Castle (2009–2016): Season 6, Episode 13 - Limelight - full transcript

Is that her?

All right, guys. Keep it clear.
Don't you have anything better to do?

Oh, my God, it's her!

Mandy!

Mandy, have you spoken
to Zach since the break-up?

Do you regret cheating on him?

Is there any truth to the rumor
that you're going back into rehab?

Castle?

Mmm?

Should I be worried about
your commitment to our engagement?

No. Why?

'Cause it says right here
that you're

getting back together
with your ex-wife.

- What?
- Right here, page six.

No, no, no.
This was a business lunch.

We were discussing
Heat and Storm books.

So, you weren't
"gazing lovingly into her eyes"?

She had spinach in her teeth!
That's just... Okay.

See, this wouldn't happen if you just
let me announce our engagement.

We already talked about this.

Everyone that's important to us
already knows.

Yes, and just because
I'm a public figure

doesn't mean you need to be one, too.

- I know.
- Exactly.

Well, so long as you don't mind
this sort of thing happening.

I don't. 'Cause it's not true.

And it only gives me more material
to torture you with.

Mmm-hmm, and the student
becomes the master.

Who rings the doorbell at 6:45
in the morning?

Hey, Mr. C! Hope I didn't wake ya.

No.

I was just on my way to work,

thought I would pick up
my letter of recommendation.

Right. For your grant application.

Really appreciate you doing it.

I know I told Alexis I was finished,
but I haven't really quite, um...

I'm still tweaking it.
I'm getting it just right.

You're a perfectionist, like me.
Well, take your time.

Not too much time. Deadline's tonight.

I'll have it done by lunch.

Thanks, Mr. C! You're the best!

I know.

- Hi!
- Hi, Pi.

Bye.

You haven't written a word, have you?

No. But in my defense,
what am I supposed to write? It's Pi.

- So why'd you offer?
- I didn't.

Alexis asked and I can't say no.

But no more excuses.
I'm gonna do it right now.

Unless that's a murder.

This is Harvey Stryker
with Celebgazer. Com.

We're getting unconfirmed reports that
pop diva Mandy Sutton is dead at 22.

Mandy Sutton? Oh, no!

Alexis used to love her kids' show,
Mandy Melody.

She was a regular teen by day
and a crime-fighting pop star by night.

But no one recognized her at school
because she wore glasses.

Well, it looks like she could've
used that trick in real life.

I mean, look at this.
No wonder she was such a mess.

Detective, can you confirm for us
that Mandy Sutton's dead?

Uh-uh.

Can you give us any details
about how she died?

I got to go, I got work to do. Sorry.

Hey, Richard Castle.

Is it true that you're getting back
together with your ex-wife?

This isn't about me today.

Castle, how come you didn't deny it?

You mean back there?
Are you kidding?

Yeah, if I deny that,
then they think it's true.

I thought that stuff didn't bother you.

It doesn't. Hey.

So Mandy lived in this building?

Yeah, penthouse. Doorman found her
just before 6:00 this morning.

OD?

Given her lifestyle, you'd think.
But this is plain old-fashioned murder.

Blunt-force trauma
to the back of the head.

The facial lacerations
probably happened with the fall.

Okay, when did this happen?

Lividity puts it between
9:00 and 11:00 last night.

Well, we can cut that time frame in half.

The doorman said that the limo
dropped her off at the lobby

last night at 10:00 p.m.

She was killed within an hour
of returning home?

What was she doing back here?

Doorman didn't know.

But he said that she
uses that door sometimes

when she wants to avoid the crowd.

So maybe she was sneaking out
or meeting someone?

If so, it was probably
someone she knew.

Gates are locked on both sides.
You need an access code to get in.

Is there any security cam footage
we can pull?

Not back here.

Ironic, seeing as how she spent
her entire life in front of cameras.

Paparazzi
was out front last night.

Let's see if we can get copies
of their photos.

Whoever was behind this
might've been in that crowd.

And no talking to the press,
not until we know what's going on.

Where is she?

- Oh, my God, Mandy. Mandy!
- Ma'am.

This is a crime scene.
You can't be back here.

You don't understand.
I'm her personal assistant.

You still can't be back here.

But we will need to take you
to the station to get a statement.

Do you have contact information
for her next of kin?

That would be her manager.
I mean, her mother.

How did this happen?

What was she even doing in that alley?

Do you know of anyone that would've
wanted to harm your daughter?

Yeah.

A lot of people disliked her,
who she became,

her provocative clothes and dancing.

They just wanted her to be
Mandy Melody forever.

Had she received any threats recently?

Sure, she'd get some disturbing letters.

But any that were too aggressive,
we'd turn over to the security firm.

Okay, we're gonna need to see
all of those letters.

Now, do you know if she was planning
on meeting with anyone

at her apartment last night?

We hadn't spoken to her in two days.

She was missing?

No, we knew where she was.

It wasn't hard to track her
on the social media and gossip sites.

She was partying pretty hard.

For the past few months,
Mandy had been doing really great.

She stayed clean
since her last stint in rehab.

She even met a guy while
she was doing her community service.

Zach.

He builds houses for the poor.

And then a couple nights ago,

she went to a club
for someone's birthday and I guess...

She got drunk and she started
making out with an old boyfriend.

And someone took a picture.
It hit all the gossip sites.

When Zach saw...

It was too much for him.

They got into a big fight and he left her.

How long had they been dating?

Four months.

Which means he would know
how to access the alley

behind your daughter's building.

Do you know where we could find him?

It's funny,
the first time I saw this picture,

I didn't think I could feel any worse.

But now that she's gone...

Yeah?
Exactly how bad did you feel?

Look, I loved her.
I would never hurt her.

Then you wouldn't mind
us asking where you were

between 10:00 and 11:00 last night.

I didn't do this, okay?

I was at a lumber yard
in Fairfield, New Jersey,

loading up a truck
with the rest of these guys.

You can ask them.

And the last time you saw her?

Two days ago, when I broke it off.

Why are you asking me
these questions?

I'm not the one with
the attempted manslaughter charges.

Manslaughter charge?

Yeah, her ex-boyfriend, Jesse Jones,
the one in that picture.

Yeah, he's the one who got her
into drugs in the first place.

And Mandy never told anyone this,

but the last time they broke up,
he threatened to kill her.

"Weapons charges,
aggravated assault."

That's a hell of a résumé, Jesse.

How does someone like you hook up
with a superstar like Mandy?

Like all the other pretty little rich girls
who come to me for their ink,

she was looking for
a lot more than a tattoo.

I was happy to provide.

So I read online that the two of you
were stormy, and it didn't end well.

You trashed her apartment,
made some pretty serious threats.

Water under the bridge.

Until two nights ago, when you guys
hooked up. How'd that happen?

I was at a bar.

She came in, threw herself at me
like old times, and I obliged.

That was the last time I saw her.

How'd you take it when right after
that photo of you two appeared,

she told Celebgazer
that you were "human trash"

and that that night was
"the biggest mistake of her life"?

She seemed to like it okay at the time.

Where were you last night
between 10:00 and 11:00?

I was at a pool hall in Queens
with some friends.

Names.

Lanie, what's going on?

We have a little problem here.

So what's the problem?

I'll tell you
what the problem is.

That's not my daughter.
That's not Mandy.

So Mandy's mom identified our victim
as Claire Samuels, 25.

She was an aspiring actress.

- And Mandy's decoy.
- Decoy?

Yeah, to fool the press.

It's a practice not uncommon
in this age of stalkerazzi.

So, she'd dress up
as Mandy, she'd put on sunglasses,

she'd let the hordes follow her so that
Mandy could go about unnoticed.

Now, we notified Claire's parents,
they're flying in

and Esposito's digging into her life
as we speak.

So if Claire is our actual victim,
then where's Mandy Sutton?

We don't know. No one has seen her
and she's not answering her phone.

Given that Claire was

pretending to be Mandy
when she was killed,

then we need to consider the very real
possibility that Mandy Sutton

was our killer's intended target,

and that they might be looking
to finish the job.

They may already have,
which is why we can't find her.

Found her! She's checked into the
Wessex Hotel under one of her aliases.

But she's not answering
her room phone

and she's not responding
to knocks on the door.

Castle.

That's not blood. It's wine.

Closing time already?

Who are you?

What do you mean, I'm dead?

Claire Samuels was killed last night
and the world thinks that that was you.

Who?

Claire Samuels. She's your decoy.

The girl we dress to look like you
to confuse the paparazzi.

Oh!

Oh, yeah.

God, that's pretty harsh.

Do you know why she went
to your apartment last night?

No. Why?

Well, I mean, we're trying to figure out
how she got there,

and your mom said that she wasn't
scheduled to work yesterday, so...

Yeah, the limo company claims that the
car she arrived in was ordered by you.

I've never drunk-dialed a limo
before, but...

Nope. Wasn't me.

What about Claire? Did you call her?

No, I barely know her.

We discouraged personal contact.

It wouldn't make much sense
to have a decoy

if they're gonna be seen
hanging out together.

Can I lie down now?

Actually, Miss Sutton,

we still have a few more questions
for you about your life.

My life?

Yeah, we think you may have been
the intended target.

Oh, yeah, that does make more sense.
Okay.

So, do you know if anyone
would've wanted to hurt you?

Do you have any enemies?

The press, but they wouldn't hurt me.

Without me, who would they write
all those bad things about?

Okay, well, the last two days,
when you were out socializing,

did you have any fights
or did you upset anyone?

Probably.

I'm a little hazy on the details.

Okay.

Okay, that it?

Yeah, for now.

In the meantime, you should
probably go back to the hotel

and lay low in your room.

Shouldn't we make an announcement?
Let everyone know that she isn't dead?

Well, you know what,
if someone was trying to kill her,

it might be safer to let them assume
that they've actually succeeded

while we're still doing our job.

How long?
She starts a tour next week.

And as her manager, I can't imagine

that it's gonna help ticket sales
if everyone thinks she's dead.

Yeah, wouldn't wanna screw up
the big comeback tour.

Sweetie, you've worked really hard
on those new songs.

We're talking about staying out of sight
for a day, maybe less.

Hopefully by then we'll have a lead

that'll help us figure out
who's behind this.

Uh, Beckett,
I might have an idea about that.

We found this anonymous letter
in her fan mail.

"I'm watching you.
And I don't like what I see."

Yeah, well, get in line.

Guys, look around. I get letters
from creepazoids all the time.

But in addition to the letter,
he also included these.

Oh, my God! That's my bedroom!
While I was sleeping!

Your building is supposed to be secure.
How did he get in?

That's inkjet paper.

- So?
- So we might be able to track it.

How?

Most people don't know this,
but the serial number of the printer

that was used to
make these photographs

is actually embedded into the picture.

It's printed in tiny little yellow dots
invisible to the naked eye.

It's an FBI thing
used to track counterfeiters.

Okay, I don't feel so hot.

You know,
I think someone needs a cup of coffee.

All right,
here is your four-shot latte.

How you feeling?

Considering I'm supposed to be dead,
about right.

Yeah.

I just can't believe that freak
was actually in my bedroom.

Yeah, we'll find him.

Yeah, I know how tough it can be.

The crazy fans, the constant scrutiny,

the pressure of living your life
under a microscope.

I mean, I can relate.

On a smaller scale, of course.
But still it's...

And who are you?

On a much smaller scale.

Dad, there you are.

Hey, Alexis. What are you doing...
The letter for Pi!

I just am about to...
Just gonna make a few tweaks.

You haven't written it.

Not all... Not yet.

I thought you might need some help.

So I came up with
some talking points for you.

Oh, good. Okay, um...
"Outstanding person, natural leader."

Dad, I know you and Pi
don't always see eye-to-eye.

If you don't feel comfortable doing this...

No, listen, hey.
Hey, Pi and I see eye-to-eye

on one very important,
red-headed thing.

- Love you.
- I love you, too.

Hey, can you believe that
about Mandy Sutton?

- It's weird, right?
- Yes, weird.

Remember how much I loved her show?
And those secret identity glasses.

If you were mad at me,
I'd wear a pair of glasses to dinner

and you'd pretend like you
didn't know who I was?

- I remember. Actually...
- But then she grew up

and, whoa! I mean,
how does that happen to someone?

Becoming such a hot mess?

Oh, my God.

- I thought you were...
- Yeah.

Alexis, this is Mandy.

We're just keeping her under wraps
for now. This is my daughter.

Hmm.

It's nice to meet you.

No, Dad, it's not true.
Yes, I know what they wrote.

We're still engaged.

What do you mean Aunt Theresa
put it on her Facebook?

Well, tell her to take it down.

I gotta go. I love you. Bye.

Hey, Espo. Do you believe everything
that they write in the newspapers?

Oh! Hell, no.

I mean, except for that thing between
Castle and his ex-wife. I mean, it's...

Did you find anything on Claire?

As a matter of fact, I did.

I went into the phone records
of that limo company.

It turns out that Claire was the one
who ordered that limo last night.

Why would Claire order a limo
to take her to Mandy's place?

I don't know. But I just got off the phone
with Claire's roommate.

She said Claire's been going through
some things the last couple of days.

She's been upset, crying.

Hey, those photos of Mandy
in her bedroom?

I traced the printer's serial number
to an electronics store in Midtown.

According to the extended warrantee,
it belongs to a Ken Castor.

So he's done time?

For aggravated assault.
And then two years ago,

he was hit with a restraining order
for stalking Mandy Sutton.

Old habits die hard.

And those paparazzi photos
from the night that she was killed?

I went through them.

Look who was right there
when Claire stepped out of that limo?

Same guy.

Police!

NYPD!

- Kitchen, clear.
- Bedroom, clear.

Hey, closet.

Ahh!

Let go of me!

- Let go of me!
- Give me your arm!

I didn't do anything!

- You okay?
- Yeah.

I think we got our guy.

No, listen, you don't understand.

The hell we don't.

We know that
you took those pictures, Ken.

We know
that you were in her apartment.

Because she needed me.

Needed you?

I was protecting her.

I was watching over her
and she needed that.

Right, 'cause she didn't have people
watching her and staring at her already.

They didn't care. Not like me.

They don't understand her.

I mean, they drove her to it, you know?

That's why I sent her the pictures.

Because she needed to know
that someone cared.

She needed to know
that someone was watching.

Is that what you were doing outside
of her apartment last night?

Watching?

I should've saved her.

But I never saw her.

I waited for the limo.
But then that girl came out.

The not-Mandy, the other girl.

So I went around to the back alley
and I waited across the street.

When the other girl goes in the front,

that means
that Mandy goes in the back.

But she didn't.

Wait, you waited for Mandy out in back?

Yeah.

Did you see anything else?

Did you see anyone
go in or out of that alley?

Just the motorcycle.

Wait a minute. What motorcycle?

Well, right when I was
going in the back,

there was a motorcycle
that was going into the alley.

What time? When?

10:07. I wrote it down.

I write everything down.

And then at 10:12, it left.

Did you get a license plate?

I couldn't write it down.
It was going too fast.

What about the rider?
Did you see his face?

They were wearing a helmet.

I didn't know Mandy was back there.

I mean, I never saw her go back,
you know?

What about the motorcycle?
Color? Trim?

I wrote that down. It was red. Um...

Uh...

It was a red Ducati 800 SuperSport.

It had gold wheels
and it had a flame decal on the body.

What do you think?

He's a nut job.
But he's probably not our killer.

Yeah, how's that?

Unlike the paparazzi, he knew Claire
was getting out of the limo.

So he can tell them apart.

And since he's obsessed with Mandy,

there would be no reason for him
to go after Claire.

We'll hold him.

But if he's not our killer,
he's probably our best witness.

Why don't we get a hold
of traffic cam footage in the area.

Let's see if we can get a plate
on that Ducati.

Gold wheels, a flame decal on the body.
It's got to be a custom job.

Yeah, I'll check with bike shops
in the area

and see if I can find the place
that did that work.

Where's Castle?

He's having dinner
with his other ex-wife.

Something about
not wanting her to feel left out.

Good one.

He's holed up in the break room
writing that letter for Alexis' boyfriend.

Thank you.

Will you stop worrying?

He'll have lots of great things
to say about you.

- I guarantee it.
- I don't know.

I'm not exactly Mr. C's favorite person.

And he is taking an awfully long time.

He does have other things to do,
you know.

No, Al, that's not what I meant.

Maybe he's done by now.

He said he'd text me when it was ready.
Let's see.

That's weird, my phone's off.

That's not my ring. Hello?

You have my phone.

Mandy? Hi! Uh...

Yeah, I just realized. It's funny.

We must've switched.

I need it. I'm at the Wessex Hotel.

Okay, sure. It's not like I took it
on purpose or anything.

Just a misunderstanding.

Room 522.

Yeah, sure, not a...

Hello?

I guess I'm bringing Mandy her phone.

I gotta head uptown.

The bee pupae are emerging.
See you later?

- Okay, bye.
- Yeah.

Mwah!

- Hey.
- Hey.

So, uh, here's your phone.

Look, I'm sorry about that whole
"hot mess" thing I said before.

Sorry that you said it
or sorry that I heard it?

I should probably go.

It happens when you're not looking.

Excuse me?

Before, you asked how it happens,
how someone becomes like me.

It happens when you're not looking,

and by the time you realize it,
it's already who you are.

Like the car crash
on the side of the road,

everybody stops and watches?

That doesn't mean
it's who you have to be.

You can always change.

Turns out I don't do change so well.

But you steal a police car
and you set it on fire,

I'm your girl.

Or if you find the greatest guy
in the world,

fall madly in love,

and then mess it up by hooking up
with my dirtbag ex,

that I can do.

Yeah, I saw that picture online.

You and the rest of the world.

Maybe if you didn't drink...

If I don't drink, then I start to feel.

And I don't like what I feel.

I wish I had those glasses
from Mandy Melody.

I'd just put 'em on and just disappear.

I know how you feel.

How could you possibly
know how I feel?

Because right now I wish I could
disappear from my life, too.

Okay, thanks. I'll check back.

Hey, so,
how's Pi's recommendation going?

It took me less time
to write the last Derrick Storm novel.

And although both are works of fiction,
at least that one was believable.

How's the case coming?

Well, we got a description of the
motorcycle that left the crime scene.

And Tech's trying to get a plate off
of traffic cam footage, but so far no luck.

Our luck just changed.
We got the son of a bitch.

We found a shop
that outfitted a red Ducati 800

with gold wheels and a flame decal
for one Josh Greenberg.

Is that our guy?

Josh Greenberg
had a slight liquidity problem,

so he sold that bike three days ago
for cash to...

this guy.

Jesse Jones, Mandy's ex.

So he lied to us. He was in that alley.

All right, bring him in.

We already sent a car over to his place.
He's not there.

Mandy might be able to help out.
She probably knows his hangouts.

All right, go.

The thing
about my boyfriend is,

I thought I was being so grown-up.

Moving in with him,
getting my own place,

but now, it's my whole life.

And I'm pretty sure
I've made a huge mistake.

Do you know why I'm helping him
with his grant application?

Because if he gets it,
he'll have to travel.

That is messed up.
You need to tell him.

Tell him what?

That I changed my mind?
I don't want a relationship?

We have a lease!

That's romantic.

And he doesn't deserve it.
He hasn't done anything wrong.

And then there's my dad.

What do I tell him, huh?

That he was right all along?

That I wasn't ready?

I wish I would've said that.

I wasn't ready for so many things.

Do you ever look back
on something you've done,

and it's like someone else is doing it?

You're kidding, right?

Right.

Sorry, I haven't had anyone
to talk to.

Clearly.

Be true to yourself.
That's what Zach would say.

And if a situation is
bad for you, leave it.

That's what we were going to do
and that's what you should do, too.

Mandy, is someone texting you?

Weird, since I'm supposed to be dead.

Oh, it's my friend Sam.

"Pretty sure you're not dead.
Need to talk about girl who died.

"Something you need to know"?

Wait. What are you doing?

Calling him.

But you're supposed to be laying low.

No one's supposed to know
you're alive.

He already knows I'm alive.

He thinks you're alive.

He might be trying to find out for sure.
And what if it's not Sam?

It could be the killer
trying to lure you out.

Would you relax?
It's Sam's number, okay?

And he's not answering,
which means he's probably bartending.

That place he works is really loud.

I have to go see him.

You can't go out.
What if someone sees you?

You don't get it, do you?

I am the one
that is supposed to be dead.

Not Claire.
She died because of me.

And I know that people think that
I don't care, but I'm not a monster.

If Sam has information about
Claire's death, I need to know what it is.

I just wanna do one thing right.

Mandy...
You shouldn't be doing this.

Yeah, well, you're not gonna stop me.

Okay, but if you're going to do it,
you can't be recognized.

Do you understand?
You're going to need someone

to do all the talking for you.

Come on.

Mandy's gone? Gone where?

We're not sure.
No one at the front desk saw her leave.

Are there any signs
of foul play?

No, it looks like she just took off.

Maybe she, uh, picked up
where she left off on that bender.

You guys gotta come back.
We have to coordinate a search.

We'll check with the limo company.

- See if she called for a pickup.
- And I'll talk to her mom.

I'll get a list of all the places
she likes to go to.

We have to find her
before Jesse figures out

that he killed the wrong person.

What? What happened?

Where's Mandy?

Are you sure
I can't talk you out of this?

There he is.

There's Sam.

Are you crazy? What are you doing?
That's what I'm here for.

Sam!

Hey, Sam!

That's not gonna get
the job done there, Red.

Might wanna lose some layers,

take off grandma's scarf.

I have something else in mind.

So she was like,
"Can you believe it?"

And I was like, "No way!"

I am so sorry. Are you okay?

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh, Sam, right?
Could I please get her another drink?

Oh, and there's someone
here to see you.

Mandy? Oh, my God, girl,
is that you?

Can we talk somewhere more private?

Yeah. Yeah, meet me over there.

Yo, I am so glad that you're okay.
You had me worried.

I saw those pictures of you and Jesse,

the next thing you know,
everybody's saying you're dead.

What made you think I wasn't?

That clip on the news,

the one of the limo dropping "you" off
at your building last night.

Except that girl wasn't you.

How could you tell?

'Cause that same girl
was in here last night,

wearing the same thing she had on
as when she got out of that limo.

Wait a second.
Claire was here last night?

Yeah, yeah,
I think that's what her name was.

You talked to her?

Yeah, she came in looking for me.

She heard I was friends with Mandy.
She wanted her private number.

What for?

She was trying to reach you

because she thought
someone was trying to hurt you.

Who?

She didn't say, but she got way mad
when I wouldn't give her your number.

Yeah. Man, I thought this girl was nuts,
you know, a crazy fan or something?

Then she asked me
how she can get in touch with Jesse.

Jesse?
What does he have to do with this?

I don't know,

but she was pretty hot
to talk to him, too,

so I called Jesse,
and I put him on with her.

What'd she say?

I didn't hear. But she was pretty upset.

And since she ended up dead,
I thought you should know.

Hey, Sam.

Hey, uh, wait here a second.
People getting thirsty over there.

I don't get it. Did Claire know Jesse?

I don't know. I didn't think she did.

Well, there's only one way to find out.
I'm calling Jesse.

Wait. He could be involved.

And if Claire thought someone
was trying to kill you,

do you really think
it's a good idea to call...

Anybody ever tell your friend
that she looks like Mandy Sutton?

Yeah, she gets that all the time.

It's a shame what happened to Mandy,
isn't it?

Hey, that is Mandy!
Oh, my God. Mandy Sutton is alive!

There's still no word
on Jesse's whereabouts.

Same with Mandy. But get this,

when I called the limo company to see
if she ordered up a ride

from her hotel tonight,
they said she didn't,

but they told me I wasn't
the only guy asking that question.

Someone else called?

Yeah, some guy who said that he was
with her management company.

But I checked.
No one there made that call.

Jesse.

Maybe he found out
that she was still alive.

Looks like everyone just did.

That Mandy Sutton,
presumed dead, may actually be alive.

Mandy was reportedly just spotted
at trendy downtown nightspot,

The Raptor Lounge.

And now he knows where to find her.

Hello?

Yeah. Where?

We gotta get her out of there.

Yeah, I'll send a car to pick her up.

And we have
some footage from The Raptor Lounge

shot just moments ago

and posted by one of our viewers.

- Uh, Castle? Isn't that...
- That's...

Alexis? What is she doing there?

Yes, I am alive.

Now, don't trample me to death!

We have to get out of here.
This way, come on!

I'm gonna call my dad.

Let's get out of here first.

Speak of the devil and she appears.

I need to talk to you.

Yeah, same here. Get in.

I'm not so sure that's a good idea.

Get in. Both of you.

Get out.

Out! Now! Get over here.

Sorry I dragged you into this.

I want answers.

Answers about what?

Someone is messing with me
and I know you're involved somehow.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Don't lie to me!

Guys, let's just calm down, okay?
I'm sure we can talk this out.

- Shut up!
- Hey.

Jesse, look at me.

I made a mistake, okay?

If you thought whatever happened

the other night between us meant
that we were getting back together,

I'm sorry,
but that's not what's gonna happen.

You know that wasn't you
the other night in that photo!

What?

If it wasn't her, then who was it?

It was that chick, Claire.

I got paid 25 grand to show up
and suck face with her

for a couple minutes.

You're telling me
that you really don't know?

No! I was messed up that night.
I don't remember anything.

I don't even remember
getting messed up.

Maybe you didn't.

Maybe somebody drugged you
so you wouldn't remember.

And then I would see the
photos and assume that it was me?

Jesse, how could you do that to me?

This ain't about you. Not anymore.

What happened, Mandy? Hmm?
Who killed Claire?

I don't know. And what do you care?

I care 'cause the cops
are trying to pin it on me!

Someone must've seen me
in the alley that night.

Wait a minute, you were there?
When Claire was killed?

I had to talk to her.

Now, we were supposed to get
another 25 grand for staging that photo

if we kept our mouths shut
when the story ran.

Only bitch got a conscience,
felt bad about everything she had done.

Especially 'cause the pictures broke up
you and whatshisname, Zach.

She just had to set things right.

That's why she was trying to
get in touch with you last night.

She called me and said she was going
over to your place to tell you everything.

Only that means
I'm not gonna get my money.

So I go over there to talk her out of it.
That's it!

And when I get there, she's dead.

Jesse, if you didn't kill Claire,
then put the gun down.

We can go to the police together
and figure this out.

- I promise they'll help.
- You're trying to confuse me!

You shut up before I do something...

- Drop the gun right now, Jesse!
- Drop that gun, Jesse!

Show us! Show us your hands!
Down! Now! Now!

- Dad.
- Hey.

It's okay. It's over.

If Jesse's story is true,
then Claire was about to reveal

that those photos were fake
and someone killed her for it.

So maybe Claire Samuels
was the intended target after all.

If Jesse's story is true.

That's a big "if".

All right, thanks, Bill.

So, Jesse was telling the truth
about this much.

He deposited $25,000 cash
in his bank account five days ago.

Any more on who paid him?

No, he got a typewritten note that told
him when to meet Claire at the bar,

and where to find the money
at a dead drop.

Why would someone pay
that much money

to stage a photo in the first place?

And what was so important about it
that someone would kill Claire

in order to keep it
from being exposed as a fake?

I don't know.
But I can think of someone who might.

Guys, did Jesse tell you where
in the club that photo was taken?

Somewhere in the back,
hidden from view.

Couldn't be any witnesses
or the gag wouldn't have worked.

So that photographer
didn't just happen to be there.

He was in on it.

So who's the photographer?

James Lockhart? How you doing?

NYPD. We gotta ask you
some questions, bro.

Now, listen,
you guys come back a little later?

Excuse me?

There's an actress in this cafe,
Reese Wellingford.

I've been waiting an hour
for her to come out.

Listen, fool,
this is a criminal investigation.

Who paid you to take those pictures
you sold to the Celebgazer?

The ones with Jesse Jones and the girl
who wasn't Mandy Sutton.

- Nobody paid me.
- Oh, really?

So you just ended up in that back room
in that bar when those two hooked up?

Yep, just lucky, I guess.
Here she is.

Where? I don't even... Is she over...

- Where is it?
- I don't even see her.

Am I in the way? You can't...

- Hey.
- There she goes.

Oh, no. She got in a cab.

All right, look, I got a tip, okay?

They said show up at such
and such time, go in the back.

I got a few shots before security
threw me out.

So who gave you that tip?

I can't tell you that.

I thought we were cool.

Come on, you think I'm gonna rat out
my sources? This is my livelihood.

How do you think your livelihood's
gonna go with me and my boy here

following you around all day?

Harvey Stryker from Celebgazer. Com
tipped him off?

He didn't just run
that photo on Celebgazer,

- he set the whole thing up.
- But why?

Doesn't this dirtbag have
enough scandals to report on

without having to make up his own?

Because it wasn't
just about the one scandal.

For years, Mandy has been drawing
millions of eyeballs to Celebgazer

with her public meltdowns,
her drunken escapades,

the trips to rehab.

But in the past few months,

she calmed down,
got her life back in order.

Because of Zach,
which was no good for business.

So Harvey staged the photo,

turns Mandy back into the train wreck
that he grew to love and exploit.

And it worked, too.
Until Claire was gonna ruin it all

by calling the photo out as a hoax,
destroying Harvey's reputation.

And that's why Harvey
was at the apartment.

He wasn't waiting for Mandy.
He was waiting for Claire.

He was waiting to silence her.

And yet, you ran that one.

Come on, Harvey.
We know you set the whole thing up.

You paid Jesse, then you paid Claire.

I didn't pay anyone. And who's Claire?

The girl in the photo.

The one that you killed right after
she threatened to expose you?

Wait a minute.
I had nothing to do with any of this.

So, then how did you get that photo?

I bought it from a freelancer.

We spoke with him.
He said that you sent him to that bar.

Which means you knew
Claire and Jesse were there.

How did you know?

The same way I always know.

I was tipped.

Do you actually expect us
to believe that?

It's true, I swear.
I remember exactly when it happened.

They called my cell. I can show you.

Yo. That phone call Harvey got came
from a burner phone, paid for with cash.

So they were covering their tracks.

Yeah, only they didn't do
a very good job of it.

They forgot to disable the GPS.

We were able to track the GPS data.

That phone was in the alley

behind Mandy's building
the night of the murder.

So then whoever bought that phone
is our killer.

Thank you for coming in.

We just wanted to keep you up to date
on the investigation.

So there's been a development?

Yes, we have a lead.

We've identified the cell phone of
the person that set up that fake photo.

And we believe the same person
killed Claire Samuels.

Who is it?

Well, actually, it was a burner phone.

A burner phone?
So it's not traceable.

Normally, it wouldn't be.

But the person who bought this phone
made one crucial mistake.

They didn't get rid of it
when they were done.

Matter of fact, it's still on right now.

Mom?

Mom?

You set up that photo?

You did this to me?
Why would you do that?

Why do you wanna ruin my life?

It was Zach who was ruining your life.
I was saving you.

Wait a minute. Wait, you did this
to break me up with Zach?

He was the best thing
that ever happened to me!

He was gonna take me away
from all of this.

That's right, away from everything
we'd worked for.

Your tour, your career,
he was gonna cost you millions.

You mean cost you millions.

And for what?

A chance to be normal?

Normal.

You're special.
Zach didn't understand that.

And neither did Claire.

So you killed her?

She was gonna tell you what I'd done.

She was gonna make you hate me.

I couldn't let her drive a wedge
between us. I couldn't.

Marilyn Sutton,
please stand up.

Turn around.

You're under arrest for the murder
of Claire Samuels.

Mandy, sweetie,
you understand, right?

I did this for you, Mandy.
Everything I did, I did for you.

No, Mom. You did it for you.

Let's go.

Just when I thought life couldn't get
any more messed up, right?

And the train wreck continues.
The press is gonna love this.

Sorry. I'm gonna go. Thank you.

Um...

Hey, Mandy, sorry,

not to pry,

but it would be really easy
just to run and hide from all this.

But don't.

Thanks.

Thank you for all you guys did.

Um...

Could you thank Alexis for me,
too, please?

I will, yeah. She was here, actually.
I don't know where she went.

I'm back
and I brought someone with me.

Hey, Mandy.

Zach.

Once we realized Mandy
hadn't really cheated on him,

I tracked him down.
I thought he needed to know.

Good.

I hope it works out for them.

Mandy needs something good
in her life.

They've got a shot.
They seem to really love each other.

For all the right reasons.

Oh, um...

Speaking of boyfriends,
Pi's letter of recommendation.

He did get the deadline
extended, right?

- No, he did.
- Good.

How did I spell Pi?
Did I put it like the dessert?

- 'Cause that was just...
- No.

Dad, you got it right.

Okay.

I'm just not sure I did.

Wait, where are you off to?

There's something I need to do.

Hey, Castle. Looks like your love life
made the paper again.

Ugh! What? All right, all right,
who am I hooking up with now?

"Novelist Richard Castle
and New York Police Detective

"Katherine Beckett,
both native New Yorkers,

"are pleased to
announce their engagement."

No. No, no, no.

I didn't do this.

Actually, I did.

I thought you...

Yeah, I know, Castle. I like my privacy,

but I do realize
that you're somewhat famous.

Somewhat?

Yes.
And if we're gonna be together,

I have to come to terms with that.

And if they are gonna write about you,
I want it to be the truth.

I want it to be about us.

Well, there's no one I...

There's no one
I'd rather share a headline with.

But just for the interest of accuracy,

does it say
we're getting married in space?

No, that's not gonna happen, babe.

It'd be pretty fun.

Space.