Absentia (2017–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Comeback - full transcript

After years of assuming FBI Agent Emily Byrne was a possible victim of serial killer Conrad Harlow, she is miraculously returned to her family. Emily, however, has to struggle with the ...

It is the judgment of this court...

that the defendant, Conrad Harlow,

having been found guilty
of the murder of Emily Byrne,

be committed to the custody
of the US Bureau of Prisons

for a life sentence without parole.

Still the main
suspect in two additional murders

and five missing persons cases.

The FBI have only been able
to make a case against him,

for the murder of FBI agent, Emily Byrne.

The serial killer's macabre signature,

removing the eyelids of his victims.



Hey!

Hey, where is he?

- Sir, please. Please step back.
- Where is my wife?

- I want my wife.
- Sir, please.

- Where did you put her?
- Nick, no. Nick!

- Where did you put her? Where is she?
- No. Nick!

- Where is she?
- Nick!

Where is my wife?

On the starboard, one.

Port side on two.

Tap it on. Tap it on, three.

Breathe... two.

Breathe... three.

Stop!



Hey, Tommy.

Cause of death is manual strangulation.

We're running his DNA
through the usual databases.

Here. Look at this...

Fish bites. Note the texture.

Now, look at the eyelids.

These are clean cuts, not bites.

So the eyelids were cut off?

You sure?

Unless a new species of fish

recently mutated in the Charles,
which I suppose is possible.

What is it?

Conrad Harlow...

killed that fed Emily Burn a while back.

You won't guess what his signature was.

You think the wrong man's in jail?

Or this is a copycat.

- You ready?
- Not really.

Come on.

You can do this.

Come on, Flynn!

Come on, Flynn!

Keep going!

Yeah!

Hey, how you doing? You feel good?

Come on, buddy!

Come on, Flynn!
Come on, keep going. Come on, Flynn!

Come on.

- I won!
- You won. Yes.

Come on, guys.

- Come on.
- What? Are you embarrassed?

Are you embarrassed?
Are you ashamed of me?

Adam.

- Nick, sorry, I was just...
- No, no. That's all right.

Hey, come here.

Look at me.

I know she would have loved
to be at your race.

To every race.

She wanted to make your life safer.

And mine.

We kind of owe her, don't you think?

You're my mom.

Hey, champ.

- Hey.
- Hey. How is he doing?

- This is always a tough day.
- Never gets easier.

Durand.

Hello, Nick.

Harlow?

I imagine you're in bed
with your new wife right now.

Why the hell are you calling me?

Nick...

Up and at 'em, Agent Durand.

You have 60 minutes if you push it.

- She won't last a second longer.
- Who is it?

Who are you talking about?

She's alive.

This is your second chance, Nick.

Life doesn't give a
second chance too often.

Make the most of it.

Take I93 north. Exit 44 A.

Hey.

- Follow the service road up north...
- What's happening?

- And take the right.
- What are you doing?

There's a cabin there.

Please. Stop. Just stop.

Nick! Nick!

I'm telling you it was Harlow.
He called me at home.

He said it's a cabin.
Support meet me at the access road.

Copy that, Nick. Radford is on his way
to question Harlow.

Let's see if he can get
anything out of him.

The cabin is 100 meters that way.

Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!

Go.

- It's empty. I repeat the cabin's empty.
- Can you repeat that?

Subject is not in the cabin.

- Copy that.
- Awaiting orders.

Wait, wait, wait. Move the flashlight.

Help me with these boards!
Help me with these boards.

Take those boards off.

Medic! We need a medic!

It's her. It's her. Open it! Open it!

Don't need a ladder.

Down here. Get over here.

- It won't open.
- Open it.

Step back! Step back!

- Get her legs. Get her legs.
- Go, go, go.

Turn, turn, turn.

Ma'am, can you hear me? Can you hear me?

Can you squeeze my hand?

Squeeze my hand. You're safe now.

Ma'am, squeeze my hand.
Squeeze my hand if you can hear.

Hold her still.

Emily!

Emily! They're trying to help you!
Trying to help you!

- Calm down.
- Here we go. Here we go.

Easy.

Go. Go.

Go!

Mr. Durand, what is it like
having Emily back?

- Scusi.
- Where has she been?

Has he told you anything?

- Go!
- Can you give us some information?

Mr. Durand. Mr. Durand.

Has he said anything? Mr. Durand!

What do we have?

Found her under water in a tank.
She's got minor cuts and abrasions,

and her breathing's shallow.
Blood pressure 140/95.

Tachycardia, 145.

- What did you give her?
- 15 mg Diazepam.

- What is her name?
- Emily. Emily Byrne.

Wait. You have to wait here.

FBI agent Emily Byrne was
found alive earlier this morning.

Declared dead in absentia,
Byrne is believed to be

a victim of Conrad Harlow,

the suspect in several additional
missing persons cases

currently meeting life imprisonment

for the murder of Emily Byrne.

Nick.

Hey. You heard anything?

Not much. We're kind of
in a holding pattern here.

Um, I'm sorry. Excuse me, Jack.

- I've tried calling you.
- I know. I'm sorry.

I just saw it on the news.
I just needed a moment.

I understand.

How is she?

I don't know.

Her brother and I,
we're waiting for the doctor.

How are you?

I'm fine.

Look, I can't say much right now,

about where she was or...

You don't have to.

Flynn just woke up.

He's picking his clothes for school.

We shouldn't tell him yet.

I want to be there.

Mom, do you have time for waffles?

Sure, honey.

I have to go.

- Okay. Me too.
- I love you.

Okay.

Flynn. Flynn. How do you feel about
your mother being alive and back?

I should have kept looking for her.

No, no... We did everything we could.

You had to do right by Flynn.

And what's he gonna have
to deal with now?

How is she?

I am Dr. Fletcher.

- I'm sorry, this is Jack. Emily's brother.
- She's stable.

I know your colleagues
will want to speak with her

but we need to proceed delicately.

Do you have any idea
what happened to her?

No. We're still running tests.

She's having intermittent laryngospasm.

A sudden constricting of the throat
usually in response to drowning.

The second she opens her eyes,
gentlemen, you will know.

- Right now, she needs to rest.
- Thank you.

Yeah. Thank you.

I need to do something.

I need to go to the office.

Let's start with the tank,
what the hell was it for?

Custommade, we're checking
region manufacturers.

Water was from the creek at the back,
and the lock was on a timer.

CSU found traces of hallucinogens

- and nutrients in water.
- What about the cabin?

We're tracing ownership but

locals say no one used it in decades.

- And forensics?
- No prints, no blood, nothing.

Whoever cleaned it was good.

We don't know if she was in there
for 6 hours or 6 years.

Had to be in and out of the tank,

or the skin would start to break down.

Johnson and Briggs are
going house to house in the area

to see if anybody saw
anyone coming or going.

Vega's flying back from D.C.

He'll assist in Emily's debrief
and reassimilation.

Crown, comb Harlow's correspondence.

Every letter, every visitor.

Harlow's gonna walk, isn't he?

Harlow called me.

At my house.

He told me where to find her.

But Harlow's not admitting
he made the call.

We tossed his cell, checked the
footage... I even grilled him myself.

We know he's involved. He can't walk.

But he went to jail for murder,

now he has to be
retrialed for abduction.

Still no ID on the river body?

No hits yet.

The killer cut off a man's eyelids.

Someone out there had Emily
in that cabin, it's the same person.

We'll protect Emily and
we'll catch whoever did it.

Now get to it.

Take Emily's old case files.

Look for anybody who hates her
enough to be involved in this.

You're okay?

Good, now let's get him.

Emily...

Hold her. Hold her.

Grab her hands. Hold her.

Damn journalists had to get in here!

Hold her tight. Yeah, all right.

- Get her out of here.
- Get her out!

Calm down, Emily...

- Where is she?
- Hey. Relax, Nick.

All right, what she did?

What she did was an instinctive response.

She perceived that
journalist as a threat,

and she acted.

- She's still awake?
- Yes. You can see her.

Her father's with her already. Come on.

Emily.

Can you hear me?

We can send them away
if that's what you want.

Flynn.

Flynn's great.

He looks so much like you.

- I'll show you.
- I strongly suggest...

I think my daughter
wants to see her son.

Here he is.

How long?

Emily.

You've been gone six years.

Please, let's give them some time alone.

Warren, it's all right.

I had the perfect speech prepared.

Emily...

Is this about the call
I'm supposed to have made?

It's quite a mystery.

- Who held my wife in that cabin?
- I wish I knew.

But I have faith you'll find
whoever framed me.

How did you communicate
with this person...

to arrange Emily's release?

Now that she's free,
let's talk about my release.

You're trying my patience.

Well, so think about doing time
for a crime you didn't commit.

Don't you dare say that.

It builds patience.

I will make sure
things happen to you in here.

Things even you wouldn't do to a person.

How about making sure
you keep her safe this time?

- Step away!
- Step away, sir!

Get him out of here!

He wore a mask.

It's good. What else?

I never saw his face.

He's... He's still out there.

You're gonna be fine.

I promise you.

Please, I just want to go home.

You know you don't have
to do this, Emily.

Maybe it's too much too soon.

No. I need to see Flynn.

Okay.

If it gets to be too much,
then you just...

let me know and we'll get out of there.

- Yeah. Okay.
- Okay?

Okay.

This is it.

- I told you.
- I'm sorry.

They'll be here in 10 minutes.

- How am I supposed to do...
- Alice, I'm sorry.

- I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I forgot to fix it.
- Look at this!

I forgot to fix it. I'm sorry.

It's not like I had a ton of time.
You know what I've been going through.

Have I not gone through it?

She just needs to feel welcome.

And she just needs to be with Flynn.

- I know this. I know this, Nick.
- She's not gonna care...

- Why do you think I want everything.
- About the goddamn dishwasher.

To be all right for her to arrive?

- Hey.
- Come in. Come in.

Um, he's this way.

This is Alice.

Is this Riggs?

Yeah.

Hi, puppy.

Hello.

Come here.

My God.

I'm so sorry, baby.
I'm happy to see you.

My God. Look at you.

Look at you, you're so cute.

And tall.

Flynn, why don't you
show your mother your room?

It's just the dishwasher.

You can sit on my bed if you want.

Yeah.

I'm sorry about downstairs, Flynn.

The last time that I saw you,
you were very little.

You hurt my mom.

Your mom? How did I hurt her?

They were fighting. They never fight.

I'm sorry.

Emily!

Emily, what happened? What's going on?

- Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey.
- I don't even know what I'm doing here.

- Hey. Come here, come here, come here.
- Nick, please.

- All right. I know. I know. I know.
- Hey. Hey.

Hey.

- He hates me. He hates me.
- Hey, no, no.

No.

- He hates me.
- No, he doesn't.

Now listen to me.

Listen. Listen.

I'm not scared to fight through this.

Flynn deserves to know the real you.

Just go back inside, Nick.

Go back to your wife.

So, this is me.

Um...

The kitchen...
The kitchen's through there.

And the bathroom's back that way
with the bedroom.

Hey, give your bag.

Yeah. Okay.

Do you... Do you need anything?
Are you hungry?

Yeah, um...

I'm selling medical supplies now.

- You don't practice anymore?
- No. No, I lost my license.

Things kind of got away from me...

um, after everything that happened but...

Hey, look, it's been...

2 years, 2 months and...

23 days.

So... II'm good, Em.

That's good.

Hey, these... came for you.

They were on the doorstep
this morning when I got in. I think...

they're from your friends at the FBI.

Look, it's late. You must be tired.
Let me show you your room.

- You're gonna stay in mine.
- No. No, it's okay.

I'll sleep on the couch.

- You sure?
- Yeah, I don't wanna put you out.

Well, look, I'll get you some
sheets and pillows.

It's like my mind is working against me.

I can't remember anything,
except for the mask and...

Harlow's voice...

and the tank.

The FBI, they asked me

if they can observe
the sessions from now on.

Do you have any problems with that?

Perhaps the eye symbolizes
something so...

so dramatic that probably
you had to block it.

I've been reading
about these techniques.

There's hypnosis and pentobarbital.
I wanna try one of them.

There's a reason those aren't accepted

forms of recoveredmemory therapy.

Results often aren't reliable,
even fantasy.

I don't... care.

I will take any result over nothing.

Have you heard of a process
called "cognitive interviewing"?

I remember the rhythm.

The pump.

Stay with the eye,
stay with the eye, Emily.

Stay with your vision.
Remember the first time you saw him.

I see a lot of flowers.

Good. That's very good, keep going.
Tell me about the flowers.

Dalia.

Lily.

Rose.

Poppy.

Sena.

Violet.

Jasmine.

Robert Semerov, sex trafficker.

One of Emily's early cases.

She has never come up with
enough evidence to make an arrest.

She made him mad enough
to take out a contract on her, though.

We've seen her session with Vega,
here's the connection.

Robert Semerov had a habit of naming

his favorite girls after flowers.

No known address, but we do have this.

That's Semerov's Benz, last night.

Crown, Ericson, find the link
between Semerov and Harlow.

The rest of you, find Semerov.

Results came in on the river body.

I found trace amounts of tissue deep

under dead man's right index fingernail.

BPD must have missed it.

That's Semerov's skin
under that fingernail.

We just need to confirm it.

I already checked, we don't have
a sample of his DNA on file.

We'll get one. Try our friends at BPD.

Walk with me.

Detective Gibbs? Thanks.

Take a walk, Feeb.
You stole my body from the Charles.

This is why one of us is coming here

to ask you a favor is so awkward.

- And yet, here I am.
- What is it?

I wanna know if you have
someone's DNA on file.

Robert Semerov.
Traffics girls from the Eastern block.

- He's not in any system.
- I heard of him.

We were hoping you guys
had an evidence file,

from an old case.

You think he's the one
who took my floater's eyelids?

Will you help me or not?

It's always a one way
street with you feds?

Thanks. I'll owe you one.

Riggs. Riggs.

Look at him. He's so cute.

Look at him. Look at Nick.

Hello, honey. Come here.
What's that? What is it?

What is this?
Come here, Riggs. Come here.

We need your help.

We think there may be a connection,

between one of your old cases
and your abduction.

Robert Semerov.
Could he have been at the cabin?

I remember the case, I don't remember

seeing him at the cabin.

It doesn't mean he wasn't there.
Just think back...

- I know it's difficult.
- If you don't believe me, Nick.

Why are you even asking the question?

I'm trying to help you, Emily.

- We're in this together.
- Don't say that.

You're not the one who was taken.

You're the one who is
fucking somebody else.

Okay. I'll go.

But I'm telling you
Robert Semerov was there.

The girls he trafficked,
he gave them all names...

flowers.

I watched you rattle
'em off to Dr. Vega.

To Iris, and... and
Dahlia and Lily, and...

Em.

Iris...

dahlia...

- lily.
- You need to put those down.

That's evidence.

Yeah, give me forensics.

Emily.

Can you think of anything

you would have left out
of Semerov's case?

Anything to get us a lead on him?

No.

Hi. Yeah, I need an evidence pickup.

At Jack Byrne's apartment,
Emily's brother's place.

Copy that. I'll text it to you now.

Hey. YYou were undercover,

you know his operation.

Is there any safe houses he used?
Any aliases...

that he traveled under?
Did he have any contacts?

There is somebody.

Can you get in touch with him?

She'll only talk to me.

I saw on the news. How are you?

I'm all right.

I need your help.

You know I owe you.

It's about Semerov.

Please, anything but that.

Anyone but him.

He hurt both of us. But we can stop him.

Where can I found him?

You tried.

I can get him out of your life
for good this time, I promise.

The girls talked about
a shipment, tomorrow.

Where?

Did you know she was gonna pull us?

No.

If you know how to find Semerov,

you have to tell us.

He might be the person who had me Adam.

I want to be there.

- You know you're not ready for this?
- I am ready.

We just want to protect you.

Emily!

He approved.

This is a long time, Emily.

Now what do you have?

Don't move until we see the girls.

Does anyone have eyes on Semerov?

Negative. He should be in the car.

- Around.
- Go.

FBI! Don't move!

Don't move!

Semerov, halt!

- Emily. Emily.
- Hands in the air!

Hands where I can see them!

Who are you?

Where is Semerov? Out the vehicle!

Hey, hey, hey.
I don't work with Semerov.

Hands on the car. Come on.

- Go! Go! Fall back!
- Come on.

Come on. Come on.

What? What is it? I can't hear you.
Now is not the time.

Who are you? What's your name?

What's your name? Turn around.

- Where is Semerov?
- I don't know.

Haven't seen him in 2 years.

Where is Semerov? Talk!

- Talk!
- Emily!

Emily. Emily.

- He knows!
- Calm down. Don't look.

- Now calm down.
- Adam. Adam. Adam!

- That was Whitman.
- We got a hit?

The DNA under the nail
didn't match Semerov.

- The body itself did.
- What?

The body in the river, it was Semerov.

We've been looking for this guy all over

and he was in the morgue the whole time.

- Get inside.
- No.

What about the killer's DNA
under the nails?

Unfortunately we got a match on that too.

- Unfortunately?
- The DNA belongs to Emily.

- It's a mistake. Redo it.
- Whitman already did.

Three times.

What?