.
She was in the county cemetery with a wooden grave marker.
Another casualty of the Centre.
[Miss Parker.]
Not according to Mr.
Lyle and my father.
And you think you can trust what they say? As opposed to trusting you? That's kind of like jumping out of the fire into the fire, isn't it? You think you know the truth about your father and Mr.
Lyle and who killed your mother.
But the fact is, you only know what the Centre wants you to know.
What do you want from me? The same thing you want from me- a little trust.
- I have to go.
- Be careful, Miss Parker.
Remember what your mother used to say- "Trust can kill you or set you free.
" Ah, there's my angel.
Sweetheart, you are beautiful.
- Let's get a move on.
- Where's Lyle? Oh, he called.
He's gonna meet us there.
He said he didn't want another minute to go by without arranging a proper burial for Che Ling.
[Clears Throat.]
I'll get the car.
- Daddy- - Uh-huh? You look very handsome tonight.
You betcha.