American Rust (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 8 - St. Sebastian - full transcript

Previously on American Rust...

Someone's pushing
cocaine-and-fentanyl SweeTarts

in my town.

Nothing.

Fentanyl's
coming from a pharmacist.

Someone
broke in through my back door.

For a guy who says

he doesn't handle much fentanyl,

Jackson handles
a fuckload of fentanyl.

If I were you, I might put
a camera out back there.

And I'll use Jackson to get
to this Bobby Jesus prick.



You want to find this Bobby guy
for your girlfriend.

You tag him with drug dealing
and killing

a high school kid, he becomes
a pretty terrible witness

against Billy Poe.

You can have
two different reasons

- for doing the right thing.
- No.

If it's the wrong reason,
it corrupts everything.

The guy who named Billy
is a drug dealer?

- Can you prove it?
- Not yet, but I'm trying.

Don't worry.
You'll figure it out.

We're in this together.

Lawyer's here, Poe. Let's go.

Tell her to go home.
I'm not interested.

You protecting somebody?



Please don't.
Please don't hit me.

It's okay. Hey.

It's Rachel.
Public defender Rachel.

Oh. Shit. Hi.

Your son is refusing to see me.

I can't be his lawyer
until he signs the paper.

I can get you in to talk to him.

How do you know that?

Because he's in love with me.

I just want to know
how much he's willing to pay you

to come here and talk us out
of what's owed to us.

Enough, Grace!

Felonies make up

a big chunk of the population.

And you're a big guy.
Someone'll test you.

Do not engage.
You hear me, Billy?

Dramatic music

Okay.

What?

Can you ask Rylan
to shut off the music?

- Will he do that?
- He better.

Considering what I laid out
for all this beer.

Okay.

All right.

Hey! Listen up, everyone!

Hi.

I want to thank you all
for coming out for this.

I hope
you're enjoying your drinks.

I know that some of you
are still on the fence

about what's going on.

Seems like
this five-letter word, union,

has some of you thinking it's
actually a four-letter word.

But it's not.

It's a good word.

I assure you.

And I wanted to urge all of you

to join me in voting in favor
of unionizing tomorrow.

We need 51%.

Please join us.

51% and we got ourselves
a union.

I know, in a lot of ways,

Mr. Gelsey has been good to us.

Not always.

But most of the time.

I've been working for him
as long as anybody here,

and, uh, I appreciate
the steady paycheck.

And the working conditions
aren't terrible.

But you know what?

"Not terrible" is not enough.

- That's right.
- We deserve more.

By a long shot.

We are entitled
to medical benefits.

We are entitled to a pension.

And we are entitled
to proper vacation time.

Jeanie Potts,
when your baby's born,

you should be able
to take paid maternity leave

and know that your job
is secure. Am I right?

- Yeah.
- Lisa, you've been working here

for 16 years.

It's crazy
you don't have a pension.

Wouldn't you like
to be able to retire at 66

with something to fall back on?

Or are you gonna be
hunched over that zigzag

for the rest of your life,
hemming dresses

until you're
in your frickin' 70s?

Look, I've been sewing lace

onto dresses since...

as long as my son's been alive.

And I am proud of that work.

Yeah. That's right. Yeah.

We make damn good dresses
at Gelsey's.

- Yeah.
- Hear, hear.

Ladies,

these are basic,

fundamental workers' rights
we're asking for.

Yep.

Please stand in solidarity
with me tomorrow

and cast your vote
for unionization.

Let's take control of our lives
for once.

Don't lean on the fence.

It's a good way to get shanked.

Hey.

It's Bill, right?

- Billy.
- Billy.

My bad. I'm Jerry.

I came to let you know
you're welcome

to come over and use
the fitness equipment.

Don't worry.
No one's gonna hurt you.

Dealer's choice.

You got the pull-up bar,
the bench

and a whole rack of dumbbells.

I'll go bench.

All right. Come on.

It's all yours.

I'll spot you.

- I got it.
- Mm.

You did good the other night.

Not a lot of guys could handle
themselves the way you did.

You strike hard, quick.

You can take a hit.

I'm Milo, by the way.

It's Billy, right?

Low, ominous music

Here's his personal items

- and the goods.
- Copy that.

Thanks, Steve.

- Chief.
- Hey.

Could I see you in my office?

You mind telling me
what the fuck's going on here?

Offinger caught the guy dealing

to a couple of construction
workers over on Swan Boulevard

and called for backup.

We apprehended him

just before he reached
the outskirts of town

and brought him in
to the station.

So who called Deluca?

I did.

Why?

Because it's related
to his case.

Trent Tisdell

overdosed in Buell,

which is my jurisdiction.

- Your jurisdiction?
- Our jurisdiction.

Buell fucking Township.

It's not Deluca's case.

But everyone knows

the perp is linked
to that Bobby guy.

Based on what evidence?

Based on the fact
that he was dealing

the exact same baggies of coke,

which likely contained
the exact same contents.

Just because the baggies are the
same fucking brand from Costco

doesn't confirm anything.

Every goddamn drug dealer from
here to Boise fucking Idaho

uses those baggies.

They haven't even sent his stash
to the lab

for testing yet.

Look,
you're not on that case, Chief.

Can I ask you a question, Park?

Very basic question.

Of course.

Whose fucking side are you on?

The guard standing over
by the food line.

Brown eyes, goatee.

Don't look.

Do you know
who I'm talking about?

Tomorrow,

during the second
mess shift change,

in the hall connecting
that entrance over there

to our cell block...

Look at it.

By the clock.

Got it?

Down that hallway,

that's where
you're gonna take him out.

A necessary item
will be provided to you.

It'll be
approximately four inches long

and plenty sharp.

I'd advise going for the throat.

He needs to cease existing.

What did he do?

Not what he was supposed to.

Low, tense music

Nod twice to let me know
you understand your mission.

Good.

Oh, my friend

We have reached

The end...

How you feeling?

I've been better.

You've been asleep for 20 hours.

You should drink some water.

I left some Advil there for you.

I'm told you can take
up to six at a time.

When all my roads are ending

You mind me asking
what happened to you?

Run

It isn't you

I'm running from

And after all this, I still...

I paid for all that.

So you're welcome to it.

If you're looking for something
a bit more nutritious,

there's an entire
Tupperware container

of leftover chicken soup
in the fridge.

Feel free to heat it up
in the microwave.

I washed your jacket.

I couldn't get
all the spray paint out.

Might need to take
some turpentine to it.

I left some fresh towels
and clean clothes for you

in the bathroom.

Hot water takes
about ten seconds to kick in.

Call your bluff

It reminds me of

An ocean caught between us

So, I got 200 bucks
in this shoebox.

I keep it up on the shelf
in the closet in my bedroom.

And there's a Blu-ray player
right over there,

but that's about it.

TV's a piece of shit.

In case you were planning
to rob me.

I'm not gonna rob you.

Okay, then.

Gentle, contemplative music

Hey, Ma.

What have they done to you?

- I got in a fight.
- You got in a fight?

Already? I mean, what happened?

In the shower.

It was no big deal.

I am sitting here,

looking at your face.

How can you tell me
it's no big deal?

No contact.

Sorry.

Did you see a doctor?

I don't need a doctor, Ma.

How are your hands?

I don't give a shit
about my hands right now.

Are you sure
you don't need to see a doctor?

I've been hit harder
playing football.

Trust me,

I'll be okay.

Tell me what's going on.

Everything's fine, Ma.

I promise.

I just had a little fight.

It's over.

Okay.

I don't got a lot of time,

so I need to ask you something.

And I need you
to be honest with me.

Okay.

Why aren't you talking
to Rachel?

Do you not trust her?

If we have any chance
of getting you out of here,

you have to engage with her.

Do you understand that?

She wants to help you.

But she can't
if you won't let her.

Sorry.

Can you at least promise me
that you'll see her again?

Can you promise me that?

Say it.

I promise you
I'll see her again.

Soft, somber music

The Trent Tisdell overdose

happened
in my jurisdiction, Frank.

I'm not sure
what you're concerned about.

I'm concerned
how your handling of this guy

might affect
whatever syndicate led the drugs

to that house party in Buell.

You nab one tomcat
and all the other cats scramble.

Now, what's this guy
actually giving you?

He's giving us a lot.

A lot for what case?

The drugs
in Trent Tisdell's tox screen

were a direct match
with the couple who OD'd

at that Little League game.

Melanie and Tom Bayer.

Also my jurisdiction.

Goddamn it!

- Del.
- What?!

Sit down.

And calm down.

- You calm?
- I'm calm.

Good.

Now listen to me.

- I'm listening.
- Sue Herlitz is willing

to cut this guy a deal
if he can give us any intel,

anything to help track
this line of traffic back

to our Bobby Jesus character.

You knocking on doors
for her, too?

You'd think she was running
for attorney general.

Look, Del,
if this guy reveals anything

that might relate
to Tisdell's overdose,

I promise you,
you'll be the first one to know.

It's not that I'm afraid

Of the houses in the deep

It's just I know your name

They call

You the Beast

Do, do, do, do, do, do, do

- Excuse me, sir.
- Please keep your distance.

I'm sorry.

Talk to me.

An inmate told me
I had to take out another guard.

I-I need to be transferred.

Can you help me?

You did the right thing.

Come with me.

Low, ominous music

I'm glad you came to me.

That took a lot of guts.

Approach the urinal.

Why?

Because there's something
in there for you.

Reach inside.

Now drop it in the toilet.

I'd go in after it
if I were you.

That should help you
carry out your mission.

After the glow

You're still here.

The sad talk

I thought
you'd be long gone by now.

I'll never forget

Hey, you got to pay...

So what'd you do all day?

Slept, mostly.

Looks like you had a shower.

- Was the water okay?
- Yeah.

- It was perfect.
- Did you eat?

I had that chicken soup.

It's good, right?

Yeah. It's good.

Right or wrong,
it's all that I can do

And I wouldn't want
to let you be

I want a range life

If I could settle down

Why are you being so nice to me?

If I could settle down

Then I would settle...

See these?

They're all fake.

These six.

Range life

About six months ago,

I was coming out of work,

walking to my car
in the parking lot,

and this guy jumps me
with a baseball bat.

Knocked out my teeth.

Broke my nose.
Busted my collarbone.

Cracked three ribs.

Turns out,

he had mistook me
for this other guy

who was fucking his wife.

I spent three days in the ICU.

Took me over a month

before I was able
to raise my arms above my head.

But my point is,
when it comes to recognizing

someone else
who's been through something...

it's like I've developed
superpowers.

You had that look.

Something bad happened to you.

This crime, it is never complete

Plus, what they spray-painted
on the back of your jacket.

You're never gonna feel free

Um...

I don't even know where I am.

You're in Chadron.

Chadron, Nebraska.

Northwest corner of the state.

We're about 15 miles
below South Dakota,

a few hours east of Wyoming.

No one but myself to blame

Don't worry

We're in no hurry

So how many of them were there?

What did you expect?

Two or... three. Maybe four.

Never actually saw them.

They hit me pretty hard
from behind, and I went down.

I just remember
feeling their boots

blasting into my ribs
and my face,

my shoulder blades.

Then they took my backpack
and ran off.

From the looks of it,
they got you pretty good.

If I could settle down

I'm starting to think I'm...

the kind of person
bad things happen to.

I think I know how you feel.

Hopefully things
will turn around for you.

The pinewood derby's finest.

That's some bowl.

It's a magic bowl.

I don't understand

What they mean

And I could really give a fuck

Stone Temple Pilots

They're elegant bachelors

They're foxy to me

Are they foxy to you?

You happen to be in the presence

of the 1995 pinewood derby champ
of Beatrice, Nebraska.

Dream, dream, dream

Lights out in the gallery.

Soft, haunting music

The new phone book's here!
The new phone book's here!

Well, I wish I could
get that excited about nothing.

Nothing?! Are you kidding?!

Page 73!

"Johnson, Navin R."!

I'm somebody now!

Millions of people look
at this book every day!

Here's to small victories.

"What victories?" he's thinking,
as he drinks his lady's bourbon.

I convinced Billy
to meet with his lawyer again.

Gave a bona fide speech
last night.

Stood on a chair in front
of a gathering of my coworkers.

I think it went pretty well.
We might have a...

a legitimate shot
at this union thing.

Good for you, Grace.

What is going on?

Did something happen?

The county sheriff's office
brought in this guy

for questioning today.

He was dealing
from the same batch

as our Bobby Jesus character.

So, it's only a matter of time

before they connect the dots.

If Herlitz and Deluca
get to him first...

They'll protect him.

Oh, they'll more
than protect him.

They'll rehab his reputation
till he goes on the stand and...

names Billy.

That'll be that.

Even if I go pick him up first.

Same result.

Exactly.

Low, tense music

Okay. Um...

Okay.

So what can we do?

We?

You know what I mean.

What do you need from me?

I didn't realize that my needs

were suddenly
under consideration.

Oh, come on, Del.

Seriously.

I'm gonna go.

No.

Stay.

You don't really need me here.

Why would you say that?

Del.

Hmm.

For your own protection

Over their affection

Nobody broke your heart

Finish what you start

Walk down Alameda

Brushing off the nightmares

You wish could plague me

When I'm awake

So now you see

Your first mistake

Was thinking

That you could relate

For one or two

Do you want to?

You sure?

In

You're all pretension

I never pay attention

Nobody broke your heart

low, sinister music

low, tense music

What the fuck?

Come here, you motherfucker.

Code two! Code two!
South corridor!

Stay down.

Tell me about your necklace.

It's St. Sebastian.

He's the patron saint
of athletes or...

archers or something like that.

Legend has it
he was tied to a tree

and shot with arrows during
the Roman emperor's persecution

of the Christians.

Somehow the arrows
didn't kill him,

and he was rescued
by St. Irene of Rome.

And she nursed him back
to health.

But shortly after that,
he was clubbed to death anyway.

Yikes.

Rough life.

My mother gave it to me.

It was hers.

I think something about
his martyrdom spoke to her.

Does your mother know
where you are?

No.

She must be worried sick.

You might want
to give her a call,

just to let her know
you're okay.

My mom's dead, Nate.

Oh.

She passed away a few years ago.

Isaac, I'm sorry.

Were you close?

How about your dad?

He's still around.

He's turning into the kind
of person you can talk about

when they're right there
in the room with you.

He's a checked-out,
bitter old man.

Do you think your mother knew?

About you?

They always know, Isaac.

Maybe that's why she gave you
this necklace.

She knew
St. Sebastian would protect you.

Open number nine.

Picked the wrong group
to fuck with, Poe.

Good luck with the Aryans
when you get out of here.

Close nine.

Gentle, melancholy music

There you go.

Nice clear mark
on the ballot, please.

Open nine.

Your lawyer, Rachel Walton,
is here to see you.

Hey.

Hey.

How are you?

Good.

I'm good.

Is everything all right?

Your dad okay?

- Everything's fine.
- Take a seat, Billy.

How are you doing?

- I'm okay.
- I understand

from your mom
that you got in a fight.

Yeah, one fight.
It's no big deal.

And the warden just informed me
that you wound up

in solitary confinement for
accosting two fellow inmates.

So there were two fights.

Do you want to tell
me what happened?

The first one was sort of, um...

an initiation thing.

Mm.

I had no choice
about the second one.

I'll just leave it at that.

All this fighting is not going

to look good
to the D.A.'s office.

They will try and use it
against you at your trial.

I hope you realize that.

Your mom also told me
you're ready to talk to me.

- I'm open to it.
- Good.

So, let's talk about what
happened at the steel mill.

According to Sheriff Deluca,
the anonymous source

who named you
described you in detail.

He said you accosted
Pete Novick,

that you "coldcocked him,"

and that there was blood.

So were you there?

Quiet, tense music

Billy...

whatever you are going to say,
please say it.

Billy, I can't help you
unless you talk to me.

Please, let me help you.

Was there anyone else there
besides you,

Pete Novick and the other guy
who made the anonymous call?

If someone else was with you

in that steel mill,
now is the time to tell me.

Billy, this may be

your last chance.

Do you really want to stay here
for the rest of your life?

I have nothing else to say.

What? Why?

I'm sorry, but I don't want you
to represent me anymore.

Guard.

- Hello?
- Grace, it's Rachel.

Hey. What's going on?
Is everything okay?

Billy fired me.

What?

- Why?
- I have no idea.

I'm afraid you're gonna have
to find your son another lawyer.

- Good luck.
- What? Hey...

All right,
that's all she wrote, ladies.

What?

What happened?

We got less than 30%.

That's impossible.

Thank you for your
trust in me, ladies.

Uh, I'm sorry you all had
to go through this.

I know it's been
a-a trying time.

I'm just happy that, uh...

we can get things
back to normal now.

Uh, why don't we take

a 20-minute break

before we get back to work?

All right? 20 minutes.

Grace...
Well, clearly they got scared.

I'm done playing
by the fucking rules.

Dramatic music

Going cold turkey.

That's a lot of pills.

You sure you're up for this?

It could make things
a little erratic.

It's time.

Suit yourself.

County sheriff's office
picked up the guy who sold

that lethal dose of tainted
cocaine to Trent Tisdell.

So that's good news.

That is good news.

Had him in for questioning.

Hoping to work it back

to whoever's selling
around the county.

Well, I mean, sounds
like the sheriff is doing

- good police work.
- Yeah, sometimes

our community leaders
actually come through for us.

Restores your faith in people.

- Take care, Jackson.
- Mm-hmm.

Slow, mysterious music

Isaac.

Whoa, hey, hey!

Isaac.

Isaac.

It's okay.

It's okay. It's okay. I got you.

Just breathe, Isaac.

Breathe.

It wasn't murder.

It was self-defense.

Sort of.

We were heading out of town.

We were walking.
He was seeing me off.

And then Billy saw this guy dip
into an abandoned steel mill.

It was this ex-cop who
had messed with him in the past,

so... Billy went in after him.

After a minute, Billy didn't
come out, so I followed him in.

And I saw that this...

other guy had
a knife to his neck,

like... a hunting knife.

And the ex-cop was
on the ground, about ten feet

away from them, I think.

Billy must've knocked him down.

And then the ex-cop got up
and it looked like

he was getting a knife when...

I came up behind him
with a wrench

I found on the floor
of the steel mill.

Slow, intense music

I hit the ex-cop
in the back of the head

as hard as I could.

It seemed like
he was gonna hurt Billy.

I-I was sure of it, I...

It was a lot of blood.

And where's Billy now?

Just found out he's in prison.

Awaiting trial.

He was charged with murder one,

for the man I killed.

I think he's giving up his life
for me.

You know, when you say his name,
your face changes.

You care about him a lot.

- Were you two...?
- No.

It wasn't like that.

Seems like you have
a big decision to make.

Well, I was young and hungry

And about to leave that place

When just as I was leaving

Well, she looked me in the face

I said,
"You must know the answer"

She said,
"No, but I'll give it a try"

And to this very day,
we've been living our way

Here is the reason why

Blow up your TV

Throw away your paper

Go to the country

Build you a home

Plant a little garden

Eat a lot of peaches

Try and find Jesus

On your own.

Tense, percussive music

distortion-heavy rock music

- Thanks, Belle.
- Thanks.

Uh...

don't go too close
to that corner.

It's the bad luck corner.

You're fine here and-and there.

Well, enjoy your tea, boys.

Chamomile.

Supposed to be calming.

So what are you doing here,
Jackson?

It appears the county sheriff

is getting wise to things.

They've been questioning
the Emaciated One.

And it's only a matter of time
until he slips up

and gives them
your friend Michael.

- Great.
- And I'll bet my flat,

white ass that nimrod will take

a fucking deal from the D.A.
and rat us out.

Look, the bottom line here?

We can't have anything leading
the police back to Michael,

because it'll lead them
directly to this porch,

and then to my fucking pharmacy.

And we are now in the center
of a complete fucking shit show.

Hey, just chill out, okay?

I'll take care of it.

You'll take care of it how?

Just drink your tea.

Like the old lady said...

it's calming.

Soft, dramatic music

Isaac?

Isaac?

Thank you.

I just got off the phone

with Eddie Roe
at the fire department.

They're looking
at possible arson.

Surrounding property is fine.

I can't believe
somebody actually did that.

It's a beautiful piece
of land, Grace.

You'll always have that.

Is there anything we can do?

About the fire?

About Billy.

My son is gonna spend
the rest of his life

in that prison,
and he's not gonna make it.

I mean, you should've seen him.
He-he looked like a...

abused animal.

Grace.

You have been through a lot.
You're exhausted.

What you need is
a good night's sleep.

Yeah. Sorry. My mind's...

it's all over the place.

Thank you for taking me in.

You can stay here as long
as you need to, okay?

What's mine is yours.

Bud and me are gonna be
the best roommates you ever had.

You should see what Bud can do
with a load of laundry.

World-class folding skills.

I am gonna take
such good care of you.

I'm gonna take
good care of you, too, Grace.

Because this is
what this is now, right?

This is what this is now.

Yes.

I am all yours, Del.

You have me completely.

And we are gonna go above
and beyond for each other.

Because I would do
anything for you.

Would you do anything for me?

Yes.

Yeah.

Low, tense music

I know where he is.

Who?

That Bobby guy.

I found him.

- You found him?
- Yeah.

Then you know
what has to be done.

I want to hear you say it.

Say it, Del.

I know.

You know what?

I know what has to be done.

Dramatic, pulsing music

Quiet, tense music