Intimate Stranger (2006) - full transcript
Kansas City investment broker Karen Reese has had a long history of bad relationships with men. Her marriage to John Reese was short-lived because of John's controlling nature. It nonetheless resulted in a child, Karen who has custody of now nine year old Justin. John is largely out of Justin's life, which bothers Karen if only because of Justin's want for his father to be truly a father figure. Karen just broke up with her latest boyfriend Randy Stroud for many of the same reasons she broke up with John before him. Karen's sister, Donna Eckhart, believes Karen sabotages many of her relationships out of fear. Karen's boss, Alex, is interested in her romantically, but she believes he is too young for her despite his devotion. When Karen meets venture capital consultant Denis Teague, who is Karen's brother-in-law Lenny Eckhart's new work colleague, Karen thinks that her long streak of bad relationships may have come to an end. Denis is handsome and attentive. And after a rocky start more from someone else trying to take his father's place, Justin becomes attached to Denis as that missing adult male figure in his life. Denis, too, is falling for Karen, he who has also had a history of bad relationships. Shortly before Karen and Denis started dating, strange occurrences started happening around Karen, such as weird sounds coming out from the attic of her house, which she attributes to squirrels, and three "hang up" telephone calls daily from a private number, which she believes is Randy stalking her. Regardless, Karen ultimately decides to call things off with Denis, because she believes he is moving too fast, and is a little too attentive for her comfort, he doing things to meet her every need even before she asks. These strange occurrences increase after Karen and Denis' break-up. Is the timing of these strange occurrences coincidental to meeting and then breaking up with Denis, or is Denis somehow involved?
I
believe that an open road
is a metaphor to life.
Some days you can see for
miles, everything's clear.
Other times, what's just
beyond the headlights
is dark and unknown.
But if you keep control,
if you believe in yourself,
you can make it through
any twists and turns,
no matter how it might otherwise seem.
- I hate thunder.
- It was just the wind.
Come on, time for bed.
Come on, buddy, double time, come on.
Breaker went off again.
Come on, keep going.
Okay.
- You know, I used to
be afraid of storms too
until your grandma told me
exactly what thunder was.
- It's a refraction of
atmospheric pressure
when lightening moves faster
than the speed of sound.
- Mm, no, thunder is God letting
out a very, very big burp.
- You're weird.
- Yeah, well, guess what, it's hereditary.
Goodnight, kiddo.
Love you.
- I love you too.
Sweet dreams.
- To the brightest, the
shrewdest, the wisest,
and by far the brashest investment broker
in all of Kansas City, Karen Reese.
Thank you.
- Hey, hey you!
- Hey.
Congratulations!
Thank you.
- So when are you gonna make her partner?
- Ah yeah, right, you
need the jaws of life
to pry anything out of this guy.
- That is not true.
I'm not cheap.
- Lenny, hey, how are you?
This is my brother-in-law, Lenny.
This is Alex.
- Hey.
- Donna, of course, you
know, my bossy older sister.
- Oh yeah, great, okay, thank you.
That would be me.
- And this is ah.
- Oh, Denis Teague, one
of our new consultants.
Just moved here from New York.
You two met briefly
last week at Brubaker's.
- Yeah, I remember.
- It's nice to see you again.
- Nice to see you.
- Karen, that's the song from the thing.
- That's the song from the thing.
- Gotta dance.
- We gotta dance.
- See ya later.
- You, come.
Darling, yes.
♪ I never knew you were loving me ♪
♪ I've been around and I can feel ♪
♪ I got my back up against the wall ♪
♪ I'm here to jump, baby, if you fall ♪
♪ I never knew that you wanted me ♪
♪ If I danced like you ♪
Hey, Jerry, can I have a--
- Long Island, no lemons, on me.
- Wow.
- Brubaker's, right, I remember.
- I'm impressed.
So, Denis Teague, exactly
what do you do for Lenny?
- Ah, I manage their
venture capital accounts.
I move their money to the
right places, exciting, huh?
- Are you good?
- I'm the best.
- Oh, my God, I can't breath.
Woo, I hate this humidity.
I hate it.
I swear to God I am moving to Arizona.
So, where's this Randy guy?
I thought I'd get to meet him.
- Ah, Randy Stroud is over.
- Oh.
- He was a bit overbearing.
- Ooh, do tell.
Ah, well, he
sent me three emails a day,
absolutely convinced that
we're meant for each other,
and on our third date he
pulls out the calculator
and divides the bill.
- We call her The Terminator.
- No, but listen to this.
Then he asks me to cover the tip.
- Oh.
- Nobody gets past the third date.
- Mm, I love this song.
- Oh, no, no, no.
- Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yes.
- Ah no, I don't dance.
- Come on, yes you do.
Everybody dance, come on.
- I, I don't dance.
Yes, you do.
Hey!
- Don't worry, Alex, she
only has eyes for you, honey.
♪ Gonna find I'm unreal ♪
♪ I've got to have you ♪
♪ I've got to have you by my side ♪
♪ Got to have you all the time ♪
♪ Oh, I can't hold back baby ♪
And at WKFL Weather,
it looks like it's gonna
be another scorcher
here in Kansas City with
temperatures reaching the high.
- Don't go far.
Okay.
- How's he doing?
Hey, guys!
- I think he's missing his dad.
- Yeah, well, that's to be expected.
Hey, it's Denis.
My God, he's jogging in this weather.
Nobody jogs in this weather.
- I do.
Hi.
Hi.
- What a surprise.
Yeah, what a coincidence.
- Yeah.
- Nice to see you.
- You too.
- Good to see you again, Denis.
- You too, Donna.
- I think I'm gonna go
get the boys some water.
- Hey, I had a lot of fun the other night.
- So did I.
- Um, would you like to have
dinner with me sometime?
I know this is really awkward.
I would've asked you the other night,
but I'm kind of out of practice with this.
- I would love to have dinner with you.
- Yeah?
Mm hmm.
- Okay, I'll call ya.
- You don't have my number.
- I'll get it from Lenny.
No, no, we ended up hiking through
Thailand, and Myanmar,
Vietnam for about three weeks.
It was incredible.
- Wow, that's amazing.
I was just talking to my sister
last week about Thailand.
It's my dream vacation.
- Why don't you go?
- Ah, you know, I'm a single mother.
Justin's way too young.
- Well, couldn't his dad take
care of him why you were away?
Oh, sorry, that's a prying question.
No, it's okay.
I'm an open book.
Um, John and I were only
married for a couple of years.
He was very controlling
which doesn't suit me at all.
- Oh.
- And now he has obligations to Justin,
which he rarely fulfills,
which upsets Justin,
and is John's little way
of getting back at me.
- Sorry, that's too bad.
- What about you?
Have you ever been married?
- Once, it ended very badly,
which is why I'm so out of practice,
but I hope I'm doing better than ah,
what's his name, Randy Stroud.
- Oh, please don't mention that name.
- Sorry.
- I think you're doing great.
This is wonderful.
Wine list, sir.
- Thank you.
I'm a Merlot drinker.
- So am I.
That's all I have.
- Oh, oh, great.
Um, Bremer Estates.
- Ooh, a connoisseur.
- It's the only one I
knew how to pronounce.
- So what's your dream vacation.
- Oh, I don't think it's where you go
so much as who you go with
that makes it a dream vacation.
- Hmm, I like that answer.
- What, he can't afford roses?
- I don't like roses.
Freesias are my favorite.
- Wagner needs an amended deal
memo by the end of the week.
I'm on it.
- I figured.
I know freesias are your favorite.
- Okay, besides the fact
that you're my boss,
I am five years older than you,
which means you're way too
old for me, sweetie.
- You think I'm teasing.
- You are.
Hey, Dad.
- Hey, sport.
- Okay, goodnight, sweetie.
No junk food.
- I know, have fun.
- So who is this guy?
- None of your business, John.
- It is if it involves Justin.
Have fun.
- Wow, these butterflies are beautiful.
- Caught them myself actually.
- Would you do, hunt them down
with a little bow and arrow?
- No, chloroform in a jar.
I know that sounds really awful,
but it's actually quite painless.
It was a hobby of mine when I was a kid.
I, I, I didn't have
the greatest childhood.
I guess butterflies made
me think that my life
could turn into something
beautiful too, you know?
Try this.
Hmm?
- Mm, he can cook too.
- Well, that remains to be seen.
♪ Then the siren ♪
♪ They surrender me to a life
sentence of your charms ♪
- I can not remember the last time
somebody cooked for me, thank you.
♪ There's just the way I touch you ♪
- Oh, my God.
I love this song.
I love this song.
What are you doing?
♪ Makes you wanna believe in me ♪
- Whoa, I thought you
said you didn't dance?
- Not in public.
Oh, okay.
Wow, whoa, you've got a couple of moves.
- I took some lessons.
- Did you?
- When I was young.
Hmm.
♪ I'm not stupid and you're no fool ♪
♪ What they think is insane ♪
♪ No, it's cruel and there's
just the way I touch you ♪
♪ Just the way I love you ♪
Um, I
have a three date rule.
- What's that?
- If something happens on the second date,
there has to be a third.
- Well, I better make sure
something happens then.
♪ We've had trouble ♪
♪ Of that there's no doubt ♪
♪ All in all I'd still have to say ♪
♪ That I'll love you
till my breathing stops ♪
♪ Till the stars collide
in the Milky Way ♪
♪ There's no other, though
I might look around ♪
♪ I know better than
to lose what I found ♪
♪ I'm not stupid ♪
You have no jump shot.
You wish, no jump shot.
You can't.
- I know I'm probably being paranoid,
but this note is handwritten.
He obviously delivered
the flowers himself.
Randy was so obsessive when
we went out, and a black rose?
What does he think, he's being subtle?
- Did you talk to him?
- Left a message.
Told him in no uncertain
terms to leave me alone.
Just creeps me out that
he would show up here.
- Well, it should.
This is your home.
You've got a son.
- I'm gonna hold onto this,
just in case he decides to
make another appearance,
and I have to get a restraining order.
- Good idea.
- You've got battery
backup if you lose power.
Call the 800 number.
Mm hmm.
- They'll log you in and get you online.
Great.
Should be all set.
- Here, I'll show you out.
Thank you.
Thank you.
- Why, what did I do?
- Ah, it's just nice having you
here while this is going on.
- You're welcome.
- What're you up to this weekend?
- Nothing.
- Want to come to my parents house?
They have a beautiful place.
It's on a river, cool breeze,
best sweet tea you'll ever have.
- I'd love to.
- Hey, this is Denis.
This is my guy, Justin,
and his main man, Anthony.
- Hey there, sport.
- Come on.
- I think I'll take that
as my cue to, to go.
Call you tomorrow.
- Okay.
Oh, um, can you do me a favor?
Would you mind mailing these?
They're invites for
Justin's birthday party.
There's a mailbox at
the end of Pine Street.
They still pick up tonight.
- Yeah, sure, sure.
Anything else you want me to do,
like wash you car, clean
your gutters, mow your lawn?
- I know, using up all
my privileges, aren't I?
You're great.
So, do I have your approval?
- Dad calls me sport.
- I know, but he doesn't know that.
He didn't mean anything by it.
You know nothing and no one
could ever come between us.
Hey.
Love you, kiddo.
That's what I'm talking about.
- I love you, Mom.
Come on, Karen,
you've been on your own for six years, ah.
- Well, I like being on my own.
Is there a limit to how long
a woman could be single?
I like my life.
I don't need a man.
We just want good
things for you, sweetie.
It seems like such a great match.
I mean you both have the same tastes.
It's like you guys have known
each other your whole lives.
I know, I know.
So what's the problem?
Ah, there isn't one.
I think that's the problem.
Hmm.
I know.
Like things are actually
going my way for once.
Hi, sport, everything all right?
Well, I don't
know how to use it.
Oh, your father never
taught you how to fish, huh?
No, well, bobber
fishing when I was little.
I didn't like hooking the worms.
Ah, yeah, me neither.
There's a much better way to fish, here.
I'll show you how to cast.
Okay.
- Stand up, over here.
The secret to a good cast,
you're gonna hold on tight to the rod.
Uh huh.
- Push your thumb down on
that button and keep it down.
- Okay.
You try, you
right-handed or left-handed?
Ah, left.
Okay, so you stand like this.
Finger there.
Right.
Thumb on the button.
Take the rod, thumb
on button, hold it down.
Bring it back and swing it up.
- See, I am always right
about these things.
- Yeah, well, we'll see.
I already have a trail
of broken men in my wake.
Why destroy another perfectly good one?
- Hmm, don't be such a pessimist.
- I'm not being a pessimist.
- I think he's very sweet,
and taking time with Justin
like that, it's lovely.
Mm hmm.
- Takes a lot of practice and
don't be discouraged, okay?
It's a right of passage.
- Did, did your dad ever
teach you how to fish?
- No.
Come on, try again.
You're doing great.
Okay.
- Is that the first time that
Justin's fished like that?
- Yeah.
There you go.
- Here are the Wagner redlines,
and Royals tonight, first base, punch it.
- Oh, yeah, I can't.
I'm going on a date with Denis.
I'm already late.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, okay,
so they're in last place,
but come on, this is baseball.
Karen, you love baseball.
- I know I love baseball.
Next weekend, I promise, I gotta run.
- Whoa, whoa, first, first base.
Are you sure
no one could see us?
- We're in the middle of nowhere.
Ah, cheers.
- Cheers.
- How would you like to come with me
to the Caribbean next week?
I've got some business
in the Grand Cayman's.
The Grand Cayman's?
Mm hmm.
- Wow, you're serious?
- Mm hmm, we'll get a
private little bungalow.
We'll have our own beach.
Sounds amazing, but I, I can't.
I can't leave Justin
and I really can't leave
until this Wagner deal
is closed and you're mad.
- No, no, of course not.
I just wanna spend more time with you.
- Well, I'd like that too.
It's just not a good time
for me to do that right now.
- I think I'm falling in love with you.
I don't wanna response to that.
I just, I just wanted to say it.
- I'm glad you did.
So, any ideas for your birthday tomorrow?
- Well, you already know.
I want that new MTB mountain bike.
I told you I don't
think you're gonna get it.
It's kind of expensive.
Plus you just got a new bike last year.
- Yeah, but that bike's so tight, Mom,
and nobody else has one yet.
- Better start saving your allowance then.
- Mom?
Mm hmm?
- Can Denis come to my party?
- You kinda like him, huh?
- He's cool.
You gonna have to let him spend the night
sooner or later, you know?
I don't care.
- Do I even want to know how
you know about these things?
- Come on, I'm in fourth grade.
- Oh, right.
Hello?
Hmm.
Hello?
- Who was it?
- I don't know.
Squirrels.
- So, you ever been married?
- Justin.
- No, that's, that's okay.
Um, yes, I have.
- Kids?
- No.
- Do you wanna have kids?
- Well, that would depend.
- On what?
- On who I decided to get married to.
- You gonna marry my mom?
- Okay, that's enough.
You clear your plate and go
upstairs, get ready for bed.
Okay.
- See ya later, sport.
Yeah, see ya, Denis.
- Rules were meant to be broken.
I'll behave myself.
- No, you won't.
Mm hmm.
- Mom.
Oh.
- I heard those noises again.
- We have an attic above the
garage and sometimes critters
tend to get caught in the crawlspaces.
- Oh.
- I heard it last night too
on the other side of my wall.
- It scares him.
He thinks there's monsters in the attic.
- You want me to have a look, sport?
- You don't mind?
- Oh no, I get them in my house too.
How do I get up there?
- I'll show you.
Why don't you go and start your bath.
I'll be right up, okay?
Yeah, okay.
- Excuse the junk.
Maybe I'll get you to put
all these up there one day.
- I would be happy to.
- Thanks.
The ah, the light hasn't
worked up here for forever.
Uh huh.
- So you'll have to use the flashlight.
Okay.
- Wish me luck.
Good luck.
- Ah.
Here squirrel.
Where are ya?
Ah, hey, get outta here, get!
Watch out, get out!
Shoo!
- He's out!
Get outta here!
- You okay?
- Yeah, well, mission accomplished.
- What's wrong?
- The A.C.'s off.
Gonna go check the breaker.
Justin?
- Yeah, yeah, good catch, good catch.
Great, okay, bring it over here.
All right, now, here's
the tricky part, okay.
What you wanna do is you
wanna get it by the wings.
- Okay.
- And then you wanna
take these two fingers,
and you wanna pinch it right
there but never very hard.
There, that's all there is to it.
When this was a caterpillar,
it was just a bug,
but now look, all those beautiful colors
all blending in together like that.
It's pretty amazing, huh?
- Mom.
- Hey, there you are.
- Look what I got.
- Wow, that's pretty cool.
I hope it was already dead.
- Mom, it's just a butterfly.
- Why don't you go get cleaned up.
People are gonna be here pretty soon.
Okay.
- Hey.
Hi.
Did you get my note?
- I did, yeah.
You know, next time I'd prefer it
if you'd talk to me before you go.
- Sorry, you're right.
I should've asked, but
I didn't wanna wake you,
and he was up and.
- No, it's cool.
I'm glad you guys like each other so much.
Did you do this?
- Oh yeah, after last night,
I thought I'd take a look at
the A.C., but don't worry,
I can put this back together
in like five minutes.
- You don't have to do that, you know?
- It's no big deal.
- What happened to the A.C.?
- Ah, I don't know.
The breaker keeps popping.
I've had somebody check
it out three times.
I don't know what's going on.
- Well, have Denis look at it.
- Mom, Dad here yet?
- Not yet.
Can I open my presents?
- After cake and ice cream.
- Okay, you know what?
We'll ride our bikes later, okay?
- So did you swing a new bike?
- He doesn't need a new bike.
You're doing it.
- Doing what?
- The Terminator.
It's true, every time you get any form
of stability in your life,
you find an excuse to sabotage it.
- No, I don't.
What'd he do?
- Nothing.
- You have a problem with intimacy.
He treats you like a queen.
- I know, I'm trying.
There's just something.
- Mm, yeah, I know it's rough.
He fixes everything,
except the kitchen sink.
The rest of us should be so lucky.
- He's reasonably good looking.
You know, seems nice enough.
He's got a kind of funny haircut though,
and he's old, definitely old.
- You're forgetting charming,
attentive, and very romantic.
- Well, I'm happy for you.
- You're jealous.
- No, I'm not jealous.
Yes, you are.
- I am actually happy
for you, I'm serious.
What's the name
of your date, hmm, Bambi?
- Brandy, actually.
- She's not your type.
- Now look who's jealous.
- I'm not jealous.
- You're jealous.
- That was my watermelon.
- You're jealous.
- I'm not jealous.
You're so jealous.
- Cool, Coldplay.
Thanks, Aunt Donna.
- You're welcome, honey.
- Now, I know this isn't
what you asked for, kiddo.
- Your Mom's pulling your leg, sport.
You wait right there.
Awesome!
- Oh!
Thank you so much!
- Oh, don't thank me.
It's from your mom.
- You're the coolest mom ever.
This is so cool.
Thank you so much.
Can I ride it?
- Yeah, just be careful.
Okay.
- Have fun.
- What're you doing?
- Well, I, I, heard him
mention it a couple of times,
so I just thought that...
- I can't buy the kid
everything he sees on TV.
I'm trying to instill some values here.
- Okay, you're right, you're right.
I'll ah, I'll take the bike back.
- You're not gonna take the bike back now.
Come on, he loves it.
- I know I overstepped my
boundaries here, okay, guilty.
Hey, punish me.
I deserve it.
Don't be mad at me.
Huh, come on.
Come on, I hate it when you're mad at me.
- When have I ever been mad at you?
- This is the first time and I hate it.
That's better.
You did send
him the invitation, right?
- Mm hmm, I mailed it to him,
and I left him two
messages on his voicemail.
Has nothing to do with you, kiddo.
Tell you what, why don't
you go ride your new bike
around the neighborhood for awhile?
I'll keep an eye out for him.
Okay?
Okay.
- John, I don't know
what's going on with you.
Maybe you're uncomfortable
because I have a date.
I don't know, but to not show up
to your own son's birthday party.
You broke his heart.
Hello?
Look, whoever this is lose my number.
- Well, you called me, it's John.
What're you talking about
Justin's birthday party being today?
His birthday isn't till Wednesday.
- Don't you play games with me, John.
I sent you the invite two weeks ago.
I left you two messages.
It was his party today.
- Well, my machine's been
deleting my messages,
and I didn't get an invite.
Look, I don't appreciate
these games, Karen.
You could've called my office.
- Yeah, well, you don't have
the best track record, John.
It's not like you
haven't done this before.
I didn't know
about the party, Karen.
- Are you lying to me?
No, will you just put
Justin on the phone for me?
- He's um, he's riding his bike.
I'll have him call you when he gets home.
Great, well, that's
very generous of you, bye.
- You know John probably threw
it out with the junk mail,
or he's lying.
He does that.
That way he can say
that you never sent it,
and it's your fault.
- No, I don't think he was lying.
- Well, obviously it's John
who's making the phone calls.
You know how jealous he gets
when you're dating someone else.
- Yeah, no, I don't, I don't know.
All the, all the calls are
coming from a private number.
Randy is the only one I
know who's got blocked I.D.
Getting three calls a day.
He used to send me three emails a day,
and he left three dozen
roses on my doorstep.
- Have you called the police?
- Yeah, they say there's
nothing they can do,
because I can't prove it.
- Well, maybe Denis can help.
- Why could Denis help?
- I don't know, because he's
good at everything, isn't he?
- Oh, careful.
- You scared me.
What're you doing up there?
- You wanted those boxes up here.
I rang the doorbell, but you
must've been in the shower.
- Yeah, I was.
Um, don't worry about it.
I'll deal with it later.
- Oh, there's just a few more.
- Denis.
- Okay.
I think you've got
another squirrel up here.
- It's fine, just leave it.
- Sure.
You've barely touched your food.
What?
- Denis, I think we need to
slow things down a little.
- What're you talking about?
- I think you're great,
and I've completely
gotten caught up in this,
but it just feels like things
are moving a little too quickly.
- Is this about the bike?
- No, it's not about the bike.
It's not really any one thing.
It's just a feeling.
I wanna be honest.
- Ooh.
- Denis, I'm not breaking up with you.
I'm just saying that I wanna--
- A slowdown, I heard you.
- I'm feeling a little crowded, Denis.
- Well, you um, do
everything you have to do
to get to know a person,
their likes, their dislikes,
what makes them happy,
and ah, you still end
up looking like a fool.
- Denis, come on.
Come on, you're taking this the wrong way.
- Oh, okay.
Well, um, I understand.
So ah, you take all the time you need.
Would you care
to see the dessert menu?
- No, I think we're done here.
- Hey, kiddo, Casey said
you guys had a good time.
- She's a cool babysitter.
So, how was dinner?
- It was okay.
- Is Denis here?
- No, I think that we're just gonna
be friends for a little while.
- He was gonna take me and
Anthony butterfly hunting.
- I know, I'll take you and
Anthony butterfly hunting.
- Yeah, I guess.
- Goodnight, sweetie.
- Goodnight, Mom.
- Okay, squirrel, wherever
you are, this is not a hotel.
Time for you to come out.
- Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
- Oh, what time is it?
- Are you okay?
- I must've caught a bug or something.
Are you ready for school?
- Yeah.
- Well, you look terrible.
- Thank you.
- Why don't you go home?
- No, Wagner's office needs
his paperwork by Friday.
- So do it tomorrow.
I'm serious, I'll give you a ride home.
- Oh, I broke up with Denis.
He's very upset.
So is my son.
Why can't I just have
a normal relationship?
- Hey, I liked him.
- You know I really don't feel very well.
- Come on, I'll give you a ride.
We'll get Lauren to follow in your car.
- Thanks.
- There.
I gotta drive out to Columbia,
meet with Dick Speeder.
You gonna be okay?
- Yeah, I think so.
- Okay.
- Hmm, why are you so good to me?
- You don't know, do you?
Don't tease.
- You see a smirk?
Get some sleep, okay?
- Hey there, sport!
Hey, Denis, I
thought you and my mom broke up?
- Well, that's up to your mother.
But hey, maybe if you sweet
talk her a little bit,
she'll let us look for
butterflies this weekend.
- Sounds good.
- Let's go.
- Hi, kiddo, how was school?
- Good.
- Hey.
- Denis.
What're you doing here?
- I called your work.
They said you were home sick,
so I thought I'd bring
you some comfort food.
- Justin, why don't you go
up and change your clothes.
- Okay, see you, Denis.
- Later, sport.
So, what do you say you let
me fix you guys some dinner?
- I don't think that's a good idea.
- I didn't mean to come over unannounced.
I just thought that at the very least
we could still be friends, right?
- That's really sweet.
- But?
Okay, um, my gift to you.
I hope you feel better, really.
Whoa!
- Hi.
- You look better.
- Yeah, actually, I'm
feeling a lot better.
- Cool.
- You need the amended contracts.
- Yeah, good, thanks.
- Oh, would you like a drink or something?
You wanna come in?
- No, I can't, I got, I gotta go.
- Okay, be right back.
- All right, thanks.
- Am I completely losing my mind?
Did I leave the amended contracts at work?
- I thought you said you worked
on them yesterday from home?
- I did.
But they're not here.
I can't find them.
No one would've touched them.
They're not here.
Ah.
- Mom, what's going on?
- Go back to bed, Justin.
- I can't sleep.
It's too hot.
- Well, there's nothing I can do about it.
I'm not in the mood.
Go back to bed.
I know I look terrible.
I just can't seem to shake this flu.
I also can't find the contracts.
What?
What?
- Mr. Wagner got that last night.
They're pulling out of the deal.
Somebody made some
accusations against you.
- What?
- Sour deals with past clients.
- But this is a lie.
They're all lies.
You know that, don't you?
- Yeah, of course I know that,
but you know, Wagner has a
reputation for being skittish.
He's been burned before.
- Well, just explain it to him.
- I have, Karen.
He's walking, okay?
- No, well, he can't.
I'll call him.
I'll explain it to him.
Alex, this is the only
thing I have right now.
- Karen, I just spent the last two hours
on the phone with him, okay, he's done.
What the hell's going on here, Karen?
Was this your ex-husband or?
- I don't think so.
I don't think John would do this.
- Then who?
Hello.
Randy?
Randy's not here.
- Well, I need to speak to him.
He's out of the country.
I'm subletting his place.
- Out of the country where?
He's working for a
contractor in the Middle East.
Been there since May.
Want me to leave a message?
He checks in once a week.
- Um, no.
- Hey, so glad you called.
You must be feeling better, hmm?
- Did you do this?
- I don't know what this is.
- I spent months on this client, Denis.
I am a single mother.
I need that money.
- No, Karen, I had, I had
nothing to do with this.
- You left the flowers.
This note is in your handwriting.
Randy's out of town.
Are you surprised to hear that?
Has been for months.
You never mailed the invite to John.
You probably figured out some
way to erase his messages too.
So this is your thing?
This is what you do?
Scare women, make them feel vulnerable,
so that in some sick, twisted way
all this would make me need you?
- Karen, I don't know
what you're talking about.
That's just crazy.
- If you ever step foot
near my house again,
I will ruin your life.
Jail will be the safest
place you could be.
Hi, Karen.
- Hi.
Feeling any better?
- Ah, no, not really.
I, I've been having these headaches,
so is it a tumor?
- It's not a tumor.
Good.
- You do have a slight bladder infection,
which is what caused
some of the discomfort.
- Bladder infection?
Well, I've been feeling
groggy and low energy.
I'm never sick.
- Well, it may be stress.
A bladder infection can mask
some of the other symptoms.
- What'd you do, hunt them down
with a little bow and arrow?
- Chloroform in a jar.
And the first time
you woke up with these headaches?
- Almost two weeks ago.
I'd just broken off my
relationship with him.
And did
you have this feeling
of discomfort before then?
- No.
- And you think he's been in your bedroom
on more than one occasion?
- I know he has.
At first I thought it was a
dream, but it, he was here.
- Your security system
showed no unauthorized entry?
- Well, I'm sure he knows
his way around that.
- Karen, what's going on here?
- I think Denis has been
breaking into the house,
and I think he's been drugging me.
What?
Denis Teague?
Yes?
- I'm Detective Donnelly.
I need to ask you some questions.
- Regarding what?
Drugged her?
Oh, she completely lost it.
Karen, Karen, Karen.
- I need to know where you were
between 10 o'clock last
night and seven this morning.
- I was on a business trip.
I just got back this morning.
- You were not in Kansas City?
- No, Omaha, I've got my hotel receipts
if you wanna see them,
and I got gas receipts,
and food receipts, and.
Look, I haven't seen Karen
since, since she invited me
for a coffee about a week ago.
- She invited you?
- Karen has a history of well, paranoia
when it comes to her ex-boyfriends.
- Do you know any reason why
she would accuse you of this?
- Money.
- What do you mean?
- She's broke, she just lost a big client.
She said it was my fault
the deal fell through,
because ugh, because she was spending
too much time with me, you know?
Made her lose her focus, whatever.
- Are you in possession
of chloroform, Mr. Teague?
Oh, she's
gonna use that against me?
Okay, um, I
use to collect butterflies.
I haven't done it since I was a kid,
and I can't remember the last
time that I bought chloroform.
No, I don't have any chloroform.
- Would it be all right
if we searched your home?
- Absolutely, you can
look anywhere you want.
We can go there right now if you'd like.
Listen, um, I know this isn't exactly,
well, it's not legal,
but ah, because of her past,
I was concerned for myself
when she invited me out for coffee.
I recorded the conversation.
Do you wanna hear it?
Mm hmm.
- Here it is.
- I need that money.
I will ruin your life.
Jail will be the safest
place you could be.
He's edited what I said.
That's taken out of context.
- That may be, Miss Reese,
and I am not dismissing your allegations,
but the rest of his story checks out.
He was out of town.
- No, he wasn't.
He's covering all his tracks.
He's very clever, Detective.
Somehow he's been
breaking into this house.
- Who is Randy Stroud?
- He's a man I dated.
That's who I thought sent the flowers,
and who I thought was
stalking me, but it was Denis.
- And you can prove it was Mr.
Teague who left the flowers?
- Well, he wrote the note.
It was his handwriting.
- You don't think Randy is
the one who left the flowers?
- Randy is out of the country
and has been for months.
You figure it out.
- Do you still have the note?
Mm hmm.
- Look, what about the chloroform?
Denis collected butterflies,
used chloroform.
- It's one possible
cause for her symptoms.
We will have the tests done.
Chloroform disappears from
the symptoms very quickly.
- I was not hallucinating!
That man was in my house!
- What now?
- I'm gonna look into
this Randy Stroud fellow.
I need to question your ex-husband.
- What about Denis?
- We will have the
handwriting sample checked,
but we've searched his house.
We've checked his alibis.
Right now his hands are clean, I'm sorry.
- Well, then I want you to
check this house, all of it.
- I don't see anything!
There's no other access to the
attic from inside the house?
- No, just here.
Have you
changed your alarm code?
- Yeah.
- Well, there's really
nothing more I can do here.
- This is one hell of a system.
- I want it replaced.
- Your money, Fort Knox
should be so lucky.
- I want every lock changed,
two bolts on every door.
I'm changing all my numbers too.
I know it sounds crazy.
I swear to God I wanna kill him.
- Well, do us a favor and don't.
I don't want my kids looking at Aunt Karen
through prison bars, much less, Justin.
- You did have a fever the other night.
Maybe, just maybe, you were hallucinating.
- Lenny.
- I'm just saying let's
hope that's what it was.
- Have you talked to him?
- No, not yet.
- Have you talked to John?
- Ah, yeah, I talked to him.
He's out of town.
He's being really sweet actually.
I'm just not sure he believes me.
- Well, we do, both of us.
- This is our new phone number, kiddo.
I need you to keep it in a safe place,
and don't give it out to anybody.
- Mom, you already gave this to me.
- No, I didn't.
- You gave this to me this morning.
Sorry, I've just been under
a little bit of stress in
case you haven't noticed.
- Well, then don't make things up.
- What did you say?
- Nothing.
- Come here.
I am not making this up.
Now, I know you like Denis, and I'm sorry,
but he is not a good man,
and I need you to understand that, okay?
- Okay.
- I need you to be on my
side for this one, kiddo.
I need an ally.
- Sorry.
- Still friends.
Hello?
Hello, Karen.
- Denis, how did you get this number?
I won't be made a fool of.
- I own a gun.
Denis, I am warning you.
Stay away from me and
stay away from my son.
- You were right about your
ex-boyfriend, Randy Stroud.
He's been out of the country
for three months, checks out.
- Which leaves Denis.
- Do you own a gun, Ms. Reese?
- No.
Yes, I do, but it's not mine.
It's my ex-husband's.
I don't actually use it.
- Did you threaten Mr. Teague?
- I told him to stay away from my house.
I think I have that right.
- You don't have the
right to threaten him.
- But he threatened me.
He violated me.
- Your tests were all negative.
Your blood work showed no
chloroform in your system.
- But you yourself said it wouldn't
stay in my system for long.
Well, what about the handwriting?
- Inconclusive, he's
threatening a restraining order.
You don't want that on your record.
- Listen, I know that it
is my word against his.
I also know that cases like
this don't usually get resolved
until someone gets hurt.
Denis is a dangerous man, Detective!
I just hope by the time
you figure that out
it's not too late.
Justin, put your bike in the
garage and your skateboard.
It's gonna rain soon.
- So they won't do anything?
- No, they think my anxiety over Denis
induced the whole thing.
I don't know what to think anymore.
After I got done talking to them
his story does make more sense than mine.
- But fingerprints has gotta be,
hair samples are in
your house or something.
- No, he spent way too much time here
for any of that stuff
to be held up in court.
I swear to God, I don't know what I'll do
if he shows up here again.
Just tell me you believe
me even if you don't.
- Hey, yeah, I believe you.
- Where have you been?
- Gross.
- Oh, shut up, bike in the garage now!
- I am gonna go home very
quickly and get some things,
and I will be right back.
- We'll be fine.
- Okay.
Okay.
- Hey, you didn't smirk.
- You should go inside.
It's gonna pour.
I'll be back in less than an hour.
- I hate thunder.
- It's just the wind.
Come on, time for bed.
The breaker went off again.
Come on, keep going.
Okay.
- You know, I used to
be afraid of storms too
until your grandma told me
exactly what thunder was.
When lightning moves faster
than the speed of sound.
Goodnight, kiddo.
Love you.
- Sweet dreams.
Justin, what're you doing?
- I'm scared.
Mom!
- Justin!
Justin!
Justin, we have to...
- You make a noise and you die.
Nod if you understand.
Good girl, downstairs now, go.
Drive.
- Where is Justin?
- Close the garage door.
- Where are we going?
- Just drive.
9-1-1,
what is your emergency?
- Mom, my mom, she, she's
in terrible trouble.
- I showed you nothing
but kindness, Karen.
Gave you everything I had.
I would've given you
everything you ever wanted.
I love you.
- I love you too.
Don't patronize me.
You don't love me.
You tried to ruin me.
Tried to ruin me because
you think I'm a fool.
Well, I'm not a fool.
- Karen!
Alex.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, okay, I gotcha, buddy.
All right, check.
- Denis, where's Justin?
You know he looks up to you like a father.
Don't you hurt him.
Don't you hurt my baby.
- Justin will be fine, Karen.
Like you say, he looks
up to me like a father.
Just like a father, hmm.
Slow down, Karen.
Karen, slow down.
- Put the gun down, ma'am!
Put it down now!
Are you Karen Reese?
Ma'am, your son called 9-1-1!
He told the operator what happened!
Ma'am, please, put the gun
down now or we will shoot!
I
believe that an open road
is a metaphor to life.
Some days you can see for
miles, everything is clear.
Other times what's just
beyond the headlights
is dark and unknown.
But if you keep control,
if you believe in yourself,
you can make it through
any twists and turns
no matter how it might otherwise seem.
- It's all slated for the police auction.
Everything he told you was a lie.
We found the phone he was
using to tap your line.
Some blankets, a water bottle, and food
we're hidden in one of the boxes.
He made himself comfortable up there.
These journal entries
begin the 17th of June.
When did you first start seeing him?
- A few days after the
Wagner deal, around the 22nd.
So are you saying he was
in my attic before then?
- The entries are pretty
benign, your likes, dislikes.
He wanted to make sure
you liked him I guess.
And then it looks as if he
was gathering information
to try and get you back.
He wrote here the first
chloroform he gave you
was only intended to make you sick.
- So that I would need him.
What about the others?
- His twisted way of
regaining control I guess,
but then once he became a
threat, he intended to kill you.
We found a grave.
- Oh, my God.
- Would you like a copy of this?
- No.
- I should've listened.
I talked you into him.
We all did.
- I don't know what to say, Karen.
He had everybody fooled, sorry.
- Bad people don't come
with warning labels.
Thank you guys for all your support.
I couldn't have gone through
this without both of you.
I just hope he goes to
jail for a long, long time.
That would be poetic justice
to know that his every
move was being watched
by somebody else for the rest of his life.
- I hope he chokes on his own medicine.
- Wow, it's so easy to
make you guys laugh.
♪ I wanna soak you up
just like you did before ♪
♪ You're the one that
opened up every door ♪
♪ I'm on the inside line
and I'm here alone now, uh ♪
♪ Give a dog a bone ♪
♪ I wanna hold you ♪
♪ Just talk to me ♪
♪ Just need me ♪
♪ We'll be all alone now, baby ♪
♪ You're my one desire ♪
♪ You're my baby ♪
♪ You're my burning fire ♪
♪ Do you know how long
I've waited for you, baby ♪
♪ You're my baby, yeah ♪
♪ I can't see myself
with no one else, baby ♪
♪ I can't see myself with
nobody else but you ♪
♪ I can't see myself with
no one else but you ♪
♪ I can't see myself with nobody else ♪
♪ I wanna see you ♪
believe that an open road
is a metaphor to life.
Some days you can see for
miles, everything's clear.
Other times, what's just
beyond the headlights
is dark and unknown.
But if you keep control,
if you believe in yourself,
you can make it through
any twists and turns,
no matter how it might otherwise seem.
- I hate thunder.
- It was just the wind.
Come on, time for bed.
Come on, buddy, double time, come on.
Breaker went off again.
Come on, keep going.
Okay.
- You know, I used to
be afraid of storms too
until your grandma told me
exactly what thunder was.
- It's a refraction of
atmospheric pressure
when lightening moves faster
than the speed of sound.
- Mm, no, thunder is God letting
out a very, very big burp.
- You're weird.
- Yeah, well, guess what, it's hereditary.
Goodnight, kiddo.
Love you.
- I love you too.
Sweet dreams.
- To the brightest, the
shrewdest, the wisest,
and by far the brashest investment broker
in all of Kansas City, Karen Reese.
Thank you.
- Hey, hey you!
- Hey.
Congratulations!
Thank you.
- So when are you gonna make her partner?
- Ah yeah, right, you
need the jaws of life
to pry anything out of this guy.
- That is not true.
I'm not cheap.
- Lenny, hey, how are you?
This is my brother-in-law, Lenny.
This is Alex.
- Hey.
- Donna, of course, you
know, my bossy older sister.
- Oh yeah, great, okay, thank you.
That would be me.
- And this is ah.
- Oh, Denis Teague, one
of our new consultants.
Just moved here from New York.
You two met briefly
last week at Brubaker's.
- Yeah, I remember.
- It's nice to see you again.
- Nice to see you.
- Karen, that's the song from the thing.
- That's the song from the thing.
- Gotta dance.
- We gotta dance.
- See ya later.
- You, come.
Darling, yes.
♪ I never knew you were loving me ♪
♪ I've been around and I can feel ♪
♪ I got my back up against the wall ♪
♪ I'm here to jump, baby, if you fall ♪
♪ I never knew that you wanted me ♪
♪ If I danced like you ♪
Hey, Jerry, can I have a--
- Long Island, no lemons, on me.
- Wow.
- Brubaker's, right, I remember.
- I'm impressed.
So, Denis Teague, exactly
what do you do for Lenny?
- Ah, I manage their
venture capital accounts.
I move their money to the
right places, exciting, huh?
- Are you good?
- I'm the best.
- Oh, my God, I can't breath.
Woo, I hate this humidity.
I hate it.
I swear to God I am moving to Arizona.
So, where's this Randy guy?
I thought I'd get to meet him.
- Ah, Randy Stroud is over.
- Oh.
- He was a bit overbearing.
- Ooh, do tell.
Ah, well, he
sent me three emails a day,
absolutely convinced that
we're meant for each other,
and on our third date he
pulls out the calculator
and divides the bill.
- We call her The Terminator.
- No, but listen to this.
Then he asks me to cover the tip.
- Oh.
- Nobody gets past the third date.
- Mm, I love this song.
- Oh, no, no, no.
- Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yes.
- Ah no, I don't dance.
- Come on, yes you do.
Everybody dance, come on.
- I, I don't dance.
Yes, you do.
Hey!
- Don't worry, Alex, she
only has eyes for you, honey.
♪ Gonna find I'm unreal ♪
♪ I've got to have you ♪
♪ I've got to have you by my side ♪
♪ Got to have you all the time ♪
♪ Oh, I can't hold back baby ♪
And at WKFL Weather,
it looks like it's gonna
be another scorcher
here in Kansas City with
temperatures reaching the high.
- Don't go far.
Okay.
- How's he doing?
Hey, guys!
- I think he's missing his dad.
- Yeah, well, that's to be expected.
Hey, it's Denis.
My God, he's jogging in this weather.
Nobody jogs in this weather.
- I do.
Hi.
Hi.
- What a surprise.
Yeah, what a coincidence.
- Yeah.
- Nice to see you.
- You too.
- Good to see you again, Denis.
- You too, Donna.
- I think I'm gonna go
get the boys some water.
- Hey, I had a lot of fun the other night.
- So did I.
- Um, would you like to have
dinner with me sometime?
I know this is really awkward.
I would've asked you the other night,
but I'm kind of out of practice with this.
- I would love to have dinner with you.
- Yeah?
Mm hmm.
- Okay, I'll call ya.
- You don't have my number.
- I'll get it from Lenny.
No, no, we ended up hiking through
Thailand, and Myanmar,
Vietnam for about three weeks.
It was incredible.
- Wow, that's amazing.
I was just talking to my sister
last week about Thailand.
It's my dream vacation.
- Why don't you go?
- Ah, you know, I'm a single mother.
Justin's way too young.
- Well, couldn't his dad take
care of him why you were away?
Oh, sorry, that's a prying question.
No, it's okay.
I'm an open book.
Um, John and I were only
married for a couple of years.
He was very controlling
which doesn't suit me at all.
- Oh.
- And now he has obligations to Justin,
which he rarely fulfills,
which upsets Justin,
and is John's little way
of getting back at me.
- Sorry, that's too bad.
- What about you?
Have you ever been married?
- Once, it ended very badly,
which is why I'm so out of practice,
but I hope I'm doing better than ah,
what's his name, Randy Stroud.
- Oh, please don't mention that name.
- Sorry.
- I think you're doing great.
This is wonderful.
Wine list, sir.
- Thank you.
I'm a Merlot drinker.
- So am I.
That's all I have.
- Oh, oh, great.
Um, Bremer Estates.
- Ooh, a connoisseur.
- It's the only one I
knew how to pronounce.
- So what's your dream vacation.
- Oh, I don't think it's where you go
so much as who you go with
that makes it a dream vacation.
- Hmm, I like that answer.
- What, he can't afford roses?
- I don't like roses.
Freesias are my favorite.
- Wagner needs an amended deal
memo by the end of the week.
I'm on it.
- I figured.
I know freesias are your favorite.
- Okay, besides the fact
that you're my boss,
I am five years older than you,
which means you're way too
old for me, sweetie.
- You think I'm teasing.
- You are.
Hey, Dad.
- Hey, sport.
- Okay, goodnight, sweetie.
No junk food.
- I know, have fun.
- So who is this guy?
- None of your business, John.
- It is if it involves Justin.
Have fun.
- Wow, these butterflies are beautiful.
- Caught them myself actually.
- Would you do, hunt them down
with a little bow and arrow?
- No, chloroform in a jar.
I know that sounds really awful,
but it's actually quite painless.
It was a hobby of mine when I was a kid.
I, I, I didn't have
the greatest childhood.
I guess butterflies made
me think that my life
could turn into something
beautiful too, you know?
Try this.
Hmm?
- Mm, he can cook too.
- Well, that remains to be seen.
♪ Then the siren ♪
♪ They surrender me to a life
sentence of your charms ♪
- I can not remember the last time
somebody cooked for me, thank you.
♪ There's just the way I touch you ♪
- Oh, my God.
I love this song.
I love this song.
What are you doing?
♪ Makes you wanna believe in me ♪
- Whoa, I thought you
said you didn't dance?
- Not in public.
Oh, okay.
Wow, whoa, you've got a couple of moves.
- I took some lessons.
- Did you?
- When I was young.
Hmm.
♪ I'm not stupid and you're no fool ♪
♪ What they think is insane ♪
♪ No, it's cruel and there's
just the way I touch you ♪
♪ Just the way I love you ♪
Um, I
have a three date rule.
- What's that?
- If something happens on the second date,
there has to be a third.
- Well, I better make sure
something happens then.
♪ We've had trouble ♪
♪ Of that there's no doubt ♪
♪ All in all I'd still have to say ♪
♪ That I'll love you
till my breathing stops ♪
♪ Till the stars collide
in the Milky Way ♪
♪ There's no other, though
I might look around ♪
♪ I know better than
to lose what I found ♪
♪ I'm not stupid ♪
You have no jump shot.
You wish, no jump shot.
You can't.
- I know I'm probably being paranoid,
but this note is handwritten.
He obviously delivered
the flowers himself.
Randy was so obsessive when
we went out, and a black rose?
What does he think, he's being subtle?
- Did you talk to him?
- Left a message.
Told him in no uncertain
terms to leave me alone.
Just creeps me out that
he would show up here.
- Well, it should.
This is your home.
You've got a son.
- I'm gonna hold onto this,
just in case he decides to
make another appearance,
and I have to get a restraining order.
- Good idea.
- You've got battery
backup if you lose power.
Call the 800 number.
Mm hmm.
- They'll log you in and get you online.
Great.
Should be all set.
- Here, I'll show you out.
Thank you.
Thank you.
- Why, what did I do?
- Ah, it's just nice having you
here while this is going on.
- You're welcome.
- What're you up to this weekend?
- Nothing.
- Want to come to my parents house?
They have a beautiful place.
It's on a river, cool breeze,
best sweet tea you'll ever have.
- I'd love to.
- Hey, this is Denis.
This is my guy, Justin,
and his main man, Anthony.
- Hey there, sport.
- Come on.
- I think I'll take that
as my cue to, to go.
Call you tomorrow.
- Okay.
Oh, um, can you do me a favor?
Would you mind mailing these?
They're invites for
Justin's birthday party.
There's a mailbox at
the end of Pine Street.
They still pick up tonight.
- Yeah, sure, sure.
Anything else you want me to do,
like wash you car, clean
your gutters, mow your lawn?
- I know, using up all
my privileges, aren't I?
You're great.
So, do I have your approval?
- Dad calls me sport.
- I know, but he doesn't know that.
He didn't mean anything by it.
You know nothing and no one
could ever come between us.
Hey.
Love you, kiddo.
That's what I'm talking about.
- I love you, Mom.
Come on, Karen,
you've been on your own for six years, ah.
- Well, I like being on my own.
Is there a limit to how long
a woman could be single?
I like my life.
I don't need a man.
We just want good
things for you, sweetie.
It seems like such a great match.
I mean you both have the same tastes.
It's like you guys have known
each other your whole lives.
I know, I know.
So what's the problem?
Ah, there isn't one.
I think that's the problem.
Hmm.
I know.
Like things are actually
going my way for once.
Hi, sport, everything all right?
Well, I don't
know how to use it.
Oh, your father never
taught you how to fish, huh?
No, well, bobber
fishing when I was little.
I didn't like hooking the worms.
Ah, yeah, me neither.
There's a much better way to fish, here.
I'll show you how to cast.
Okay.
- Stand up, over here.
The secret to a good cast,
you're gonna hold on tight to the rod.
Uh huh.
- Push your thumb down on
that button and keep it down.
- Okay.
You try, you
right-handed or left-handed?
Ah, left.
Okay, so you stand like this.
Finger there.
Right.
Thumb on the button.
Take the rod, thumb
on button, hold it down.
Bring it back and swing it up.
- See, I am always right
about these things.
- Yeah, well, we'll see.
I already have a trail
of broken men in my wake.
Why destroy another perfectly good one?
- Hmm, don't be such a pessimist.
- I'm not being a pessimist.
- I think he's very sweet,
and taking time with Justin
like that, it's lovely.
Mm hmm.
- Takes a lot of practice and
don't be discouraged, okay?
It's a right of passage.
- Did, did your dad ever
teach you how to fish?
- No.
Come on, try again.
You're doing great.
Okay.
- Is that the first time that
Justin's fished like that?
- Yeah.
There you go.
- Here are the Wagner redlines,
and Royals tonight, first base, punch it.
- Oh, yeah, I can't.
I'm going on a date with Denis.
I'm already late.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, okay,
so they're in last place,
but come on, this is baseball.
Karen, you love baseball.
- I know I love baseball.
Next weekend, I promise, I gotta run.
- Whoa, whoa, first, first base.
Are you sure
no one could see us?
- We're in the middle of nowhere.
Ah, cheers.
- Cheers.
- How would you like to come with me
to the Caribbean next week?
I've got some business
in the Grand Cayman's.
The Grand Cayman's?
Mm hmm.
- Wow, you're serious?
- Mm hmm, we'll get a
private little bungalow.
We'll have our own beach.
Sounds amazing, but I, I can't.
I can't leave Justin
and I really can't leave
until this Wagner deal
is closed and you're mad.
- No, no, of course not.
I just wanna spend more time with you.
- Well, I'd like that too.
It's just not a good time
for me to do that right now.
- I think I'm falling in love with you.
I don't wanna response to that.
I just, I just wanted to say it.
- I'm glad you did.
So, any ideas for your birthday tomorrow?
- Well, you already know.
I want that new MTB mountain bike.
I told you I don't
think you're gonna get it.
It's kind of expensive.
Plus you just got a new bike last year.
- Yeah, but that bike's so tight, Mom,
and nobody else has one yet.
- Better start saving your allowance then.
- Mom?
Mm hmm?
- Can Denis come to my party?
- You kinda like him, huh?
- He's cool.
You gonna have to let him spend the night
sooner or later, you know?
I don't care.
- Do I even want to know how
you know about these things?
- Come on, I'm in fourth grade.
- Oh, right.
Hello?
Hmm.
Hello?
- Who was it?
- I don't know.
Squirrels.
- So, you ever been married?
- Justin.
- No, that's, that's okay.
Um, yes, I have.
- Kids?
- No.
- Do you wanna have kids?
- Well, that would depend.
- On what?
- On who I decided to get married to.
- You gonna marry my mom?
- Okay, that's enough.
You clear your plate and go
upstairs, get ready for bed.
Okay.
- See ya later, sport.
Yeah, see ya, Denis.
- Rules were meant to be broken.
I'll behave myself.
- No, you won't.
Mm hmm.
- Mom.
Oh.
- I heard those noises again.
- We have an attic above the
garage and sometimes critters
tend to get caught in the crawlspaces.
- Oh.
- I heard it last night too
on the other side of my wall.
- It scares him.
He thinks there's monsters in the attic.
- You want me to have a look, sport?
- You don't mind?
- Oh no, I get them in my house too.
How do I get up there?
- I'll show you.
Why don't you go and start your bath.
I'll be right up, okay?
Yeah, okay.
- Excuse the junk.
Maybe I'll get you to put
all these up there one day.
- I would be happy to.
- Thanks.
The ah, the light hasn't
worked up here for forever.
Uh huh.
- So you'll have to use the flashlight.
Okay.
- Wish me luck.
Good luck.
- Ah.
Here squirrel.
Where are ya?
Ah, hey, get outta here, get!
Watch out, get out!
Shoo!
- He's out!
Get outta here!
- You okay?
- Yeah, well, mission accomplished.
- What's wrong?
- The A.C.'s off.
Gonna go check the breaker.
Justin?
- Yeah, yeah, good catch, good catch.
Great, okay, bring it over here.
All right, now, here's
the tricky part, okay.
What you wanna do is you
wanna get it by the wings.
- Okay.
- And then you wanna
take these two fingers,
and you wanna pinch it right
there but never very hard.
There, that's all there is to it.
When this was a caterpillar,
it was just a bug,
but now look, all those beautiful colors
all blending in together like that.
It's pretty amazing, huh?
- Mom.
- Hey, there you are.
- Look what I got.
- Wow, that's pretty cool.
I hope it was already dead.
- Mom, it's just a butterfly.
- Why don't you go get cleaned up.
People are gonna be here pretty soon.
Okay.
- Hey.
Hi.
Did you get my note?
- I did, yeah.
You know, next time I'd prefer it
if you'd talk to me before you go.
- Sorry, you're right.
I should've asked, but
I didn't wanna wake you,
and he was up and.
- No, it's cool.
I'm glad you guys like each other so much.
Did you do this?
- Oh yeah, after last night,
I thought I'd take a look at
the A.C., but don't worry,
I can put this back together
in like five minutes.
- You don't have to do that, you know?
- It's no big deal.
- What happened to the A.C.?
- Ah, I don't know.
The breaker keeps popping.
I've had somebody check
it out three times.
I don't know what's going on.
- Well, have Denis look at it.
- Mom, Dad here yet?
- Not yet.
Can I open my presents?
- After cake and ice cream.
- Okay, you know what?
We'll ride our bikes later, okay?
- So did you swing a new bike?
- He doesn't need a new bike.
You're doing it.
- Doing what?
- The Terminator.
It's true, every time you get any form
of stability in your life,
you find an excuse to sabotage it.
- No, I don't.
What'd he do?
- Nothing.
- You have a problem with intimacy.
He treats you like a queen.
- I know, I'm trying.
There's just something.
- Mm, yeah, I know it's rough.
He fixes everything,
except the kitchen sink.
The rest of us should be so lucky.
- He's reasonably good looking.
You know, seems nice enough.
He's got a kind of funny haircut though,
and he's old, definitely old.
- You're forgetting charming,
attentive, and very romantic.
- Well, I'm happy for you.
- You're jealous.
- No, I'm not jealous.
Yes, you are.
- I am actually happy
for you, I'm serious.
What's the name
of your date, hmm, Bambi?
- Brandy, actually.
- She's not your type.
- Now look who's jealous.
- I'm not jealous.
- You're jealous.
- That was my watermelon.
- You're jealous.
- I'm not jealous.
You're so jealous.
- Cool, Coldplay.
Thanks, Aunt Donna.
- You're welcome, honey.
- Now, I know this isn't
what you asked for, kiddo.
- Your Mom's pulling your leg, sport.
You wait right there.
Awesome!
- Oh!
Thank you so much!
- Oh, don't thank me.
It's from your mom.
- You're the coolest mom ever.
This is so cool.
Thank you so much.
Can I ride it?
- Yeah, just be careful.
Okay.
- Have fun.
- What're you doing?
- Well, I, I, heard him
mention it a couple of times,
so I just thought that...
- I can't buy the kid
everything he sees on TV.
I'm trying to instill some values here.
- Okay, you're right, you're right.
I'll ah, I'll take the bike back.
- You're not gonna take the bike back now.
Come on, he loves it.
- I know I overstepped my
boundaries here, okay, guilty.
Hey, punish me.
I deserve it.
Don't be mad at me.
Huh, come on.
Come on, I hate it when you're mad at me.
- When have I ever been mad at you?
- This is the first time and I hate it.
That's better.
You did send
him the invitation, right?
- Mm hmm, I mailed it to him,
and I left him two
messages on his voicemail.
Has nothing to do with you, kiddo.
Tell you what, why don't
you go ride your new bike
around the neighborhood for awhile?
I'll keep an eye out for him.
Okay?
Okay.
- John, I don't know
what's going on with you.
Maybe you're uncomfortable
because I have a date.
I don't know, but to not show up
to your own son's birthday party.
You broke his heart.
Hello?
Look, whoever this is lose my number.
- Well, you called me, it's John.
What're you talking about
Justin's birthday party being today?
His birthday isn't till Wednesday.
- Don't you play games with me, John.
I sent you the invite two weeks ago.
I left you two messages.
It was his party today.
- Well, my machine's been
deleting my messages,
and I didn't get an invite.
Look, I don't appreciate
these games, Karen.
You could've called my office.
- Yeah, well, you don't have
the best track record, John.
It's not like you
haven't done this before.
I didn't know
about the party, Karen.
- Are you lying to me?
No, will you just put
Justin on the phone for me?
- He's um, he's riding his bike.
I'll have him call you when he gets home.
Great, well, that's
very generous of you, bye.
- You know John probably threw
it out with the junk mail,
or he's lying.
He does that.
That way he can say
that you never sent it,
and it's your fault.
- No, I don't think he was lying.
- Well, obviously it's John
who's making the phone calls.
You know how jealous he gets
when you're dating someone else.
- Yeah, no, I don't, I don't know.
All the, all the calls are
coming from a private number.
Randy is the only one I
know who's got blocked I.D.
Getting three calls a day.
He used to send me three emails a day,
and he left three dozen
roses on my doorstep.
- Have you called the police?
- Yeah, they say there's
nothing they can do,
because I can't prove it.
- Well, maybe Denis can help.
- Why could Denis help?
- I don't know, because he's
good at everything, isn't he?
- Oh, careful.
- You scared me.
What're you doing up there?
- You wanted those boxes up here.
I rang the doorbell, but you
must've been in the shower.
- Yeah, I was.
Um, don't worry about it.
I'll deal with it later.
- Oh, there's just a few more.
- Denis.
- Okay.
I think you've got
another squirrel up here.
- It's fine, just leave it.
- Sure.
You've barely touched your food.
What?
- Denis, I think we need to
slow things down a little.
- What're you talking about?
- I think you're great,
and I've completely
gotten caught up in this,
but it just feels like things
are moving a little too quickly.
- Is this about the bike?
- No, it's not about the bike.
It's not really any one thing.
It's just a feeling.
I wanna be honest.
- Ooh.
- Denis, I'm not breaking up with you.
I'm just saying that I wanna--
- A slowdown, I heard you.
- I'm feeling a little crowded, Denis.
- Well, you um, do
everything you have to do
to get to know a person,
their likes, their dislikes,
what makes them happy,
and ah, you still end
up looking like a fool.
- Denis, come on.
Come on, you're taking this the wrong way.
- Oh, okay.
Well, um, I understand.
So ah, you take all the time you need.
Would you care
to see the dessert menu?
- No, I think we're done here.
- Hey, kiddo, Casey said
you guys had a good time.
- She's a cool babysitter.
So, how was dinner?
- It was okay.
- Is Denis here?
- No, I think that we're just gonna
be friends for a little while.
- He was gonna take me and
Anthony butterfly hunting.
- I know, I'll take you and
Anthony butterfly hunting.
- Yeah, I guess.
- Goodnight, sweetie.
- Goodnight, Mom.
- Okay, squirrel, wherever
you are, this is not a hotel.
Time for you to come out.
- Mom.
Mom.
Mom.
- Oh, what time is it?
- Are you okay?
- I must've caught a bug or something.
Are you ready for school?
- Yeah.
- Well, you look terrible.
- Thank you.
- Why don't you go home?
- No, Wagner's office needs
his paperwork by Friday.
- So do it tomorrow.
I'm serious, I'll give you a ride home.
- Oh, I broke up with Denis.
He's very upset.
So is my son.
Why can't I just have
a normal relationship?
- Hey, I liked him.
- You know I really don't feel very well.
- Come on, I'll give you a ride.
We'll get Lauren to follow in your car.
- Thanks.
- There.
I gotta drive out to Columbia,
meet with Dick Speeder.
You gonna be okay?
- Yeah, I think so.
- Okay.
- Hmm, why are you so good to me?
- You don't know, do you?
Don't tease.
- You see a smirk?
Get some sleep, okay?
- Hey there, sport!
Hey, Denis, I
thought you and my mom broke up?
- Well, that's up to your mother.
But hey, maybe if you sweet
talk her a little bit,
she'll let us look for
butterflies this weekend.
- Sounds good.
- Let's go.
- Hi, kiddo, how was school?
- Good.
- Hey.
- Denis.
What're you doing here?
- I called your work.
They said you were home sick,
so I thought I'd bring
you some comfort food.
- Justin, why don't you go
up and change your clothes.
- Okay, see you, Denis.
- Later, sport.
So, what do you say you let
me fix you guys some dinner?
- I don't think that's a good idea.
- I didn't mean to come over unannounced.
I just thought that at the very least
we could still be friends, right?
- That's really sweet.
- But?
Okay, um, my gift to you.
I hope you feel better, really.
Whoa!
- Hi.
- You look better.
- Yeah, actually, I'm
feeling a lot better.
- Cool.
- You need the amended contracts.
- Yeah, good, thanks.
- Oh, would you like a drink or something?
You wanna come in?
- No, I can't, I got, I gotta go.
- Okay, be right back.
- All right, thanks.
- Am I completely losing my mind?
Did I leave the amended contracts at work?
- I thought you said you worked
on them yesterday from home?
- I did.
But they're not here.
I can't find them.
No one would've touched them.
They're not here.
Ah.
- Mom, what's going on?
- Go back to bed, Justin.
- I can't sleep.
It's too hot.
- Well, there's nothing I can do about it.
I'm not in the mood.
Go back to bed.
I know I look terrible.
I just can't seem to shake this flu.
I also can't find the contracts.
What?
What?
- Mr. Wagner got that last night.
They're pulling out of the deal.
Somebody made some
accusations against you.
- What?
- Sour deals with past clients.
- But this is a lie.
They're all lies.
You know that, don't you?
- Yeah, of course I know that,
but you know, Wagner has a
reputation for being skittish.
He's been burned before.
- Well, just explain it to him.
- I have, Karen.
He's walking, okay?
- No, well, he can't.
I'll call him.
I'll explain it to him.
Alex, this is the only
thing I have right now.
- Karen, I just spent the last two hours
on the phone with him, okay, he's done.
What the hell's going on here, Karen?
Was this your ex-husband or?
- I don't think so.
I don't think John would do this.
- Then who?
Hello.
Randy?
Randy's not here.
- Well, I need to speak to him.
He's out of the country.
I'm subletting his place.
- Out of the country where?
He's working for a
contractor in the Middle East.
Been there since May.
Want me to leave a message?
He checks in once a week.
- Um, no.
- Hey, so glad you called.
You must be feeling better, hmm?
- Did you do this?
- I don't know what this is.
- I spent months on this client, Denis.
I am a single mother.
I need that money.
- No, Karen, I had, I had
nothing to do with this.
- You left the flowers.
This note is in your handwriting.
Randy's out of town.
Are you surprised to hear that?
Has been for months.
You never mailed the invite to John.
You probably figured out some
way to erase his messages too.
So this is your thing?
This is what you do?
Scare women, make them feel vulnerable,
so that in some sick, twisted way
all this would make me need you?
- Karen, I don't know
what you're talking about.
That's just crazy.
- If you ever step foot
near my house again,
I will ruin your life.
Jail will be the safest
place you could be.
Hi, Karen.
- Hi.
Feeling any better?
- Ah, no, not really.
I, I've been having these headaches,
so is it a tumor?
- It's not a tumor.
Good.
- You do have a slight bladder infection,
which is what caused
some of the discomfort.
- Bladder infection?
Well, I've been feeling
groggy and low energy.
I'm never sick.
- Well, it may be stress.
A bladder infection can mask
some of the other symptoms.
- What'd you do, hunt them down
with a little bow and arrow?
- Chloroform in a jar.
And the first time
you woke up with these headaches?
- Almost two weeks ago.
I'd just broken off my
relationship with him.
And did
you have this feeling
of discomfort before then?
- No.
- And you think he's been in your bedroom
on more than one occasion?
- I know he has.
At first I thought it was a
dream, but it, he was here.
- Your security system
showed no unauthorized entry?
- Well, I'm sure he knows
his way around that.
- Karen, what's going on here?
- I think Denis has been
breaking into the house,
and I think he's been drugging me.
What?
Denis Teague?
Yes?
- I'm Detective Donnelly.
I need to ask you some questions.
- Regarding what?
Drugged her?
Oh, she completely lost it.
Karen, Karen, Karen.
- I need to know where you were
between 10 o'clock last
night and seven this morning.
- I was on a business trip.
I just got back this morning.
- You were not in Kansas City?
- No, Omaha, I've got my hotel receipts
if you wanna see them,
and I got gas receipts,
and food receipts, and.
Look, I haven't seen Karen
since, since she invited me
for a coffee about a week ago.
- She invited you?
- Karen has a history of well, paranoia
when it comes to her ex-boyfriends.
- Do you know any reason why
she would accuse you of this?
- Money.
- What do you mean?
- She's broke, she just lost a big client.
She said it was my fault
the deal fell through,
because ugh, because she was spending
too much time with me, you know?
Made her lose her focus, whatever.
- Are you in possession
of chloroform, Mr. Teague?
Oh, she's
gonna use that against me?
Okay, um, I
use to collect butterflies.
I haven't done it since I was a kid,
and I can't remember the last
time that I bought chloroform.
No, I don't have any chloroform.
- Would it be all right
if we searched your home?
- Absolutely, you can
look anywhere you want.
We can go there right now if you'd like.
Listen, um, I know this isn't exactly,
well, it's not legal,
but ah, because of her past,
I was concerned for myself
when she invited me out for coffee.
I recorded the conversation.
Do you wanna hear it?
Mm hmm.
- Here it is.
- I need that money.
I will ruin your life.
Jail will be the safest
place you could be.
He's edited what I said.
That's taken out of context.
- That may be, Miss Reese,
and I am not dismissing your allegations,
but the rest of his story checks out.
He was out of town.
- No, he wasn't.
He's covering all his tracks.
He's very clever, Detective.
Somehow he's been
breaking into this house.
- Who is Randy Stroud?
- He's a man I dated.
That's who I thought sent the flowers,
and who I thought was
stalking me, but it was Denis.
- And you can prove it was Mr.
Teague who left the flowers?
- Well, he wrote the note.
It was his handwriting.
- You don't think Randy is
the one who left the flowers?
- Randy is out of the country
and has been for months.
You figure it out.
- Do you still have the note?
Mm hmm.
- Look, what about the chloroform?
Denis collected butterflies,
used chloroform.
- It's one possible
cause for her symptoms.
We will have the tests done.
Chloroform disappears from
the symptoms very quickly.
- I was not hallucinating!
That man was in my house!
- What now?
- I'm gonna look into
this Randy Stroud fellow.
I need to question your ex-husband.
- What about Denis?
- We will have the
handwriting sample checked,
but we've searched his house.
We've checked his alibis.
Right now his hands are clean, I'm sorry.
- Well, then I want you to
check this house, all of it.
- I don't see anything!
There's no other access to the
attic from inside the house?
- No, just here.
Have you
changed your alarm code?
- Yeah.
- Well, there's really
nothing more I can do here.
- This is one hell of a system.
- I want it replaced.
- Your money, Fort Knox
should be so lucky.
- I want every lock changed,
two bolts on every door.
I'm changing all my numbers too.
I know it sounds crazy.
I swear to God I wanna kill him.
- Well, do us a favor and don't.
I don't want my kids looking at Aunt Karen
through prison bars, much less, Justin.
- You did have a fever the other night.
Maybe, just maybe, you were hallucinating.
- Lenny.
- I'm just saying let's
hope that's what it was.
- Have you talked to him?
- No, not yet.
- Have you talked to John?
- Ah, yeah, I talked to him.
He's out of town.
He's being really sweet actually.
I'm just not sure he believes me.
- Well, we do, both of us.
- This is our new phone number, kiddo.
I need you to keep it in a safe place,
and don't give it out to anybody.
- Mom, you already gave this to me.
- No, I didn't.
- You gave this to me this morning.
Sorry, I've just been under
a little bit of stress in
case you haven't noticed.
- Well, then don't make things up.
- What did you say?
- Nothing.
- Come here.
I am not making this up.
Now, I know you like Denis, and I'm sorry,
but he is not a good man,
and I need you to understand that, okay?
- Okay.
- I need you to be on my
side for this one, kiddo.
I need an ally.
- Sorry.
- Still friends.
Hello?
Hello, Karen.
- Denis, how did you get this number?
I won't be made a fool of.
- I own a gun.
Denis, I am warning you.
Stay away from me and
stay away from my son.
- You were right about your
ex-boyfriend, Randy Stroud.
He's been out of the country
for three months, checks out.
- Which leaves Denis.
- Do you own a gun, Ms. Reese?
- No.
Yes, I do, but it's not mine.
It's my ex-husband's.
I don't actually use it.
- Did you threaten Mr. Teague?
- I told him to stay away from my house.
I think I have that right.
- You don't have the
right to threaten him.
- But he threatened me.
He violated me.
- Your tests were all negative.
Your blood work showed no
chloroform in your system.
- But you yourself said it wouldn't
stay in my system for long.
Well, what about the handwriting?
- Inconclusive, he's
threatening a restraining order.
You don't want that on your record.
- Listen, I know that it
is my word against his.
I also know that cases like
this don't usually get resolved
until someone gets hurt.
Denis is a dangerous man, Detective!
I just hope by the time
you figure that out
it's not too late.
Justin, put your bike in the
garage and your skateboard.
It's gonna rain soon.
- So they won't do anything?
- No, they think my anxiety over Denis
induced the whole thing.
I don't know what to think anymore.
After I got done talking to them
his story does make more sense than mine.
- But fingerprints has gotta be,
hair samples are in
your house or something.
- No, he spent way too much time here
for any of that stuff
to be held up in court.
I swear to God, I don't know what I'll do
if he shows up here again.
Just tell me you believe
me even if you don't.
- Hey, yeah, I believe you.
- Where have you been?
- Gross.
- Oh, shut up, bike in the garage now!
- I am gonna go home very
quickly and get some things,
and I will be right back.
- We'll be fine.
- Okay.
Okay.
- Hey, you didn't smirk.
- You should go inside.
It's gonna pour.
I'll be back in less than an hour.
- I hate thunder.
- It's just the wind.
Come on, time for bed.
The breaker went off again.
Come on, keep going.
Okay.
- You know, I used to
be afraid of storms too
until your grandma told me
exactly what thunder was.
When lightning moves faster
than the speed of sound.
Goodnight, kiddo.
Love you.
- Sweet dreams.
Justin, what're you doing?
- I'm scared.
Mom!
- Justin!
Justin!
Justin, we have to...
- You make a noise and you die.
Nod if you understand.
Good girl, downstairs now, go.
Drive.
- Where is Justin?
- Close the garage door.
- Where are we going?
- Just drive.
9-1-1,
what is your emergency?
- Mom, my mom, she, she's
in terrible trouble.
- I showed you nothing
but kindness, Karen.
Gave you everything I had.
I would've given you
everything you ever wanted.
I love you.
- I love you too.
Don't patronize me.
You don't love me.
You tried to ruin me.
Tried to ruin me because
you think I'm a fool.
Well, I'm not a fool.
- Karen!
Alex.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, okay, I gotcha, buddy.
All right, check.
- Denis, where's Justin?
You know he looks up to you like a father.
Don't you hurt him.
Don't you hurt my baby.
- Justin will be fine, Karen.
Like you say, he looks
up to me like a father.
Just like a father, hmm.
Slow down, Karen.
Karen, slow down.
- Put the gun down, ma'am!
Put it down now!
Are you Karen Reese?
Ma'am, your son called 9-1-1!
He told the operator what happened!
Ma'am, please, put the gun
down now or we will shoot!
I
believe that an open road
is a metaphor to life.
Some days you can see for
miles, everything is clear.
Other times what's just
beyond the headlights
is dark and unknown.
But if you keep control,
if you believe in yourself,
you can make it through
any twists and turns
no matter how it might otherwise seem.
- It's all slated for the police auction.
Everything he told you was a lie.
We found the phone he was
using to tap your line.
Some blankets, a water bottle, and food
we're hidden in one of the boxes.
He made himself comfortable up there.
These journal entries
begin the 17th of June.
When did you first start seeing him?
- A few days after the
Wagner deal, around the 22nd.
So are you saying he was
in my attic before then?
- The entries are pretty
benign, your likes, dislikes.
He wanted to make sure
you liked him I guess.
And then it looks as if he
was gathering information
to try and get you back.
He wrote here the first
chloroform he gave you
was only intended to make you sick.
- So that I would need him.
What about the others?
- His twisted way of
regaining control I guess,
but then once he became a
threat, he intended to kill you.
We found a grave.
- Oh, my God.
- Would you like a copy of this?
- No.
- I should've listened.
I talked you into him.
We all did.
- I don't know what to say, Karen.
He had everybody fooled, sorry.
- Bad people don't come
with warning labels.
Thank you guys for all your support.
I couldn't have gone through
this without both of you.
I just hope he goes to
jail for a long, long time.
That would be poetic justice
to know that his every
move was being watched
by somebody else for the rest of his life.
- I hope he chokes on his own medicine.
- Wow, it's so easy to
make you guys laugh.
♪ I wanna soak you up
just like you did before ♪
♪ You're the one that
opened up every door ♪
♪ I'm on the inside line
and I'm here alone now, uh ♪
♪ Give a dog a bone ♪
♪ I wanna hold you ♪
♪ Just talk to me ♪
♪ Just need me ♪
♪ We'll be all alone now, baby ♪
♪ You're my one desire ♪
♪ You're my baby ♪
♪ You're my burning fire ♪
♪ Do you know how long
I've waited for you, baby ♪
♪ You're my baby, yeah ♪
♪ I can't see myself
with no one else, baby ♪
♪ I can't see myself with
nobody else but you ♪
♪ I can't see myself with
no one else but you ♪
♪ I can't see myself with nobody else ♪
♪ I wanna see you ♪