Criminal Minds (2005–…): Season 8, Episode 9 - Magnificent Light - full transcript
When a follower of a well-known motivational speaker is murdered, the team suspects the speaker himself.
MAN:
Your life is about to end.
You will all die.
In your remaining time
on earth,
how do you want to live?
As a bright, shining star,
or as a lost soul passing time?
Do you want to live
in darkness
or reveal
your magnificent light?
(applause, music playing,
audience whooping)
Today, you will all be reborn
as your true selves.
We are all born
with a unique gift,
and your only job here on earth,
your only job,
is to share that gift.
Only then,
only when we have shed
our magnificent light
on this world,
will we experience real purpose,
real fulfillment, and real joy.
(cheering)
Let me tell you something
about myself.
I spent 12 years
of my adult life
absolutely miserable
because I did not use my gift.
How many of you
are living false lives?
Maybe you're an accountant,
but somewhere in
the dark recesses of your mind,
there's a tickle,
and that tickle is a reminder
of your gift.
Maybe it's a love for painting,
a love that you have had
since before
you could even talk.
Isn't that right,
Cynthia Strobl?
You could be the next Picasso.
Why have you deprived the world
of your gift?
And what about you,
Ralph Pritchard?
Do you really want to listen
to your insufferable boss
another day,
or are you ready
to start that business
you've been dreaming of.
Isn't it time for you
to unveil your gift
and take action?
Right here, right now,
that's what we're gonna do.
Let's get started.
(audience cheering,
music playing)
I still can't believe this.
(laughs anxiously)
I never, not in a million years,
thought I'd ever get
to meet you in person,
and then you called
my name and...
Cynthia, the pleasure
has been all mine.
Now do me a favor,
go out into the world
and show them your gift.
Oh, I will, I promise you.
Good-bye, Cynthia.
That was
the last one-on-one, Barry.
Uh, there's some more folks
waiting for autographs.
Not now.
I need my private time.
When will you be back?
Okay.
Whatever you want, Barry.
Uh, sorry, folks,
uh, Mr. Flynn is late
for a meeting.
(fans groaning)
FLYNN (through speaker):
So take that first step now.
Be ready for resistance.
Others will try to stop you.
Don't let them.
Don't permit them
to discourage you.
Don't allow them
to stand in your way.
Tell them to trust you,
and glorious things will come.
(gasps)
Oh, my God, what are you...
"Derek, would you do me a favor
and say a few words
at this shindig?"
- Hey.
-"Honor of your presence
"has been requested
by Her Majesty's Ambassador
"in bestowing Jason A. Ryder
the title
of Honorary Commander
of the Most Excellent Ord..."
This is
from the British embassy.
- Garcia, do you mind?
- I'm sorry.
I don't know what came over me.
I saw the fancy invitation,
and I couldn't help myself.
We never get glamour here.
It's like shoeboxes
to a hoarder-- (inhales)
Well, you can just forget
about it.
- Why?
-'Cause I'm not going.
But isn't Jason
an old friend of yours?
I've heard his name before,
and-and who's gonna give
the speech, if you don't?
I don't know,
but it's not gonna be me.
We love the British, remember?
Can we just drop this?
I can go with you.
Nobody is going.
- I'll wear my contacts.
- What'd I say?
Who do I wear my contacts for?
Two people
have been brutally stabbed
in Seattle in the last two days:
Lincoln Bell, 28.
He was found on Friday night,
and then Cynthia Strobl,
42, her body
was found last night.
Both of them were killed
in their own apartments.
Police are sure
it's the same killer?
Yes, because the same message
was left behind.
ROSSI: "Hear your evil,
see your evil."
Isn't the phrase supposed to be
"See no evil, hear no evil"?
Yeah, it certainly changes
the meaning,
which is supposed to be
about remaining virtuous,
even when surrounded by evil.
Well, the question is
did the killer
just get the phrase wrong,
or was he trying
to send
a completely different message?
The killer could have been
a nonnative English speaker,
but this syntax doesn't help
identify his first language.
And the other question is:
who is this message for?
Is it a taunt to the police?
Could be used
to justify the murders.
You know, if you take the words
literally, it sounds like
he's speaking directly
to the victims.
Was the message written
with the victim's blood?
The lab results aren't back yet.
Are there any witnesses?
It doesn't look that way,
which means the entry
to the apartments
was planned and methodical,
but the actual killings
seem chaotic and disorganized.
Maybe the UnSub knew them
and took the time
to plan his break-in,
but once he got close,
his rage took over,
-and he snapped.
- You know, one thing's for sure.
With at least 30 stab wounds
to each victim,
this UnSub sure has
a lot of anger.
And we need more answers.
Let's head to Seattle.
CYNTHIA:
Oh, my God, what are you...
(screaming)
BLAKE: "A great deal of talent
is lost to the world
for the want
of a little courage. "
Sydney Smith.
There doesn't seem
to be a connection
between the two victims.
Different gender, race, age.
They lived in different parts
of the city.
Yeah, Lincoln Bell worked
in ticket sales
at the El Portal Auditorium
for the last three years.
Cynthia Strobl is an accountant.
She moved to Seattle a year ago.
It's unlikely they
would have ever crossed paths
unless Cynthia bought a ticket
from him at some point.
According to his mother,
Lincoln's dream was
to be an architect.
If he wasn't working,
he was studying.
And Cynthia liked big band music
and lectures at the museum.
So the one thing they did have
in common
is very low-risk lifestyles.
GARCIA: Okay,
I've confirmed that Cynthia
lived in a security complex,
the kind you need
a special key fob to get in,
and Lincoln was living
in a studio apartment
at the top floor
of a six-story walkup.
So the UnSub had the
intelligence and the patience
to get past a security entrance.
He either used a ruse
or he blended in
with the other residents.
And he had to be
in good physical shape
to kill Lincoln Bell.
JJ: Though he bypassed
easier victims
and potential witness
to commit these murders.
He was mission-oriented.
Someone went out of their way
to target these two people.
You know, looking at these
crime scene photos,
there's not a hint of remorse.
This UnSub was determined
and relentless,
like he couldn't kill
these victims enough.
Yeah,
the different apology means
they weren't surrogates
for anyone.
So each victim probably
did something separately
to incite the UnSub's rage.
But it must have been the same
trigger that set him off
because the murders
were so similar.
So they had something in common
outside of low-risk lifestyles.
We need a point of convergence,
either a person or a place,
between the UnSub
and these two victims.
DOCTOR: Cause of death
was massive hemorrhage.
Both the carotid and the femoral
arteries were severed
in addition
to the other stab wounds.
There's no signs
of any other injuries
or of sexual assault.
Were the arteries cut first?
It's hard to say,
but it's very likely.
The first victim, Lincoln Bell,
he had
the same targeted lacerations
to those arteries.
The other stab wounds,
they seem more random.
So the UnSub knew the best way
to kill them,
but he stabbed them
multiple times afterwards
to express his rage.
There's also something else
that's unusual.
These stab wounds have
a curvature to them.
They weren't made
with an ordinary straight blade.
What sort of knife did he use?
Based on my measurements,
they were curved,
sort of like a half circle.
ROSSI:
You mean like a mezzaluna.
Does a mezzaluna
look like this?
Not exactly.
The knife that made these wounds
probably had a vertical handle
at least six inches long,
in order to get the leverage
for the depth.
You know, that looks like
a ceremonial weapon
of some sort.
I agree.
These killings
could be sacrificial.
- DETECTIVE: Agent Hotchner?
- Yes, sir?
Detective Harrison Chen.
Thanks for coming out.
- This is Agent Blake.
- Pleasure.
Lab results are back.
It's not blood on the walls.
Killer used a red paint
that's widely available
in hardware stores.
Paint belong to the victim?
Nothing turned up
in our initial search.
If the UnSub brought the paint
with him,
that means the message
was also premeditated.
It could be
a forensic countermeasure
like the messages
in the MacDonald case.
Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald
was convicted
of murdering his family.
Supposedly, he left messages
to convince authorities
that hippies had done it.
Hm.
We spoke to the neighbors.
Apparently,
Cynthia was gone all evening.
No one knows where she was
or when she came home.
Seems she was quiet.
Kept to herself.
The UnSub could have
followed her home
or been waiting for her here.
Hotch, take a look at this.
CD player was left on.
FLYNN (on CD):
You are about to embark
on the greatest adventure
known to man.
That adventure...
is your own life.
She was there
before she was murdered.
MORGAN:
So where is Mr. Flynn now?
You haven't told me
what this is about yet.
Uh, check the vari-lights.
There was a weird shadow
last night.
We need information
about these people.
Do you recognize them?
Uh, not him... but her.
Yeah, she was
at the show last night.
She was one of the guests
that got a one-on-one
with Barry afterwards.
And how would someone get that?
People who buy advance tickets
fill out a questionnaire.
Barry randomly selects five
and mentions them by name
during the show.
It's pretty mind-blowing
for the people who are picked.
I can imagine.
Tell me, what goes on
during one of these one-on-ones?
They're just
mini life coaching sessions.
It's only about 15 minutes,
but people come out transformed.
MORGAN:
And did Cynthia
-look transformed?
- Probably.
But I didn't actually see her.
She was Barry's last client.
He showed her out himself.
Flynn was probably the last
person to see her alive.
Wait-- she's dead?
She was murdered.
So let me ask you again.
Where's Barry Flynn?
I don't know.
He needs private time
to rest and focus his mind.
It's part of his routine
on show days.
But you're his manager.
You can't get ahold of him?
Sorry
To make sure
he's not interrupted,
no one knows where he goes--
not me, not his family...
not anyone.
It's always been like that.
Well, if you had
to take a guess,
where do you think he'd be?
He books a hotel room
or an apartment
in every tour city--
he's probably there.
He's always back
in time for the show.
What time did Barry leave?
Last night.
It was...
earlier than usual.
Want some company?
Sure.
I haven't seen you here before.
I'm just visiting.
Well, lucky you.
Nice weather for a change.
I was hoping for rain--
more romantic.
I'm Ricky.
Harold.
Have you seen the sights?
Space Needle,
Pike's Place Market,
the aquarium...?
First two yes.
The aquarium, no.
Want a tour guide?
Why not?
We confirmed Flynn's been MIA
since his private meeting
with Cynthia Strobl,
which officially makes him
a suspect.
Well, there's a point of
convergence between the victims.
Lincoln Bell had a program
personally autographed by Flynn
in his apartment,
so we know they met.
And Flynn was one
of the last people,
if not the last person,
to see Cynthia Strobl alive.
(phone rings)
Hey, Garcia.
You're on speaker;
what do you got?
The four-double-one
on Barry Flynn.
Hey, has anyone been listening
to this "Unlimited Courage"?
'Cause it's pretty amazing.
I just finished the first CD,
and I've already signed up
for a kickboxing class,
and I'm painting a wall
of my apartment white,
which is a risky color
in my world.
Garcia?
Oh, sorry, uh, "Barry Flynn"
is actually a stage name.
- What's his real name?
- His real name
is Harold Kerwin,
although he never legally
changed it, though.
He was raised in Reno, Nevada.
He went
to a two-year community college.
He got married right after.
He has a couple
of assault charges
for some bar fights.
Then he worked for 12 years
as a car salesman
before he left the rat race.
How so?
He checked out.
Like, quit his job,
got a divorce,
ran off to live in the desert,
came back
three years later,
and he was Barry Flynn.
He started talking at schools
and local clubs,
built up this following,
became sort
of an overnight sensation.
Within three years,
he was selling out
thousand-seat venues.
Any idea what happened to him
in those three years
while he was in the desert?
Well, according to Flynn,
he meditated a lot
until his true gift
was revealed to him.
I hate to admit it,
but it sounds
pretty vague to me.
Thanks.
Never would've guessed he had
a prior assault conviction.
- He could be our guy.
-(phone rings)
Chen.
ROSSI: Flynn had the means
and the opportunity.
I'm just not clear
about the motive.
Well,
we know that public figures
like politicians can have
psychopathic tendencies
and the ability to hide it.
BLAKE:
But it doesn't make any sense
that he'd kill
his own paying customers.
And why start here in Seattle?
And why leave the bizarre
message at the crime scenes?
Well, Flynn's obviously
a native English speaker,
so if he is the UnSub,
then the message
could be indicative
of some sort of delusion
or psychosis.
That is possible, given the
ceremonial knife that was used.
No history
of recent head trauma.
He's too old to have suffered
a traditional
schizophrenic break.
Maybe a drug-induced psychosis?
No, Flynn's clean as a whistle.
Doesn't even eat dairy,
according to his bio.
Well, he's a celebrity.
He has a vested interest
in a clean image.
But who was he really?
CHEN: Flynn's rental car
was just located
outside a bar in Alki.
FLYNN (on CD):
How did you end up
where you are today?
Was it a conscious choice?
Or does it feel like you had
no control in the matter?
You made me do this,
Barry Flynn.
(indistinct background
radio communication)
Guess we know how he was
spending his private time.
Too bad he couldn't
be open about it.
He's probably afraid
it'd hurt his public image.
It's the same blood type
as Flynn's.
We're running a DNA test.
We also found this.
It's a 100-decibel
personal alarm.
Flynn's manager said
he always carried it with him...
for protection.
Flynn's not the UnSub,
he's a victim.
He felt threatened enough
to be holding the alarm,
dropped it
when the UnSub clocked him
and took him away
in another vehicle.
No surveillance cameras.
Guess the customers like
their privacy.
So, what, did Flynn meet
the UnSub in the bar?
Probably.
No one inside noticed
anything unusual,
so they came out
together voluntarily.
Maybe Flynn had
a change of heart,
and the UnSub got angry.
Nah, we talked to the staff.
None of them remember
even seeing Flynn.
Well, he'd probably wear
a disguise
if he wanted to be anonymous
in public.
So the UnSub didn't know
who he was?
Maybe not.
But the end was different here.
Flynn wasn't blitz-attacked
at home, like the others.
What if Flynn
was the ultimate target,
and the others were used
to get information on him?
Or maybe the other victims
got in the way.
We could be looking
at an extreme fan.
Yeah, someone could have
followed him here.
Most of the workers
and stagehands
in Flynn's company
are volunteers.
So he'd be surrounded
by fanatics
who'd be watching
his every move.
Well, let's just hope it was
one of them who nabbed him.
Why?
Because then there's a chance
he's still alive.
FLYNN (on CD):
The greatest gift
is inside you already.
It's always been there,
a constant companion.
-(remote clicks)
- When I heard that...
I finally understood
that I had to use my gift.
When I was a kid,
I used to talk about it
until people said
that I sounded weird,
and then I hated it,
because it made me different,
and I tried to shut it off,
but nothing worked.
What did you do to me?
You wouldn't come with me,
and I had to do
what I needed to do
-to get you to listen.
- Listen to what?
Four months ago...
I was fired.
Couldn't get another job.
I was an unemployed,
middle-aged loser
who has no prospects.
I almost killed myself.
Then I found you.
What's your name?
Carl.
Carl Finster.
Carl,
I can see that you're in pain.
(chuckles)
I'm not.
I feel alive,
like-like electricity
is running through me.
(handcuffs rattling)
Can you take these off?
I won't try to escape,
I promise.
I'm here for you.
You're lying.
I don't blame you.
I just need you to hear me out
until I know
that you're convinced.
Convinced of what?
(chuckles)
That I'm your biggest
success story.
JJ :
While we initially thought
Barry Flynn might be a suspect,
it turns out
we're looking
for one of his followers,
an UnSub who suffers
from erotomania.
He's obsessed with Flynn,
his latest abductee,
and he may believe that Flynn's
also in love with him.
Erotomania has very little
to do with sex.
It's a romantic
or spiritual connection
that erotomanics crave.
Victims of the delusion tend to
be from a higher social status
and have done very little
to stimulate
or encourage such a belief.
In fact, it's likely
the UnSub and Barry Flynn
have had no previous contact.
His infatuation probably began
from afar,
considering Flynn 's
celebrity status.
BLAKE:
The patience required
to commit his crimes
makes us believe
he's a male
in his late 30s to 40s
who is single
and socially immature.
He's a loner
with poor social skills.
And although he is capable
of holding down a job,
he most likely neglects
his duties
to focus on his obsession.
This is a guy
who spends much of his time
living in his delusional
fantasy world,
and he may have been tracking
Flynn for quite some time.
And with erotomania,
the most likely recipient
of violence
is the person standing
in the way
of the desired object.
BLAKE: It's possible the UnSub
witnessed an interaction
between his two first victims
and Flynn,
killing them in a jealous rage.
JJ: Another possibility
is that the UnSub killed them
-to prove his devotion.
- REID: The weapon used
had a ceremonial quality to it,
which means the UnSub
probably views these victims
as sacrifices,
and the messages he is leaving
may be meant for Flynn.
MORGAN: In his head,
he may believe
that he's already involved
in a personal relationship
with Flynn,
and now that Flynn is
under his control,
this situation
is especially precarious.
ROSSI:
If the UnSub is
under the delusion that Flynn
also cares about him,
then any misstep by Flynn
that contradicts that belief
could lead to more victims
or even Flynn's own murder
to prove they have
a special bond.
With each passing hour,
it's increasingly unlikely
that Flynn will be able to match
the UnSub's expectations
for him, so we must act quickly.
Thank you.
- I ignored my gift for so long.
- What is your gift?
I don't hear things
the way most people do.
I see it.
What does that mean?
Well, when people talk...
I know the truth about them.
You know the truth?
You couldn't even lie
when you said
you wouldn't try to escape.
A doctor told my parents
that there was a wire crossed
in my brain.
It's harmless,
kind of like a birthmark,
but thanks to you,
- I know he was wrong.
- How so?
Because it-it's more
than a birthmark.
I've got this ability
for a reason;
what I need to do
is take action, and that's what
you've been telling me.
What are you
planning to do, Carl?
Let me show you.
We said that this UnSub
had poor social skills,
so how did he lure Flynn
out of the bar?
Good question. Maybe he had help
from someone with more charisma.
Well, we should amend
the profile,
let the media know
that there may be
a temporary partner involved.
All right, I'll call Garcia
and get her to narrow
the list of seminar attendees.
(over phone):
Hey. baby girl.
If loving you is wrong,
baby boy,
I don't want to be right.
Well, likewise, mama.
I need you to look into fans
of Barry Flynn.
Oh, I already have
those numbers for you.
He has over two million fans
worldwide,
and the kind that
are crazy-infatuated with him
I would say about 100,000.
Hey, do you know
that if you join
Barry's official circle
of friends,
you get the "Unlimited Courage"
12 CD set for $49.99,
plus a free
"Live or Die: You Choose" mug?
Come on,
don't tell me you joined.
No, why would you say that?
I didn't... I didn't do that.
There's just things
I need motivation for--
like I have that cupcake problem
and I've really wanted to learn
how to play the clarinet,
and Barry Flynn is a good guy
who really helps people,
and I want you to find him.
We're doing our best, girl.
By the way, uh,
totally different subject,
I happened upon
that invitation guest list
for the British embassy thing.
Did you know that Madonna
and Steven Hawking are going?
I mean, not together,
but they're going.
(sighs)
Penelope...
Seriously,
you're gonna miss a chance
to meet Steven Hawking?
Reid will kill you.
Well, then I'm dead.
Why don't you want to go?
(sighs)
It's personal.
How about that?
Oh, it's p...
Oh, my God, it's personal?
That never occurred to me
that it would be personal.
I thought it was like
stock market related,
or 'cause of the weather, or...
Will you cut it out already?
Okay, keep your super-secrets
to yourself, 007.
Look, just do me a favor
and find out how many
of Flynn's fiber fans live
in Seattle.
Then I want you
to narrow it down even more
by cross-referencing with people
who have
anger management issues.
- Thank you and good-bye, Garcia.
- Yeah... Derek...
-(phone beeps off)
- Hello?
(blipping)
MAN:
What are you doing here, Carl?
Uh... missing a personal photo.
Thought maybe I left it here.
Your cubicle was cleaned out
when you were fired.
What do you really want?
You made a big mistake
when you fired me.
I mean, I don't have a gun,
if that's what
you're worried about.
I just wondered why you did it.
Oh, come on, you know why.
I was getting complaints
about you.
Customers are never happy.
You yelled at them,
and you scared your coworkers.
They thought
you were seeing things
half the time.
Just like you are now.
What are you even looking at?
It's unsettling.
We were worried about you.
It's not that you're
a bad person,
but this just isn't
the right place for you, Carl.
I'm sure there's another job
you'd be much happier doing.
You've always
been envious of me,
haven't you?
I threaten you in some way.
Okay, whatever.
Look, you're gonna have to go.
He came forward when he saw
our statement to the media.
Some guy paid him 200 bucks
to bring Barry Flynn
out of that bar
into the parking lot.
What happened
in the parking lot?
I don't know. I told Flynn to
wait for me, that I left my keys
in the bar
and that I'd be right back.
Was that part of the plan?
Yeah, but I never
came back outside again, so...
Now, you said the guy that
paid you was a little weird.
How so?
He couldn't look at me
when he talked,
and he kept yapping
about a magnificent light.
(panting)
I got 'em.
(chuckles) Transcripts
of the calls I handled
and the customers' addresses.
(Flynn speaks, muffled)
You gotta let me go, Carl.
Oh, no, no, no, no,
we're just getting started.
Do you remember
how I said how I felt alive,
like electricity
was coursing through me?
Well, I felt this way
once before, when I was ten.
I had this dream
that I was a superhero,
and I had this partner,
and together
we killed evil people
with this powerful knife.
Well, I'm going to kill
these evil people.
(indistinct conversation)
Help! Somebody! Help!
Damn it!
Why do you keep resisting me?
You awoke this gift in me.
You of all people
should understand this--
that we have to do
this mission together.
Why was there so much overkill
on the two victims?
They were threats
to the UnSub's imaginary
relationship with Flynn.
They hardly knew Flynn.
I mean, at least four other
people had private meetings
with him; he gave autographs
to at least a dozen others.
Why those two?
Well, it's not reality-based.
His delusional mind exaggerated
the relationships
they had with Flynn.
Maybe he's not driven
by jealousy.
What if the overkill
was to make doubly sure
that they were dead
and couldn't come back to life?
The way you'd want to kill
a monster in a horror movie.
Exactly.
Maybe he saw them as evil.
That could explain
the messages on the wall.
FLYNN:
Where are we?
Janet Dodd's house.
She's evil,
and we need to stop her.
Carl,
you're making a big mistake.
(chuckles) I'm just doing
what you told me to.
I-I'm taking action.
You misunderstood me.
Stop this
before it's too late.
You do not want blood
on your hands.
What's so funny?
You are.
I've already killed two already.
It's been in the news.
Okay, she's alone now.
Tell the police
if you think she's evil.
No, no, no, the police
won't do a damn thing.
No, I was in a bar once,
and I saw a guy
who was the epitome of evil,
and I called the police
to tell them,
and they hung up on me,
and then six hours later,
a mother and her baby
were killed
when someone tried
to carjack them,
and I know it was him.
I could've saved them.
Don't worry; you just watch.
Ready?
♪ You tell me I'm not the one ♪
♪ I know the sun
is shining somewhere ♪
♪ On someone ♪
♪ It's only rain ♪
♪ It doesn't... ♪
(Flynn yelling, muffled)
(Janet screams)
(indistinct background
radio communication)
"Hear your red,
see your red."
Well, somehow,
it makes sense to him.
- The UnSub is clearly devolving.
- Yeah,
the letters are shakier.
This message is less controlled
than the others.
I agree. The word "evil"
was replaced by "red,"
which means "red" could have
been from his unconscious,
a Freudian slip, so to speak.
But what does it mean?
Is it something specific
to this victim?
Janet Dodd got divorced
two years ago.
She lived here alone,
worked as a paralegal.
Any known enemies--
perhaps the ex-husband?
Uh, not according to her sister.
The husband left Janet.
Any connection to Flynn?
Doesn't seem to be.
In fact, her sister was trying
to get her to move on
with her life,
but Janet seemed
completely unmotivated.
BLAKE:
The UnSub didn't pick her
because of her
connection to Flynn then.
Then Why'd he choose her?
Somehow their paths
must have crossed.
Well, she didn't get out much.
Only went to work
and then back home.
We're pulling her phone records,
see who she talked to last.
She's got a lot
of overdue bills.
Yeah, her sister said
she was struggling financially.
She cut up a credit card
that wasn't expired.
Why?
People often do
when they're trying
to reign in their spending.
Psychologically,
it's harder to part with cash.
Yeah, phone logs.
A lot of calls recently,
to the same 800 number.
(phone keypad beeping)
(phone line rings)
WOMAN (on phone):
Welcome to Luxor Bank Cards.
(grunts)
Hey, watch it, ese.
What's your problem, man?
You blind or something, huh?
You're lucky I'm busy today.
Okay.
Here we go.
Take a sip.
- No.
- Come on.
Come on,
you'll feel better-- come on!
What do you want with me, Carl?
Ah, isn't it obvious?
We're partners.
We're destined
to fight evil together.
We're not pa...
When does the mission end?
Mm, never.
I mean,
this is only the beginning.
I don't think I realized
how serious you were, Carl.
You really want
to change the world, don't you?
You have the conviction
of a superhero.
I believe that now.
(Flynn chuckles)
Come on, un-cuff me.
I won't run.
I promise.
When we get to our next target.
(sighs)
I knew you'd come around.
(engine starting)
- Go ahead, Garcia.
- Okay, so I cross-referenced
Barry Flynn fans with people who
had anger management issues,
and Luxor Bank
got one hit: Carl Finster.
He worked
as a customer service rep
at the call center there.
He was fired four months ago.
What are the chances
that he spoke
to Janet Dodd on the phone?
Oh, the chances are 100%.
Because she called that center
at least 20 times
in the last year,
and Carl answered at least three
of those calls.
JJ: What was
the anger management issue?
Oh, apparently one of
his coworkers filed a complaint
after Carl got super-mad at her
about God knows what
and threatened her butt good.
He was fired a month later.
I am sending you
his address now.
Okay, so getting fired
was his stressor
and Barry Flynn's seminar
was his trigger somehow.
If he's stalking
credit card customers,
we need to find out
who he spoke to.
Good point.
Take Blake and Reid
and go to the workplace.
The rest of us will go
to the house.
Let's go.
Some of his coworkers
thought he was mentally ill.
When someone suggested
he get help, he went off,
practically threatened
to kill her.
BLAKE:
What did you think?
Something wasn't right.
I mean, you'd be talking to him,
and he wouldn't even
be looking at you.
He'd be looking around you.
Was it like
he was hallucinating?
Yeah.
He would start getting weird
with the customers
and going off script,
and you know, I had to fire him.
Going off script in what ways?
(sighs)
We have a set algorithm
of questions,
depending on what
the customer's calling about.
We review transcripts regularly,
and Carl was perfectly fine
with some customers,
but with others,
he'd be verbally abusive
for no reason.
- Clear.
- MORGAN: It's clear.
There's nobody here.
Hey. guys,
look at this knife.
Is this who Carl Finster
thinks he is?
MAN: Why does my card
keep getting rejected?
I've been paying
the minimum balance on time.
CARL: You were five days late
on your April payment,
so... you're a liar.
MAN: What?
Did you just call me a liar?
CARL: I know you are,
Howard Jephson.
I can see your words.
HOWARD:
Okay, you know what,
I want to talk
to your supervisor.
CARL:
You are rotten to the core!
You don't deserve
any more credit.
-(beeps)
- See what I was dealing with?
Carl was attacking
certain customers for no reason.
Why did he come back last night?
Well, at first I thought he
came here to shoot up the place,
but now I think it was to steal
the recordings of his calls.
We confirmed
he downloaded a file.
REID:
Wait a minute, guys,
if he told the caller
he could see his words,
and you said he acted
like he was hallucinating,
I think I might know
what's wrong with him.
REID (over phone):
He has synesthesia.
It's neurological phenomenon
in which two or more senses
are triggered simultaneously.
For instance,
someone might associate
specific numbers with colors
or even be able to taste music.
I think Carl has the form
of synesthesia
in which he can literally see
the words that people
are speaking.
Hence the message he left:
"Hear your evil, see your evil."
It looks like he transcribed
conversations he had
with people
in different colors of ink.
Green, orange, red.
And these are not
happy conversations.
Reid, we can see here
that each of the colors
means something different
to him.
White words mean
the speaker is good.
It looks like the orange ink
means the speaker is a liar.
REID:
Maybe he sees people's words
in different colors depending
on what type of person
he thinks they are.
What's the content
of the red ones?
JJ:
Oh, they're angry.
He accuses them of being evil.
And so since he sees
their words in red:
"Hear your red, see your red."
He might believe
it's a super power.
Well, it looks like he tried
to stop the synesthesia
by wearing tinted glasses.
The fact is we know
his latest victim
is a customer he spoke to.
His old boss says
he came in last night and stole
a copy of the recordings.
The only reason is to compile
a list of people
he considers evil.
Exactly. A hit list.
And he's got
all their addresses
and vital information.
In the house.
Now.
Oh, my God.
You're the guy on the news.
- Do as he says.
- Get in the house!
-(woman screams)
- Shut up!
Howard Jephson,
I know who you really are.
I'm not Howard Jephson.
No games. Not if you want
-your family to live.
- I'm telling you the truth.
We're just renting the house.
My name is Stephen Caldwell.
We never even met Howard.
We just saw his name
on the lease agreement.
We made a mistake.
Let's go.
Look, if you leave now,
we won't call the police.
(grunts)
(woman crying)
Carl, what the hell?
He lied to us.
His words turned orange.
Now... hand me the knife.
It's the wrong guy.
I said hand me the knife!
Okay.
Give me the gun.
Wait...
Say that again.
Give me the gun.
He's got 150 names
in the Seattle area.
He could be going
after any one of them.
HOTCH: Garcia, any way to narrow
it down to callers in the city?
Okay, that gives us 32.
MORGAN:
Was Janet Dodd
the first name alphabetically
of those 32?
No, she was the ninth.
So he's not
going alphabetically.
How else would you organize
a hit list?
Maybe time of contact.
He started with the first person
he spoke to.
No, because he talked
to Janet Dodd
the last day he was employed.
He's going in reverse order.
The ones he talked
to most recently
would be freshest in his mind.
Garcia, take the last callers
and find out which ones
live closest to Janet Dodd.
Okay, I got two names
that are about the same distance
from her.
Ranga Patel and Howard Jephson.
All right, you two take Blake
and go to Howard Jephson.
The rest of us will go
to the Patel house.
(woman crying & whimpering,
Carl gasping)
- How did you do that?
- Do what?
How did you hide
your true nature for so long?
Enough, Carl. Listen to me.
Listen to me carefully.
You are not a victim
of circumstance.
You are a creature of free will.
Take the right action.
Let this family go.
(gunshot, woman screams)
No one goes anywhere.
I know that you don't feel
in control right now.
You don't know
how you ended up here,
and it feels
like there's no way out.
But there is a way out.
I can help you.
You think I'll believe
anything you say anymore?
You and I
have a special bond, Carl.
I know this isn't you.
You don't know anything
about me.
(yells)
(Flynn groans)
FBI.
Drop it.
He's evil.
I can see it.
BLAKE:
All right, come on, let's go.
We know
what's going on, Carl.
You've had a special talent
your whole life, haven't you?
It's my gift.
Barry Flynn here
unleashed that, Carl.
How can you hurt a man
who's given you so much?
He changed!
I saw red.
What do you see when we speak?
We know that you called
the police last year,
and you warned them about a man.
(panting):
Yes... they ignored me.
They ignored me and then...
he killed a mother and her baby.
ROSSI:
It wasn't him.
The man you warned them about
was questioned,
but it wasn't him.
They found the real killer
a week later,
and he confessed.
MORGAN:
Carl, your gift,
it's not reliable.
It's just a reflection on how
you feel about other people,
but, Carl,
it's not who they really are.
If you kill this man,
you'll be destroying
a magnificent light.
Think about it.
Put the weapons down.
(groaning)
(panting)
MORGAN:
"The mystery of human existence
"lies not
in just staying alive,
but in finding something
to live for. "
Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Hey.
I encourage you not
to be mad at me.
I did a little research
about Jason Ryder,
and I found out that
he was your father's old partner
at the Chicago PD,
so I'm assuming
that there was
some sort of falling out?
No, Garcia.
Jason moved to New York
after my father died.
He was a hero on 9/11.
That's why he's being honored.
So what's the problem?
Years ago, I was supposed
to talk about my father
at the Fallen
Law Enforcement Memorial.
I got up to the podium,
and I froze.
You got stage fright.
No, it wasn't that at all.
Well,
there's the obvious remedy,
which is imagining
the whole audience naked,
but you could imagine
a whole audience full
of UnSubs.
You're really good
at talking down an UnSub.
Baby girl,
it wasn't stage fright.
I wasn't ready to discuss
my feelings about my father
in public.
And-and you think talking
about his partner
is gonna bring up
those feelings?
How can I honor Jason Ryder
when I couldn't honor
my own father?
It's disrespectful.
Okay, this is gonna start out
sounding really harsh,
but you need to get over it.
You need to let it go.
That is so far past.
You've got to stop
beating yourself up about this.
That's not gonna happen, is it?
Okay.
Then this is...
Um, this gift
is totally pointless.
It's just some stuff
from Barry Flynn.
I-I talked to him
about your issue,
and he gave you another
incentive as a thank you.
You only have it
for 24 hours, though.
Mm-hmm.
MORGAN:
A policeman pulled over a man,
and he said to him,
"Sir, your eyes look bloodshot.
Have you been drinking?"
And that man replied,
"Officer, your eyes look glazed.
Have you been eating doughnuts?"
(laughter)
You see, that right there
was the last joke
that my father ever told me
before he died.
(sighs)
A special gift in my life
are the 11 years
that I did have with him,
because as brief
as they may have been,
my dad gave me
unconditional love.
He taught me a sense of duty,
and he gave me a reason
to keep working hard,
because each and every day
I do all that I know how to do
to make my father proud.
And my dad was taken
from this world way too soon,
but if he wasn't, I wouldn't be
the man that I am today.
Now, you may be wondering
why I'm talking about him here.
It's because my father,
the man that I admire the most,
looked up...
to Mr. Jason Ryder,
who we honor here tonight.
Jason was
the most important person
in my father's life,
outside of his family.
He was his partner
and his best friend.
Like my father,
Jason strived to be
the best he could be.
He inspired me to be fearless
and to go out into the world
and find my inner light.
And for that, Jason,
I'm eternally grateful.
(applause)
MAN:
Please don't! Please don't!
Please! No, no, no, no!
Please... Please don't!
Please!
Your life is about to end.
You will all die.
In your remaining time
on earth,
how do you want to live?
As a bright, shining star,
or as a lost soul passing time?
Do you want to live
in darkness
or reveal
your magnificent light?
(applause, music playing,
audience whooping)
Today, you will all be reborn
as your true selves.
We are all born
with a unique gift,
and your only job here on earth,
your only job,
is to share that gift.
Only then,
only when we have shed
our magnificent light
on this world,
will we experience real purpose,
real fulfillment, and real joy.
(cheering)
Let me tell you something
about myself.
I spent 12 years
of my adult life
absolutely miserable
because I did not use my gift.
How many of you
are living false lives?
Maybe you're an accountant,
but somewhere in
the dark recesses of your mind,
there's a tickle,
and that tickle is a reminder
of your gift.
Maybe it's a love for painting,
a love that you have had
since before
you could even talk.
Isn't that right,
Cynthia Strobl?
You could be the next Picasso.
Why have you deprived the world
of your gift?
And what about you,
Ralph Pritchard?
Do you really want to listen
to your insufferable boss
another day,
or are you ready
to start that business
you've been dreaming of.
Isn't it time for you
to unveil your gift
and take action?
Right here, right now,
that's what we're gonna do.
Let's get started.
(audience cheering,
music playing)
I still can't believe this.
(laughs anxiously)
I never, not in a million years,
thought I'd ever get
to meet you in person,
and then you called
my name and...
Cynthia, the pleasure
has been all mine.
Now do me a favor,
go out into the world
and show them your gift.
Oh, I will, I promise you.
Good-bye, Cynthia.
That was
the last one-on-one, Barry.
Uh, there's some more folks
waiting for autographs.
Not now.
I need my private time.
When will you be back?
Okay.
Whatever you want, Barry.
Uh, sorry, folks,
uh, Mr. Flynn is late
for a meeting.
(fans groaning)
FLYNN (through speaker):
So take that first step now.
Be ready for resistance.
Others will try to stop you.
Don't let them.
Don't permit them
to discourage you.
Don't allow them
to stand in your way.
Tell them to trust you,
and glorious things will come.
(gasps)
Oh, my God, what are you...
"Derek, would you do me a favor
and say a few words
at this shindig?"
- Hey.
-"Honor of your presence
"has been requested
by Her Majesty's Ambassador
"in bestowing Jason A. Ryder
the title
of Honorary Commander
of the Most Excellent Ord..."
This is
from the British embassy.
- Garcia, do you mind?
- I'm sorry.
I don't know what came over me.
I saw the fancy invitation,
and I couldn't help myself.
We never get glamour here.
It's like shoeboxes
to a hoarder-- (inhales)
Well, you can just forget
about it.
- Why?
-'Cause I'm not going.
But isn't Jason
an old friend of yours?
I've heard his name before,
and-and who's gonna give
the speech, if you don't?
I don't know,
but it's not gonna be me.
We love the British, remember?
Can we just drop this?
I can go with you.
Nobody is going.
- I'll wear my contacts.
- What'd I say?
Who do I wear my contacts for?
Two people
have been brutally stabbed
in Seattle in the last two days:
Lincoln Bell, 28.
He was found on Friday night,
and then Cynthia Strobl,
42, her body
was found last night.
Both of them were killed
in their own apartments.
Police are sure
it's the same killer?
Yes, because the same message
was left behind.
ROSSI: "Hear your evil,
see your evil."
Isn't the phrase supposed to be
"See no evil, hear no evil"?
Yeah, it certainly changes
the meaning,
which is supposed to be
about remaining virtuous,
even when surrounded by evil.
Well, the question is
did the killer
just get the phrase wrong,
or was he trying
to send
a completely different message?
The killer could have been
a nonnative English speaker,
but this syntax doesn't help
identify his first language.
And the other question is:
who is this message for?
Is it a taunt to the police?
Could be used
to justify the murders.
You know, if you take the words
literally, it sounds like
he's speaking directly
to the victims.
Was the message written
with the victim's blood?
The lab results aren't back yet.
Are there any witnesses?
It doesn't look that way,
which means the entry
to the apartments
was planned and methodical,
but the actual killings
seem chaotic and disorganized.
Maybe the UnSub knew them
and took the time
to plan his break-in,
but once he got close,
his rage took over,
-and he snapped.
- You know, one thing's for sure.
With at least 30 stab wounds
to each victim,
this UnSub sure has
a lot of anger.
And we need more answers.
Let's head to Seattle.
CYNTHIA:
Oh, my God, what are you...
(screaming)
BLAKE: "A great deal of talent
is lost to the world
for the want
of a little courage. "
Sydney Smith.
There doesn't seem
to be a connection
between the two victims.
Different gender, race, age.
They lived in different parts
of the city.
Yeah, Lincoln Bell worked
in ticket sales
at the El Portal Auditorium
for the last three years.
Cynthia Strobl is an accountant.
She moved to Seattle a year ago.
It's unlikely they
would have ever crossed paths
unless Cynthia bought a ticket
from him at some point.
According to his mother,
Lincoln's dream was
to be an architect.
If he wasn't working,
he was studying.
And Cynthia liked big band music
and lectures at the museum.
So the one thing they did have
in common
is very low-risk lifestyles.
GARCIA: Okay,
I've confirmed that Cynthia
lived in a security complex,
the kind you need
a special key fob to get in,
and Lincoln was living
in a studio apartment
at the top floor
of a six-story walkup.
So the UnSub had the
intelligence and the patience
to get past a security entrance.
He either used a ruse
or he blended in
with the other residents.
And he had to be
in good physical shape
to kill Lincoln Bell.
JJ: Though he bypassed
easier victims
and potential witness
to commit these murders.
He was mission-oriented.
Someone went out of their way
to target these two people.
You know, looking at these
crime scene photos,
there's not a hint of remorse.
This UnSub was determined
and relentless,
like he couldn't kill
these victims enough.
Yeah,
the different apology means
they weren't surrogates
for anyone.
So each victim probably
did something separately
to incite the UnSub's rage.
But it must have been the same
trigger that set him off
because the murders
were so similar.
So they had something in common
outside of low-risk lifestyles.
We need a point of convergence,
either a person or a place,
between the UnSub
and these two victims.
DOCTOR: Cause of death
was massive hemorrhage.
Both the carotid and the femoral
arteries were severed
in addition
to the other stab wounds.
There's no signs
of any other injuries
or of sexual assault.
Were the arteries cut first?
It's hard to say,
but it's very likely.
The first victim, Lincoln Bell,
he had
the same targeted lacerations
to those arteries.
The other stab wounds,
they seem more random.
So the UnSub knew the best way
to kill them,
but he stabbed them
multiple times afterwards
to express his rage.
There's also something else
that's unusual.
These stab wounds have
a curvature to them.
They weren't made
with an ordinary straight blade.
What sort of knife did he use?
Based on my measurements,
they were curved,
sort of like a half circle.
ROSSI:
You mean like a mezzaluna.
Does a mezzaluna
look like this?
Not exactly.
The knife that made these wounds
probably had a vertical handle
at least six inches long,
in order to get the leverage
for the depth.
You know, that looks like
a ceremonial weapon
of some sort.
I agree.
These killings
could be sacrificial.
- DETECTIVE: Agent Hotchner?
- Yes, sir?
Detective Harrison Chen.
Thanks for coming out.
- This is Agent Blake.
- Pleasure.
Lab results are back.
It's not blood on the walls.
Killer used a red paint
that's widely available
in hardware stores.
Paint belong to the victim?
Nothing turned up
in our initial search.
If the UnSub brought the paint
with him,
that means the message
was also premeditated.
It could be
a forensic countermeasure
like the messages
in the MacDonald case.
Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald
was convicted
of murdering his family.
Supposedly, he left messages
to convince authorities
that hippies had done it.
Hm.
We spoke to the neighbors.
Apparently,
Cynthia was gone all evening.
No one knows where she was
or when she came home.
Seems she was quiet.
Kept to herself.
The UnSub could have
followed her home
or been waiting for her here.
Hotch, take a look at this.
CD player was left on.
FLYNN (on CD):
You are about to embark
on the greatest adventure
known to man.
That adventure...
is your own life.
She was there
before she was murdered.
MORGAN:
So where is Mr. Flynn now?
You haven't told me
what this is about yet.
Uh, check the vari-lights.
There was a weird shadow
last night.
We need information
about these people.
Do you recognize them?
Uh, not him... but her.
Yeah, she was
at the show last night.
She was one of the guests
that got a one-on-one
with Barry afterwards.
And how would someone get that?
People who buy advance tickets
fill out a questionnaire.
Barry randomly selects five
and mentions them by name
during the show.
It's pretty mind-blowing
for the people who are picked.
I can imagine.
Tell me, what goes on
during one of these one-on-ones?
They're just
mini life coaching sessions.
It's only about 15 minutes,
but people come out transformed.
MORGAN:
And did Cynthia
-look transformed?
- Probably.
But I didn't actually see her.
She was Barry's last client.
He showed her out himself.
Flynn was probably the last
person to see her alive.
Wait-- she's dead?
She was murdered.
So let me ask you again.
Where's Barry Flynn?
I don't know.
He needs private time
to rest and focus his mind.
It's part of his routine
on show days.
But you're his manager.
You can't get ahold of him?
Sorry
To make sure
he's not interrupted,
no one knows where he goes--
not me, not his family...
not anyone.
It's always been like that.
Well, if you had
to take a guess,
where do you think he'd be?
He books a hotel room
or an apartment
in every tour city--
he's probably there.
He's always back
in time for the show.
What time did Barry leave?
Last night.
It was...
earlier than usual.
Want some company?
Sure.
I haven't seen you here before.
I'm just visiting.
Well, lucky you.
Nice weather for a change.
I was hoping for rain--
more romantic.
I'm Ricky.
Harold.
Have you seen the sights?
Space Needle,
Pike's Place Market,
the aquarium...?
First two yes.
The aquarium, no.
Want a tour guide?
Why not?
We confirmed Flynn's been MIA
since his private meeting
with Cynthia Strobl,
which officially makes him
a suspect.
Well, there's a point of
convergence between the victims.
Lincoln Bell had a program
personally autographed by Flynn
in his apartment,
so we know they met.
And Flynn was one
of the last people,
if not the last person,
to see Cynthia Strobl alive.
(phone rings)
Hey, Garcia.
You're on speaker;
what do you got?
The four-double-one
on Barry Flynn.
Hey, has anyone been listening
to this "Unlimited Courage"?
'Cause it's pretty amazing.
I just finished the first CD,
and I've already signed up
for a kickboxing class,
and I'm painting a wall
of my apartment white,
which is a risky color
in my world.
Garcia?
Oh, sorry, uh, "Barry Flynn"
is actually a stage name.
- What's his real name?
- His real name
is Harold Kerwin,
although he never legally
changed it, though.
He was raised in Reno, Nevada.
He went
to a two-year community college.
He got married right after.
He has a couple
of assault charges
for some bar fights.
Then he worked for 12 years
as a car salesman
before he left the rat race.
How so?
He checked out.
Like, quit his job,
got a divorce,
ran off to live in the desert,
came back
three years later,
and he was Barry Flynn.
He started talking at schools
and local clubs,
built up this following,
became sort
of an overnight sensation.
Within three years,
he was selling out
thousand-seat venues.
Any idea what happened to him
in those three years
while he was in the desert?
Well, according to Flynn,
he meditated a lot
until his true gift
was revealed to him.
I hate to admit it,
but it sounds
pretty vague to me.
Thanks.
Never would've guessed he had
a prior assault conviction.
- He could be our guy.
-(phone rings)
Chen.
ROSSI: Flynn had the means
and the opportunity.
I'm just not clear
about the motive.
Well,
we know that public figures
like politicians can have
psychopathic tendencies
and the ability to hide it.
BLAKE:
But it doesn't make any sense
that he'd kill
his own paying customers.
And why start here in Seattle?
And why leave the bizarre
message at the crime scenes?
Well, Flynn's obviously
a native English speaker,
so if he is the UnSub,
then the message
could be indicative
of some sort of delusion
or psychosis.
That is possible, given the
ceremonial knife that was used.
No history
of recent head trauma.
He's too old to have suffered
a traditional
schizophrenic break.
Maybe a drug-induced psychosis?
No, Flynn's clean as a whistle.
Doesn't even eat dairy,
according to his bio.
Well, he's a celebrity.
He has a vested interest
in a clean image.
But who was he really?
CHEN: Flynn's rental car
was just located
outside a bar in Alki.
FLYNN (on CD):
How did you end up
where you are today?
Was it a conscious choice?
Or does it feel like you had
no control in the matter?
You made me do this,
Barry Flynn.
(indistinct background
radio communication)
Guess we know how he was
spending his private time.
Too bad he couldn't
be open about it.
He's probably afraid
it'd hurt his public image.
It's the same blood type
as Flynn's.
We're running a DNA test.
We also found this.
It's a 100-decibel
personal alarm.
Flynn's manager said
he always carried it with him...
for protection.
Flynn's not the UnSub,
he's a victim.
He felt threatened enough
to be holding the alarm,
dropped it
when the UnSub clocked him
and took him away
in another vehicle.
No surveillance cameras.
Guess the customers like
their privacy.
So, what, did Flynn meet
the UnSub in the bar?
Probably.
No one inside noticed
anything unusual,
so they came out
together voluntarily.
Maybe Flynn had
a change of heart,
and the UnSub got angry.
Nah, we talked to the staff.
None of them remember
even seeing Flynn.
Well, he'd probably wear
a disguise
if he wanted to be anonymous
in public.
So the UnSub didn't know
who he was?
Maybe not.
But the end was different here.
Flynn wasn't blitz-attacked
at home, like the others.
What if Flynn
was the ultimate target,
and the others were used
to get information on him?
Or maybe the other victims
got in the way.
We could be looking
at an extreme fan.
Yeah, someone could have
followed him here.
Most of the workers
and stagehands
in Flynn's company
are volunteers.
So he'd be surrounded
by fanatics
who'd be watching
his every move.
Well, let's just hope it was
one of them who nabbed him.
Why?
Because then there's a chance
he's still alive.
FLYNN (on CD):
The greatest gift
is inside you already.
It's always been there,
a constant companion.
-(remote clicks)
- When I heard that...
I finally understood
that I had to use my gift.
When I was a kid,
I used to talk about it
until people said
that I sounded weird,
and then I hated it,
because it made me different,
and I tried to shut it off,
but nothing worked.
What did you do to me?
You wouldn't come with me,
and I had to do
what I needed to do
-to get you to listen.
- Listen to what?
Four months ago...
I was fired.
Couldn't get another job.
I was an unemployed,
middle-aged loser
who has no prospects.
I almost killed myself.
Then I found you.
What's your name?
Carl.
Carl Finster.
Carl,
I can see that you're in pain.
(chuckles)
I'm not.
I feel alive,
like-like electricity
is running through me.
(handcuffs rattling)
Can you take these off?
I won't try to escape,
I promise.
I'm here for you.
You're lying.
I don't blame you.
I just need you to hear me out
until I know
that you're convinced.
Convinced of what?
(chuckles)
That I'm your biggest
success story.
JJ :
While we initially thought
Barry Flynn might be a suspect,
it turns out
we're looking
for one of his followers,
an UnSub who suffers
from erotomania.
He's obsessed with Flynn,
his latest abductee,
and he may believe that Flynn's
also in love with him.
Erotomania has very little
to do with sex.
It's a romantic
or spiritual connection
that erotomanics crave.
Victims of the delusion tend to
be from a higher social status
and have done very little
to stimulate
or encourage such a belief.
In fact, it's likely
the UnSub and Barry Flynn
have had no previous contact.
His infatuation probably began
from afar,
considering Flynn 's
celebrity status.
BLAKE:
The patience required
to commit his crimes
makes us believe
he's a male
in his late 30s to 40s
who is single
and socially immature.
He's a loner
with poor social skills.
And although he is capable
of holding down a job,
he most likely neglects
his duties
to focus on his obsession.
This is a guy
who spends much of his time
living in his delusional
fantasy world,
and he may have been tracking
Flynn for quite some time.
And with erotomania,
the most likely recipient
of violence
is the person standing
in the way
of the desired object.
BLAKE: It's possible the UnSub
witnessed an interaction
between his two first victims
and Flynn,
killing them in a jealous rage.
JJ: Another possibility
is that the UnSub killed them
-to prove his devotion.
- REID: The weapon used
had a ceremonial quality to it,
which means the UnSub
probably views these victims
as sacrifices,
and the messages he is leaving
may be meant for Flynn.
MORGAN: In his head,
he may believe
that he's already involved
in a personal relationship
with Flynn,
and now that Flynn is
under his control,
this situation
is especially precarious.
ROSSI:
If the UnSub is
under the delusion that Flynn
also cares about him,
then any misstep by Flynn
that contradicts that belief
could lead to more victims
or even Flynn's own murder
to prove they have
a special bond.
With each passing hour,
it's increasingly unlikely
that Flynn will be able to match
the UnSub's expectations
for him, so we must act quickly.
Thank you.
- I ignored my gift for so long.
- What is your gift?
I don't hear things
the way most people do.
I see it.
What does that mean?
Well, when people talk...
I know the truth about them.
You know the truth?
You couldn't even lie
when you said
you wouldn't try to escape.
A doctor told my parents
that there was a wire crossed
in my brain.
It's harmless,
kind of like a birthmark,
but thanks to you,
- I know he was wrong.
- How so?
Because it-it's more
than a birthmark.
I've got this ability
for a reason;
what I need to do
is take action, and that's what
you've been telling me.
What are you
planning to do, Carl?
Let me show you.
We said that this UnSub
had poor social skills,
so how did he lure Flynn
out of the bar?
Good question. Maybe he had help
from someone with more charisma.
Well, we should amend
the profile,
let the media know
that there may be
a temporary partner involved.
All right, I'll call Garcia
and get her to narrow
the list of seminar attendees.
(over phone):
Hey. baby girl.
If loving you is wrong,
baby boy,
I don't want to be right.
Well, likewise, mama.
I need you to look into fans
of Barry Flynn.
Oh, I already have
those numbers for you.
He has over two million fans
worldwide,
and the kind that
are crazy-infatuated with him
I would say about 100,000.
Hey, do you know
that if you join
Barry's official circle
of friends,
you get the "Unlimited Courage"
12 CD set for $49.99,
plus a free
"Live or Die: You Choose" mug?
Come on,
don't tell me you joined.
No, why would you say that?
I didn't... I didn't do that.
There's just things
I need motivation for--
like I have that cupcake problem
and I've really wanted to learn
how to play the clarinet,
and Barry Flynn is a good guy
who really helps people,
and I want you to find him.
We're doing our best, girl.
By the way, uh,
totally different subject,
I happened upon
that invitation guest list
for the British embassy thing.
Did you know that Madonna
and Steven Hawking are going?
I mean, not together,
but they're going.
(sighs)
Penelope...
Seriously,
you're gonna miss a chance
to meet Steven Hawking?
Reid will kill you.
Well, then I'm dead.
Why don't you want to go?
(sighs)
It's personal.
How about that?
Oh, it's p...
Oh, my God, it's personal?
That never occurred to me
that it would be personal.
I thought it was like
stock market related,
or 'cause of the weather, or...
Will you cut it out already?
Okay, keep your super-secrets
to yourself, 007.
Look, just do me a favor
and find out how many
of Flynn's fiber fans live
in Seattle.
Then I want you
to narrow it down even more
by cross-referencing with people
who have
anger management issues.
- Thank you and good-bye, Garcia.
- Yeah... Derek...
-(phone beeps off)
- Hello?
(blipping)
MAN:
What are you doing here, Carl?
Uh... missing a personal photo.
Thought maybe I left it here.
Your cubicle was cleaned out
when you were fired.
What do you really want?
You made a big mistake
when you fired me.
I mean, I don't have a gun,
if that's what
you're worried about.
I just wondered why you did it.
Oh, come on, you know why.
I was getting complaints
about you.
Customers are never happy.
You yelled at them,
and you scared your coworkers.
They thought
you were seeing things
half the time.
Just like you are now.
What are you even looking at?
It's unsettling.
We were worried about you.
It's not that you're
a bad person,
but this just isn't
the right place for you, Carl.
I'm sure there's another job
you'd be much happier doing.
You've always
been envious of me,
haven't you?
I threaten you in some way.
Okay, whatever.
Look, you're gonna have to go.
He came forward when he saw
our statement to the media.
Some guy paid him 200 bucks
to bring Barry Flynn
out of that bar
into the parking lot.
What happened
in the parking lot?
I don't know. I told Flynn to
wait for me, that I left my keys
in the bar
and that I'd be right back.
Was that part of the plan?
Yeah, but I never
came back outside again, so...
Now, you said the guy that
paid you was a little weird.
How so?
He couldn't look at me
when he talked,
and he kept yapping
about a magnificent light.
(panting)
I got 'em.
(chuckles) Transcripts
of the calls I handled
and the customers' addresses.
(Flynn speaks, muffled)
You gotta let me go, Carl.
Oh, no, no, no, no,
we're just getting started.
Do you remember
how I said how I felt alive,
like electricity
was coursing through me?
Well, I felt this way
once before, when I was ten.
I had this dream
that I was a superhero,
and I had this partner,
and together
we killed evil people
with this powerful knife.
Well, I'm going to kill
these evil people.
(indistinct conversation)
Help! Somebody! Help!
Damn it!
Why do you keep resisting me?
You awoke this gift in me.
You of all people
should understand this--
that we have to do
this mission together.
Why was there so much overkill
on the two victims?
They were threats
to the UnSub's imaginary
relationship with Flynn.
They hardly knew Flynn.
I mean, at least four other
people had private meetings
with him; he gave autographs
to at least a dozen others.
Why those two?
Well, it's not reality-based.
His delusional mind exaggerated
the relationships
they had with Flynn.
Maybe he's not driven
by jealousy.
What if the overkill
was to make doubly sure
that they were dead
and couldn't come back to life?
The way you'd want to kill
a monster in a horror movie.
Exactly.
Maybe he saw them as evil.
That could explain
the messages on the wall.
FLYNN:
Where are we?
Janet Dodd's house.
She's evil,
and we need to stop her.
Carl,
you're making a big mistake.
(chuckles) I'm just doing
what you told me to.
I-I'm taking action.
You misunderstood me.
Stop this
before it's too late.
You do not want blood
on your hands.
What's so funny?
You are.
I've already killed two already.
It's been in the news.
Okay, she's alone now.
Tell the police
if you think she's evil.
No, no, no, the police
won't do a damn thing.
No, I was in a bar once,
and I saw a guy
who was the epitome of evil,
and I called the police
to tell them,
and they hung up on me,
and then six hours later,
a mother and her baby
were killed
when someone tried
to carjack them,
and I know it was him.
I could've saved them.
Don't worry; you just watch.
Ready?
♪ You tell me I'm not the one ♪
♪ I know the sun
is shining somewhere ♪
♪ On someone ♪
♪ It's only rain ♪
♪ It doesn't... ♪
(Flynn yelling, muffled)
(Janet screams)
(indistinct background
radio communication)
"Hear your red,
see your red."
Well, somehow,
it makes sense to him.
- The UnSub is clearly devolving.
- Yeah,
the letters are shakier.
This message is less controlled
than the others.
I agree. The word "evil"
was replaced by "red,"
which means "red" could have
been from his unconscious,
a Freudian slip, so to speak.
But what does it mean?
Is it something specific
to this victim?
Janet Dodd got divorced
two years ago.
She lived here alone,
worked as a paralegal.
Any known enemies--
perhaps the ex-husband?
Uh, not according to her sister.
The husband left Janet.
Any connection to Flynn?
Doesn't seem to be.
In fact, her sister was trying
to get her to move on
with her life,
but Janet seemed
completely unmotivated.
BLAKE:
The UnSub didn't pick her
because of her
connection to Flynn then.
Then Why'd he choose her?
Somehow their paths
must have crossed.
Well, she didn't get out much.
Only went to work
and then back home.
We're pulling her phone records,
see who she talked to last.
She's got a lot
of overdue bills.
Yeah, her sister said
she was struggling financially.
She cut up a credit card
that wasn't expired.
Why?
People often do
when they're trying
to reign in their spending.
Psychologically,
it's harder to part with cash.
Yeah, phone logs.
A lot of calls recently,
to the same 800 number.
(phone keypad beeping)
(phone line rings)
WOMAN (on phone):
Welcome to Luxor Bank Cards.
(grunts)
Hey, watch it, ese.
What's your problem, man?
You blind or something, huh?
You're lucky I'm busy today.
Okay.
Here we go.
Take a sip.
- No.
- Come on.
Come on,
you'll feel better-- come on!
What do you want with me, Carl?
Ah, isn't it obvious?
We're partners.
We're destined
to fight evil together.
We're not pa...
When does the mission end?
Mm, never.
I mean,
this is only the beginning.
I don't think I realized
how serious you were, Carl.
You really want
to change the world, don't you?
You have the conviction
of a superhero.
I believe that now.
(Flynn chuckles)
Come on, un-cuff me.
I won't run.
I promise.
When we get to our next target.
(sighs)
I knew you'd come around.
(engine starting)
- Go ahead, Garcia.
- Okay, so I cross-referenced
Barry Flynn fans with people who
had anger management issues,
and Luxor Bank
got one hit: Carl Finster.
He worked
as a customer service rep
at the call center there.
He was fired four months ago.
What are the chances
that he spoke
to Janet Dodd on the phone?
Oh, the chances are 100%.
Because she called that center
at least 20 times
in the last year,
and Carl answered at least three
of those calls.
JJ: What was
the anger management issue?
Oh, apparently one of
his coworkers filed a complaint
after Carl got super-mad at her
about God knows what
and threatened her butt good.
He was fired a month later.
I am sending you
his address now.
Okay, so getting fired
was his stressor
and Barry Flynn's seminar
was his trigger somehow.
If he's stalking
credit card customers,
we need to find out
who he spoke to.
Good point.
Take Blake and Reid
and go to the workplace.
The rest of us will go
to the house.
Let's go.
Some of his coworkers
thought he was mentally ill.
When someone suggested
he get help, he went off,
practically threatened
to kill her.
BLAKE:
What did you think?
Something wasn't right.
I mean, you'd be talking to him,
and he wouldn't even
be looking at you.
He'd be looking around you.
Was it like
he was hallucinating?
Yeah.
He would start getting weird
with the customers
and going off script,
and you know, I had to fire him.
Going off script in what ways?
(sighs)
We have a set algorithm
of questions,
depending on what
the customer's calling about.
We review transcripts regularly,
and Carl was perfectly fine
with some customers,
but with others,
he'd be verbally abusive
for no reason.
- Clear.
- MORGAN: It's clear.
There's nobody here.
Hey. guys,
look at this knife.
Is this who Carl Finster
thinks he is?
MAN: Why does my card
keep getting rejected?
I've been paying
the minimum balance on time.
CARL: You were five days late
on your April payment,
so... you're a liar.
MAN: What?
Did you just call me a liar?
CARL: I know you are,
Howard Jephson.
I can see your words.
HOWARD:
Okay, you know what,
I want to talk
to your supervisor.
CARL:
You are rotten to the core!
You don't deserve
any more credit.
-(beeps)
- See what I was dealing with?
Carl was attacking
certain customers for no reason.
Why did he come back last night?
Well, at first I thought he
came here to shoot up the place,
but now I think it was to steal
the recordings of his calls.
We confirmed
he downloaded a file.
REID:
Wait a minute, guys,
if he told the caller
he could see his words,
and you said he acted
like he was hallucinating,
I think I might know
what's wrong with him.
REID (over phone):
He has synesthesia.
It's neurological phenomenon
in which two or more senses
are triggered simultaneously.
For instance,
someone might associate
specific numbers with colors
or even be able to taste music.
I think Carl has the form
of synesthesia
in which he can literally see
the words that people
are speaking.
Hence the message he left:
"Hear your evil, see your evil."
It looks like he transcribed
conversations he had
with people
in different colors of ink.
Green, orange, red.
And these are not
happy conversations.
Reid, we can see here
that each of the colors
means something different
to him.
White words mean
the speaker is good.
It looks like the orange ink
means the speaker is a liar.
REID:
Maybe he sees people's words
in different colors depending
on what type of person
he thinks they are.
What's the content
of the red ones?
JJ:
Oh, they're angry.
He accuses them of being evil.
And so since he sees
their words in red:
"Hear your red, see your red."
He might believe
it's a super power.
Well, it looks like he tried
to stop the synesthesia
by wearing tinted glasses.
The fact is we know
his latest victim
is a customer he spoke to.
His old boss says
he came in last night and stole
a copy of the recordings.
The only reason is to compile
a list of people
he considers evil.
Exactly. A hit list.
And he's got
all their addresses
and vital information.
In the house.
Now.
Oh, my God.
You're the guy on the news.
- Do as he says.
- Get in the house!
-(woman screams)
- Shut up!
Howard Jephson,
I know who you really are.
I'm not Howard Jephson.
No games. Not if you want
-your family to live.
- I'm telling you the truth.
We're just renting the house.
My name is Stephen Caldwell.
We never even met Howard.
We just saw his name
on the lease agreement.
We made a mistake.
Let's go.
Look, if you leave now,
we won't call the police.
(grunts)
(woman crying)
Carl, what the hell?
He lied to us.
His words turned orange.
Now... hand me the knife.
It's the wrong guy.
I said hand me the knife!
Okay.
Give me the gun.
Wait...
Say that again.
Give me the gun.
He's got 150 names
in the Seattle area.
He could be going
after any one of them.
HOTCH: Garcia, any way to narrow
it down to callers in the city?
Okay, that gives us 32.
MORGAN:
Was Janet Dodd
the first name alphabetically
of those 32?
No, she was the ninth.
So he's not
going alphabetically.
How else would you organize
a hit list?
Maybe time of contact.
He started with the first person
he spoke to.
No, because he talked
to Janet Dodd
the last day he was employed.
He's going in reverse order.
The ones he talked
to most recently
would be freshest in his mind.
Garcia, take the last callers
and find out which ones
live closest to Janet Dodd.
Okay, I got two names
that are about the same distance
from her.
Ranga Patel and Howard Jephson.
All right, you two take Blake
and go to Howard Jephson.
The rest of us will go
to the Patel house.
(woman crying & whimpering,
Carl gasping)
- How did you do that?
- Do what?
How did you hide
your true nature for so long?
Enough, Carl. Listen to me.
Listen to me carefully.
You are not a victim
of circumstance.
You are a creature of free will.
Take the right action.
Let this family go.
(gunshot, woman screams)
No one goes anywhere.
I know that you don't feel
in control right now.
You don't know
how you ended up here,
and it feels
like there's no way out.
But there is a way out.
I can help you.
You think I'll believe
anything you say anymore?
You and I
have a special bond, Carl.
I know this isn't you.
You don't know anything
about me.
(yells)
(Flynn groans)
FBI.
Drop it.
He's evil.
I can see it.
BLAKE:
All right, come on, let's go.
We know
what's going on, Carl.
You've had a special talent
your whole life, haven't you?
It's my gift.
Barry Flynn here
unleashed that, Carl.
How can you hurt a man
who's given you so much?
He changed!
I saw red.
What do you see when we speak?
We know that you called
the police last year,
and you warned them about a man.
(panting):
Yes... they ignored me.
They ignored me and then...
he killed a mother and her baby.
ROSSI:
It wasn't him.
The man you warned them about
was questioned,
but it wasn't him.
They found the real killer
a week later,
and he confessed.
MORGAN:
Carl, your gift,
it's not reliable.
It's just a reflection on how
you feel about other people,
but, Carl,
it's not who they really are.
If you kill this man,
you'll be destroying
a magnificent light.
Think about it.
Put the weapons down.
(groaning)
(panting)
MORGAN:
"The mystery of human existence
"lies not
in just staying alive,
but in finding something
to live for. "
Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Hey.
I encourage you not
to be mad at me.
I did a little research
about Jason Ryder,
and I found out that
he was your father's old partner
at the Chicago PD,
so I'm assuming
that there was
some sort of falling out?
No, Garcia.
Jason moved to New York
after my father died.
He was a hero on 9/11.
That's why he's being honored.
So what's the problem?
Years ago, I was supposed
to talk about my father
at the Fallen
Law Enforcement Memorial.
I got up to the podium,
and I froze.
You got stage fright.
No, it wasn't that at all.
Well,
there's the obvious remedy,
which is imagining
the whole audience naked,
but you could imagine
a whole audience full
of UnSubs.
You're really good
at talking down an UnSub.
Baby girl,
it wasn't stage fright.
I wasn't ready to discuss
my feelings about my father
in public.
And-and you think talking
about his partner
is gonna bring up
those feelings?
How can I honor Jason Ryder
when I couldn't honor
my own father?
It's disrespectful.
Okay, this is gonna start out
sounding really harsh,
but you need to get over it.
You need to let it go.
That is so far past.
You've got to stop
beating yourself up about this.
That's not gonna happen, is it?
Okay.
Then this is...
Um, this gift
is totally pointless.
It's just some stuff
from Barry Flynn.
I-I talked to him
about your issue,
and he gave you another
incentive as a thank you.
You only have it
for 24 hours, though.
Mm-hmm.
MORGAN:
A policeman pulled over a man,
and he said to him,
"Sir, your eyes look bloodshot.
Have you been drinking?"
And that man replied,
"Officer, your eyes look glazed.
Have you been eating doughnuts?"
(laughter)
You see, that right there
was the last joke
that my father ever told me
before he died.
(sighs)
A special gift in my life
are the 11 years
that I did have with him,
because as brief
as they may have been,
my dad gave me
unconditional love.
He taught me a sense of duty,
and he gave me a reason
to keep working hard,
because each and every day
I do all that I know how to do
to make my father proud.
And my dad was taken
from this world way too soon,
but if he wasn't, I wouldn't be
the man that I am today.
Now, you may be wondering
why I'm talking about him here.
It's because my father,
the man that I admire the most,
looked up...
to Mr. Jason Ryder,
who we honor here tonight.
Jason was
the most important person
in my father's life,
outside of his family.
He was his partner
and his best friend.
Like my father,
Jason strived to be
the best he could be.
He inspired me to be fearless
and to go out into the world
and find my inner light.
And for that, Jason,
I'm eternally grateful.
(applause)
MAN:
Please don't! Please don't!
Please! No, no, no, no!
Please... Please don't!
Please!