Disappearance at Clifton Hill (2019) - full transcript

Set amidst the eerie world of off-season Niagara Falls, Clifton Hill is a psychological thriller about a self-destructive pathological liar, who inherits a crumbling motel and becomes entangled in the memory of a kidnapping she claims to have witnessed as a little girl.

[instrumental music]

[eerie music]

[music continues]

[birds chirping]

- Look out.
- Ew. Ew.

We got a trout.

[indistinct chatter]

That's for you, Abby.

- What about me?
- Next one. Alright.

- Ugh.
- Ew.

Hi!



[indistinct chatter]

[bird caws]

[bird squawking]

[bird chirping]

[engine revving at distance]

[tires screeching]

[screams]

Where you goin', huh?

[grunting]

- Fuck!
- Damn kid.

[indistinct chatter]

Is he out?

- Is the kid out?
- What did you do?

Go, go.
I'll open the trunk.



Tie him up!

Not a fuckin' bowtie, tie him
tight! He can't feel it anyway.

Shut up!

- Grab him.
- Wait. Got him, got him.

Got him.

Man! Ger, shit.

[gasps]

Come on!

- Take your sweet time there!
- Will you be quiet?

[engine revving]

[dramatic music]

Okay, let's take a picture,
um, just go stand with Abby.

Go, go, go, you go down
and stand together really close.

Keep smiling, look at me
the whole time, okay?

Keep smiling, okay?

Abby? Abby!

Honey, look at the camera!

Big smile, okay?
Great, big smile.

[music continues]

[camera beeping]

[camera shutter clicks]

[music continues]

[indistinct chatter]

- What's that? Wow!
- My iron ring.

They give it to the engineers
when we graduate.

The iron's from the first
Quebec Bridge

that collapsed and killed
thirteen people.

- That's kind of morbid.
- It's symbolic.

I think they use
stainless steel now.

Iron turns your fingers black.

Good afternoon, folks.

We're about ten minutes
from our destination

and about ten seconds
from your first

glimpse of the Falls.

Look, there it is.
There it is.

[camera shutter clicks]

May I first give you
my deepest condolences.

Your mother was a force

but you guys would know
that better than anybody.

Now, where's my glasses?

So, I just sign this,
and it's done?

No, no, no, I need you
both to sign it.

She agreed to this?

Well, the building's worthless,
it's less than worthless

when you count the cost
of tearing it down.

But that is a fair price
for the land.

The Charles Lake company?

It wasn't exactly a bidding war.

The Rainbow was
everything to her.

She wasn't given much
of a choice, was she?

This looks good to me.

Laure? Laure!

Come on, this is our legacy.

Abby, are you serious?

The agreement says
we have six weeks.

- Come on, we have to try.
- Try?

Try what?
The -- the Rainbow?

It's what mom would want.

Mom arranged the sale
that you just walked out on.

The place is a dump, Abby,
hookers wouldn't even use it.

They're gonna turn it into
a fucking glow-in-the-dark

mini-golf, or something.

Good.

We grew up there!

Yeah, one of us grew up.

[scoffs]

[car engine revving]

[instrumental music]

¶ Another show is closing ¶

¶ Out goes the lights ¶

¶ Pack up the clothes
and see me ¶

¶ While we travel to ¶

¶ Another town ¶

¶ No time to look for romance ¶

¶ When you're the star.. ¶¶

[dramatic music]

[light switch clicks]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[indistinct chatter]

Jesus, this thing is not..

Hey, man, I think the, uh,
the jukebox is broken.

Sorry.

Uh, but, uh, the sign
said that --

Sign says it's free,
doesn't say it works.

Well, shit.

Just so you know, the haunted
houses aren't actually haunted.

And the fun houses
aren't actually fun.

Ha-ha.
Nice one, I like that.

- Just saving you money, dude.
- Hmm.

Passing through?

Here for a job.

So, I guess, uh, I guess,
you're a local?

I grew up here.

That means you're a local.

I grew up here.

You grew up here.

Well, okay,
well, Miss I-Grew-Up-Here

I thought that this whole place

was supposed to be like Vegas,
and it's not.

Well, it's the low season.

They even turn down the Falls.

How do you turn
Niagara Falls down?

It's a series of locks, divert
the water to the power plant.

I'm doing my Master's
on the hydro dam.

Trying to get that iron ring.

It's an engineering thing.

The metal's from a -- a bridge
that killed a bunch of people.

It's morbid, but...symbolic.

Is that true, seriously?

Hm, look it up.

You know what I'd do?

I'd dry the whole thing up.

Like the Americans did
back in the day.

This is a nice town.

But that thing drives
people crazy.

It's just a bunch of water
falling over some rocks.

[chuckles]

Do you want another one?

Sure.

[instrumental music on TV]

Oh!

[laughing]

- Oh!
- Wow!

- Whoa.
- Oh, ho-ho.

Well, it's not exactly how
it looks on the website. Oh!

[both laughing]

- Wait.
- Huh?

Woo! I like that.

- Yeah.
- I like that.

Okay.

[breathing heavily]

I'm a virgin.

What did you say?

Nothing.

Wait, wait, wait, wait,
did you..

...just say you're a virgin?

No.

You're not a virgin,
there's, uh..

You just, uh..

You just picked up
a stranger in a bar.

So, uh, what's up
with that, huh?

Hello?

Fuck, weird as fuck!

[engine revving at distance]

Uh, sorry, no vacancy.

Are you Abby?

Abby, Charlie.

I'm with CLC.

No, look, I'm not here
to start any trouble.

We're a family business,
too, I understand

what you're going through,
we, uh..

...lost my father a few years
back, it was, uh..

Condolences.

[scoffs]

I was actually surprised to hear
from your mother when we did.

Takes a certain kind of moxie
to run a place like this.

What does it take to pilfer it
from a vulnerable widow?

I just want you to know
if you do change your mind..

No hard feelings.

Really.

Pleasure to meet you, Abby.

[car engine revving]

- Thanks.
- For what?

- Dinner.
- It was his idea.

So, Marcus, what do you do
at the casino?

Well, nothing fancy
like your sister.

He's our first line of defense.

Tell her what you look for.
It's very scientific.

Okay, well, there is
a certain art to it.

Rapid blinking,
um, placing objects

between themselves
and the dealer

uh, feet pointed
towards an exit.

Well, verbally, it's stuff like,
um, formalized language.

I mean, like, uh, I did not
have sexual relations..

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[birds chirping]

[water splashing]

Hi. Fishing lures.

Just fishing lures today.

But I have found other things,
I can tell you.

Like what?

Oh, firearms, watches,
wedding rings.

That one's usually
a grand gesture!

Everything that goes over
the Falls ends up..

...flowing through
this big basin here.

Sometimes I get lucky.

Walter. Nice to meet you.

- Nice to meet you.
- Yeah.

Out of town?

- Vancouver.
- Oh, that's -- that's far away.

Well, you've -- you've come
to the right guy.

Yeah, I -- I'm -- I'm sort of
the town historian.

- You like podcasts?
- Uh, sure.

Yeah, it's called
"Over the Falls."

Lot of history around
these parts.

An awful lot of history.

- I bet.
- Yeah, well.

Uh, remember..

...rate and review
the -- the podcast.

It -- it helps our rankings.

[bird chirping]

[elevator bell dings]

[indistinct chatter]

Abby.. But, how'd you
get up here?

I'm resourceful.

What are you doing here?

Visiting you at work,
because you're my sister.

You can't be here.

So this is the eye in the sky.

I'm just a supervisor,
stop stalling.

Remember back when we were kids?

I don't quite know
how to answer that.

Remember I used to talk
about the one-eyed boy?

I remember you telling me
about a lot of things.

He had one eye.

Okay, I found a picture.

Before you say anything,
just hear me out --

I can't do this right now,
at my work.

When then?

Channel five.
Come in, channel five.

Yeah, surveillance, go ahead.

[indistinct radio chatter]

They're on separate channels,
they can't be consolidated.

Yeah.

I have a break at five.

If you want to visit
your sister

like a regular person,
you can do it then..

...in the lobby.

[instrumental music]

Hey, um, what are we doing here?

Thanks for the lift, by the way.

Laure would kill me
if I got you involved.

Look, Abby, um..

...Laure has told me
some...things.

Abby West!

So, how can I help you,
Miss West?

I want to report a kidnapping.

- A kidnapping?
- Yeah.

A boy near the Queenston docks.

- Thanksgiving weekend, 1994.
- 1994?

Yeah.

- You witnessed this?
- Yeah.

- How old were you?
- Seven.

You were seven, hm.

I found a picture, pretty sure

those are the people
that took him.

- How old was the boy?
- Older than me. Maybe 12, 13.

Why didn't your parents
report it?

They didn't see it,
I was the only one around.

- Why didn't you tell them?
- Well, I think I did.

Well, I told my sister,
but she called me a liar.

[laughs]

Well, yeah, is that it?

- Yeah.
- Thank you for coming in.

- That's it?
- Mm-hmm.

I'm sorry, you -- you have an
eyewitness coming forward about

a child abduction and you're not
even writing anything down.

Based on my experience,
I -- I don't trust your friend.

- She's my sister-in-law.
- You're married?

She's my wife's sister!
What is going on here?

He's new.

First week on the job, right?

Fitting in?

- So far.
- Must be.

Turning away a witness
on a hunch?

[exhales sharply]

Hm, okay.
Well, wait here.

- You know him?
- No.

[dramatic music]

Hey. Hey!

Abby!

What?

This isn't one of your
fantastical stories, is it?

Is that what Laure calls them?

[chuckles]

- So?
- No.

No?

There are no open or
closed cases of a missing boy

that match your date
or description.

So remember to sign yourselves
out when you leave.

[scoffs]

[dramatic music]

I just didn't like
the smugness, you know?

The attitude.

You absolutely did
the right thing.

I mean, you just,
you never know.

Heck, maybe you -- you saw
something in the papers

and you just combined
it in your head..

[whirring]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

The best and the bravest
have always

been drawn to Niagara Falls.

Called perhaps by the chance
to showcase

their extraordinary skills
on the world's largest stage.

Their names have become legend.

But only one name
electrifies the millions

who flock to the Falls
every year.

Only one name rings out
above the roar

and thunder of the water.

The Magnificent Moulins.

[whirring]

[dramatic music]

Well, for several years, we've
been looking for an entry point

into the dinner theatre market.

Now that search is over.

Our audiences will
absolutely love --

Yeah, we -- we -- we're truly,
uh, indebted to Mr. Lake, yeah.

He inspired us to create
our greatest trick yet.

- Mm-hmm.
- It's because of him.

- It's because of him.
- Yeah, and..

But their greatest trick
wouldn't be possible

without the help of a very
special assistant.

- She is our --
- Tigers are family to us.

They're like, um, collaborators.

It's really a great
evolution of our magic.

Yeah.

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music on stereo]

[scoffs]

The leather jacket
was a bad choice.

You know, my grandad
originally built

this as a private residence.

Priggish, right?

But it was also used
as a convalescent hospital

by the Air Force after the war.

I remember the school
field trip.

Well, that must have been after
they got our historic status.

But the future
King Edward VIII

sat in this very chair.

Cool.

He was friends
with Hitler, right?

- I'm here about the Rainbow.
- Uh-huh.

What were you gonna do with it?

Uh, I probably shouldn't
say, but, uh..

Glow-in-the-dark paintball maze.
Killer, right?

Killer.

Look, I -- I know the folks
down at City Hall.

Maybe we could get
a -- a plaque put up.

The former site of the historic
Rainbow Inn.

Yeah? What do you think?

What about a job?

A job?

You're the biggest employer
in town.

If I lose my motel

I'm going to need
something to do.

Okay, uh, what did you
have in mind?

Well, I could get used to
working in a place like this.

[laughs]

What does that mean?

Um, well, it means that
we can discuss it.

Great.

But, right now, I have a date
with my family, so..

Is it in town?

Why?

[instrumental music on stereo]

Remember them?

They used to have a show
on the hill when I was a kid.

They used to be our crown jewel.

- No!
- Oh, yeah.

Well, it seems like they crossed
over to the dark side.

Yeah, it was a major, major..

You're probably too young.

Their son, they found him
in the gorge.

- No shit!
- Yeah, suicide.

The Bells found him.

At least what was left of him.

Are they sure it was a suicide?

You've got
a curious streak, huh?

- Well, journalism school.
- Oh, yeah.

Well, from what I remember,
the kid was, uh, troubled.

- And you knew him?
- Yeah, I did.

Even took him
under my wing, so..

So the Moulins just packed up..

...took their show
across the river?

Yeah, something like that.

[dramatic music]

[door opens]

[door closes]

- Hi.
- Hi.

You never came back.

Have you been staying here?

- No.
- No?

[sighs]

I remember the one-eyed boy.

You do?

I remember you telling me
about some kidnapping, yeah.

I also remember
the fossil bones

Enrique Iglesias,
the prison letters.

You see where I'm going?

- What? I didn't lie.
- Now you're lying to the cops.

And you dragged my husband
into this, are you crazy?

It was his idea.

Yeah, I'm sure
he thought it was.

Laure! I'm not lying.

Just -- just give me
two minutes.

Two minutes, after that if you
still think it's bullshit..

...I'll drop it.

[dramatic music]

Okay, sit down.

Laure.

Hello.

What do you know about
the Magnificent Moulins?

I don't know, tigers and smoke
machines and corny magic tricks.

Okay, this article,
dated October 13th, 1994

states that Alex Moulin,
the duo's only child

was declared dead by suicide.

He allegedly jumped
into the gorge.

However, they never
recovered his body.

So, how'd they know
it was suicide?

Probably the police didn't
release everything to the press.

Okay, fine.

Now remember this?

That was the day
before Thanksgiving, 1994.

Four days before
the article came out.

It's date-stamped,
if you don't believe me.

You said yourself
you remember me telling you

about a kidnapping that day.

A boy, possibly like Alex.

Besides that picture, mum took
dozens of photos that day.

This being one of them.

Now watch this.

I found this at the library.

It's a film about
the Moulins made two years

before Alex's death.

There.

Look at that woman
with the black hair.

Now, look at this picture.

[dramatic music]

Laure, tell me I'm lying.

Shit.

Okay, I found something.

"Collectively known as
the Diving Bells.

"The Bells were a local family
of daredevils and rescuers.

"Pulled over two hundred bodies
from the gorge

in the last half century."

"The best and the bravest."

Looks like it was
a multi-generational thing.

One died in 1977, Thomas Bell,
a stunt gone wrong.

He left four children,
most of them still in the family

business Catherine, Walter,
Scott and Tony.

There's a playground named
after them uptown --

Wait, go back.

The kids,
what were their names?

"Catherine, Walter,
Scott and Tony."

[speaking in foreign language]

...to the "Over The Falls"
podcast

recorded live from the hangar
deck of Niagara Falls'

only Flying Saucer.

[instrumental music]

I'm Walter Bell, and, folks,
as Lawrence Welk would say

"It's wonderful, wonderful
to be here."

We've got a triple A gem
of a show for you today.

Alien lifeform approaching.

Greetings, earthlings.

- For two?
- Yeah.

Follow me.

[instrumental music on stereo]

Back in a chronon.

So, what now?

Maybe he's in the back.

Abby!

What?

Ladies room is downstairs,
honey, on the left.

- Thanks.
- Something for you, hon?

[indistinct chatter]

...although maybe find
a halfway peaceful spot

below the Falls where
you can spawn and die.

It's a hard thing for
any of us to imagine

but it's what makes
the salmon in this region

so hard to catch and such
a fine, rare treat to eat!

El Viejo Seafood on Lundy's Lane
has a half-price special

on king and coho salmon
every Tuesday.

And if you ask me,
that's a deal worth

swimming upstream for.

I'm Walter Bell,
this is "Over the Falls"

and until next time, eskonyen.

Hey! Vancouver?

Alex Moulin.

Close the door.

- What are you?
- I'm just someone who saw it.

What do you mean, saw it?
Saw what?

Saw them take him.

- Oh, you would've been --
- I was seven!

I was there when it happened,
and I have proof.

- Vancouver --
- No, I'm, I'm a local.

The Rainbow Inn.

Go back and order something.

Eat, then walk two blocks East
and look for a blue Toyota.

And come alone.

[instrumental music on stereo]

Abby, we need to talk
about some things.

Like what?

[chuckles]

You don't trust me.

I trust you not to set
my house on fire.

I don't always feel like
you're telling me the truth.

Alright, Laure, what can I do?
You tell me?

Alright.
What happened in Toronto?

Mum wouldn't tell me.

Nothing happened. I --

Abby, the truth. Please.

[music continues]

I was freelancing.

Doing pretty well, actually,
and I met a guy.

A really nice guy.

What was his name?

Daniel.

Things got pretty serious, fast.

And..

...I started telling lies
and then more lies.

It all just got away from me..

...as it always does.

Everything turned to shit.

So, I checked myself into
a place for a couple of weeks

and...then mum had her
heart attack.

That's it.

Thank you.

I know that wasn't easy.

Yeah, yeah.

Oof! I really gotta go.

I'll see you?

[dramatic music]

I saw those two people
force Alex

into the trunk of their car,
right where we first met.

- Do you know them?
- No.

Open this.

A bloody cap.

One shoe.

That's what I found.

All I found.

Does that say suicide to you?

How did you get this?

Not every bluecoat was in
Charles II's pocket.

Charles Lake II?

Didn't you listen
to the podcast?

I mean..

I'm sorry.
I mean, Alex was just a kid.

What did he have to do with
Charles Lake II?

Nothing. The same can't be said
for Charles III.

Charlie?

He took a special interest
in Alex.

You catch my drift?

No, don't let that bon enfant
routine fool you.

Forgiving Charlie his trespasses

was a regular cottage industry
at CLC.

How do you know this?

Look up Donnie Mason.

Two years before Alex.

Like I said,
it's not the first time.

Probably won't be the last.

And the Moulins?

They must've known
something was going on.

Those two cockatiels?
I don't think so.

Ask yourself, cui prodest?

Who profits?

After losing Alex, the Moulins
stopped performing.

They got their pink slip.

Meanwhile, CLC and their
pervert prince

continued to rule the roost.

I've always had the motive.

Now, here's the means
and the opportunity.

Track 'em down.

You might be able
to complete the picture.

You keep it.

Maybe you'll have better luck
than I did.

[dramatic music]

Do you know what happens
when a body hits the water

at the bottom of the gorge?

Think swallowing
a live grenade.

It's no longer a body
you're looking for

but pieces of a body.

So, what makes the Alex Moulin
case so special?

Well, here was a boy, just
like Donnie Mason before him

who we're told leaped into
the mighty gorge

and vanished forever.

Friends, I've fished corpses
out of the Niagara

for thirty years,
so I can tell you

there's always a piece
of something.

Take it from me..

...this was no suicide.

The savagery of the first
Charles Lake

is well-documented.

And his son, Charles II

well, he learned from the best.

But Charles III had his eyes
on something else entirely.

Something depraved, even by
his family's standards.

As soon as he set his sights
on Alex

that boy was as good as gone.

[music continues]

I'm here to sell.

You're not going to ask
for shares

or something now, are you?

I'm not here to negotiate.

You know, this usually goes
through the lawyers.

Well, I'm guessing
they wrote it.

So, I don't see
why we need them.

Signed on every page.

Well, this is excellent.

Excellent.

This is impressive.

Yeah. A lot of great memories
up there.

"BM."

My favorite...right here.

Rush. They performed
for my 18th birthday.

What about this one?

This must have been
before Alex disappeared.

[sighs]

That's what this is?

I have a curious streak.

Little bit of advice.

I would stay away
from the tinfoil hat-wearing

crazies in this town. You can do
a lot better than that.

You're avoiding the question.

Look, whatever you think
you know..

...trust me,
you don't know anything.

[whirring]

[tiger roaring]

BM..

[dramatic music]

Abby!

Abby!

Shit!

Come on out, Abby!

Shit!

[panting]

[dramatic music]

[breathing heavily]

[people clamoring]

[siren blaring]

Jack the Ripper and Ted Bundy.

[music continues]

[indistinct chatter]

Excuse me, please..
Excuse me.

Excuse me.
No. Excuse me.

Excuse me, please.

[cackling]

Hey, you have to buy a ticket.

Okay, here.

[snarling]

[woman screaming]

Abby.

Abby, Abby, Abby.

Disappearing ink, really?

You know I own the gag shop
where you bought it.

So, in case you haven't figured
it out, I own this town.

And when I'm done with you,
Walter and all his crazies

and your shitty little motel

it's gonna be hilarious.

So, if it's games you want to
play with me, we can play

'cause this is really,
really easy for me.

[cackling]

[gate creaks]

Okay, first of all, a ticket is
twelve dollars, I paid twenty.

And second of all,
I'm the new liaison at CLC.

Soon to be. Ask Charlie.

Mr. Lake's the one
who called in the complaint.

It's just a workplace
misunderstanding.

I'll talk to him.

What exactly does a liaison
for CLC do, Miss West?

What does any liaison do.
Look it up.

Listen, ma'am, just stay away
from CLC properties.

And I'd stay away
from Mr. Lake altogether.

He didn't press charges
this time

but it's probably safe to say
you didn't get the job.

Have a good night, Miss West.

[scoffs]

[car engine starts]

[knocking on door]

- Hey, Abby.
- Hey.

Uh, yeah.

Graveyard shift?

Yeah.

So..

I knew it!

Bev Mole banned
from the casino in 1996.

That's her.

How did you know
she'd be in our system?

A lucky guess.

A Bev Mole won the lottery
in June 1995.

Bought 200 tickets.

Who buys 200 tickets?

Also, read that.

"The good news couldn't have
come at a better time.

"During a botched home invasion
last October

"Mole's husband, Gerry,
was violently assaulted

paralyzing him from the
waist down.." October?

Maybe it was a double-cross.

You guys having fun without me?

Is this about that kidnapping?

[dramatic music]

[keypad beeping]

[line ringing]

We're sorry, your call cannot
be completed as dialed.

Call your operator to help you.

Operator.
How can I help you?

Uh, hi, I've been trying to
reach my aunt

but her number
isn't in service anymore.

Could you put me through
to the new one?

Name and previous number?

Uh, Beverly Mole.

9-0-5-555-0-1-7-3.

Please hold.

[line ringing]

Hello?

Uh...is this Beverly Mole?

Who's asking?

Uh, hi, Miss Mole.

I'm from Customer Care
at the Niagara Falls Casino.

- Okay.
- Uh, yeah, yeah.

We noticed, uh, you haven't
played with us in a while.

We wanted to try
and lure you back.

Uh, we noticed there was an
improper ban on your account..

...and we'd like to give you
a $100 credit and a room.

What do you think?

What do I have to do?

Nothing at all, just let me know
when you'd like to redeem it

and I'll process it.

Friday.

- This Friday?
- Yeah.

Of course.

There's a great little place
we partner with.

¶ Though you warned me
not to drive ¶

¶ To see you again ¶

¶ I'm back at your door
please let me in ¶

¶ I saw that little smile ¶

¶ Playing on your face ¶

¶ You knew I'd come running
back to your side ¶

¶ But if you find it
in your heart ¶

¶ To love me still ¶

¶ I'll never be sorry ¶

¶ I forgot about my pride ¶

¶ I'm back just like
I've never been away.. ¶

[exhales]

[footsteps]

[keys jingling]

I have a reservation.

- Can I have a name?
- Bev Mole.

Welcome, Ms. Mole.

Thanks for staying with us.

- Traveling far?
- Ajax.

Lovely.

I need to see your license.

[machine whirring]

I have you staying with us
for two nights

compliments of the casino.

Can I help with your bags?

No.

[door opens]

[door shuts]

¶ I'm back just like
I've never been.. ¶

[whirring]

¶ I'm back and you gotta ¶

¶ Let me stay ¶

¶ Though you warned me
not to try ¶

¶ To see you again ¶

¶ I'm back at your door
please let me in ¶¶

[dramatic music]

[doorknob clicks]

[keys jingling]

[music continues]

[intense music]

[inhaling sharply]

Who are you?

Police.

What?

Police!

Oh.

- She locked it.
- Okay.

I've got, gotta get you
out of here.

Thank you.

Oh, shit.
Okay.

Okay, first..

...I need you to tell me
about Alex Moulin.

Did Charles Lake send you?

We took pictures.

Polaroids.

Of what?

The scars. His scars.

Scars you gave him?

No.

No, they don't like children.

- Who don't?
- Tigers.

[coughs]

Who don't?

Tigers.

[coughing]

[inhales]

We only wanted the money.

The Moulins needed to pay
for what they did to him.

And after he died..

...I tried to tell the police..

...but my wife --

- She stopped you?
- Yeah, she stopped me.

[inhales sharply]

The, the boy..

...he was f -- fine
when we left him.

- Left him?
- Yeah.

Left him where?

Ger!

I can't help you right now.

But I will. I promise.

We're gettin' out of here.

Fuckin' scam!

Ger! We're leavin'!

Fuck!

Sorry, sweetness.

I know we just got here.

The casino tried to entrap me.

Motherfuckers.

Fuck!

Aw, geez!

We're leaving this
fuckin' town.

What a shit hole this is.

Fuck! Come on.

Come on, you fucker!

Come on!

[instrumental music]

In the desert
I saw a creature

naked, bestial.

Who, squatting on the ground,
held her heart in her hands

and ate of it!

I said,
"Is it good, friend?"

"It is bitter, bitter,"
he answered.

"But I like it because it is
bitter, bitter.

And because it is my heart."

[tiger growling]

[screams]

[pounding on door]

Abby!

Abby!

Abby, what's going on, kiddo?

I got a call
from the CLC lawyers.

They're taking the motel, Abby.

It doesn't matter whether you
signed it in crayon, lipstick

or invisible ink,
it's binding!

I've already talked
to your sister.

She sounded relieved,
to be honest with you.

Just take the money, kid.

Get your life sorted.

Did mom really want to
sell this place?

- Abby..
- Just tell me.

She's dead. Just tell me.

I can tell you
that once the decision was made

she was at peace with it.

That much I can tell you.

[dramatic music]

[fireworks crackling]

[people cheering in distance]

[snarling]

Aww.

[indistinct chatter]

Isn't she beautiful?

The Moulins were forcing Alex
to be in their act.

With the tigers.

But there was
a terrible accident

so they locked him up
and they hid him away.

But Bev Mole,
the animal trainer

she was the only outsider
who knew.

Does that name
mean anything to you?

Nope.

Well, Bev decides to take
pictures of a scarred-up Alex

and uses them to blackmail
the Moulins.

Everything goes
according to plan

until Alex somehow
breaks free and runs away.

So, Bev's complicit in all this

and she's forced
to track him down

and take him back to the Moulins

but then he's never
heard from again.

- Bye, Walter.
- Goodnight, darlin'.

Alien life-form approaching.

So, what are you implying?

The Moulins killed
their own kid.

The abuse, the tiger attack,
the blackmail --

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Cui prodest, right?

Bev Mole and the Moulins
are bound.

It's been a cold war ever since.

I thought you were a smart kid.

I thought your eyes were open.

"Complete the picture."
That's what this is.

It isn't some dubious campaign
against the Lake family.

You think you know these people.

[scoffs]

I've seen you
driving by my motel.

Snooping around.

You're paranoid.

Don't you mean CLC's motel?

Or maybe you just forgot to
mention your pending land deal.

Goodbye.

[exhales sharply]

[dramatic music]

Fuck!

Fuck.

¶ Once ¶

¶ Once it was mine ¶

¶ If love's a tear ¶

¶ I want to cry ¶

¶ If it has wings ¶

¶ I wanna fly ¶

¶ I know I'd never ¶

¶ Never let go ¶

¶ Once ¶

¶ Once it was mine ¶

¶ It was a sip of wine ¶

¶ I want to taste it ¶

¶ This heart
and these lips of mine ¶

¶ Don't want to be wasted ¶

¶ If love's a game ¶

¶ I wanna play ¶

¶ If there's a price ¶

¶ I want to pay ¶

¶ Let me at least.. ¶

- Where you going today?
- Just to town.

Seeing a show.

Enjoy the show.

Thank you.

¶ Once it was mine ¶

¶ Once it was mine ¶

¶ Once it was mine ¶

¶ Once it was mine ¶¶

[instrumental music]

Ladies and gentlemen!

Please take your seats.
The show is about to begin.

[indistinct chatter]

[upbeat music]

Ladies and gentlemen!

The Cayuga Casino is proud
to present

the two-time world champions
of magic.

The marvelous,
miraculous, magical

Magnificent Moulins!

[audience cheering]

[upbeat music]

Bonsoir!

Good evening!

Thank you! Thank you
and welcome to my show!

What?

Your show?

Well, whose show is it?

[laughing]

Ah..

[indistinct whispering]

[music continues]

[audience applauds]

Oh! What is this?

What is going on? Huh?

I think it is time to teach
this animal a lesson!

What do you think?

[audience applauding]

[laughs]

Bye!

[laughs]

One, two, three!

The amazing Heka!

Isn't she beautiful?

She loves your applause.

[tiger growls]

Ooh! We adopted her
when she was six months old.

Her mother died,
she was left all alone.

- Abandoned. Hungry.
- Aww!

But she's a fighter!

Isn't that right, Heka?

What, Heka?

Did I hear that?

You miss Mr. Moulin?

[audience laughs]

[laughs]

She wants me to bring him back.

[audience laughs]

Do I have to?

Okay.

Mr. Moulin.
Where are you?

[dramatic music]

[drumroll]

Here I am!

[audience applauding]

Thank you!

Thank you, Heka!

And thank you, my love!

[chuckles]

[audience cheering]

Thank you!

[indistinct chatter]

What is your name?

[indistinct chatter]

What is your name?

Picture?

[indistinct chatter]

Goodnight.

You guys... Wow!

You're way too kind.

Who should I make it out, too?

Just make it out to Alex.

I'll be at the diner
across the street.

¶ Won't you break my heart ¶

¶ One more time ¶

¶ Won't you kiss my lips ¶

¶ One more time ¶

¶ I'll be back when I know ¶

¶ What I'll find.. ¶

[sighs]

¶ One more time.. ¶

I don't think
you can smoke here.

Coffee, Mrs. Moulin?

No.

Touching story about the tiger.

I even saw some tears.

Imagine the reaction if you told
them about your dead son.

¶ I'll be there ¶

How'd you do it?

It's been 25 years.

We've learned to adjust.

I mean, the tiger trick.

It's really spectacular.

Look, what exactly do you want?

She wants money, imbecile.

She sent you?

Tell her she won't get another
grubby dime from us.

We've got Chernobyl of dirt
on her compared to that.

- Can I get anybody something?
- No, fuck off!

That woman stole from us.

Blackmailed us, she almost
ruined our careers!

Not to mention,
kidnapped your son.

She didn't send you?

¶ You'll need a friend ¶

¶ But there won't be.. ¶¶

Keep it.

I have the originals.

Well, how much?

I don't want money.

I want the truth.

[laughs]

Truth.

You're pretty smart, huh?

But what you're doing here is
fucking dopey.

But I'll admit, you do it
with a certain exuberance.

You're stalling.

[sighs]

- The truth.
- The truth.

The truth.

The truth is..

...we don't know.

We paid her the money.

The deal was she would take him
back to the farm.

But he never got there.

We went to the police. They told
us he committed suicide.

They didn't want
to listen to us!

Now, that chicken hawk
Charles Lake..

...was trying to send us
a message.

The police
and that bitch Beverly..

...they were all on the payroll.

- What message?
- He took my boy.

Mon bebe.

Mon petit garcon.

[tape recorder clicks]

[sighs]

The truth.

He was there..

...tied up in his little cage.

Half-conscious.

And we saw an opportunity.

We tried to teach Alex,
tried to include him.

But he was spoiled, soft.

Tigers bow to strength.

Fear only makes them salivate.

It was really his fault
more than the tiger's.

It could have sent him
over the cliff.

The body breaks up on the rocks.

The sad child does
what sad children do.

[laughs]

I'll have some coffee
please, now. Thank you.

Feels good to get that
off our chest, doesn't it, boy?

Yeah.

There you have it, the truth..

...and a lie.

You have to decide
which is which.

More homework, I'm afraid.

[laughs]

Huh.
Don't be embarrassed, honey.

Don't.

[sniffles]

It's smoke and mirrors,
by the way, the trick.

[humming]

[dramatic music]

We drop a mirror
between Heka and the audience.

A little redirection

a little light.

Go ahead..

...tell someone.
See if they believe you.

Now scram.

Scram!

[intense music]

Hey, whoa, whoa. Slow down.

Oh, sorry.

How long were you in the States?

Just a day.

[music continues]

Abby, this is, uh,
strictly voluntary.

Your sister
has graciously agreed

to take you in
for the time being.

However, I think you owe her
an explanation

as to what you were doing
with her passport.

It's okay, Abby.

My sister has these, uh, cycles.

Laure, do you know what your
sister was doing

before she came back home?

She mentioned something about

bumming around Toronto
with a, a boyfriend

and fucking that all up, or..

What is this?

That is Abby's last cycle.

She was in Phoenix, Arizona,
the last eighteen months

claiming that she had
retrograde amnesia.

Do you know what that is?

It's when you hit your head
and lose all memory

of anything that happened
before the injury.

She convinced people
she didn't know who she was.

Her name, her family, anything.

People thought that
she'd escaped

some human trafficking ring.

And then a local caseworker
made Abby his pet cause

trying to get the state
to issue her an ID.

It was a bit of a story
down there.

The press dubbed her
"Jane of the Desert."

And then once she got exposed

it got pretty messy,
as you can imagine.

Lawyers, psychiatrists, meds.
The deportation.

She was banned from ever going
back into the United States.

And it was your mom
who came to her rescue.

Mom?

- She -- she paid for all this?
- Yes.

With a loan
against the sale of the motel.

Why didn't she tell me?

Because she was afraid
it was going to

tear the two of you apart,
permanently.

This had a real cost
on your mom.

Abby..

You are my sister

and I love you,
despite everything.

Just, just look me in the eye

and tell me you did this.

That's all.

I got them, Laure.

They told me.

Who?

Who told you what?

The Moulins.

No, Abby, we are not,
we are not doing this.

So you don't believe
any of this now?

Just -- just tell me
you'll get help

I will be there the whole way.

They laid it all out for me.

They -- they told me
how they killed him and why.

It's means, motive, opportunity!

- Stop it! Stop it!
- The Moulins!

You have to bring them in
for questioning!

The Moulins? I thought Alex
was -- was whacked

by some evil consortium --

Laure, I -- I got the whole
story, Laure!

I'm sure it's very interesting.

But it -- it
just doesn't add up.

Abby, why can't you just admit
what you did in Phoenix?

Because I'm not..

[sighs]

Because I was protecting myself.

[scoffs]

I'm not a liar.

Laure..

I'm not.

[sobbing]

[dramatic music]

[indistinct chatter]

[music continues]

Well, it seems to me
that under the circumstances

that you have a perfect right.

You do?

Well, I wouldn't want to do it
without a witness.

- Well, that's me.
- It is?

Well, that's all
I wanted to know.

Try and look in that thing..

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[light switch clicks]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Alright. Bye, babe.

See ya.

[door closes]

[doorknob clicks]

[music continues]

[indistinct chatter on TV]

[coughing]

- Ah!
- Shh. Shh.

Shh. Shh. Shh.

Calm down. Calm down.

It's okay.
Don't panic, please.

I just want to talk to you.

Okay.

And I want to show you
something.

Look at these.

Look.. I need you to look
at these, please.

You remember that day?

- This is me.
- I don't --

Look. Look, please!

- You see?
- Hm.

You remember this day?

Um..

You want to make it right again?

I do. I just..

Yeah.

- I can get you out of here.
- Hm.

But I need you to do
something for me.

Yeah.

You understand?

Ndio, kwe and yineh to
the "Over the Falls" podcast.

Recorded live from the hangar
deck of Niagara's

only Flying Saucer.

I'm Walter Bell. And, folks,
as Lawrence Welk would say

"It's wonderful,
wonderful to be here."

[door thuds]

Get the fuck out of my house!

[groaning]

[breathing heavily]

We have a very special
episode for you today.

Our long-time listeners
will surely know why.

For over 20 years, I've been
telling the police

that Charles Lake II
had Alex Moulin murdered

all to protect his son

current CLC boss Charles III.

And his elicit taste for young,
vulnerable boys.

We fought a long and bloody
battle to bring retribution

to this criminal clan.

So, today, I'm proud to say
we are on the cusp of victory.

This sleepy neighborhood
in the suburban town of Ajax

forty-five minutes
outside of Toronto

was shaken by the sounds
of a police raid

as officers charged into
this bungalow behind me.

Inside, 58-year-old retiree,
Beverly Mole

was arrested for
the forcible confinement

and suspected torture of her
physically-disabled husband.

However, when police
talked to the victim

fifty-one-year-old Gerry Mole

he dropped a bombshell
no one saw coming.

According to Gerry,
his wife was the hired gun

for a ghastly crime that took
place almost 25 years ago.

A crime she committed on behalf
of the now-deceased

Niagara Falls tycoon
Charles Lake II.

A crime that, until now

wasn't even a crime at all.

Who could have fathomed
such a fate for young Alex?

Tortured by his parents,
defiled by a deviant

then fed to a den of tigers
like some ritual slaughter.

Truly, this was a masterpiece
of degeneracy.

We did not know about the abuse.

We certainly did not know about
his murder.

We intend to fight this gross,
malicious slander.

Someone who was willing
to comment was this man

Walter Bell

who many in the region would
recognize as a member of

the local daredevil and water
rescue team, The Diving Bells.

Walter was a part of the
original search-party

that scoured the Niagara River
for any evidence

of Alex Moulin's remains.

According to Walter, something
seemed off immediately.

Of course,
Alex wasn't the first.

We've only started to scratch
the surface on the story

believe me.

Uh, I also have a podcast.

It's called "Over the Falls."

As we await the outcome of
this re-opened investigation

I remind my listeners of our
long fight for justice

against nepotism, beguiling
iniquity and bloodshed.

To everyone that stuck with us

thus always to tyrants.

[instrumental music]

Can I help you?

Yeah.

You have a room?

Uh..

How many nights?

Uh, don't know yet.

[keys clacking]

I have a room. I just need
your driver's license

and credit card.

Yeah.
Um, I only have cash.

Okay.

Do you have any ID?

[printer whirring]

- How much?
- A hundred-dollar deposit.

Vancouver.

Yeah.

- It's a long way from home.
- Hm.

First time in Niagara Falls?

Um..

First time in a long time.

What brings you back?

Do we know each other?

No.

Huh.

You know..

...he's not lying.

He never hurt that kid?

No.

Saved his life.

That mine?

Oh, yeah.

Thanks, Abby.

¶ Sometimes ¶

¶ I get so lonely ¶

¶ Sometimes ¶

¶ I feel so blue ¶

¶ Sometimes ¶

¶ My heart grows weary ¶

¶ All because ¶

¶ Of you ¶

¶ Sometimes ¶

¶ I feel so hollow ¶

¶ Crying ¶

¶ The whole night through ¶

¶ Oh love ¶

¶ That I can call my own ¶

¶ All because ¶

¶ Of you ¶

¶ I want to be your baby ¶

¶ I want you to
hold me so tight ¶

¶ I want you to love me ¶

¶ Always think of me ¶

¶ Everyday and every night ¶

¶ Someday ¶

¶ Someday you'll come to me ¶

¶ And love me ¶

¶ As I love you ¶

[humming]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]