Did I Kill My Mother? (2018) - full transcript

[music playing]

[door opens]

[woman] Mom!

[door closes]

How was your shift?

Ugh. Long.

[sighs] Boring.

I'm tired.

I got you guys hamburgers.

[gasps]
With sweet potato fries?

Heh. Yes, a double order, of course.



Bless you.

Showed three houses
on the west side today.

I haven't eaten since breakfast.

Well, just start without me.

I'm gonna have
a quick shower, okay?

Before you race off, you might
want to check the table.

Aren't you going to open it?

I can't. Can you?

Go on.

What if I didn't get
a high enough score

to get into any law school?

Then you'll try again.

It took your father three tries
before he passed his LSATs.

160. [laughs]



It just doesn't feel right

celebrating without Dad.

I know.
Once the Manzotti case is over,

maybe we could convince him
to take some time off.

The three of us
could take a little vacation

- before you head off to law school.
- [giggles]

[car door closes]

[gasps]

Maybe he had
a break in the case.

Okay, you wait here.

Nick?

Laura, there's been an accident.

What happened?

Is he okay?

Let's step inside.

[softly] No.

Damn it.

[groans]

[door opens]

I forgot my... I left my...

I couldn't find my house...
the key.

I think I left it at the bar.

How much have you had to drink?

Mmm...

I don't know.

Where is your car?

Did Ethan drive you home?

- You know how I feel about him.
- Yes, Mom, I know.

The whole town knows
how you feel about Ethan.

No, I walked home from the bar,

because I'm a responsible adult.

Natalie, you have to
get yourself together.

It's been almost a year,
and you're still...

Still what?
I am getting myself together.

Me hanging out with my friends
is getting myself together.

Okay?
It's better than, what,

going to sleep with dad's
case files every night?

What are you
even hoping to find?

I'm trying to help you.

I don't need your help, okay?

You're the one who can't even
close the deal on a house.

You're all like, "Hey, do
you wanna buy a house?

It comes with a conspiracy theory.
Do you care?"

I mean, that's weird, Mom.
You're the one who needs help!

[woman] Laura.

Hey, is everything okay?

[scoffs]

Yes.
Thank you, Betty.

[Natalie]
She's so annoying.

She needs to mind
her own business.

Natalie, if you're
gonna stay here,

you cannot act like this.

It's embarrassing
for both of us.

Oh, it's embarrassing?
You know what, then?

In the morning, I won't be here.

I'll be gone, and you can just
live here alone in the past.

It's your dream situation.

- That's not what I meant.
- [scoffs]

This isn't over, Natalie.

Oh. Found them,

so it is.

Goodbye, Mom!

[slams door]

[sighs]

Mom?

Mom?

Mom?!

Mom?!

Mom?!

[camera clicks]

Appears to be a break-in, Chief.

Window over there is smashed.

Best we can figure is it
was a burglary gone wrong.

Vic came into the kitchen,

scared 'em in the act.

They panicked.

Oh, Laura, I'm so sorry.

There's no jewelry.

Looks like they yanked it
right off of her neck.

[sighs]

She has a daughter, Natalie.

I'm a friend of the family,

so I should probably call
her and break the bad news.

Uh, sir, Monroe's got
her out back right now.

She was upstairs
when it happened.

She's the one that called it in.

I want a report
on my desk A.S.A.P.

Make sure you get a picture
of the neck and the wrist.

Yes, sir.

[Monroe] And what time
did you go to bed last night?

[Natalie] Um, I don't remember,
'cause I wasn't feeling very well.

And as far as you know,
did your mother

have any, uh, plans
for last night?

Was she going to have
anybody else over?

No, sh-she didn't talk to
anybody like that since...

My God, Nick.
Thank God you're here.

You have to find out
who did this.

I mean, who would
do this to her?

I know, Natalie.
I know.

- Monroe.
- Chief.

I just have a few more
questions for her, and then...

You know, I would
appreciate it if you'd

go and ask the neighbors
some questions.

See if they have
anything to add.

Nat...

I can't even begin to imagine
what you're going through,

but if you're up for it,

you know, any little detail

may very well help us
catch who killed her.

Your car isn't here.

Is it possible that whoever...

I walked home. I...

I'd had a bit to drink.

My mom let me in,

and then we talked for a bit,

- and then I went to bed.
- And after that?

Did you hear anything?

Any noises? Any voices?

I-I guess I'd had
a little bit more

than a little bit to drink.

You have somebody to call?

Someplace safe
that you can go tonight?

I could call Ethan, but, uh...

Don't worry.

I know the folks
that own the Sleep 'n Stay.

They'll put you up.

Natalie, I'm not going to rest

until I know who did this.

I promise.

[cell phone chirps]

[chirps]

[cell phone buzzes]

Oh, okay. So I wasn't sure
exactly what to get, so...

kinda got everything.

Um, toothbrush and shampoo.

You need towels,

because I don't trust
the ones in that bathroom.

Oh, and I know you said
you weren't hungry,

- [cell phone buzzing]
- but I always say that,

and then I end up
wishing I had food.

You, uh, gonna answer that?

No, because it's Ethan, and I
don't want to talk to him.

Ugh. Hallelujah.

I was worried your moment
of clarity last night

would have faded away, but...

well, I never liked him.

Yeah, you made that very clear,

you and my mom both.

Shelby, what am I gonna do?

I don't have anyone left.

Hey...

come on.
That's not true.

When my dad died,
I was devastated,

and I kept thinking,
"This is so unfair,"

but accidents happen, and...

now with both of them gone,

I feel like it's like
some cosmic punishment,

and I don't know what
I did to deserve it.

Nothing.

Hey, you did nothing.

I just need to leave town, I
think, after the funeral.

I can't... I can't be here.

I can't live in that house.

You can't just run away

from what
you're feeling, Natalie.

I know you know that.

But my mom, even after the
accident, she wanted me to go.

She was like, "Even if
you aren't in school,

I think it would be good for
you to clear your head."

- But that... that wasn't...
- I know. She was mad

that you convinced me to stay.

No, she was wrong.

If you'd gone,

you might have missed your
last months together with her.

Or maybe not.

But you can't know that.

I'm all alone.

No, you're not.

But what you probably are
is... is hungry,

so come to the bar.
I've got a shift,

and I know that you could
use a tray of comfort fries.

No, not tonight.
I'm good.

If it tastes like
there's no rum in that one,

it's because there isn't.

We don't want a repeat
of last week? Do we, Norris?

[gasps]

And speaking of
unwelcome repeats...

Where is she, Shelby?

Not here,

and neither should you be.

- Don't lie to me.
- Okay.

You're a creep,
and you should leave.

Her car is outside, Shelby.

You can't try and tell...

Because she walked home,
just like you should.

Okay? You don't want to wreck
that pretty little car of yours.

- But my phone won't...
- Your phone?

Okay, you're right.
I was wrong.

You're not a creep.
You're a super creep,

and you don't work here, so
get out from behind the bar.

I-I just want to make
sure she's okay.

Of course she's not.
Her mother died.

I-I want her to know
that I'm here for her.

Wonderful.

But not here, okay?

Natalie needs me,

and you know why?

Because I'm the only one who
treats her like an adult.

Yeah, real adult.

I'm about to get Rudy,

and I don't think
he's gonna be as nice to you

as he was last night.

I hope you and Rudy and everyone

understands
that she needs me, okay?

She needs me.

[laughs]

Well, that was fun.

Thanks for the help, guys.

All right, who wants a shot?

Bit of rum, please.

[soft piano music playing]

Natalie, so sorry for your loss.

Poor girl

Your mom was a great woman.

Mm-hmm.

Honey, I'm gonna go...

Chief, it's good to see you.

- Just paying my respects.
- I know.

I know what's up.

Okay. What's up?

You're looking for the killer.

I heard they always come
to their victim's funeral.

Yeah, I don't think that's true.

Well, don't worry.
I'll stand...

Think you could
do me a favor, Chief?

Who's the guy in the car?

Ethan, Natalie's ex.
Super creeper.

And look where he is.
Just saying.

I got him.

[chuckles]

Bye, Ethan.

[soft music playing]

E-Excuse me.

Um, would it be cliché

to ask you if
you come here often?

It's not a line.
I'm just wondering

if you know what's good here.

The alcohol.

It's a bit early for me.

All right.
Suit yourself.

Hey.
Can I help you?

Uh, yeah. Um, can I
get a burger, medium rare,

and a refill for
whatever she's having?

Oh, it's okay.
You don't have to buy me a drink.

Oh, I know, but I heard
they're really good here.

Who told you that?

- [chuckles]
- Hey, Rudy,

uh, can you add a side
of sweet potato fries

- to his order?
- Sure.

They're worth the whole trip.

Uh, thanks.

Play your cards right, I might
even share 'em with you.

So is this a-an
everyday look for you?

Not that you look bad.

I mean, you look really
beautiful. I just...

Was my mother's funeral today.

I-I'm sorry.

It's okay.
You didn't know.

Still, uh, I'm sorry, Natalie.

Do they, uh, serve
good apologies here?

I never told you my name.

You didn't? Oh.

Well, um, I think Rudy said it.

- No.
- It was Natalie, wasn't it?

No? Oh, then,
what is it?

[clears throat]
I-I know who you are,

but if you'll just listen to me.
My name is Brody,

Brody Long.
I'm a... I'm a writer, a crime writer.

I'd really like to talk about
everything that's been going on.

I knew your father.

Before he died,
I was writing a book

about the case
he was working on,

the Manzotti family ties
to organized crime.

I reached out to your mother...

Oh, but now they're dead, so you
need a new source to exploit?

No. I...
Look, I want to help,

if you'd just hear me out.

Look, I know you have
no reason to trust me,

but trust this.

You're in danger.

Stay away from me.

[sighs]

and I found her,
and she was on the ground,

and I saw her head,

and there was stuff
all over the floor,

and can you please hurry?
I don't know what to do.

Oh, God.
Mom, I'm so sorry.

Right there.

Oh, God.
Mom, I'm so sorry.

She said it away from the phone.

I don't think she realized it would
be picked up by the recording.

Monroe, people react to
trauma in all kinds of ways.

You can't take "I'm sorry"

as an admission of guilt.

There's more.
Some drawers were opened,

some were dumped
out on the ground,

and then there's this table
lying on its side,

but what's weird here
are the chairs.

If someone was looking for
something and panicked,

it would have been impulsive,

so the chairs
would have scattered

when the table was flipped,

but these look like
they've been pulled out,

- suggesting that...
- "Suggesting"?

You're suggesting
that this is staged.

The only items that are missing

are a wedding ring and a
necklace, both on her person.

No other attempt
to loot the house.

Maybe that's when
he was interrupted.

Or she.

You heard what Natalie said.

Hell, we knew Laura.

I mean, the woman was harmless.

If you can see a motive

beyond her big house
and her nice car,

then I'd appreciate
if you'd share it.

It just seems odd that
Natalie didn't hear anything.

If a table is thrown
across the room...

it's kinda hard not to hear it.

She was drunk.

And that makes her
less of a suspect?

Look, I know you have a personal
relationship with this family,

but this is worth pursuing.

It may be nothing, but...

[sighs]
I have questions.

Okay.

[door shuts]

[knock on door]

Nick.

Did you find him?

No, not yet.

I just wanted to check on you.

Tried calling.

Yeah, my phone's been off.

I'm not really in a chatty mood.

Well, yeah. Understand that.

Well, I'm sorry that I can't
be the bearer of good news,

but I can be
the bearer of lunch.

It's from Rudy's, so...

Thank you for this.

Nat, I know this is a lot.

I hope you know that we're
doing all that we can.

We're looking into
every possibility.

Actually that's the other
reason I stopped by.

Um, a few days, I'm gonna
need you to come in

and answer a few more
questions, just a formality.

Okay, yeah, but I already
told you everything I know.

I know.
Like I said, formality.

Do you think this could have something
to do with my father's death?

I mean, do you think
they could be connected?

[sighs]

Look, Nat...

when your dad died,

all I could think was,
"No, no, not Andy,

not like this.
It's not an accident."

But it was.

Yeah, my mom
never believed that.

She said the Manzottis
were the kind of people

that could shut somebody up
if they wanted to.

None of us believed that your
dad had started drinking again,

but the toxicology
report was pretty clear.

I'm not trying to upset you.

We need to get into the future,

and we don't do that by
dwelling in the past, do we?

So you do me a favor, and
you stay in the present.

Mm-hmm.

Okay. You call
if you need anything.

[water splashes]

Oh. I'm sorry.

[ice rattling]

Why are you ignoring me?

Ethan, how did you get in here?

[sighs]
Door was cracked.

Oh, I-I brought you these.

I'm sorry I couldn't
make it to the funeral.

I know you were there.

I mean, to see if you were okay,

but your control-freak friend
unleashed that cop on me.

I-I just wanted
to pay my respects

No, you didn't.
You hated my mom.

[chuckles] Doesn't mean
I can't feel bad.

I mean, it's not like
I wanted her dead.

I didn't kill her.

You can't really think
I killed her.

I believe you.

I don't want you
to just believe me.

- I want you to trust me.
- I do. I... Same thing.

No, Natalie, it isn't.

Hey, don't shut me out.

[gasping]

I-I didn't mean to.

Ethan, do you want me
to trust you?

I-I just need some space, okay?

Fine.

[door closes]

[Monroe] Stop me
if I start to go astray.

You went to Rudy's
at about 6:00 p.m.,

not for work,
but for a drink with friends,

and at 9:15,
you walked home,

where you were greeted on the
front porch by your mother,

and you two had a fight.

Well, I wouldn't say
it was a fight.

We spoke with your neighbor,
Betty Ledbetter, and she stated

that you were yelling so loudly she
could hear you from across the street.

You had an argument, right?

Did you have
these arguments regularly?

What does this have
to do with the break-in?

- It doesn't.
- You were the last person to see her alive.

The details of that interaction
are extremely pertinent.

Hey.

Did you recently come back
from a trip, a vacation?

- Were you planning one?
- No.

You had a suitcase
out in your room

that was hurriedly packed
from the looks of it.

If you didn't have any plans,
what were you packing for?

I don't think I want to answer
any more questions right now.

Um, Detective, why don't you get
Natalie a little more water.

Please?

This is uncomfortable,
I know, Natalie.

Does she think that I was
involved or something?

We have to be thorough

so we make sure that we
don't overlook anything.

That would have
been nice a year ago.

Fair.

So let's say your mom was right.

Let's assume
that we missed something

in the investigation
of your father's death.

We don't really want that
to happen again, do we?

Then I need you to trust me.

Yeah, everybody
wants me to trust them,

but nobody trusts me.

Have you talked to Ethan?

Your ex?

You should.

He was really drunk that
night, and he was angry,

and he did not like my mom at
all, and he was at the funeral,

which Shelby says
is like a very common...

Yes. I know
what Shelby says.

[Shelby] And I told her,
"You know, Crystal,

real producers
don't use Tinder,"

at least not in the casting.

But guess what.
Now she's in some huge monster movie,

so what do I know?

Hey.
See you later, Rudy.

See you, Shelby.

It's Shelby, right?

Uh, it is,

but I'm off duty.

If you are, too, uh,
drinks are over there,

and Rudy will take care of you.

If not, Natalie's not here,

and also she's grieving,

so how 'bout give it a break?

I'm looking for Ethan James.

I was told
I could find him here.

Not anymore, you can't.

Rudy finally kicked him
out a few nights ago

and the night before that.

Drunk and belligerent
both times.

Do you have any idea
where he might be?

Yeah. Right over there.

He's been brooding on the nearest
strip of public property

just itching to catch
Natalie out and about.

He's the one who's about
yay high and yay douchey.

Got it.

[Monroe] Ethan James...

Ugh. This is the worst idea.

Yeah, I know it seems weird,

but I read that the
healthiest thing to do

is separate yourself
from material residue.

What does that even mean?

I'm not sure.

Look, there is a lot of
stuff in this house,

and with it sitting here empty,

what if the robber comes back?

So you agree that it's a robber?

'Cause the police
don't seem sure.

I mean, yeah.
Who else would it be?

Who do they think it is?

They don't know.

Well, that's the problem
with the police.

- Never sure...
- [clatter]

What was that?

[clattering, thumping]

[whispering]
Someone's in here.

I heard that criminals
often return to the...

- [thump]
- [gasps]

Okay, we're calling the police.

No, no, no, no, no.
Wait.

Wait.

[squeals]
What are you doing here?!

Do you know this guy?

Yes. It's that "writer" guy
I was telling you about.

Oh, him.

Yeah, him, I think.

Uh, what's with the air quotes?

- I'm published.
- [Shelby] So what?

I thought she told you
to stay away.

Yeah, and I did.

You're in my house right now.

Hey! Stop that.

You're disturbing
the crime scene.

Calm down, CSI.

The real police
have already been over it.

And speaking of, Natalie,

I still think we should
give them a call.

No, you shouldn't.

I'm sorry.
Is your name Natalie?

You had a meeting
with them, right?

And let me guess.
They're starting

to ask a lot of questions

about how you and your mom

got in a big fight
the night she died,

how the neighbors heard.

You don't even know what
you're talking about.

I know they don't have a
suspect or a murder weapon.

- They're looking.
- Yeah...

at you.

'Cause when they don't
have a suspect,

they invent one.

Now, I don't have
a suspect either,

but I do have a weapon.

Your mom was
a big reader, right?

I figured.

Great collection.

And what's missing
from this bookshelf?

What?

One of your books?

What's that?

This is a start.

There were two of these.

Obviously.

[gags]

[groans]

When you say you want an ending,

I hope you mean a happy one.

Well, yeah. I'm not keen
on the sort of stories

where the heroes get shot
and dumped in the bay.

I mean, they sell,
but I want answers.

Did you know your
Deadly Affairbook

only has a 2 1/2 star
rating on Goodreads?

It was my first book.

NovelGal54 says it's
boring and predictable.

Why not let the police
just find the answers?

- There's the ones...
- They said your father

had been drinking.
You believe that?

No.

Neither do I.

They settled for the
easy explanation.

I don't want to see
the same mistake

get made again,
if it was a mistake.

Why, 'cause easy explanations
don't make for good books?

No, because easy explanations
reek of laziness,

and laziness is
the enemy of justice.

Really? I heard that "the
mystery is the best part,

and the beginning and
conclusion is ho-hum."

I've gotten better.

Hey, I don't write the reviews.

I just read them aloud.

I think we're good on our own.

[sighs]

Suit yourself.

[clears throat]

But a word of warning.

Your dad was investigating

some very dangerous
people before he died.

Your mom may have been killed 'cause
she was considered a loose end.

What are you saying?

I'm saying you might be
a loose end, too.

And loose ends meet bad ends.

That's the end of that.

[laughs]
You think so?

No, hell, no.

I have read too much
pulpy crime fiction

to think we've seen the
end of Brody Long.

But when we do see him again,

don't tell him
I read that trash.

Yeah, I just wish
they cuffed him.

But, no, he just followed him
in that stupid yellow ride.

If they were charging him,
they would have told me.

Who do you think's gonna
pop back up first,

- Ethan or Brody?
- I have no idea.

I would not be
surprised at all if...

God.
That was quick.

- We told you no.
- Yeah, I-I heard that.

But you listened to us even less
than you listen to your editors.

Um, no.

Um, well, maybe,

but also, uh...

this is my room.

[knocks]

I'm headed out.

Call if you come up with
anything that holds water.

Will do.

Thing about comfort food is
it only works if you eat it.

Heh. I know.
I just don't really wanna be comforted.

I got a little too comfortable
after my dad died,

and look where that got me.

This place isn't so bad.

The fries are delicious.

And free for employees.

Okay, let's play a game.

I know what you're doing and that
you're trying to distract me,

but I don't wanna be distracted.

I think I just need
to process everything.

I know. It's about that.

- What, like Clue?
- No.

Well, actually, yeah, kinda.

Let's say we were
in a Brody Long novel.

Who are the possible suspects,

and what are their motives?

Okay. Um...

Ethan.

My mom was trying to
keep me away from him.

Good.
Too obvious, but good.

What about Brody?

The case was cold, and he
had to force it to reopen?

The police?

Maybe my mom proved
that they botched

the investigation of my dad,

and that could be embarrassing.

Would Nick allow that?

I don't know.
We're open to every possibility, right?

Okay. Me.

Your mom was trying to convince
you to go to law school,

and I would have
missed you too much.

Or me.

Inheritance?

What? No. I was...

I was gonna say drunken fight,

but is that what you think...

Is that why you wanted
to play this game?

No, I wasn't...

It's just a stupid game.

Yeah, it's really stupid.

And it's probably just a robber.

Maybe.

I mean, who else could it be?

You know, it's just really hard to say.

I only wish I had paid
a bit more attention.

I think I told you
before I always felt

like a real closeness
to that family.

Yeah, you mentioned that.

Not like I was
actually a part of it.

I mean, Laura was her mother,

and let me tell you,
she was a saint.

Yep. You mentioned that...

The way Natalie would
speak to her sometimes,

I would never...

But I cared.

Uh, you wrote that down, right?

- Uh, yep.
- Oh, you got it?

Got it all right here. Bye.

I wish I could help.
I really do,

but I think she always
found me kind of...

annoying.
[laughs]

I find that hard to believe.

Anyways, thank you
so much for your time.

Oh, my pleasure.

And if you do find
that copy of my book,

I'd be happy to come back
and sign it for you.

Oh, absolutely.
It was a pleasure.

- Always nice to meet a fan.
- Nice to meet you, too.

Good luck!

Hmm.

[Nick] Afternoon,
Mrs. Ledbetter.

Chief Nick.
Nice to see you.

Is Natalie doing all right?

Oh, all things considered.

[sighs]

Betty, I had a few
follow-up questions,

but if you don't mind
me asking, who's that?

Oh, him?

Ah, he's a true-crime novelist

in town covering
Laura Romero's murder.

Seems a little sweet on Natalie.

You know,
he knew Mr. Romero.

Apparently he was working
on a book about him, too.

Really hope this book's
better than his last.

It was a real... [snorts]
snoozefest, you know?

Mm.

[chuckles]

Excuse me.

[Brody] Had the nosy
neighbor only been

as attentive through the night
as she was to the fight,

might she have se...

"Night," "fight"...

"might."

[clears throat]

[chuckles]
Is there a problem, Chief?

I don't know. Might be.

Did you know that
you could be charged

with obstruction of justice

for threatening or interfering
with the witnesses

of an ongoing investigation?

Uh, just asking questions.

For your book?

For my book.

See, that's the thing.

This murder isn't a story.

It isn't entertainment.

Lot of people were hurt by it,

people that are and
were very dear to me,

and I just don't take
kindly to other people

trying to exploit that pain.

Making myself clear, right?

I think so.

I think we want
the same thing here,

for justice to be served
and to honor Andrea Romero.

No, we don't want
the same thing.

See, you want to protect
your Amazon sales.

I want to protect grieving
survivors from your harassment.

What I don't want...

is to see you
around this town again.

Drive safe.

Ethan, what are you doing?

[sighs] What are you
telling the police about me?

- Nothing!
- They came to talk to me.

They wanted to know where I was
the night your mother died.

They're talking to
everyone that's connected.

Oh, so... so now I'm connected?

You were with me the...

Don't lie to me, Natalie!

Everything okay?

Ah.

Oh, so I guess it's you.

I guess you're what
needing space looks like.

Well, I hope
she's warned you, buddy,

but people
that get close to her,

they don't last very long.

Better you than me.

Good luck.

You good?

Yeah.

I assume he's a suspect, right?

And now he's
been threatening me.

Threatening you?
How's that?

I mean, he showed up
at my motel.

He showed up at my car.

I thought you said you
were gonna talk to him.

I did. He's not
the most stand-up guy,

but he has an alibi for the time
of death, and it checks out,

so as far as we're concerned,
he's not a suspect.

But if you feel threatened,
we can...

No, no. It's...
It's okay.

Thank you for your time.

Actually, Natalie, uh,
I'm glad you stopped by.

There's something
I wanted to run by you.

Okay, well, do I need a lawyer?

You're entitled to one
if you want.

It's up to you.

No, it's fine.
What is it?

I've been reviewing
your statement,

and you said that you came
home and went straight to bed.

Is that correct?

I mean, I...
I packed a little bit.

I was upset.
You know that.

Of course.

And then you woke up
the next morning,

and you went downstairs
and found your mom, right?

Mm-hmm.

Do you recognize this room?

Yeah.
That's my bedroom.

And do you see what's here
on the nightstand?

The glass of water.

You see, what's weird
about this glass of water

is that it's fresh.

There's still
condensation on it.

I don't understand.

If you went straight to bed,

how do you explain
this glass of water?

I don't know.

I was really drunk.

- Maybe I went down to...
- The kitchen?

I was really drunk.
I don't really...

You don't remember?

Right.

Look, I'm just trying
to get your story straight.

If you don't remember going
downstairs for a glass of water,

I'm just curious what else you
might not remember seeing

or doing.

Sir, you can step over here.

Remind me again why
you're not on this case.

[officer] Everybody
makes mistakes, Chief.

[Monroe] Chief.

[sighs]

Detective.

I just had
Natalie Romero in here.

Thought I told you not to...

She came in on her own.

She wanted to accuse
her ex-boyfriend again.

Still stuck on that?

She's trying to throw us.

Now hear me out.

I asked her
about the glass of water,

and just like the suitcase,
she had nothing.

Neither do we.

That is not true.

Anyone can tell that
that scene was staged,

and nothing that
this girl has said adds up.

We need to start
seriously investigating

the possibility that Natalie
Romero is her mother's murderer.

Yeah, I know.

[knock on door]

Hi. Natalie.

Uh, I was gonna leave...

Uh-huh.

I have something
you need to see.

What are these?

You're not the only one
with investigative skills.

Wait. Detective Monroe

was the officer on scene
the night your father died?

That's a hell of a coincidence.

Or is it?
Go to the last page, toxicology.

Redacted?

Yeah, entirely.

What are
the legal ramifications?

I thought you were
in law school.

Your dad mentioned that you
were prepping for your LSATs.

You passed, I assume.

It was over a year ago.

Look, you're right.
I can't just sit with my hands tied

while the police are just
connecting all the wrong dots.

What do I do?

You connect the right ones.

Let's go.

[Brody]
When you're writing,

you gotta try and get in the
heads of all your characters.

The same way police want to get
in the heads of criminals,

we want to get
in the heads of police.

We wanna know
what they're thinking,

and we want to know why.

The police think
the crime scene was staged.

Very good.

How can you tell?

Because I heard them
say it at the station.

Huh.

And because
the drawers were all open,

and there was nothing taken
other than what was on her.

This table was flipped.
I mean, how would that even happen?

Exactly. See?

I, um...

What about the window?

What about it?

The Smiths a few houses down

had a robbery a few months ago,

and they did the same thing,

broke a piece of glass
on their door, too.

We call this the point of entry,

except in this case, it wasn't.

So you think that robbery
was staged, too?

No. I think
this murder was staged

to look like that robbery.

Here. Look at this.

Glass.

Clearly.

Take a closer look.

It's on the blanket...

which could only be true
if it was broken in

after the place
was being ransacked.

You think the police
caught that?

I don't know, but it means
that whoever did this

had to come in from one
of the other doors.

Or they were already
in the house.

[sighs]

This is a lot.

Maybe we should take a break.

You want to get
something to eat?

I mean, I never did get
to try those fries.

Um, I think I want to spend
a little more time here...

- Okay.
- alone.

Are you sure that's a good idea?

Yeah, Shelby's
about to get off work.

She can come by and pick me up.

I just kinda want to spend
some time here by myself.

Well, I get it.
I don't like it, but I get it.

Actually, I don't get it.

I'll text you
the second I leave.

I promise.

You better.

[clears throat]
Oh, and, hey,

just so you know,

you make a great heroine.

Thanks.

And thank you for trusting me.

Hmm.

But how could...

[glass shatters]

Brody?

Shelby?

Ethan?

[panting]

[gasps]

[Nick] Can you tell me anything
else about your assailant?

Identifying marks?

No. His face
was covered.

- With this, right?
- Yeah.

I cut his arm, though,
and it was pretty deep.

No blood. Seems clean.

Natalie, have you
been drinking today?

[laughs]

Excuse me?

I'm sorry, but I have to ask.

[Shelby] Well,
I have to ask, too.

Why don't you start treating her

like the victim that she
is instead of a suspect?

She was almost just killed,

no thanks to your
handy police work.

Shelby.

Natalie, what were you
doing in there all alone?

What does it matter?

- I am on your side here.
- Are you?

'Cause kinda starting to
feel like maybe you're not.

Natalie, I got you a room so that
you wouldn't have to be here.

Yeah. Thank you.

I think I'm gonna head
there right now, actually.

- Shelby.
- Gladly.

I think you need
to take a look inside.

That's from the shirt you were
wearing the night of the murder.

How'd you know that?

I-I watched the, uh,
surveillance footage at the bar.

God, there's cameras
everywhere now, isn't there?

Yeah.

Yeah, there are.

So this was stuck
in the window frame,

which is the point of entry,
but we know it isn't.

No. I would
have seen it.

So would the police.

If someone's trying to frame me,

they're not gonna
fall for it, right?

I don't know.
They seem to be missing a lot lately.

Oh, uh, I talked to Mrs.
Ledbetter, your neighbor.

Every question they were
asking her was leading.

They basically wanted her
to say that you were awful.

But she... she didn't, though.

She seems to really care,

and, mm, because
you're not awful.

No, I am.

I was awful that night.

I was just so frustrated
and confused and sad,

and I feel guilty
even though I didn't...

- I get it. I do.
- I know.

Everyone says they get it.
Everyone says they understand,

but you can't...
you can't understand unless...

Unless you've been
through it yourself.

I lost both my parents

in a car accident when I was 19.

I'm so sorry.

The last thing I said to 'em

was that I wouldn't pay
for the window I broke

when I was mad about
a rejection letter.

I came here looking for a story.

That's true, but...

I feel a real connection to you.

And I know that sounds weird,
but, I mean, I just...

I-I feel like I knew exactly
what you were feeling,

th-the loneliness a-and
the confusion, the guilt.

Everything I want
to say to you right now

sounds kind of like the annoying
stuff everyone was saying to me.

Well, maybe
some of them are right.

Yeah. Doesn't make it
easier to hear.

Ah, but sometimes
we have to hear it.

Yeah.

When I interviewed
your father...

he talked about you.

Uh, this may be hard to hear,

but I think it might
make things easier, too.

Okay. Where'd we leave off?

[Brody] You were telling me
about the night of the 16th.

Right. So I had
just met with...

[cell phone buzzing]

Sorry. Thought I had
turned that off.

[chuckles]

It's my daughter.

She's quite a character.

Look.

This is your face.

[Brody]
Natalie, right?

Oh, I mentioned her, huh?

Mm. Once or twice
or 20 times.

She's pretty.

She's remarkable.

I'd tell you she was single,

but she typically goes for
guys that are a little more...

you know.

Besides, next year, she'll
be away at law school,

so even if...

I'm really gonna miss her.

To be honest,

this case has
kind of gotten to me.

You know, you...
you think you can trust someone, and then...

I know I can
always count on her,

no matter what,

and I cannot wait to
see what she becomes.

I failed him.

- N-No. No, that doesn't...
- He can't count on me.

I'm not in law school.

I'm literally not doing
anything with my life.

Yet.

Natalie, he had faith in you,

a-and he wasn't wrong.

You are remarkable,
no matter what.

Is there more?

Hours.

[Natalie]
Thank you.

My dad was saying this case
made him distrust people.

I wonder
who he was talking about.

That's what I
intend to find out.

Thank you for helping me.

I feel like
it's been really hard,

but having you here has kind of made
me feel like I can get through it.

But I feel like my dad was
definitely wrong about one thing.

[car door opens]

What's going on?

[indistinct conversation]

I don't know.

[Natalie]
That's my car.

Detective, what are you doing?

Natalie, I need you
to stay back.

Do you have a search warrant?

[Natalie]
I don't understand.

Detective, I have
something here.

Recognize this?

- It's the...
- Just a bookend.

Log it.

Natalie Romero,
you are under arrest

for the murder of your
mother, Laura Romero.

You have the right
to remain silent.

Put your hands behind your back.

- Please...
- Anything you say

can and will be used against
you in a court of law.

You have the right
to an attorney.

If you cannot afford one, one
will be appointed for you.

You understand the rights
as I have read them to you?

Natalie...

no matter what.

Before you say anything,
Natalie, I need to remind you

that we are not talking
friend to friend.

Yeah, it's pretty obvious
you're not on my side,

but, uh, question.
Are you on hers?

The bookend matches

the contusion
on your mother's head,

and it's covered in prints,

all of which,
I suspect, are yours.

[Natalie] Because you
wore gloves.

That's not the bookend
that killed my mother.

It just looks like it.
That's how bookends work.

There's two of them.
You took that one after the fact

and just got lucky that
I already touched it.

What are you talking about?

You knew my father, didn't you?

You know we did.
We were friends.

Yeah, but something
happened, didn't it,

and you redacted
his toxicology report.

This is ridiculous.

Is it?

She handled my father's case,

just like she's handling
my mother's case.

I heard about all the
questions you asked Betty,

how you found
every piece of evidence.

And if I'd aimed my knife better
and it ended up in your stomach,

that bookend never even
would have been in my car.

[laughs]

Nick, you can't...

- You can't seriously...
- Let me see your arm, Monroe.

The other arm.
Take off the jacket.

Get out of my way.

I'm sorry. I'm sor...

Natalie.

Hey. You okay?

Th-They're not charging you?

Not yet, but they won't
let me leave town.

Which is the exact opposite
of what I told you, I think.

Well, she needs
someone she can trust.

Obviously your department
isn't doing the trick.

So I take it she got this
ridiculous conspiracy theory

in her head from you.

Oh, kidding.

This is all a literary
exercise for you.

The thing is, out here
in the real world,

what you're doing is dangerous.

Right.

You've got experience being
dangerous, don't you?

Did your friend tell you
that he'd been arrested

for breaking and entering...

and assault?

Is that true?

Yeah, see, if you
had stolen his file

and not your father's,

you would have seen a lot more

than a toxicology report
that had been redacted

to protect the reputation
of a good man.

Why don't I
walk you out, Natalie?

Excuse me!

Hi. Can I help you?

I was just wondering if you'd
turned up anything new.

I'm sorry.
Who are you?

Oh, how rude. Greg.

Greg Wilson.

Anyway, I know
how annoying it must be

when people play
amateur detective,

but my wife's been dying to know

if you turned up anything
on those tapes.

Uh, I'm sorry.
Let's, um, just pretend

that I'm new to this case.

Which tapes
are we talking about?

Oh, I'm sorry.
I live just down the street.

I told the other officer my camera
doesn't see the Romero house,

just the street, but he said
they might be valuable anyway

to paint a full
and vibrant picture.

Guy had a pretty good
vocabulary for a cop,

actually sounded
more like a writer.

Uh, I hope I didn't offend you.

Uh, no. You've been
extremely helpful.

It's just that
that other officer

is going to be
in a lot of trouble.

Okay, look, I'm the
first to admit it.

I haven't always
been a nice guy.

Except you
didn't admit it, so...

What do you want to show me?

I-I used to have
some anger issues.

I'm not gonna
say it's, you know,

from what happened
to my parents,

but you know where
I'm coming from, right?

Anger? Yeah, I'm familiar
with the emotion.

What do you want to show me?

Yeah, of course.
I just wanted to make sure we're cool.

- We're not.
- Wait.

Okay, wait, wait.
All right, look.

Remember how I said the cops
talked to your neighbors?

- Yeah, Mrs. Ledbetter.
- Right.

And I talked to the
neighbor next-door to her.

Guess what.

What is this?

The night of the murder.

Does it show anything?

I don't know. Shall we?

Yeah.

Hey, that's Ethan's car.

He was there.

Wait. Let it play.

[pounding on door]

[pounding]

[gasps]
You're alive.

What are you still doing
talking to this creep?

"This creep" is the only
one making progress

- towards figuring out...
- Natalie, I thought I told you

that if you wanted
to move on, you have to stop...

She doesn't have to do anything.

She can make her own decisions.

Obviously, because right now she's
making a pretty crappy one.

Trying to solve
her mother's murder?

Spending time alone
with a convicted...

whatever you call a person
who assaults people.

- Well said.
- Come on, Natalie. Let's go.

No, wait. No,
Brody has new evidence.

New evidence?

How long have you been
waiting to show her that, Brody?

Little while.

Hmm.

Well, I have old news
for you, too, Natalie.

I was actually interested
in this clown,

so I e-mailed myself his
manuscript from his computer.

Look at the title.

"A Daughter's Betrayal."

- You're his main suspect.
- You were.

Obviously.
How could you not be?

Oh, but you've cleared me now?

There's video of...

It's your boyfriend.

I mean, what other motive
could he have had?

What motive could I have had?!

Well, an inheritance.

Look, Natalie, she's just trying

to play us against each other

to keep you from getting
back on your feet

and leaving her to waste away
in some neighborhood bar.

Are you kidding me?

No, get this.

He was at the funeral.

I told you what
that means, right?

- What does that mean?
- What that means

is I'm sick of your games.

- Finally. Let's just...
- No, both of you.

I'm sick of being
steered around.

If this is gonna
go badly for me,

I want it to be
because I made a mistake,

- not because of someone else's.
- Natalie, trust me. I...

Trust, yeah.
I'm having a hard time with that lately.

I need to take some time to
figure out how to trust myself.

That's a bad choice of words.

[scoffs]
And so are these.

Maybe so.

[knocks on door]

Natalie?

Nat?

Natalie?

Natalie?

This was the last place
I saw my mother alive.

And I was really mean to her.

And I blame myself,
but shouldn't...

because somebody took her.

Natalie, you said that you
had new evidence to show me.

You know, Ethan does
a lot of creepy things.

Natalie, I think
that accusation's

pretty played out.
Don't you?

I mean, I'm glad
you're not accusing

Monroe anymore, but...

He used to just sit in his car

after he was dropping
me off and wait

for my bedroom lights
to turn off.

I kind of used to like looking
out and seeing his car.

But I wasn't the only
one that could see him.

There's a camera.

[Nick] You have
a security camera?

[Natalie]
No, we don't.

The Wilsons down the street do.

And you're saying this
camera caught something.

Ethan. He was here
a little earlier

than the coroner thought, but...

I would love to get a
look at that footage.

[knock on door]

[Natalie]
It's him.

I want you to stay up here.

[Ethan] You know, I'm starting
to think it's a little funny

that everywhere she is,
there you are.

- [Nick] I think it's funny...
- Just because you have a gun

doesn't mean
you can protect her.

- Ethan, calm down!
- I can protect her!

- Calm down.
- That's my job!

- [blow thumps]
- [gunshot]

Nick?

Nick?

Ethan?

[gasping]

Oh, my God.

[Nick] He hit me.

He hit me. I was
holding my gun on him,

and he hit me.

He was probably drunk.

Yeah. Well, he was probably
drunk that night, too.

Yeah. At the bar, there's
surveillance footage of it.

- So...
- So I was wrong, Natalie.

Looks like you've
made your case.

Let's go out to my car.
I can call this in,

and then we can go get
the video of the street.

Nick, you're bleeding.

Must have hit me
harder than I thought.

Natalie Romero,
you are under arrest

for the murder of your
mother, Laura Romero.

You...

I advise you not to resist.

[pounding on door]

Brody Long?

Oh, thank heavens.

- You're under arrest.
- That's fine.

Wait. What? For what?

Impersonating an officer and
obstruction of justice.

Fine. I plead guilty.
You need to see this.

Help!

Mrs. Ledbetter!

Help!
Mrs. Ledbetter!

No. No.

[pounding]
Mrs. Ledbetter!

Mrs. Ledbetter!

Help!
Mrs. Ledbetter!

- [pounding]
- [Nick] Nice dog.

Thanks.

Let's go, Lady.
Good girl.

Betty!
Mrs. Ledbetter!

Help!
Mrs. Ledbetter!

No. No.

She's not back at the
crime scene, is she?

Knowing her, probably. Why?

Nick said he was going there
to follow up on a hunch.

Wait.
I'm coming with you.

Obviously.
You're still under arrest.

Hey, hey, let me out.

Hey, I could be your backup.

I-I'll watch your six
or something.

Natalie!

- Oh, God.
- Natalie!

He's dead.
It's too bad.

We really could have used his
sixth sense for stalking Natalie.

What are you doing?
Stop. You're gonna...

He doesn't have a sixth sense.
He has a tracking app.

A tracking app?

It's how insecure people
date these days.

No pass code. Idiot.

Sorry.

There.
South shore, Vernon Bay.

What's there?

Just marsh. It's where
the Manzottis used to...

Oh, God.

But I'm supposed
to be under arrest!

[grunting]

You're never gonna
get away with this.

Too many people saw you.

Yeah. Well, that's
the thing about trust.

People trust you, you can
get away with anything.

Is that what you told my father?

I didn't have to tell
your father anything,

because he trusted me.

See, your dad,
he wasn't an idiot.

As a matter of fact, I think he
probably would have rolled over

if the Manzotti had asked him,

just like I did.

[grunts]

But they couldn't
risk asking him,

because they didn't trust him...

or you and your mom.

You're just not so stacked

in the brain department,
are you?

I give you this.
You got bigger balls than your dad did.

[car approaching]

[groaning]

Come back here.

Oh, you...

Natalie. Natalie!

[Monroe]
Put the gun down, and put your hands up!

Monroe...

look, you...
you were right all along.
Natalie did it.

Chief, do not make me
pull this trigger.

Put the gun down.

All right. Just, uh,
calm down, all right?

Put it down, Nick.

Put your hands behind your back.

Listen, I don't know what that
squirrely little writer said...

I saw the tape, Nick.

[gasping]

Who else saw the tape?

Everybody.

Monroe,
you're a decent detective,

but you are one lousy liar.

Goodbye, Monroe.

[gunshot]

Natalie. Natalie.

Thank you.

Oh, God.

- Drop the gun, Natalie.
- Don't do it.

Or what?
You're gonna kill me anyway.

Drop the gun,

or I'm gonna kill Shelby, too.

That the same deal
you offered my mom?

Would you just
have come upstairs...

You really think
I wanted to do any of this?!

Your dad...

Killing your dad hurt me,

but it solved too many problems.

And to have those problems
resurface again

just because Laura wanted
to play amateur detective,

I couldn't let it happen.
I couldn't...

Nick. Thank you for
coming over so late.

Of course, Laura.

You got me thinking
of Andy, too.

Come in.

I tried for months now not to
think about it, but the truth is,

I just can't stop.

Yeah, I know
the feeling, trust me,

but I just think
that now you should...

Andy hadn't had
a drink in five years.

All right, so maybe
he slipped, huh?

I mean, I know it's
hard to believe...

I requested his case file.

Yeah, I heard.

Oh, but my request was denied.

Laura...

it is not healthy to keep
digging up the past.

- [laughs]
- What?

It's just funny
you used that phrase.

I filed a request
with the Coroner, too.

You did what?

When he died, I didn't want
to look at the reports,

the autopsy and everything.

Everyone said I shouldn't.
Even you said it.

But now I need to, Nick.

And Natalie?

What does she say
about what you're doing?

I haven't told her
any of the details,

but she disapproves,
thinks it's a waste of time.

The truth is Natalie and I have been
going through a bit of a rough patch.

[Nick] And now you.

Why couldn't you
just let this be?

Because it's in my blood.

That's too bad.

I'm sorry, Andy.

[car horn honks]

Game over!

[gunshot]

- [Natalie panting]
- [Nick grunts]

Nat?

Natalie, are you hurt?

That's okay. You're okay.

You're... You're okay.

I'm here.

We're here.

It's over, Nick.

Finished.

And?

I have questions.

[Brody]
Okay. That's good.

Did you only yell, "Game over,"

so it could be the title
of the last chapter?

Totally.

And why didn't I get
to be in it anywhere?

I drove you to the finale.

Yeah, how did you get
there in the book?

He drives Ethan's Camaro.

Hey, why didn't you
drive his Camaro there?

I, um, maybe sort of don't
know how to drive a stick.

[door closes]

Mm, mm, mm.

Somebody ordered Rudy's?

I'll get that for you.
Thank you.

[laughs]

You're really gonna
miss this stuff

while you're away at school.

Yeah, you were right
about these fries.

Better get some
before I take 'em all.

- [Natalie chuckles]
- And this is for you.

Mm. Thanks,
Mrs. Ledbetter.

You're quite welcome.

More like Ledbest.
Here you go.

Oh, thank you.

[ice clinking]

I'm not that drunk.

I know,

but it's good for you.

I'm sorry, Mom.

I know,

and I love you no matter what.

I love you, too,

no matter what.

[Brody]
Natalie.

You okay?

I am.

[instrumental playing]