American Gothic (2016): Season 1, Episode 10 - The Veteran in a New Field - full transcript

MADELINE: Previously on
American Gothic...

Tell me you never killed anyone.

I can't do that.

And if I don't do exactly as Alison says,

I'll end up in jail.

I need you to get me something on Conley.

Something I can use.

That's the lead detective in the SBK case.

Continue to pursue me, and people will die.

No! No, you're...!

The people of Boston believed
that the Silver Bells horror



had died along with Mitchell Hawthorne.

But after his presumed accomplice murdered

local reporter Jennifer Windham,

the city has been in panic mode.

Newton resident Celeste
Dubinski pushed her new gardener

down the stairs and
locked him in the cellar.

“He seemed sketchy

in a Silver Bells way,” Dubinski said.

Catching this killer is
my number one priority.

Which is why I urge the public

to let us focus our resources,

and stop calling 911

every time you hear a bell ring.

LINDA: Déjà vu.



My gut says copycat.

You and your gut were in middle school

when SBK first struck in 1999.

I was one of the first on the scene.

(sighs)

This matches it to the letter.

So I need you to drop the charges.

The only thing Garrett
Hawthorne is guilty of

is wearing too much flannel.

You've read the most recent
forensics report, right?

These knots on Jennifer.

Exactly the same as the
knots from 14 years ago.

You smell that?

Pine.

Somehow this copycat
knew that SBK cleaned up

all his murders with pine-scented cleaner.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Copycat killers

can be incredibly faithful.

Oh, I guess you haven't gotten
to the part about the bell.

It's got the little indentation

on the inside.

Just like the bells from the other murders.

That detail was never
released to the public.

LINDA: How would a copycat
have gotten one?

You see the problem, Jeff?

You can't prosecute Garrett Hawthorne

for being Silver Bells' accomplice,

while the actual Silver Bells' accomplice

keeps murdering people.

My son is clearly innocent.

Rectify the situation.

JENNIFER: Continue to pursue me,
and people will die.

No! No, you're si...!

Continue to pursue me,
and people will die.

No! No, you're si...!

Continue to pursue me,

- and people...
- The charges are being dropped.

Your brother will be a free man again

in a matter of hours.

That's great news.

Alison, what's going on?

Jennifer's murder...

A lesser person might
make a scathing remark

about karma right now,

but I will rise above.

What is it?

(knocking)

- There's someone here to see you.
- Not now.

Yeah. I don't think she's
making an appointment.

Mrs. Hawthorne. Ah, good.
Two birds, one stone.

Could you compile the cards,
letters, guest book,

anything you can find,
from your husband's funeral?

Excuse me?

I'll send someone over
to collect them soon.

What for?

I'm trying to solve a murder case

that has national attention
and FBI oversight.

I ask you for something, please cooperate.

And speaking of cooperation,

we're investigating the
Jennifer Windham murder.

It's odd.

Your name keeps popping up,

Councilwoman.

As soon as you free one of my children,

you implicate another.

What bizarre obsession do
you have with my family?

I feel like you want me to go.

Yes.

Well, I'm happy to go,

but I'll need you to come
with me to the station.

I don't think so.

Fair enough.

But be aware, someone from
the press may ask me

if Alison Hawthorne-Price

is being questioned in
the Silver Bells murders,

and I will be forced to tell them

that you are not cooperating

with the authorities.

Boston Globe?

Yes, uh, politics section, please.

Or crime, whatever's faster.

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.

(lock buzzes)

(latch clicks)

It takes a little paperwork, and then, uh,

I should be out in a few hours.

Good.

If you didn't do it,

you shouldn't be charged for it.

But you did something.

I asked you to tell me
you never killed anyone,

and you couldn't do it.

When you got back home,

you were quiet and evasive.

I understood that.

It had to be a tough transition for you,

so I tried to be patient

and compassionate.

Tried to give you the benefit of the doubt.

(chuckles)

I defended you.

I believed in you.

And what did I get from you in return?

Cryptic comments.

Move evasiveness.

Kid gloves.

Garrett, you need to talk to me.

That's what I deserve.

When I was in the woods,

there was a guy who became
sort of a mentor to me.

His name was Al Jenkins.

(wheezing)

(groaning): Damn it.

Help me.

♪ ♪

That's heartbreaking.

He's buried next to
his niece in Cincinnati.

But that was an act of mercy, not...

Why didn't you just tell me?

It's not that simple, Tess.

I've never told anyone that.

Just talk to me.

From now on.

We're family.

Seeing as we're telling each
other everything now, um...

And I'm, uh...

What?

Christina's pregnant.

What?

When did you find out?

The other day on the phone.

She didn't tell me anything
more than that, though.

We're not on very good terms, so, uh...

Do you want to be a father?

You know, if you asked me
that two weeks ago,

I don't know what I would have said.

But...

Ever since she told me, I, um...

I really want it.

Well, I'm learning a lot about you today.

(both laugh)

APRIL: Finally.

Mission Rehab - complete.

Nancy Reagan's ghost
will visit you tonight,

and give you a high-five.

(chuckling)

Yeah.

I know the transition out of here

can be as tricky as the transition in.

You get used to the routine.

- You're gonna miss the structure.
- Right.

It's the structure I'm gonna miss.

Why don't you focus on all the great things

that are coming your way.

For example, you get out early enough

to go to Jack's school event.

Hey, uh, why don't you come with me?

Come meet this crazy kid
I've been talking about.

There's a really solid,
well-researched rule

about romantic relationships
in the first year of recovery.

I mean, this is Saldenbrook Elementary's

Boston History Night.

It's incredibly unromantic.

(laughing)

The empirical data is
pretty overwhelming.

Dating too early really increases

the risk of relapse.

And who are we to argue
with empirical data?

Really.

But, uh...

I loaded up your iPod with, like,

gigabytes of daily affirmations.

So you'll feel like I'm constantly around.

Gigabytes.

How affirmed do I have to be?

FINNEGAN: You may not think
you need the help, you do.

It took you guys 17 years to catch one half

of Silver Bells, and he was already dead.

I've been living and breathing this case.

I want your assurance

you're not going to push me out of it.

I'm FBI. I don't make assurances

to rookie detectives.

There's a mandatory meeting in an hour.

We'll discuss your participation

in the case after that.

According to these phone records,

you and Jennifer were really chatting it up

the last few days.

Maybe you were angry she was sleeping

with your husband?

And you killed her like Dad taught you to.

(scoffs) That's your theory.

That I kick-started a murder spree

because I'm a crazy, jealous wife.

(door opening)

I don't know why you killed
the blind woman, though.

Doesn't seem like your husband's type.

Carter.

(sighs)

You decide to go after my sister-in-law,

and you say nothing to me?

Yet another conflict of interest.

With the FBI jumping in,

it's every detective for himself...

or herself.

If you have questions,
Brady can talk to me.

Nobody else.

You don't get to make demands.

Unless you're gonna charge me,
neither do you.

Or should I give my lawyer a call?

It's the same one

that got Garrett out of jail, so...

(sighs)

So, why were you making all
these calls to Jennifer?

Can you close the blinds?

Please.

Okay.

I, um...

I think Jennifer Windham
was murdered because of me.

No, Alison, that doesn't make any sense.

It does.

And I think I know who murdered her.

I think I know who my
father's accomplice is.

Mayor Conley.

Mayor Conley?

Your opponent.

The current mayor of Boston...

- You think that he... - I know, I know.
But it's not any more farfetched

than my own father being involved.

(sighs)

You have any proof?

I asked Jennifer to dig
into Conley because...

she took certain liberties that
other journalists wouldn't.

She brought me this.

Conley and Cutter? I wanted to know

why Conley was taking secret,
off-the-books meetings

with one of the lead detectives
on the Silver Bells case.

Jennifer followed up.
She said she had something big,

something connecting Conley to SBK.

She was about to report it...

You think he killed her
before she could talk?

(sighs)

We're gonna need something definitive.

I know.

But if Conley was working with Cutter,

who else is involved?

You can't trust anyone

in this building.

(window opens)

♪ ♪

JACK: It was scary.

I mean, she shot a crossbow right at me.

And it stuck in, like, a foot from my head.

- Like this.
- (laughs)

Did this really happen or this
something you're making up?

- (laughs)
- Jack,

did you take something out of my closet?

Mm, no, not lately.

Why?

Is there something weird in there?

Why don't you head downstairs, Jack?

There's a fresh tray of
cookies waiting for you.

I think we feed him too much sugar.

Right. Sugar's the problem there.

Look,

now that you and Sophie

are really, finally splitting up,

I think you should fight for sole custody.

I don't think I could do that to her.

I mean, she'd be...

I know she loves him.

But as far as parenting,

we both know he's better off with you.

She's helping him with
his history project later,

so I'll go by and see how she's doing.

And then I'll think about it, okay?

Okay.

(lock buzzes)

- Hey.
- Hey.

Did you manage to
get a hold of Christina?

The number is no longer in service.

Did you try the clinic?

She told them she was, uh,

laying low for a bit.

They're not even sure if
she's still in Boston.

Really?

Look, I mean, imagine it
from her point of view.

There's an accomplice,
you were arrested...

She's scared.

She'll find out that you've been cleared,

that there is nothing connecting
you to any of the murders.

She'll turn up. Or you'll find her.

She's out there.

Voilà.

- Hey, Mom.
- (laughs)

I got everything we talked about
and a couple extra things, too.

Did you get the soda?

Two two-liters. (gasps)

Damn, I left 'em by the elevator.

I'll get it.

Don't you think we should
cut down on his sugar intake?

The soda's not for drinking.

It's for death.

Um...

you don't think you could

steer him towards a history
project that's a little more...

normal?

It's supposed to be about Boston.

I don't know if you were awake in school,

but Boston's history is pretty damn bloody.

Okay.

So, I think...

Whoa.

I think we're gonna need
some more soda, Mom.

I'll get some more on our candy break.

Yeah, sugar.

Cam, whatever.

All right, just a little warning,
'cause I don't

want you getting caught off guard,
but the lawyer

will be sending paperwork by this week.

The, uh, lawyer your mommy got you?

Yeah, I really can't
wait to see what it says.

- Come on.
- (door closes)

BRADY: Yeah. You double-checked
the calendar?

Okay, thank you.

- Was that Conley's assistant?
- Yeah.

What did she say?

Well, she's being oddly
evasive about his whereabouts

on the day of the murder.

Did Jennifer make

any reference about what
kind of information she had?

Only that it was about Conley.

She sent this text

saying that she was

“fiercely protective” of her sources.

We should start at her apartment.

If I'm gonna hand all this over,

at least I want an explanation.

Well, we have reason to believe

the SBK accomplice attended
Mitchell's funeral.

That's all I can tell you.

Appreciate your cooperation.

We'll be in touch.

- I think Cam borrowed it.
- He say where he was going?

No. I can take you
wherever you need to go.

No. No, I need my truck.

Are you okay?

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.

Okay.

I'm gonna go wash up.

Why the hell were you
at Mitchell's funeral?

With everything that
went on between you two,

you never should have been there.

TESSA: Garrett's home.

Oh,

that's wonderful.

- Is he...
- He's upstairs.

Hey, Mom, why did I see an FBI agent

just leave the house?

You should ask your husband.

Their latest theory is
that the accomplice

was someone at the funeral.

Of course they're gonna start with us.

They'll come to their senses.

The only thing we can do in the meantime...

is try and stay united.

APRIL: Temptation is natural.

Temptation is natural.

What you've done is not who you are.

What I've done is not who I am.

Oh, God!

Oh, God.

Hey.

Welcome back.

You got my keys.

Uh, yeah. Where you going?

I got to run an errand.

You're so bad at being specific.

Uh, how long you be gone for?

It's none of your business, Cam.

- Give me my keys.
- Hey, man, listen.

I'll be damned if I let
you run out on us again

without going to...

Boston History Night.

What?

Uh, well, I told Jack
that you were getting

out of jail, and he was
all excited you'd get to see

his big presentation.

He said that you'd like it.

Give me my keys.

- I have to go.
- Listen, man.

For whatever reason,

Jack feels a real connection with you.

And since his mom might not be

a big part of his life anymore,

it would mean a lot if you were.

(sighs) It's your call.

APRIL: There are no losers,
just slow winners.

There are no losers, just slow winners.

Looks fiercely protective to me.

Okay. Any ideas?

I thought you'd have,
like, safecracking gear

- or something.
- I'm a detective, not Thomas Crown.

(sighs) Okay. Look at her.

She's sexy, she's self-aggrandizing,

narcissistic.

(clicking)

(groans)

What did you try?

36-24-36.

(scoffs)

You got any better ideas?

Her birthday?

The day she pretends is her birthday.

Maury Povich's birthday.

(sighs)

My husband's birthday.

Date of her first onscreen appearance?

The ratings of her first time on air.

Ratings from the time she had
that micro-pig on the show,

- and it went viral.
- Oh, God, yeah.

- That pig could really dance.
- Mmm.

(whispering): Yeah, I'm done.

She spent her whole career at Channel 12.

We could try 12-12-12.

(scoffs) It can't be that easy.

She bugged him.

You said the rep from
the election commission

would be here at 5:00.

She's running late. Traffic.

Probably because of that left-turn light

you put on Pilgrim Street.

LINDA: What the hell is
going on here? You told me

- you had enough evidence to arrest her.
- It's an ambush.

(typing)

CONLEY: There was an accomplice?
You reopened the case?

You're supposed to
tell me these things.

LINDA: We've already arrested

- Garrett Hawthorne.
- CONLEY: Good. That's good.

Because we can't afford
someone digging around.

LINDA: Stop being paranoid.

I destroyed the evidence that
ties you to the crime scene.

You recorded us without our consent.

- That's illegal.
- We didn't record it.

Jennifer Windham did.
And then she was murdered.

You let me and my family
go through that horror show

when you were working with
my father the whole time.

No. No.

The night David Morales was murdered,

I was over at his house.

I'd just started putting
together my mayoral campaign,

and I needed his help getting access

to some of the political elite.

- Why would he help you?
- I helped him

with his business when he was starting out.

I thought he'd be up for a little

“I scratched your back,
now you scratch mine. ”

But as it turns out, he wasn't amenable

to my political leanings.

I got angry, he got angry,

we shouted some things,
and I stormed out.

The next morning,
I heard on the news that he was...

that he killed by Silver Bells,

just hours after I left him.

And then I realized in all the chaos,

I lost a cufflink at his house.

I freaked out a little bit, okay?

I didn't kill him.

But I figured if the police
traced it back to me,

I'd be a person of interest.

In a major serial killer case.

My whole political future
would go up in smoke.

So then you went to Cutter?

I was new on the force,

but I had access.

What I didn't have, though, was money.

My dad was losing his house, and I-I...

needed help.

How much did you pay her
to destroy the evidence?

25 grand.

(scoffs) LINDA: Covered
most of my dad's bills.

And we were never supposed
to talk about it again.

And then they found the belt,

- and they reopened the case...
- I got a little paranoid.

(scoffs) That's putting it mildly.

You want proof I didn't kill Jennifer?

Check with Perry Cooper and Cindy Frye.

They'll confirm that I was meeting with
them at the time of Jennifer's murder.

You were coordinating
with your super PAC?

Yeah.

But as sins go,

it's not quite murder.

(scoffs)

(jangling)

(clattering)

(indistinct chatter)

Mom, who is Caleb O'Connor?

I heard you on the phone,
and I looked up his number.

Caleb O'Connor from
Smoke Hill, Pennsylvania.

He's a friend of mine.

The conversation did not sound friendly.

You sounded pretty upset
that he was at Dad's funeral.

Because your father hated him.

He nearly beat him to death.

Caleb O'Connor is...

The man I was having
the affair with. Yes.

Now you're checking the
numbers that I call?

We can't lose trust in each other.

Not at a time like this.

Hi. Oh, good.

(murmuring)

Welcome to Saldenbrook Elementary's

Boston History Night.

First up, with a fascinating
piece of local history

is Jack Hawthorne.

(applause)

People run through the streets, screaming.

The lucky ones survive
with just a broken bone.

But the unlucky ones are
crushed or drowned.

But everything...

is... sticky.

It all started with a poorly
built vat of molasses.

The temperature suddenly
rose on January 15,

1919, and the molasses became

too liquid-y, and the vat... burst.

- (rumbling)
- The people heard a loud

rumbling noise.

(audience chuckling)

It was a wave of molasses
as tall as a house

rushing through the streets.

- (laughter)
- It destroyed buildings.

It knocked people off their feet.

Some people... even died.

(chuckling)

(clopping)

It even stopped horses
right in their tracks.

Forever.

(laughter)

I've been running checks on everyone

who attended Mitchell's funeral.

Maureen Campbell knew him
from when they both served

on the board of a charity,
a wildlife conservation charity.

I feel a point coming on.

Garrett allegedly got the
knife from his father.

Why would a guy on the board of
a wildlife conservation charity

own an ivory knife?

I don't think Mitchell ever
did actually own the knife.

- I think it was Garrett's all along.
- Garrett's been ruled out.

No, I know, I know. And I know
he didn't murder Jennifer.

I'm saying something does not add up here.

You remember that
mandatory meeting today?

You missed it.

Yeah, I know. And I'm
sorry about that.

But I've been chasing down the leads,
I've been making progress

- on this... - You went into the Windham
crime scene without permission.

So then I read your whole file.

You're married to a Hawthorne.

Which has given us access that we would not

- have had if I hadn't...
- It's a blatant conflict of interest.

I am the one who's saying that
we need to reconsider Garrett!

Go home.

Be with your wife.

Get this case out of your head.

Your temporary leave begins now.

Hey, hey, hey!
That was great, that was great.

I mean, you really figured
out how to bring out

the best of his, you know... his Jack-ness.

I love his Jack-ness.

We made a cool little man, didn't we?

We did. And you should
be a part of his life.

I won't fight you on that.

JACK: Uncle Garrett.

Hey.

Did you like the part
about the melting horse?

Oh yeah, that was my favorite part.

Hey, you listen to me.

Never stop being you. All right?

I can't not be me. It's all I am.

(chuckles) Exactly.

April! Hey.

Ah, you came.

Hey. Yeah, I, uh,

guess curiosity got the best of me.

- You totally undersold the weirdness.
- Yeah.

And you... and you
undersold the awesomeness.

I thought we couldn't...

Uh, yeah. No, we-we cannot
be involved romantically,

but I feel like, as long as we can

keep this on a platonic axis,

- we'll be fine.
- Right, right.

Right, great. I mean, 'cause

when I look at you,
that's all I think about.

(chuckles): I mean, it's just so...

- platonic.
- Mmm-hmm.

Good, great. Well, that's-that's a relief.

'Cause that's just exactly how I feel.

I mean, Plato would be proud.

(Cam chuckles)

ALISON: So, how are you feeling?

TESSA: Well, there's no morning sickness.

- That's good.
- Which is great,

but I am so on edge, Ali.

Impatient. Like,

I yelled at our mailman yesterday.

And I love our mailman.

That's not the pregnancy.
We're all on edge.

(sighs)

At least you have a supportive spouse.

How are things with Tom?

We'll talk about it later.

- Hey.
- Hi.

You missed a pretty wild
presentation. (chuckles)

Yeah, well, I'm not gonna be missing

any more family events for a while.

Why?

They put me on temporary leave.

- What?
- Yeah.

Told me to get the case out of my head.

Oh, well, that's a novel idea.

Let's just put it out of our heads.

Easy enough.

Piece of cake.

JACK: It's weird.

Hmm?

You're just smiling way more than usual.

Nah, I'm smiling more

because I feel good about the future.

You should.

It has infinite possibilities.

That's true. No, seriously.

- Hmm?
- I mean,

at any moment, you could be like,

- “I'm going this way.
- Whoa.

- No, I'm going that way”"
- (laughing)

Or, “I'm doing a cartwheel,

I'm speaking French.”

(laughing continues)

And, if you believe in parallel universes,

then all of those things are happening

somewhere in the world, right now.

- (imitates explosion)
- Hey, look.

That's our candy guy.

Can I get some gummies?

(laughs): Fine, I give in.

Go get yourself some sugar.
You've earned it.

Thanks, Dad!

No, I want my change, bud.

There is no change.
Gummies cost 20 bucks.

No, seriously.

Every time Mom has me get
gummies from that guy,

it costs 20 bucks.

It's probably just inflation.

- (door opens)
- Hey.

(door shuts)

Cam, he never knew.

You used our son to buy drugs.

You gave him money

and made him buy you drugs.

You don't have anything to say, do you?

Because there's no defense.

Cam, no... You know what this is?

(voice breaking): No, Cam. Please, no.

This is ammunition.

No!

(softly): Cam, I love you.

This gives me full custody of Jack.

Cam, please wait. Please!

No, Cam! Please, no!

Please, Cam. Don't go.

Please don't go. Please, please.

Cam, I love you. I love you.

Hey, hey, hey. Cam,
I love you! I love you!

Please, Cam. Please!

I'm sorry, Cam. Cam, I'm sorry. Please.

Cam...

I'm gonna tell you what to do.

- Okay.
- So, listen to me closely.

Okay. I'm listening.

Okay.

Make a new life for yourself.

No! No, Cam. Please...

No. No, Cam. Make peace with the fact

that Jack won't be part
of it. No. Please!

No, Cam!

Cam!

(sobbing): Please come back!

No. Cam!

(screaming): Cam!

- (door shuts)
- Don't you walk away, Cam!

Cam, please, no.

(sobbing): Please!

No!

(sobbing hysterically)

ALISON: Of all the people who
could've been Dad's accomplice...

the guy mom cheated with?
It's an odd theory.

TESSA: Mom has lied before.

Maybe there was no affair.

Maybe Caleb was just the
person Dad was working with.

So you did the sensible
thing and arranged to meet

with a potential murderer.

It's a public place!

Tessa? Alison?

TESSA: Caleb.

I do remember you from the funeral.

Yeah. Your mom, she's, uh,

pretty upset about that.

I don't know. I just...

I wanted to see her face again.

How do you know her?

High school sweethearts.

It went past high school, right?

Ah. (chuckles)

That's what I thought this might be about.

Your mother and I, we, um...

we had a hard time
letting go of what we had.

The story we were told

is that he found you with her,

and beat you within an inch of your life.

Yeah. (clears throat)

Yeah, look, I-I still got the scars

from when I hit the, uh,
planter in the driveway.

He dragged you all the way down
the stairs into the driveway?

“Dragged”?

No, no, no, no.

He ambushed me the moment I showed up.

He didn't drag you down the stairs?

No.

I never made it inside
the house that day.

(bell rings)

Good choice.

Top of the line corn grinder.

How fine a grain does it get?

Put some fresh ears in that and...

you'll end up with quite a nice cornmeal.

I'll take it.

Pretty late in the season
to be harvesting corn.

I'm not in a super-great
place at the moment,

- Cam...
- so maybe we can discuss Mom

Cam, your story about someone
at another sibling rendezvous.

Dragging a body down the steps?

It has nothing to do with
mom's affair. She lied.

There is something else going on.

(knocking)

Come in.

(footsteps approaching)

We need to talk.

We know you've been lying to us.

(digging)

(grunting)

(motor starts)

(grunts)

(panting)

(grinding)

Don't move!

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.