The Equalizer (2021) s05e14 Episode Script
The Grave Digger
1
Previously on The Equalizer
Don't move.
Why are you cuffing me? What did I do?
You're under arrest for disorderly
conduct, and disturbing the peace.
- It's finally here.
- [SQUEALS] What's here?
My letter from Hartstone U.
"Dear Delilah, unfortunately,
we are unable to offer you
a seat in our freshman class."
Come here, baby. I'm sorry.
I reached out to Hartstone's
admissions office.
They've been conducting
social media checks
on their incoming candidates.
You think they saw
your arrest at that protest?
I'm sorry.
[INSECTS TRILLING]
♪
Any sign of them?
No.
Harry, you got anything?
HARRY: Nothing.
I've hacked every damn camera
in the area,
and all I've got
is the Grave Digger's van
driving into the park.
Wait
I got eyes on the van.
But no sign of the target.
He's already dug the grave
and put the coffin in it.
MEL: I'm going to your side of the park.
I'll be there in ten minutes.
She might not have that much time.
I'm going in.
- HALEY: Help me!
- [POUNDING ON LID]
I'm in here, I'm in here!
ROBYN: Haley, it's okay. I'm coming.
HALEY: I can't breathe.
- [ROBYN GRUNTING]
- HALEY: Please hurry!
[GRUNTING]
Help! Help me!
[POUNDING ON COFFIN LID]
[GRUNTS]
Help!
[HALEY GASPS]
ROBYN: It's okay. Just sit down.
Sit down. Sit down. Okay.
[GASPING, SOBBING]
Catch your breath.
There you go. You're okay.
[KYNARD LAUGHING]
What the hell are you smiling at?
Nothing special.
I'm just thinking about
the crucible of suffering
I'm gonna put you through.
ROBYN: Really?
Well, considering you're gonna
spend the rest of your life
in a prison cell,
that'll be a neat little magic trick.
Abracadabra.
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Hey, Dante. Appreciate you coming.
Yeah. No problem.
So what's with all the urgency?
Park worker found it this morning.
Someone had dug up the ground,
so he got a shovel and, uh,
what you see is what you get.
Name's Veronica Finch.
Last seen around midnight after
leaving her job at a bodega.
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING]
See her hands?
Bruised and bloody.
Fingernails are broken off.
She was trying to claw her way out.
That oxygen tank kept
her alive for hours
as she did.
It's the Gravedigger's MO, right?
That freak who killed all those women?
Help us out over here?
Lift her up.
The Grave Digger branded his victims
with a five-point asterisk brand
on their right shoulder.
SAWICKI: I don't get this.
I thought you put
that bastard away in prison.
DANTE: Had a little help, but yeah.
That was exactly one year ago today.
It appears that
a copycat killer has decided
to mark the occasion.
♪
Oh. Found it.
- Profile on Cezanne?
- Yeah, yeah.
[GASPS] Magnifique.
Thank you, my darling.
- This is kinda fun.
- Yep.
Aunt Vi, what you got going on?
My dear friend, Simone Sliger
"Dear friend"? Your nemesis?
Nonsense.
I mean, we-we had
a brief rivalry in the '90s,
but we're past that now.
Anyway, she's asked me
to substitute teach her class
on French art of the 1800s,
and I have not studied
Post-Impressionism
since I left Berkeley.
Did you tell Simone that?
Of course not. She's my nemesis.
[LAUGHS] Well,
I wouldn't stress about it.
I mean, you can fake your way
through any details
you may've forgotten.
Did you say "fake it"?
My darling,
life, like art, should never be faked.
"We are seeking, we are striving,
we are in it with all our hearts."
You know who said that?
Vincent Van Gogh, Post-Impressionist
Did he actually say that, honey?
Uh
Vincent, Vincent, Vincent
- Yes, he did.
- [LAUGHS]
I am gonna crush this tonight!
ROBYN: I have no doubt.
VI: By the way, uh,
class is gonna go late.
You are both on your own for dinner.
Oh, yes, um, speaking of, Mom,
I have to go back to school
for a Peer Ear meeting at 7:00,
so is it cool if I grab a bite
to eat with Cam beforehand?
- [CHUCKLES] Yeah. Have fun.
- [PHONE CHIMES]
Thanks.
I got to go.
Dante wants to meet with me.
Oh. Does he, now?
You know, maybe your boyfriend
is surprising you with a date night.
Mm-mm.
- We're not doing that.
- DELILAH: No?
ROBYN: No.
Mm-mm.
The methodology of the murder is
the same as the Grave Digger's.
Hold on. Same as?
Similar? Or are we talking identical?
It's a perfect match.
The victim, Veronica Finch,
is a 20-something white woman
with dark hair,
abducted after working a late shift,
an asterisk brand seared into
the flesh of her right shoulder.
Found in a plain pine box?
And buried in a public park
with an oxygen tank
holding two hours of air.
Who the hell would mimic
the Grave Digger's murders?
Most likely some weak-willed psychopath
seeking empowerment.
By going all twisted fanboy
and imitating
their favorite serial killer?
Exactly that.
And now that this copycat
has had a taste,
they won't stop.
There'll be more victims.
Standard procedure in a copycat
is to question the original murderer
on the ever-so-slim chance
they might know something.
You went upstate to visit
Tyler Ray Kynard?
I did.
What did the Grave Digger have to say?
That he knows who the copycat killer is.
But he's only willing to tell
the woman who took him down.
Or he's lying,
and just wants to mess with me.
Probably. But you never know.
And here I thought you texted me
to take me on a date.
Rain check.
[EXHALES] All right, well,
come on, let's get this over with.
[LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- Ah, our special guests.
- [GATE CLOSES]
Dr. Vogel, prison psychiatrist.
You were here earlier, Detective.
I understand you had a brief
visit with the Grave Digger.
Didn't give you much, did he?
So, what, now you've brought backup?
This is Imani Williams.
She's a criminologist and profiler
who consults with the NYPD.
Nice to meet you.
You as well, Ms. Williams.
Though the good detective
might've saved you the trip
if he had me join his initial interview.
Over the past year, I've
conducted dozens of sessions
with Tyler Ray Kynard
and we've developed a rapport.
I'm bit an expert on all things
Grave Digger-related.
Did he mention anything
about a copycat killer?
Uh No, I'm afraid not.
DANTE: We'll need a list of
everyone he's been in contact with
on the outside.
Well, I can give that to you now.
No one.
Since his incarceration,
he's become completely
shut off from the world.
No phone calls, no Internet.
Doesn't read his mail.
Not even from admirers.
He's in here.
Now, I'll lead the conversation,
and that way
No. I'll go in by myself.
Um, I'll monitor from
the CCTV system, I have
I'm sure I can handle that myself.
Oh, and the District Attorney
wanted me to convey
her deepest appreciation
for extending us every courtesy.
Good luck, then.
[CHUCKLES]
Kind of you to accept my invitation.
Please, have a seat.
I-I'd pull out your chair, but
[CHAINS RATTLE OVER CCTV]
"Imani Williams."
Now, we both know that's not your name.
It is today.
What's your real name?
This is not a social visit.
If there's anything you know
about the copycat,
now would be the time to share it.
Ah, but names
Names are important.
They convey identity,
culture, heritage.
The story of you in a
a short series of letters.
Which is why my acquired nickname,
"the Grave Digger,"
is such an offense to me.
So write a letter of complaint
to the newspaper who came up with it.
A proper name would've been
the Purifier of Souls.
Because through suffering,
I set women free.
Let's get back
to discussing the copycat
You know the ancient Egyptians,
the Aztecs, the Mayans,
the Greeks, the Romans,
they all had purification rituals.
And each one, each one involved pain.
Mine does, too.
I redeem these vile women.
I liberate their souls!
Okay, okay.
It's clear you you know
nothing about the copycat.
I do hope someone remembers
to feed Veronica's kittens.
They're probably famished by now.
You think they resort to cannibalism?
DANTE: He's right about her pets.
And Robyn,
neither Veronica's name
nor personal info
has been released.
How do you know the victim's name?
Because I picked her.
So you do know the copycat killer.
He's my acolyte.
I've already chosen the next woman
who I shall set free from her sins.
She's out there, right now.
[BELL JINGLES]
Working the late shift.
With no idea
that my acolyte is watching,
waiting for the moment
that he can purify her.
CUSTOMER: Thank you very much.
KYNARD: So that she can
move on to the afterlife cleansed.
Just like all the others.
Do you remember the promise
that I made to you
a year ago, when we first met?
About the crucible of suffering
[LAUGHING]: that I was
gonna put you through?
Well
now it begins.
I will consume the rest of your days,
devour your consciousness.
I will eat at the very core
of your spirit.
Because more women will die.
And this time?
This time, you're powerless to stop me.
Hey.
- You got here fast.
- [DOOR CLOSES]
Well, an active serial killer
is more than enough reason
to break every speed limit in the state.
Any idea on who the acolyte is?
Not yet. Harry, you found any suspects?
I've scrubbed Kynard's phone records,
his emails, his socials,
all before he was captured,
and there's no one
that even comes close to fitting
the profile of his acolyte.
ROBYN: Well, whomever it is,
they're talking to each other.
We just have to figure out how.
Could be a corrections officer.
They've been known
to smuggle in contraband.
One could be moving
messages back and forth
between Kynard and his acolyte.
HARRY: All right.
I'll look for red flags of any COs
that might've had contact with Kynard.
In the meantime, I'm going back in.
What are you seeing?
There's something off about him.
Can't quite put my finger on it, but
he's cocky, I can use that against him.
Also
he's made mistakes in the past.
Maybe I can rattle his cage.
[LAUGHTER]
Um, can I have
some of those truffle fries?
Okay, why are you always
trying to eat off my plate?
Because you always order better than me.
Okay, then go back and get your own.
- Man, we don't have time.
- [LAUGHS]
And don't you have that school meeting?
[SIGHING]: I so don't want to go.
We're teaching underclassmen
tips on getting into college
and I didn't even get
into my safety school,
so what's the point?
Hey. You're still waiting
to hear from other schools.
Yeah, who might reject me, too.
And I have been perfect
these last three years.
I mean, grades, extracurriculars.
And it could've all been for nothing
just because I got arrested
at a protest last year.
Yo!
Cashmere Cam!
- Oh, what's up, man?
- Yo, it's good.
- What's up, D?
- DELILAH: Hey.
Y-You gonna eat those last fries?
No? [LAUGHTER]
- DELILAH: Yes.
- [PHONE CHIMES]
That was my plan. [CHUCKLES]
Yo, Quinshon's throwing a party.
[CHUCKLES UNEASILY]
Wait, who's Quinshon?
TYRESE: This, uh, guy I know.
Little out there.
Okay, but he's throwing a party?
- We should go.
- Yeah, I don't know.
I don't think it's
really a type of party
and don't you got some, like,
nerdy school thing to go to?
- Okay.
- [LAUGHS]
No, I can skip it.
Are you sure about that?
Look, I don't want you
getting in trouble.
Thank you, that is very sweet of you,
but it's cool.
Look, I'll just tell them I'm sick.
Now, come on. Let's go have some fun.
Hey, slow up, Private School.
Quinshon lives in
a kind of sketchy neighborhood.
Look, we can just check out the party,
and if it's too crazy, we'll bounce.
Okay?
- [LAUGHING]:
- Come on.
Let's go.
All right.
All right?
Serial killers.
I know you live in your own
alternative moral universe,
but when you partner up together,
when you become a duo,
I mean, it's just so weird.
How do you even find each other?
Really?
You think I'm just gonna share details
that'll help you identify him?
I'm not an imbecile.
You sure about that?
Because the way I see it,
here you are,
this big, scary serial killer,
and you gave away
your darkest secret to someone.
You gave him all of your power.
You understand nothing.
I molded my acolyte.
I trained him in my art.
- Now he does my bidding.
- [ROBYN LAUGHS]
[LAUGHS]
What?
[LAUGHS] Why are you laughing?
What's so funny?!
[LAUGHING]: You're rotting away in here.
You still thinking
you're running things.
- I am!
- When you were free,
sure, maybe.
But now, the roles are reversed.
Yeah, no, no,
- you're wrong.
- Am I?
The way I see it,
your so-called acolyte
has all the power now.
He can choose to disobey your orders
and walk away.
I bet
soon he will.
No. He will He will never forsake me!
He will never turn his back.
We are kindred spirits.
We're on a mission t
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Nice try.
But you'll never find out
who my acolyte is.
He'll be taking my next victim soon.
And all I want is to see
the look on your face
when you're told that another woman
has been purified.
ROBYN: First of all
- Dr. Vogel.
- [DOOR CLOSES]
- Appreciate you coming.
- VOGEL: So
any progress?
Turns out, someone's been
passing messages back and forth
between the Grave Digger
and the copycat killer on the outside.
MEL: We theorized it was
one of the prison guards.
Really? Do you have any suspects?
No, we cleared them all.
So we started looking
into other employees
that come into contact
with the Grave Digger.
We learned a few things.
DANTE: I'm sure you're
aware of this, Doc,
but we had no idea that only
three out of five inmates
who need mental health care
actually receive it.
MEL: Of those who do,
they only see their
therapist once a month.
But not the Grave Digger.
No, he has sessions
with you at least once a week.
Wait, w-w-wait, wait.
Y-You don't think I'm
Look, I'm not, I'm not his confederate,
I'm just doing research.
Research for what?
Definitive biography
on the Grave Digger.
What else?
Come on. Please.
Believe me, I-I don't want
to help that maniac kill people.
I just want to get published.
Harry, can you verify any of this?
Yeah, well, I just hacked
into the doc's cloud account,
and, yep, he's halfway through
writing a book called
you got to be kidding me
Digging Up the Grave Digger.
Yeah, well,
that-that doesn't necessarily prove
- that he's innocent.
- No.
But it proves he's a terrible writer.
I mean, this is just awful.
Okay. Besides you and the guards,
who has access to Kynard?
No one. He just sits alone
in his prison cell all day.
Every day.
Maybe we're looking
at this the wrong way.
Maybe it's not about
who has access to Kynard
but who has access to his cell.
Doc, is there ever
maintenance or cleaning done?
Once a month, when Kynard
has his daily exercises,
our custodian cleans his cell.
What's his name?
Uh, Ronny
Ronny Lacaraza.
- [TYPING RAPIDLY]
- All right, Ronny Lacaraza.
I'm digging into him now.
Okay, uh, listen to this.
Ronny Lacaraza started making
$5K cash deposits every month
for nearly a year.
That can't be a coincidence.
Where's Ronny now?
Well, his shift ended ten minutes ago.
Hey, what's up, man?
[MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
Good to see you.
MEL: It's him. I'll flank him.
RONNY: This is awesome.
NYPD, Ronny. Don't move.
- [GRUNTS]
- [HORN HONKS]
DRIVER: Hey, watch where you're going!
[GRUNTING]
RONNY: No. [GRUNTS]
[GROANS]
- I didn't do nothing!
- Yeah, except help a serial killer
plan a murder.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, what the hell
are you talking about?
The $5,000 cash deposits
you made at your bank.
Look, I like to play the ponies.
What do you want from me? I'm lucky.
Yeah, try again, but know I'm pulling
prison security footage,
which will show you
playing messenger boy
for the Grave Digger.
All right!
But it's not what you think.
I had no idea that woman
was gonna wind up in a box.
DANTE: Okay,
then what did you know?
You want to help yourself
or take up residence in one
of those prison cells you clean?
All right, okay. Okay, look.
Okay, a while back, I got a call
from a blocked number.
The voice on the other end said,
"You want to make a little
scratch on the side?"
And I'm like, "Hell yes."
He said, "All you got to do
"is put a few notes under
the Grave Digger's mattress
when you're cleaning his cell."
How'd you get the money?
How'd you get the notes?
Did you meet with him?
No, there was a drop spot.
Uh, a bench in Croton Point.
DANTE: That's a huge park
with very few
surveillance cameras. Great.
RONNY: Look, at first I thought
it was a prank, you know?
But then I got curious.
So I went to the bench, and
the money was actually there.
So I was like, "What's the
harm in passing a few notes?"
It's not like the Grave Digger's
gonna get out anytime soon.
But then I hear
about the copycat killing this morning,
and I knew I was screwed.
Did you read any of the notes?
Once.
But it was just a bunch
of random numbers.
Must be an alphanumeric code
Kynard worked out with his acolyte.
We need to get him before
he gets his next victim.
- I'm gonna call Rob.
- Yeah.
You're right.
- [GRUNTING]
- You are screwed.
ROBYN: Copy that.
Bad news.
We got the custodian.
No more communication, no more notes.
You're cut off. Forever.
Doesn't matter.
My acolyte will continue
his work without me.
Wait, what did you say?
"My acolyte will continue
his work?"
I thought you said it was your work.
Of course it is.
The custodian only sent messages
into prison, not out.
You're not giving orders.
You're taking them.
But why would the Grave Digger ever
take commands from someone else?
Doesn't make sense.
Unless
[SLAMS TABLE]
I knew something was off about you.
You're not the Grave Digger.
You're his acolyte.
So what happened a year ago today?
Did the real Grave Digger
allow you to kill?
And you screwed it up!
All that matters
is that you got the wrong guy.
I'll gladly suffer in here
if he can continue his work out there.
[SHUDDERS]
[EXHALES HEAVILY]
Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no.
- MAN: Hey.
- [GASPS]
Oh.
I am so sorry.
Look, I've got a hydraulic car jack
over in my van.
Want help putting on a spare?
Oh, you're such a lifesaver. [CHUCKLES]
Yeah.
Okay. Looks like your friend Quinshon
knows how to throw a party, Tyrese.
Not exactly your kind
of crowd, Private School.
You think you can hang?
Okay, no, you do not know me
well enough to judge me, Tyrese.
Which seems to be a trend these days.
CAM: Hey, are you sure you want to miss
your peer counseling thing, Dee?
I mean, we can still take you.
No, I'm sure, okay?
What I want right now is to have fun.
Yo, who need a refill?
Yo, Ty, my mans.
Good to see you.
Good to see you, Quinshon.
Now, you know my boy Cam.
- QUINSHON: Yeah.
- Yo.
TYRESE: And this is his girl Dee.
Hi.
Any friend of Ty's.
You name it, we got it.
TYRESE: Oh, man, you know my situation.
I got to be on point.
What about y'all two?
Uh, nah, we're
Pour it up.
QUINSHON: All right, come on in.
If Kynard's telling the truth,
the Grave Digger already
has his next victim.
I scrubbed Kynard's socials
and contacts and came up empty
for both an acolyte and a mentor.
So how did these two
psychopaths get together?
Lots of people meet at work.
HARRY: Yeah, that's a good point.
[TYPING] Let's see. Uh,
when he was arrested, Kynard was working
at a landscaping company.
But he doesn't appear
to have crossed paths
with, uh, anybody for any
significant period of time.
What about before
the landscaping company?
Well, before that,
his longest employment was
working as an assistant gardener
for the Winston family.
Why does that name sound familiar?
Because they're loaded.
And because Charles Winston
tried to murder his mother
when he was 13.
DANTE: Yeah,
the family used their money to bury it.
Winston was never charged.
Didn't even go to juvie.
HARRY: Here's a picture of
Madeline Winston, the mother,
when he tried to attack her.
White, dark hair
Just like the Grave Digger's victims.
Harry, what is
Charles Winston doing now?
[TYPING]
Well, that's not what I expected.
Uh, apparently the über-rich son
of one of the city's
most influential families
is hauling bodies around
for the M.E.'s office.
DANTE: Help us out over here?
I saw him.
He was at the crime scene this morning.
It's him.
Charles Winston, he's the Grave Digger.
He tried to kill his mother but failed.
So he's been reenacting
the attempt over and over again
and succeeding.
And Kynard worked
for the Winstons for years.
Long enough for the Grave Digger
to groom his sociopathic tendencies.
Serial killers often
try to involve themselves
in the investigations.
Which is why he works at the morgue.
HARRY: Guys, check this out.
Winston is living with his mother.
Really? After he tried to kill her?
Families, am I right?
But that mean she needs some kind
of a Batcave where he can, you know,
take his victims and do his
branding and boxing ritual.
Something like
this warehouse in Queens,
which is part of his not unsubstantial
real estate portfolio.
- Good work, Harry.
- Checking traffic cams in the area.
Well, nothing screams "serial killer"
- like a panel van.
- ROBYN: Damn.
We need to get to that warehouse.
Now.
[WATER RUNNING]
NYPD! Raise your hands
and turn around slowly!
Hands! Now!
Do it!
Turn around now! I will shoot.
ROBYN: I got him. Check the room.
Well, well. I'm impressed.
Nothing.
MEL: Got a shovel and a tarp.
I had hoped my apprentice
could keep your attention
a little while longer, but
[SIGHS]
it is a pleasure to finally meet you.
Where is she?
Oh, you're too late.
Her soul is already being redeemed.
[GASPS]
[PANICKED BREATHING]
Help!
Please!
Somebody!
[SCREAMS]
MEL: I don't get it.
Why isn't he worried?
Because there's nothing connecting him
to the Grave Digger's earlier victims.
And unless we find
the woman Winston buried,
we don't even have a crime
to accuse him of.
Well, maybe it's time for
a little physical persuasion.
Based on Winston's psychopathy,
he'll resist the pain
long enough to toy with us.
And for the victim's air to run out.
HARRY: Yeah, and about that
given the amount of air that he used
in the canisters
on his previous victims,
the current one's got about
an hour before she suffocates,
at-at best.
ROBYN: Harry, dig into Winston's past.
There may be a traumatic event
in his childhood or early teens.
Knowing what drives him
might help us find her.
- Yeah, yup, you got it.
- [TYPING]
ROBYN: You two go to Winston's house.
Maybe there's something there
that could tell us
where he buries his victims.
What about you?
ROBYN: Well, the Grave Digger
wants me here
to see if he's smarter than me.
- Let's see if he is.
- Be careful.
Winston wants to get inside your head.
Alone at last.
What shall we do?
I figure we could add up our points.
I saved your acolyte's victim, check.
Put Kynard behind bars, check.
Caught the real Grave Digger killer.
Check.
So far, I'm winning at your game.
But I've pinned your queen.
Soon, she'll be free of her suffering
and cleansed of her sins.
Still winning.
Unless you want to try a new game.
MADELINE: How can I help you?
I'm Detective Dante with the NYPD.
We'd like to ask you some
questions about your son Charles.
Very well. You may ask.
Whether or not I answer
remains to be seen.
I suggest you do.
Seven women are dead.
And another one may be soon
because of your son.
I'm sure you've heard of
the Grave Digger, Ms. Winston.
Your son likes
to bury his victims alive.
He's already chosen another woman.
We need to find her
before it's too late.
Don't be ridiculous.
My son isn't burying anyone.
He's a good man.
Good man tried to kill you
when he was 13 years old.
Please. The press made
a scandal out of nothing.
A scandal that you made go away.
You shipped him to military
school, then college.
Seems like you didn't want him around.
Is that a question, Detective?
Just an observation.
Well, hopefully, you also observed
the location of the door.
So you can see yourselves out.
MEL: Actually, Ms. Winston,
we're not done yet.
Offering to play a new game.
That's very clever of you.
We both know I'm clever.
That's why you're tied up
in that chair and I'm not.
Do you know why chess
is considered so beautiful?
It's because of the game's
paradoxical nature.
The path to victory lies in
seemingly disadvantageous moves.
Like sacrificing a pawn
in order to save a queen.
ROBYN: For the next five minutes,
you can ask me whatever you want.
I mean, that's why you set
this whole thing up, right?
So you can find out who I am and
how I was able to outsmart you.
Does seem that you're more
than just lucky.
Which I admit was my assumption
when you caught poor Tyler.
So, tell me,
what makes you who you are?
In return,
I'll answer any of your questions
about my latest angel.
Perhaps that'll even help you find her.
Deal.
But I won't be asking you
anything about your victim.
I'll be asking about you.
MADELINE: I already told you.
My son had nothing to do
with those women.
I have no idea
what you expect to find in here.
Clearly, I won't be donating to
the policemen's gala going forward.
I'm sure we'll survive.
[DOOR OPENS]
Your
30-year-old son sleeps here?
MADELINE: Of course.
This is Charles's room.
It's always been his room.
CHARLES: What to play,
for my opening gambit?
How about
I know you're the vigilante
that I read about in the newspaper?
[CHUCKLES]
Oh, I'm right, aren't I?
So
what brought about
this hero complex, I wonder?
If the papers are correct,
you exact justice by killing people.
But is justice your reason, or
is it an excuse?
The two of us have
so very much in common.
We both decide who lives or who dies.
Except I help people.
I don't make them suffer
in some crazy-ass attempt
to purify them.
And I'm not killing my mother
over and over and over again
because I didn't get it right
the first time.
Oh.
No.
You have got that all wrong.
The maid was more of a mother to me
than that woman ever was.
And I am certainly not trying
to kill her over and over again.
And I am not making
my chosen ones suffer,
I am allowing them to suffer
in order to cleanse them of their sins
and free them to reach the other side.
HARRY: Rob, still digging
through his childhood
to see if there's anything
that might've traumatized him.
So, what are you waiting for?
I believe it's your move.
I was young.
I was overseas in a dangerous country.
There was a border
I was told not to cross.
I was nearly killed.
But I was rescued by a family.
At great
risk to themselves.
That family was killed.
'Cause they helped me.
And I have to live
with that guilt every day.
That's why I do what I do.
Lies.
You're lying.
That is a lie!
You broke the rules.
Game over.
Help! [SOBS]
[WEAKLY]: Please.
- Harry, tell me you got something.
- HARRY: I wish I could.
I-I mean, Charles Winston
was a model child.
No known behavioral issues at all
until the day he attacks his mother.
And after that?
HARRY: After that, he goes to
military school, he goes to college.
No known incidents
or suspicious behavior.
Then, after his father dies,
he moves in with his mother,
gets a job at the M.E.'s,
and his boss said he never
put a foot out of place.
Damn.
Okay, so what now?
Now I'm gonna give him what he wants.
[SIGHS] A piece of me.
- [BEEPS]
- [STATIC CRACKLES]
[COMMS CHIRP]
Rob? Rob?
What-What's going on?
[SIGHS] Okay.
I'm gonna tell you the truth.
What happened to me and why I
Why you have a hero's complex?
I believe our five minutes are up.
Besides, why would I believe you now?
Because you know
I want to save that woman.
The one you're killing.
Purifying.
But
But continue.
I really was
in a dangerous country.
My partner and I were on a mission.
It went south.
And I had a choice to
save my partner
or complete the mission.
I saved hundreds
of innocent lives that day.
But not his.
You left him?
You left someone
who trusted you
in order to help people
that you don't even know?
How could you?
Oh, you're afraid that it'll
happen again, aren't you?
That your need to help people
will force you to sacrifice
the ones that are closest to you.
I left him.
I left?
That's your trigger.
You were shipped off
to military school, left.
Is that why you tried
to kill your mother?
Wait.
No, you said the maid
was more of a mother to you.
[COMMS CHIRP]
Harry, I need to know
everything there is
about the Winston family maid.
She would have worked
for them around the time
Charles attacked his mother.
I got her. Uh, Andrea Aguilar.
She left her job,
returned to El Salvador
right before Winston
tried to kill his mother.
MADELINE: Andrea the maid?
I fired her.
She was a bad influence.
Dragging Charles out
at all hours of the night,
claiming they were looking at the stars.
As if I believed that.
You mind turning off the light?
ROBYN:
Your mother fired the maid.
That's why you attacked her.
She took away someone
you loved and trusted.
Andrea didn't abandon you
Yes, she did.
She left me there.
DANTE: Robyn, it's stars.
The maid used to take Winston
out at night to see the stars.
- ROBYN: Harry?
- Okay. Yeah, yeah.
I'm cross-referencing
popular stargazing locations
with the burial sites
where Winston put his victims.
Um
Okay, they're a match.
A-And Rob, that five-pointed asterisk
that the Grave Digger uses
to brand his victims with?
That's sometimes a symbol for astronomy.
The police never made the connection.
The Grave Digger chose parks
where stargazing is popular.
Maybe even parks
where the maid took him.
Yeah, and based on the timeline
of the latest victim
and the distance from the warehouse,
there's only one possibility.
I'm sending Mel and Dante the address,
but you guys got to hurry.
DANTE: There!
The ground's been disturbed.
[GRUNTING]
[THUDS AGAINST WOOD]
- I got it.
- Yeah?
All right. All right.
Oh, thank God. Okay.
She's alive.
Rob, she's alive.
Checkmate.
[DOORBELL RINGING]
- [DELILAH LAUGHS]
- [CAM SHUSHING]
- DELILAH: I'm fine, I'm fine.
- CAM: No, you're not fine.
[DELILAH CHUCKLES]
Hi, Auntie.
Well, looks like someone
had quite the evening.
I-I, I am so sorry.
This, this is all my fault.
I-I wanted to go to a party, and,
and I convinced Dee
VI: I sincerely doubt that,
since she seems to be the only one
who's actually partied.
May I ask you to help her inside?
Mm-mm. No.
I can walk by myself.
Thank you so much, Cam,
for being such a gentleman
and bringing Dee home safely,
but you can run along now.
I have it from here.
CAM: Okay. Good night.
[DELILAH GIGGLES]
Here you go.
- Mm. Um
- Mmm.
Careful.
I hope you're not gonna vomit
'cause I am not down for that.
I'm not gonna vomit. I'm fine.
Mm-hmm.
I'm sure you're doing just fine,
but you are certainly
acting out of character.
[SETS GLASS DOWN]
So
Would you care to tell me
what's going on with you?
Like, what-what Wh-What if this is
my new "character," okay?
I am tired of being "Dull-lilah."
Oh, not that again, please.
I did everything right.
Good grades, good behavior,
extracurriculars,
and look at where it got me.
I stepped out of the line one time.
If that's enough to just wipe away
all the good things,
then what's the point?
Aw, honey.
I'm so sorry.
I know how hard rejection can be.
But
sometimes life just doesn't go
the way you want it to.
You know, that safety school
rejected you
because they thought
that getting arrested
meant you weren't the kind of student
that they wanted on their campus.
And they were wrong.
You made such a brave choice.
But actions have consequences.
And you're either going to be
the victim of your choices,
or you're going to own them.
And that is what adulting is.
It is having the courage to stand
in your own beliefs.
Instead of wallowing in self-pity.
I really am sorry.
I know.
[LAUGHS] And you
are gonna be even sorrier
when you wake up in the morning.
What are you gonna tell Mom?
Oh, I'm not gonna tell
your mother anything.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
You are.
And that, my darling,
is gonna take some courage.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
- Mm-hmm.
- Please, no.
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
I did enjoy our game while it lasted.
You know, the thing about the memories
that we bury the deepest?
Once we dig them up,
it's hard to force them
back into the grave.
They have a tendency
to stick around and haunt you.
- OFFICER: Let's go.
- OFFICER 2: You heard him.
What was that all about?
Nothing.
Just a little story I made up
to get him to talk.
Must've been a good one.
Beat him at his own game.
He won't be hurting any more women.
Good.
Previously on The Equalizer
Don't move.
Why are you cuffing me? What did I do?
You're under arrest for disorderly
conduct, and disturbing the peace.
- It's finally here.
- [SQUEALS] What's here?
My letter from Hartstone U.
"Dear Delilah, unfortunately,
we are unable to offer you
a seat in our freshman class."
Come here, baby. I'm sorry.
I reached out to Hartstone's
admissions office.
They've been conducting
social media checks
on their incoming candidates.
You think they saw
your arrest at that protest?
I'm sorry.
[INSECTS TRILLING]
♪
Any sign of them?
No.
Harry, you got anything?
HARRY: Nothing.
I've hacked every damn camera
in the area,
and all I've got
is the Grave Digger's van
driving into the park.
Wait
I got eyes on the van.
But no sign of the target.
He's already dug the grave
and put the coffin in it.
MEL: I'm going to your side of the park.
I'll be there in ten minutes.
She might not have that much time.
I'm going in.
- HALEY: Help me!
- [POUNDING ON LID]
I'm in here, I'm in here!
ROBYN: Haley, it's okay. I'm coming.
HALEY: I can't breathe.
- [ROBYN GRUNTING]
- HALEY: Please hurry!
[GRUNTING]
Help! Help me!
[POUNDING ON COFFIN LID]
[GRUNTS]
Help!
[HALEY GASPS]
ROBYN: It's okay. Just sit down.
Sit down. Sit down. Okay.
[GASPING, SOBBING]
Catch your breath.
There you go. You're okay.
[KYNARD LAUGHING]
What the hell are you smiling at?
Nothing special.
I'm just thinking about
the crucible of suffering
I'm gonna put you through.
ROBYN: Really?
Well, considering you're gonna
spend the rest of your life
in a prison cell,
that'll be a neat little magic trick.
Abracadabra.
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Hey, Dante. Appreciate you coming.
Yeah. No problem.
So what's with all the urgency?
Park worker found it this morning.
Someone had dug up the ground,
so he got a shovel and, uh,
what you see is what you get.
Name's Veronica Finch.
Last seen around midnight after
leaving her job at a bodega.
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING]
See her hands?
Bruised and bloody.
Fingernails are broken off.
She was trying to claw her way out.
That oxygen tank kept
her alive for hours
as she did.
It's the Gravedigger's MO, right?
That freak who killed all those women?
Help us out over here?
Lift her up.
The Grave Digger branded his victims
with a five-point asterisk brand
on their right shoulder.
SAWICKI: I don't get this.
I thought you put
that bastard away in prison.
DANTE: Had a little help, but yeah.
That was exactly one year ago today.
It appears that
a copycat killer has decided
to mark the occasion.
♪
Oh. Found it.
- Profile on Cezanne?
- Yeah, yeah.
[GASPS] Magnifique.
Thank you, my darling.
- This is kinda fun.
- Yep.
Aunt Vi, what you got going on?
My dear friend, Simone Sliger
"Dear friend"? Your nemesis?
Nonsense.
I mean, we-we had
a brief rivalry in the '90s,
but we're past that now.
Anyway, she's asked me
to substitute teach her class
on French art of the 1800s,
and I have not studied
Post-Impressionism
since I left Berkeley.
Did you tell Simone that?
Of course not. She's my nemesis.
[LAUGHS] Well,
I wouldn't stress about it.
I mean, you can fake your way
through any details
you may've forgotten.
Did you say "fake it"?
My darling,
life, like art, should never be faked.
"We are seeking, we are striving,
we are in it with all our hearts."
You know who said that?
Vincent Van Gogh, Post-Impressionist
Did he actually say that, honey?
Uh
Vincent, Vincent, Vincent
- Yes, he did.
- [LAUGHS]
I am gonna crush this tonight!
ROBYN: I have no doubt.
VI: By the way, uh,
class is gonna go late.
You are both on your own for dinner.
Oh, yes, um, speaking of, Mom,
I have to go back to school
for a Peer Ear meeting at 7:00,
so is it cool if I grab a bite
to eat with Cam beforehand?
- [CHUCKLES] Yeah. Have fun.
- [PHONE CHIMES]
Thanks.
I got to go.
Dante wants to meet with me.
Oh. Does he, now?
You know, maybe your boyfriend
is surprising you with a date night.
Mm-mm.
- We're not doing that.
- DELILAH: No?
ROBYN: No.
Mm-mm.
The methodology of the murder is
the same as the Grave Digger's.
Hold on. Same as?
Similar? Or are we talking identical?
It's a perfect match.
The victim, Veronica Finch,
is a 20-something white woman
with dark hair,
abducted after working a late shift,
an asterisk brand seared into
the flesh of her right shoulder.
Found in a plain pine box?
And buried in a public park
with an oxygen tank
holding two hours of air.
Who the hell would mimic
the Grave Digger's murders?
Most likely some weak-willed psychopath
seeking empowerment.
By going all twisted fanboy
and imitating
their favorite serial killer?
Exactly that.
And now that this copycat
has had a taste,
they won't stop.
There'll be more victims.
Standard procedure in a copycat
is to question the original murderer
on the ever-so-slim chance
they might know something.
You went upstate to visit
Tyler Ray Kynard?
I did.
What did the Grave Digger have to say?
That he knows who the copycat killer is.
But he's only willing to tell
the woman who took him down.
Or he's lying,
and just wants to mess with me.
Probably. But you never know.
And here I thought you texted me
to take me on a date.
Rain check.
[EXHALES] All right, well,
come on, let's get this over with.
[LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- Ah, our special guests.
- [GATE CLOSES]
Dr. Vogel, prison psychiatrist.
You were here earlier, Detective.
I understand you had a brief
visit with the Grave Digger.
Didn't give you much, did he?
So, what, now you've brought backup?
This is Imani Williams.
She's a criminologist and profiler
who consults with the NYPD.
Nice to meet you.
You as well, Ms. Williams.
Though the good detective
might've saved you the trip
if he had me join his initial interview.
Over the past year, I've
conducted dozens of sessions
with Tyler Ray Kynard
and we've developed a rapport.
I'm bit an expert on all things
Grave Digger-related.
Did he mention anything
about a copycat killer?
Uh No, I'm afraid not.
DANTE: We'll need a list of
everyone he's been in contact with
on the outside.
Well, I can give that to you now.
No one.
Since his incarceration,
he's become completely
shut off from the world.
No phone calls, no Internet.
Doesn't read his mail.
Not even from admirers.
He's in here.
Now, I'll lead the conversation,
and that way
No. I'll go in by myself.
Um, I'll monitor from
the CCTV system, I have
I'm sure I can handle that myself.
Oh, and the District Attorney
wanted me to convey
her deepest appreciation
for extending us every courtesy.
Good luck, then.
[CHUCKLES]
Kind of you to accept my invitation.
Please, have a seat.
I-I'd pull out your chair, but
[CHAINS RATTLE OVER CCTV]
"Imani Williams."
Now, we both know that's not your name.
It is today.
What's your real name?
This is not a social visit.
If there's anything you know
about the copycat,
now would be the time to share it.
Ah, but names
Names are important.
They convey identity,
culture, heritage.
The story of you in a
a short series of letters.
Which is why my acquired nickname,
"the Grave Digger,"
is such an offense to me.
So write a letter of complaint
to the newspaper who came up with it.
A proper name would've been
the Purifier of Souls.
Because through suffering,
I set women free.
Let's get back
to discussing the copycat
You know the ancient Egyptians,
the Aztecs, the Mayans,
the Greeks, the Romans,
they all had purification rituals.
And each one, each one involved pain.
Mine does, too.
I redeem these vile women.
I liberate their souls!
Okay, okay.
It's clear you you know
nothing about the copycat.
I do hope someone remembers
to feed Veronica's kittens.
They're probably famished by now.
You think they resort to cannibalism?
DANTE: He's right about her pets.
And Robyn,
neither Veronica's name
nor personal info
has been released.
How do you know the victim's name?
Because I picked her.
So you do know the copycat killer.
He's my acolyte.
I've already chosen the next woman
who I shall set free from her sins.
She's out there, right now.
[BELL JINGLES]
Working the late shift.
With no idea
that my acolyte is watching,
waiting for the moment
that he can purify her.
CUSTOMER: Thank you very much.
KYNARD: So that she can
move on to the afterlife cleansed.
Just like all the others.
Do you remember the promise
that I made to you
a year ago, when we first met?
About the crucible of suffering
[LAUGHING]: that I was
gonna put you through?
Well
now it begins.
I will consume the rest of your days,
devour your consciousness.
I will eat at the very core
of your spirit.
Because more women will die.
And this time?
This time, you're powerless to stop me.
Hey.
- You got here fast.
- [DOOR CLOSES]
Well, an active serial killer
is more than enough reason
to break every speed limit in the state.
Any idea on who the acolyte is?
Not yet. Harry, you found any suspects?
I've scrubbed Kynard's phone records,
his emails, his socials,
all before he was captured,
and there's no one
that even comes close to fitting
the profile of his acolyte.
ROBYN: Well, whomever it is,
they're talking to each other.
We just have to figure out how.
Could be a corrections officer.
They've been known
to smuggle in contraband.
One could be moving
messages back and forth
between Kynard and his acolyte.
HARRY: All right.
I'll look for red flags of any COs
that might've had contact with Kynard.
In the meantime, I'm going back in.
What are you seeing?
There's something off about him.
Can't quite put my finger on it, but
he's cocky, I can use that against him.
Also
he's made mistakes in the past.
Maybe I can rattle his cage.
[LAUGHTER]
Um, can I have
some of those truffle fries?
Okay, why are you always
trying to eat off my plate?
Because you always order better than me.
Okay, then go back and get your own.
- Man, we don't have time.
- [LAUGHS]
And don't you have that school meeting?
[SIGHING]: I so don't want to go.
We're teaching underclassmen
tips on getting into college
and I didn't even get
into my safety school,
so what's the point?
Hey. You're still waiting
to hear from other schools.
Yeah, who might reject me, too.
And I have been perfect
these last three years.
I mean, grades, extracurriculars.
And it could've all been for nothing
just because I got arrested
at a protest last year.
Yo!
Cashmere Cam!
- Oh, what's up, man?
- Yo, it's good.
- What's up, D?
- DELILAH: Hey.
Y-You gonna eat those last fries?
No? [LAUGHTER]
- DELILAH: Yes.
- [PHONE CHIMES]
That was my plan. [CHUCKLES]
Yo, Quinshon's throwing a party.
[CHUCKLES UNEASILY]
Wait, who's Quinshon?
TYRESE: This, uh, guy I know.
Little out there.
Okay, but he's throwing a party?
- We should go.
- Yeah, I don't know.
I don't think it's
really a type of party
and don't you got some, like,
nerdy school thing to go to?
- Okay.
- [LAUGHS]
No, I can skip it.
Are you sure about that?
Look, I don't want you
getting in trouble.
Thank you, that is very sweet of you,
but it's cool.
Look, I'll just tell them I'm sick.
Now, come on. Let's go have some fun.
Hey, slow up, Private School.
Quinshon lives in
a kind of sketchy neighborhood.
Look, we can just check out the party,
and if it's too crazy, we'll bounce.
Okay?
- [LAUGHING]:
- Come on.
Let's go.
All right.
All right?
Serial killers.
I know you live in your own
alternative moral universe,
but when you partner up together,
when you become a duo,
I mean, it's just so weird.
How do you even find each other?
Really?
You think I'm just gonna share details
that'll help you identify him?
I'm not an imbecile.
You sure about that?
Because the way I see it,
here you are,
this big, scary serial killer,
and you gave away
your darkest secret to someone.
You gave him all of your power.
You understand nothing.
I molded my acolyte.
I trained him in my art.
- Now he does my bidding.
- [ROBYN LAUGHS]
[LAUGHS]
What?
[LAUGHS] Why are you laughing?
What's so funny?!
[LAUGHING]: You're rotting away in here.
You still thinking
you're running things.
- I am!
- When you were free,
sure, maybe.
But now, the roles are reversed.
Yeah, no, no,
- you're wrong.
- Am I?
The way I see it,
your so-called acolyte
has all the power now.
He can choose to disobey your orders
and walk away.
I bet
soon he will.
No. He will He will never forsake me!
He will never turn his back.
We are kindred spirits.
We're on a mission t
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Nice try.
But you'll never find out
who my acolyte is.
He'll be taking my next victim soon.
And all I want is to see
the look on your face
when you're told that another woman
has been purified.
ROBYN: First of all
- Dr. Vogel.
- [DOOR CLOSES]
- Appreciate you coming.
- VOGEL: So
any progress?
Turns out, someone's been
passing messages back and forth
between the Grave Digger
and the copycat killer on the outside.
MEL: We theorized it was
one of the prison guards.
Really? Do you have any suspects?
No, we cleared them all.
So we started looking
into other employees
that come into contact
with the Grave Digger.
We learned a few things.
DANTE: I'm sure you're
aware of this, Doc,
but we had no idea that only
three out of five inmates
who need mental health care
actually receive it.
MEL: Of those who do,
they only see their
therapist once a month.
But not the Grave Digger.
No, he has sessions
with you at least once a week.
Wait, w-w-wait, wait.
Y-You don't think I'm
Look, I'm not, I'm not his confederate,
I'm just doing research.
Research for what?
Definitive biography
on the Grave Digger.
What else?
Come on. Please.
Believe me, I-I don't want
to help that maniac kill people.
I just want to get published.
Harry, can you verify any of this?
Yeah, well, I just hacked
into the doc's cloud account,
and, yep, he's halfway through
writing a book called
you got to be kidding me
Digging Up the Grave Digger.
Yeah, well,
that-that doesn't necessarily prove
- that he's innocent.
- No.
But it proves he's a terrible writer.
I mean, this is just awful.
Okay. Besides you and the guards,
who has access to Kynard?
No one. He just sits alone
in his prison cell all day.
Every day.
Maybe we're looking
at this the wrong way.
Maybe it's not about
who has access to Kynard
but who has access to his cell.
Doc, is there ever
maintenance or cleaning done?
Once a month, when Kynard
has his daily exercises,
our custodian cleans his cell.
What's his name?
Uh, Ronny
Ronny Lacaraza.
- [TYPING RAPIDLY]
- All right, Ronny Lacaraza.
I'm digging into him now.
Okay, uh, listen to this.
Ronny Lacaraza started making
$5K cash deposits every month
for nearly a year.
That can't be a coincidence.
Where's Ronny now?
Well, his shift ended ten minutes ago.
Hey, what's up, man?
[MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
Good to see you.
MEL: It's him. I'll flank him.
RONNY: This is awesome.
NYPD, Ronny. Don't move.
- [GRUNTS]
- [HORN HONKS]
DRIVER: Hey, watch where you're going!
[GRUNTING]
RONNY: No. [GRUNTS]
[GROANS]
- I didn't do nothing!
- Yeah, except help a serial killer
plan a murder.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, what the hell
are you talking about?
The $5,000 cash deposits
you made at your bank.
Look, I like to play the ponies.
What do you want from me? I'm lucky.
Yeah, try again, but know I'm pulling
prison security footage,
which will show you
playing messenger boy
for the Grave Digger.
All right!
But it's not what you think.
I had no idea that woman
was gonna wind up in a box.
DANTE: Okay,
then what did you know?
You want to help yourself
or take up residence in one
of those prison cells you clean?
All right, okay. Okay, look.
Okay, a while back, I got a call
from a blocked number.
The voice on the other end said,
"You want to make a little
scratch on the side?"
And I'm like, "Hell yes."
He said, "All you got to do
"is put a few notes under
the Grave Digger's mattress
when you're cleaning his cell."
How'd you get the money?
How'd you get the notes?
Did you meet with him?
No, there was a drop spot.
Uh, a bench in Croton Point.
DANTE: That's a huge park
with very few
surveillance cameras. Great.
RONNY: Look, at first I thought
it was a prank, you know?
But then I got curious.
So I went to the bench, and
the money was actually there.
So I was like, "What's the
harm in passing a few notes?"
It's not like the Grave Digger's
gonna get out anytime soon.
But then I hear
about the copycat killing this morning,
and I knew I was screwed.
Did you read any of the notes?
Once.
But it was just a bunch
of random numbers.
Must be an alphanumeric code
Kynard worked out with his acolyte.
We need to get him before
he gets his next victim.
- I'm gonna call Rob.
- Yeah.
You're right.
- [GRUNTING]
- You are screwed.
ROBYN: Copy that.
Bad news.
We got the custodian.
No more communication, no more notes.
You're cut off. Forever.
Doesn't matter.
My acolyte will continue
his work without me.
Wait, what did you say?
"My acolyte will continue
his work?"
I thought you said it was your work.
Of course it is.
The custodian only sent messages
into prison, not out.
You're not giving orders.
You're taking them.
But why would the Grave Digger ever
take commands from someone else?
Doesn't make sense.
Unless
[SLAMS TABLE]
I knew something was off about you.
You're not the Grave Digger.
You're his acolyte.
So what happened a year ago today?
Did the real Grave Digger
allow you to kill?
And you screwed it up!
All that matters
is that you got the wrong guy.
I'll gladly suffer in here
if he can continue his work out there.
[SHUDDERS]
[EXHALES HEAVILY]
Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no.
- MAN: Hey.
- [GASPS]
Oh.
I am so sorry.
Look, I've got a hydraulic car jack
over in my van.
Want help putting on a spare?
Oh, you're such a lifesaver. [CHUCKLES]
Yeah.
Okay. Looks like your friend Quinshon
knows how to throw a party, Tyrese.
Not exactly your kind
of crowd, Private School.
You think you can hang?
Okay, no, you do not know me
well enough to judge me, Tyrese.
Which seems to be a trend these days.
CAM: Hey, are you sure you want to miss
your peer counseling thing, Dee?
I mean, we can still take you.
No, I'm sure, okay?
What I want right now is to have fun.
Yo, who need a refill?
Yo, Ty, my mans.
Good to see you.
Good to see you, Quinshon.
Now, you know my boy Cam.
- QUINSHON: Yeah.
- Yo.
TYRESE: And this is his girl Dee.
Hi.
Any friend of Ty's.
You name it, we got it.
TYRESE: Oh, man, you know my situation.
I got to be on point.
What about y'all two?
Uh, nah, we're
Pour it up.
QUINSHON: All right, come on in.
If Kynard's telling the truth,
the Grave Digger already
has his next victim.
I scrubbed Kynard's socials
and contacts and came up empty
for both an acolyte and a mentor.
So how did these two
psychopaths get together?
Lots of people meet at work.
HARRY: Yeah, that's a good point.
[TYPING] Let's see. Uh,
when he was arrested, Kynard was working
at a landscaping company.
But he doesn't appear
to have crossed paths
with, uh, anybody for any
significant period of time.
What about before
the landscaping company?
Well, before that,
his longest employment was
working as an assistant gardener
for the Winston family.
Why does that name sound familiar?
Because they're loaded.
And because Charles Winston
tried to murder his mother
when he was 13.
DANTE: Yeah,
the family used their money to bury it.
Winston was never charged.
Didn't even go to juvie.
HARRY: Here's a picture of
Madeline Winston, the mother,
when he tried to attack her.
White, dark hair
Just like the Grave Digger's victims.
Harry, what is
Charles Winston doing now?
[TYPING]
Well, that's not what I expected.
Uh, apparently the über-rich son
of one of the city's
most influential families
is hauling bodies around
for the M.E.'s office.
DANTE: Help us out over here?
I saw him.
He was at the crime scene this morning.
It's him.
Charles Winston, he's the Grave Digger.
He tried to kill his mother but failed.
So he's been reenacting
the attempt over and over again
and succeeding.
And Kynard worked
for the Winstons for years.
Long enough for the Grave Digger
to groom his sociopathic tendencies.
Serial killers often
try to involve themselves
in the investigations.
Which is why he works at the morgue.
HARRY: Guys, check this out.
Winston is living with his mother.
Really? After he tried to kill her?
Families, am I right?
But that mean she needs some kind
of a Batcave where he can, you know,
take his victims and do his
branding and boxing ritual.
Something like
this warehouse in Queens,
which is part of his not unsubstantial
real estate portfolio.
- Good work, Harry.
- Checking traffic cams in the area.
Well, nothing screams "serial killer"
- like a panel van.
- ROBYN: Damn.
We need to get to that warehouse.
Now.
[WATER RUNNING]
NYPD! Raise your hands
and turn around slowly!
Hands! Now!
Do it!
Turn around now! I will shoot.
ROBYN: I got him. Check the room.
Well, well. I'm impressed.
Nothing.
MEL: Got a shovel and a tarp.
I had hoped my apprentice
could keep your attention
a little while longer, but
[SIGHS]
it is a pleasure to finally meet you.
Where is she?
Oh, you're too late.
Her soul is already being redeemed.
[GASPS]
[PANICKED BREATHING]
Help!
Please!
Somebody!
[SCREAMS]
MEL: I don't get it.
Why isn't he worried?
Because there's nothing connecting him
to the Grave Digger's earlier victims.
And unless we find
the woman Winston buried,
we don't even have a crime
to accuse him of.
Well, maybe it's time for
a little physical persuasion.
Based on Winston's psychopathy,
he'll resist the pain
long enough to toy with us.
And for the victim's air to run out.
HARRY: Yeah, and about that
given the amount of air that he used
in the canisters
on his previous victims,
the current one's got about
an hour before she suffocates,
at-at best.
ROBYN: Harry, dig into Winston's past.
There may be a traumatic event
in his childhood or early teens.
Knowing what drives him
might help us find her.
- Yeah, yup, you got it.
- [TYPING]
ROBYN: You two go to Winston's house.
Maybe there's something there
that could tell us
where he buries his victims.
What about you?
ROBYN: Well, the Grave Digger
wants me here
to see if he's smarter than me.
- Let's see if he is.
- Be careful.
Winston wants to get inside your head.
Alone at last.
What shall we do?
I figure we could add up our points.
I saved your acolyte's victim, check.
Put Kynard behind bars, check.
Caught the real Grave Digger killer.
Check.
So far, I'm winning at your game.
But I've pinned your queen.
Soon, she'll be free of her suffering
and cleansed of her sins.
Still winning.
Unless you want to try a new game.
MADELINE: How can I help you?
I'm Detective Dante with the NYPD.
We'd like to ask you some
questions about your son Charles.
Very well. You may ask.
Whether or not I answer
remains to be seen.
I suggest you do.
Seven women are dead.
And another one may be soon
because of your son.
I'm sure you've heard of
the Grave Digger, Ms. Winston.
Your son likes
to bury his victims alive.
He's already chosen another woman.
We need to find her
before it's too late.
Don't be ridiculous.
My son isn't burying anyone.
He's a good man.
Good man tried to kill you
when he was 13 years old.
Please. The press made
a scandal out of nothing.
A scandal that you made go away.
You shipped him to military
school, then college.
Seems like you didn't want him around.
Is that a question, Detective?
Just an observation.
Well, hopefully, you also observed
the location of the door.
So you can see yourselves out.
MEL: Actually, Ms. Winston,
we're not done yet.
Offering to play a new game.
That's very clever of you.
We both know I'm clever.
That's why you're tied up
in that chair and I'm not.
Do you know why chess
is considered so beautiful?
It's because of the game's
paradoxical nature.
The path to victory lies in
seemingly disadvantageous moves.
Like sacrificing a pawn
in order to save a queen.
ROBYN: For the next five minutes,
you can ask me whatever you want.
I mean, that's why you set
this whole thing up, right?
So you can find out who I am and
how I was able to outsmart you.
Does seem that you're more
than just lucky.
Which I admit was my assumption
when you caught poor Tyler.
So, tell me,
what makes you who you are?
In return,
I'll answer any of your questions
about my latest angel.
Perhaps that'll even help you find her.
Deal.
But I won't be asking you
anything about your victim.
I'll be asking about you.
MADELINE: I already told you.
My son had nothing to do
with those women.
I have no idea
what you expect to find in here.
Clearly, I won't be donating to
the policemen's gala going forward.
I'm sure we'll survive.
[DOOR OPENS]
Your
30-year-old son sleeps here?
MADELINE: Of course.
This is Charles's room.
It's always been his room.
CHARLES: What to play,
for my opening gambit?
How about
I know you're the vigilante
that I read about in the newspaper?
[CHUCKLES]
Oh, I'm right, aren't I?
So
what brought about
this hero complex, I wonder?
If the papers are correct,
you exact justice by killing people.
But is justice your reason, or
is it an excuse?
The two of us have
so very much in common.
We both decide who lives or who dies.
Except I help people.
I don't make them suffer
in some crazy-ass attempt
to purify them.
And I'm not killing my mother
over and over and over again
because I didn't get it right
the first time.
Oh.
No.
You have got that all wrong.
The maid was more of a mother to me
than that woman ever was.
And I am certainly not trying
to kill her over and over again.
And I am not making
my chosen ones suffer,
I am allowing them to suffer
in order to cleanse them of their sins
and free them to reach the other side.
HARRY: Rob, still digging
through his childhood
to see if there's anything
that might've traumatized him.
So, what are you waiting for?
I believe it's your move.
I was young.
I was overseas in a dangerous country.
There was a border
I was told not to cross.
I was nearly killed.
But I was rescued by a family.
At great
risk to themselves.
That family was killed.
'Cause they helped me.
And I have to live
with that guilt every day.
That's why I do what I do.
Lies.
You're lying.
That is a lie!
You broke the rules.
Game over.
Help! [SOBS]
[WEAKLY]: Please.
- Harry, tell me you got something.
- HARRY: I wish I could.
I-I mean, Charles Winston
was a model child.
No known behavioral issues at all
until the day he attacks his mother.
And after that?
HARRY: After that, he goes to
military school, he goes to college.
No known incidents
or suspicious behavior.
Then, after his father dies,
he moves in with his mother,
gets a job at the M.E.'s,
and his boss said he never
put a foot out of place.
Damn.
Okay, so what now?
Now I'm gonna give him what he wants.
[SIGHS] A piece of me.
- [BEEPS]
- [STATIC CRACKLES]
[COMMS CHIRP]
Rob? Rob?
What-What's going on?
[SIGHS] Okay.
I'm gonna tell you the truth.
What happened to me and why I
Why you have a hero's complex?
I believe our five minutes are up.
Besides, why would I believe you now?
Because you know
I want to save that woman.
The one you're killing.
Purifying.
But
But continue.
I really was
in a dangerous country.
My partner and I were on a mission.
It went south.
And I had a choice to
save my partner
or complete the mission.
I saved hundreds
of innocent lives that day.
But not his.
You left him?
You left someone
who trusted you
in order to help people
that you don't even know?
How could you?
Oh, you're afraid that it'll
happen again, aren't you?
That your need to help people
will force you to sacrifice
the ones that are closest to you.
I left him.
I left?
That's your trigger.
You were shipped off
to military school, left.
Is that why you tried
to kill your mother?
Wait.
No, you said the maid
was more of a mother to you.
[COMMS CHIRP]
Harry, I need to know
everything there is
about the Winston family maid.
She would have worked
for them around the time
Charles attacked his mother.
I got her. Uh, Andrea Aguilar.
She left her job,
returned to El Salvador
right before Winston
tried to kill his mother.
MADELINE: Andrea the maid?
I fired her.
She was a bad influence.
Dragging Charles out
at all hours of the night,
claiming they were looking at the stars.
As if I believed that.
You mind turning off the light?
ROBYN:
Your mother fired the maid.
That's why you attacked her.
She took away someone
you loved and trusted.
Andrea didn't abandon you
Yes, she did.
She left me there.
DANTE: Robyn, it's stars.
The maid used to take Winston
out at night to see the stars.
- ROBYN: Harry?
- Okay. Yeah, yeah.
I'm cross-referencing
popular stargazing locations
with the burial sites
where Winston put his victims.
Um
Okay, they're a match.
A-And Rob, that five-pointed asterisk
that the Grave Digger uses
to brand his victims with?
That's sometimes a symbol for astronomy.
The police never made the connection.
The Grave Digger chose parks
where stargazing is popular.
Maybe even parks
where the maid took him.
Yeah, and based on the timeline
of the latest victim
and the distance from the warehouse,
there's only one possibility.
I'm sending Mel and Dante the address,
but you guys got to hurry.
DANTE: There!
The ground's been disturbed.
[GRUNTING]
[THUDS AGAINST WOOD]
- I got it.
- Yeah?
All right. All right.
Oh, thank God. Okay.
She's alive.
Rob, she's alive.
Checkmate.
[DOORBELL RINGING]
- [DELILAH LAUGHS]
- [CAM SHUSHING]
- DELILAH: I'm fine, I'm fine.
- CAM: No, you're not fine.
[DELILAH CHUCKLES]
Hi, Auntie.
Well, looks like someone
had quite the evening.
I-I, I am so sorry.
This, this is all my fault.
I-I wanted to go to a party, and,
and I convinced Dee
VI: I sincerely doubt that,
since she seems to be the only one
who's actually partied.
May I ask you to help her inside?
Mm-mm. No.
I can walk by myself.
Thank you so much, Cam,
for being such a gentleman
and bringing Dee home safely,
but you can run along now.
I have it from here.
CAM: Okay. Good night.
[DELILAH GIGGLES]
Here you go.
- Mm. Um
- Mmm.
Careful.
I hope you're not gonna vomit
'cause I am not down for that.
I'm not gonna vomit. I'm fine.
Mm-hmm.
I'm sure you're doing just fine,
but you are certainly
acting out of character.
[SETS GLASS DOWN]
So
Would you care to tell me
what's going on with you?
Like, what-what Wh-What if this is
my new "character," okay?
I am tired of being "Dull-lilah."
Oh, not that again, please.
I did everything right.
Good grades, good behavior,
extracurriculars,
and look at where it got me.
I stepped out of the line one time.
If that's enough to just wipe away
all the good things,
then what's the point?
Aw, honey.
I'm so sorry.
I know how hard rejection can be.
But
sometimes life just doesn't go
the way you want it to.
You know, that safety school
rejected you
because they thought
that getting arrested
meant you weren't the kind of student
that they wanted on their campus.
And they were wrong.
You made such a brave choice.
But actions have consequences.
And you're either going to be
the victim of your choices,
or you're going to own them.
And that is what adulting is.
It is having the courage to stand
in your own beliefs.
Instead of wallowing in self-pity.
I really am sorry.
I know.
[LAUGHS] And you
are gonna be even sorrier
when you wake up in the morning.
What are you gonna tell Mom?
Oh, I'm not gonna tell
your mother anything.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
You are.
And that, my darling,
is gonna take some courage.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
- Mm-hmm.
- Please, no.
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
I did enjoy our game while it lasted.
You know, the thing about the memories
that we bury the deepest?
Once we dig them up,
it's hard to force them
back into the grave.
They have a tendency
to stick around and haunt you.
- OFFICER: Let's go.
- OFFICER 2: You heard him.
What was that all about?
Nothing.
Just a little story I made up
to get him to talk.
Must've been a good one.
Beat him at his own game.
He won't be hurting any more women.
Good.