Acapulco H.E.A.T. (1998–…): Season 1, Episode 19 - Code Name: Cult Zero - full transcript

Tonight on
"Acapulco H.E.A.T."...

- ♪ Oh, can you feel it

♪ Burning inside

♪ Yeah

♪ Making it hazy

♪ Making me crazy

♪ Deep in the darkest night

♪ I feel the motion

♪ Keep all my love alive

♪ Come to the ocean

♪ Out on the street



♪ I feel the heat

- Don't worry, Senator.

This is
Joanna's... specialty.

- It is?

They can detonate it by remote.

If I cut the wrong wire...

- Boom.

Now it's a specialty.

- Dead battery?

- Ah.

- Now that's another
kind of battery.

- Yeah.

- Your father is
a very brave man.

Don't worry, Senator.



We won't say a word about
your daughter.

- Why not?

- Let's go and disarm a bomb.

- What?

- When we heard
the stories about you

saving the senator,
we were impressed.

That's why we came to you.

- Who exactly is "we"?

- We're just a group of people.

A sect.

We're trying to find answers.

Trying to live.

- So what's the problem?

- Security issues.

We've had break-ins,
harassments by the locals.

There's even been a kidnapping.

- Sounds like
you've got a lot of enemies.

- Maybe it's because

most people reject what
we believe in.

You know, organized religion,

Judeo-Christian morality.

Capitalism.

- Well, if you reject all that,

then what do you
give these people?

- Themselves.

- With some of the people
I know,

that wouldn't be much of a deal.

- Oh, but it is.

I mean, inside each of us are
the answers to everything.

Winning lottery numbers too.

- The answers to
the eternal questions.

Who am I, why am I here,

what is the meaning
of existence?

Inside us are the answers
but they're buried under layers

of cultural influences and
personality disorders.

So we strip them away.

- And how do you do that?

- The process is
different for everybody.

For me, the first step was

stopping all my
over-indulgences.

Out went the smoking,
the drinking, the drugs.

- And the sex?

- I am a true believer.

But I'm not a fool.

- I just don't wanna
get involved with these people.

They're too weird.

- Everybody's beliefs are weird

if you look at them
the wrong way.

They're just trying
to find a way to be happy.

- Nah, they're looking for
a crutch.

- Well, sometimes
you need a crutch.

- Well, and some crutches
cripple you even worse.

- You're taking this
very personally, Cat.

Someone you know have
a bad experience?

- Yeah.

Me.

It was one of those
pyramid deals,

you know, with a big
helping of religion thrown in.

And a lot of people lost
a lot of money.

People who couldn't afford it.

How much did you lose?

- I was the one that took it.

It was a long time ago.

- What are you thinking?

- We're forgetting
something very important.

- What's that?

- What we do for a living.

We all like roofs over our heads

and food on our tables, right?

- Sorry, sir,
but this is private property.

- Yeah, we know,

but Frida said we could
come by anytime, you know,

and... and check it out.

- Well, I'm not
allowed to let anyone in.

- Let's get this over with.

- Cat...
be gentle with him.

He's cute.

- So you're not gonna
let us in, huh?

- Well, I wish I could

but we've had some
trouble lately.

I can't let you in.

Ahh!

- It wasn't even loaded.

Come on with me!

Well, that was great, wasn't it?

You're not getting there
before me!

Out of my way!

Hey, come on!

Wait!

I can't wait!

Hurry up!

- You made it.

- Welcome.

I am Carlos...
and we are most grateful.

- None of this would be here
if it wasn't for Carlos.

- Yeah, I'm Tommy and...

- I know.

This is Nicole, Joanna, Cat.

Frida described you very well.

- But she never
told us about you.

- Yeah, and she didn't tell us
about that stampede either.

What was that all about?

- That was about keeping
people's attention focused.

If you give them a break
every hour or two...

it's difficult
to maintain the flow.

- Oh, I don't think they're
having any problem

maintaining their flow.

- Oh!

That's why they were...

What I am talking about
is people changing...

improving...
getting stronger.

If I coddle them, they just
go back to their old ways.

- How'd, uh...
did you get into all this?

- There is never a single
moment of clarity.

- There was a long road that
started when I was in prison.

- A man raped his sister.

He tried to kill him.

I didn't succeed.

But the man had money
and so I went to jail.

Fortunately, there was a good
library there,

so I began to study
and I began thinking too.

That was an activity I had
almost completely ignored.

- You discovered yourself?

Wow.

- Yes.

But I wouldn't presume that
my truth

are yours or anyone else'’s.

But I do know how to help
others find their own.

Anyone care for some fruit?

- Thank you, Robin.

- Do you have any mangoes?

- Don't you dare ask for melon.

- We encourage people to
be open here.

Inhibitions tend to
slow down the learning process.

- It's purely a personal
decision.

- Not again!

Well...

what do you think?

Who were they?

Are you all right?
Come here.

- Yeah.

Yeah, all right, whatever
they're willing to pay.

- Looks like you're
gonna get your wish.

- Always do.

- But it seems like
they can keep a secret.

- All I need is for one of
them to talk.

- Just leave the switch in
the "on" position

and the alarm will
go off if anyone passes.

- How does it work?

- It's complicated.

- You know.
- Yeah.

- Yeah, I guess some
things we must take on faith.

- That's a nice way to put it.
- Yeah.

- Is this your
field, electronics?

- I... I just make things work.

- And your friends, they handle
the martial arts,

the weapons, the glamorous work.

- They're experts.

I'm still learning.

- Wouldn't you
like to speed up the process?

Hey.

Hey!

Hey, knucklehead.

You ready?

- Ready?

- Come on, it's time to go home.

- It went kind of
fast today, didn't it?

- Actually, it went the same
as yesterday

and the day before yesterday.

- I need to run some checks
on the systems.

- Well, how much
longer will it take?

- A couple of hours.

- Hours?

- We could pick you up
whenever you want, Joanna,

if that's okay with you, Carlos?

- Sure, I think
we have a few extra rooms.

- If I were here at night
I could

check out
the infrared alarms too.

- All right then.

- Why'd you do that?

- It was evident
she wanted to stay.

- What, with these flakes?

- No, with one flake
in particular.

- And we're just gonna let her?

- Yeah, we're not her parents.

Besides, knowing Joanna,
there's a good chance

she really will be working
on those infrared sensors.

- There's no admission charge.

- I was just curious,
that's all.

I'll get back to work.

- Curiosity is good.

It's the mark of a seeker.

- Hey, I'm just
a Presbyterian from Iowa.

- So how'd you get all
the way down here?

- I guess I was
looking for something more

than Iowa had to offer.

- See, I was right.

You are a seeker.

- Stop worrying about, Joanna.

That's all we've been doing
for the past two days.

She's a big girl.

She has learned a lot from us.

- Well, I'm afraid
she's learned too much.

Especially from you.

- I hope so.

She told me she wanted to
stay over the weekend.

Bye.

- See you tomorrow, Nicole.

- I say we go
back to the compound right now.

- And do what, take her
out of there?

No, let Joanna decide
for herself who Carlos is.

- Uh-huh!

You also think he's a freak.

- You know what,
that's my decision, not hers.

What the hell?!

Stay tuned.

The H.E.A.T. team will be
right back.

- I want my daughter back.

I'm not gonna let you keep her.

- We don't have your daughter.

- Hey, is this
about the other day, man?

You're trying... you're trying to
get your daughter back, right?

- You know damn well
that's what it's about.

I've been trying for months.

Guess what?

This is your last chance.

Are you gonna go back there
and get her with me or not?

- This is really
stupid, all right?

- She's all I have.

- Yeah, huh?!

- Oh...

- Now look what we've
got ourselves into.

- You okay?
- Yeah, I'll live.

- You all right?

- Yeah, I've had worse.

My truck is DOA!

- No loss.

And you blinded yourselves,

did everything you could
to avoid the truth

when it was
right there staring at you!

You're weak, that's what
you are,

and frightened and lost.

But most of all, weak.

- That's a good description
of my bladder right now.

- Concentrate.

- I am.

But not on Carlos.

- Uh-uh, no!

You're going to listen to this.

- I'll be back.

- You think I wasn't
talking to you too,

the team mascot,
its cheerleader,

its bench warmer?

Why do you think it's that way?

Why do you think
your partners don't value you?

- They do value me.

You're way off base.

You'll thank me for this later.

Brainwashing.

Carlos finds you when you're
at a low point

and he makes you feel
like you're not worth anything.

He keeps you there, isolated,

the cult then becomes
the center of everything.

He controls the key to
your self-esteem.

- Why doesn't
Carlos just let her go?

I mean, it can't be worth all
the trouble to keep her there.

- Maybe she doesn't wanna leave.

- No, he'll give her
the boot soon enough.

As soon as he's drained every
last cent from her.

- No, that can't
be what it's about.

Robin didn't have much.

I certainly don't.

She was a secretary.

I mean, she had a good job
at World Express...

but she threw it
all away for this.

- Carlos would be sincere.

- Well, he's getting
his money from somewhere.

- Might be interesting to
see where.

- Does this mean
you're gonna help me?

- Well...

we've already got a client.

But there's nothing stopping
us from asking a few questions.

- And we know just the person
to ask.

- Carlos!

- I'm sorry, did I awaken you?

- That's okay.

- I just came to see
how you were doing.

- I'm fine.

It was kind of a long session.

- Yeah, well, we've only just
scratched the surface.

May I come in?

You have an open mind
and that's good.

But I sense
you're holding something back.

- What do you mean?

- Secrets.

You keep a lot of
secrets, don't you?

- Everybody has secrets.

- They're not good for you.

They eat away at you,
they block your path.

Come.

Sit down.

Get rid of one secret now.

See how it
makes you feel better.

- I don't know.

- Ahh...

So many to choose from.

There's that incident thing
with the senator.

I hear he wasn't
alone on his boat.

- I promised.

- Oh.

Come on, it's easy.

I'll show you.

From the day I saw you...

I haven't been able to
think of anything else but you.

I trust you.

Now you must trust me.

- I...

I can't.

- Perhaps...

some other form of intimacy?

Ah.

You don't trust me.

You gave me your mind
to shape and reform.

What could be
more important than that?

- It's not that I don't
trust you,

it's just that it's so soon.

- I understand.

Anticipation.

It's a powerful emotion.

- Well?

- Not yet.

- You're losing your touch?

- Shut up.

You know that redhead
who came in last week?

- Mm, yeah.

- Get her for me.

- I didn't think
she was your type.

- She's not.

But if you get me that
tall skinny girl too...

then I think things will
work out just fine.

- Mmm...

Two fives make a ten, huh?

- Yeah, that'll do, for now.

- Good night.

- Hey, guys.
- Hey.

- Listen, uh, we need
you to help us with something.

- Sure, how?

- Get us some information
on Carlos,

where he gets his money,
you know, that kind of thing.

- Why, what's wrong?

- There's a man who has
a daughter here.

- The melon girl... uh, Robin.

- You're asking
me to spy on them?

- Investigate, Joanna,
that's what we do.

- But these people?

They're harmless.

- Yeah, that may not be
entirely true.

- No, I...

I'm not gonna do it.

Joanna...

- No, I'm not going to do it.

- Joanna, you're
missing the point.

- Oh, right.

Dumb, ignorant Joanna
just doesn't get it.

Well!

- Is everything all right?

- It is now.

I think it's best
if you left now.

- Without her?

- Kidnapping is against the law.

- Yes, we know.

Do you?

Well, the good news is
Carlos never did do

any time for attempted murder.

Why would somebody
lie about that?

- Well, it sounds good,
you know?

Better than his
real record anyway.

- Which is?

- Cons, scams and...
even a little blackmail.

- And we're supposed to believe
he's changed his ways?

- Maybe just his MO.

- We have to get back in there.

- I know how.

And I love the idea that you
have so much freedom here.

Clothes are so inhibiting.

Don't you agree?

- Absolutely, yes.

- You know, back home in France,

we never wore
clothes when we sunbathe.

- Boy, I wish
you were here, Joanna.

Hmm.

- Hello.

- He puts his contributions
on his computer

and they're not
small-time donations either.

He's got a lot of people
giving him

thousands of
dollars every month.

- Every month, huh?

- Yeah.

It goes into Swiss bank accounts
or the Caymans.

- Do you think some of
this amount is coming from

the people in the group?

- Yeah, right, do they look like
they have that kind of money?

Besides, they've got
names like Moonbeam and Dweezle.

Not names like...
J. Herbert Anderson

or Floyd Benton III.

Or Alan Hughs Canfield.

- Hold on a sec.

- Yeah, what else
do I have to do?

- What exactly does your
daughter do for World Express?

- Uh... like I told you,
she was a secretary.

- Yeah, for, uh, for who?

- One of the muckamucks there.

Nice guy, though.

Everybody called him Al.

- Al, as in Alan Hughs Canfield,

the chairman of the board?

- Yeah, that's him.
Why?

You must've seen that
commercial he did, huh?

- Yeah, yeah, I did.

- What the hell's going on?

Tommy.

- Raul.

I see we have company.

I wasn't expecting
to see you here.

Are you alone?

- Do you see anyone else?

- No.

But I'd like to
show you something.

Your passenger door is open.

- I've got to fix that.

Thank you.

- Now, where are the others?!

- I'll bet he's
still into blackmail.

- What are you talking about?

- Okay, what if he doesn't
suck money

from people out of the group?

He takes information.

He finds people who...
Who know things.

You know,
file clerks, girlfriends...

- Secretaries?

- Exactly.

Then he, uh, he brings them
into the group,

breaks them down,
finds out what they know...

uses it for blackmail.

Cat.

Cat?

- Oh, I was hoping it
would come to this.

- Well, come on then.

Ahh!

- Adios, ass.

Stay tuned for more
"Acapulco H.E.A.T."

Under normal circumstances...

this would be an
appealing sight.

But then again, these are not
normal circumstances.

- What are we
gonna do with them?

Huh?

- Say goodbye to them.

They're dead.

- Carlos!

- Time to unburden
yourself, my dear.

- Why do you care so much
about the senator?

- That's not what
I'm talking about.

I wanna know who you're
working for.

- You.

- Well, I didn't pay you
to spy on me.

- I'm not spying on you.

- Take her to the building

and stay with her.

- Why are you doing this?

Oh, don't question your teacher.

- I don't think
she knows anything.

- Maybe or maybe she's
just a good actress.

And what about those other two

and the fourth one, wherever
the hell he is.

And who knows
how many people they've told?

- So it's over then?

- Perhaps.

Except for all the witnesses.

We always knew
this might happen.

We even planned for it.

- Yes, but this is extreme.

- Well, it's the only way.

Almost since day one...

we've been harassed
by outsiders.

We threaten them,
we frighten them.

We make them
question their lives

and the answers they've
come up with,

and they just can't afford that.

And so they tried to destroy us

with beatings,
with kidnappings...

and with spies.

How can we stop them?

We can't.

There are simply
too many of them right now.

And they have way
too much power.

But we can follow the example

of a few dedicated individuals

who lived 2,000 years ago,

and who, like us,

believed in
a philosophy that was unpopular.

And like us...

knew... they always knew that
philosophy would outlive them.

And so they became martyrs.

Are we ready to do that?

Are we ready to do that?!

- Where's the guard?

- Who the hell cares?

- Ray, Ray, Ray, Ray!

- Jeez.

- Thank you, Joanna.

- Oh great.

Well, now who's
gonna hear me when I yell?

- We taught them too well.

It's the moment of truth.

It's the moment of truth.

It's the moment we find
all the different truths

we've been looking for!

Drink, everyone.

Drink...
drink.

- No, no.
- Tommy, don't.

- The liquid from this cup
will purify you...

Hey, you bastard!

- Tommy!

- Hold, everyone,
don't drink it!

- What can you
do to us with that gun?

- Back.

- Nothing we're not
already doing.

- Don't.

- You see?

The harassment never ends!

They give us no choice!

Drink!

Take care of the two in my room.

Drink, everyone!

Drink!

- Joanna, don't!

Drink.

Joanna!

- My child...

this is your chance to
redeem yourself.

Go on and redeem yourself.

Well, then we'll
have to do it for you.

Tommy!

- Stop it!

- Easy, Tommy, easy,
this is all they want.

- It's poison!

Joanna drank some of it
and they all did.

- Tommy, Tommy, listen to me.

It's not strychnine.

I found it awhile ago
and I poured it all out.

- Well...

it would be a real shame
if all these people

had to die for the sake
of Carlos' blackmail ring.

- Listen to the tricks they
use to confuse us.

- Yeah?

I don't see you drinking
any of that stuff, Carlos.

- You drink it.

- Sure.

To hell...

Nice trip up, Joanna.

- Oh!

Do something.

I'm dying.

- Should we stop them?

No, let them tenderize him
a little longer.

- If it wasn't
strychnine in that jug,

what... what did you put
in there?

- Oh, just a little something
I found in the storage room.

It was a laxative.

A very strong powdered laxative.

- Oh!

Oh...

Don't go away.

"Acapulco H.E.A.T." will be
right back.

- Joanna?

Look... you know we
love you very much.

- We've always loved you.

You mean a lot to us.

- Joanna, we could not
function without you.

Are you all right?

Can you hear us in there?

Joanna?

- I feel so stupid.

The important thing is to
get you back on track.

- And getting you to feel
good about yourself again.

- Don't worry.

I've gotten all that
out of my system.

Oof...

Well, maybe not quite all of it.