I Am the Night (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - Matador - full transcript

- You're not black.
- You're a liar.

Yeah, this is Nero.
The handsome one from the party.

Neighborhood boy got
hisself murdered.

- What's your name?
- I'm Jay Singletary.

Are you Tamar's daughter?

I just got rousted
really bad by the LAPD.

Why in the hell
would they do that

if there wasn't
a story to follow?

There's something
going on, Terrence.

I can't stay here.

If you go looking for trouble,
you'll find it.



The Hodel thing, it's real.

Nice night, huh?

Are you friends with Dr. Hodel?

He's a genius, right?

Best doctor in the city.

Maybe the country, right?

Mate in four.

I'm very disappointed
you lost her.

The city isn't safe,

not for someone like that.

Well, now it's mate in two.

There's no way out, friend.

Dr. Hodel?

Ah, yes. 8:00.



Sepp... find her.

Find her.

Sit.

Well, I-I guess you'll have
plenty of time

to figure out your next move.

No.

I'm gonna spoil his game.

Yeah?

Hello?

I know who you are.

Do you know who I am?

This is...

Corinna Hodel.

You... You wanna know something?

I'll show you something.

I'll tell you something.

♪ Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around! ♪

♪ Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the... ♪

You didn't touch the ground!

Hey, what's going on, Frank?

- Oh, my goodness.
- Yeah, how you doing?

- How you guys doing?
- Hey, man, I'm... I'm glad...

Hey, I got it...
I got it right here.

This is good.

Hey, man,
maybe you can help me out.

- Ah, really?
- Yeah, that's all of it.

- Yeah.
- Oh, yeah. Yeah.

N-No, ma'am.
I'm in Los Angeles.

Could you tell Lewis...?

Can you please tell Lewis
that I-I miss him?

Thank you.

Goodbye, ma'am.

Good morning.

You all right?

Good morning.

Yes, fine, thanks.

Thank you.

You sure work hard on that car.

Didn't know
you liked cars so much.

No, I hate cars.

I hate that car
in particular, but...

without that car,
it's nearly three hours

on the bus to work and school.

Can't be done.

I had a flat tire.

12 minutes late,

and the manager
lodged a complaint.

Boy, was he happy
to have a reason.

All I want to think about
is propulsion.

Some white men take it personal,
like me tryin' to succeed

is taking something from them.

Aren't they all like that?

No.

Some don't mind.

It's Sunday.

I got some errands.
What do you need to do today?

I'm...
gonna keep looking, I guess.

Can't let it go?

What if he's wonderful?

Or what if he needs my help?

Would you stop before you knew?

I guess not.

I'll take you to the bus.

But, uh, there's one thing
we got to do first.

So, you're back
on the beat, huh?

It is what it is.

An hour and a half commute.

I think about my life.

I listen to the Beatles,
try to figure out

what makes the girls
scream like that.

Right?

Look, Ohls, I'm, uh...
I'm sorry.

No, no, no, Jay,
it is what it is.

We're never gonna be square.

I'm gonna take a shit.
- That's nice.

Yeah, it's the nicest toilet
we'll see today.

Talk to Miller.
He's a four-fifteen.

Mmm.

So, what's, uh...
What's a four-fifteen?

Penal code,
disturbing the peace.

He's kiddin'.

Why the hell aren't you retired?

I've been in 32 years.

Oldest living cop in captivity.

I could retire,

but I'd start drinking
and never stop.

I done it all, son.

Robbery-homicide,
juvenile, vice, aah...

So, do you remember
the Black Dahlia murder?

Of course! Sure!

Wouldn't be an LA cop

if I didn't have
my own Dahlia story.

Yeah.

I knocked on doors.

We called it the "werewolf"

until the Black Dahlia name hit.

You ever hear of a copycat?

- Copycat?
- Yeah.

Nah!

Nothing sticks out.

- No?
- No.

She was unique.

Ohh, whew, aah,
you seen the pictures, right?

Uh-huh.

I-I remember thinking,

"He musta hated her
to do what he did to her."

You think so?

Chop her in half?

Her face?

Ohh, well, he hated her
pretty good, you ask me.

Yeah, I don't, uh...

It doesn't look like hate.

It looks like something else.

What are we doing here?

Starts in laughter, ends in tears.

What is that?

We're tipping Nero.

This is where they found him.

It's actually an ancient Egyptian practice

called "libation".

Pre-dates Christianity.

Were you friends with Nero?

We ran a little as kids,

had a little clique
tied up with Slausons,

but Nero didn't have
no real friends.

But look at this.
It's... There's no crime scene.

It's nothing.

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

Not as sorry as Nero.

There's no one to cry for Nero.

So, how was he supposed to be
any different?

No pops, mom's on the street.

She used to keep him
locked in for days at a time.

I came in on him once,
and he had a busted foot,

all swole.

Been left alone in there
for two days.

He was eight years old.

How was he supposed to end up
any different than he was?

Hey!

What's wrong with you?!

Why you throwing shit
around my house?

I'm sorry, man.
I... All right, we're sorry.

You see me throwing shit
around your house?

Hey, man.

Hey, buddy.
You live here?

You see the fuzz come in here?

Yeah, Brunos with their buzzers.

You see anything else?

I seen lots.

I seen a man park his
big, black, shiny Buick up there

and get out, walk around
like he own the place.

I told the police, too.

I seen One-Eye Mexican Carlos...
He kick a dog to death.

Man, that ain't right.

He's a mean son of a bitch.

Hey.

Hey.

Didn't you say something

about a white man in a Buick?

I don't know what's going on,
Terrence.

I don't.

There's a man... a man
who follows me around sometimes.

I swear to God I don't know why.

And, yeah, he drives a Buick,
but I barely knew Nero.

Yeah. Yeah, right.
It's just Nero.

Who cares?

Terrence, please.
I got nothing to do with this.

You got nothing to do with it?

You got something to do with it.

Well, look what the cat drug in.

Hi, Big Momma.
I-I'm sorry I...

What kinda place do you think
I'm running here?

Jimmy Lee called so angry,

and now she's coming to
Los Angeles tonight.

Where you at Terrence's place
last night?

Nothing happened.
It wasn't like that.

Well, damn, girl, you move fast.

You only been here a few days

and already moving in
on a boy like that?

You a fast mover.

Tina, I was just scared
because of Nero.

And... And what?

You thought Terrence's
big, strong arms

was gonna keep you safe?

Well, Terrence ain't
much my type anyway.

He have a little stick
up his ass for me,

but I can see it.

This came for you today.

Xander said
a white man brung it,

but I didn't see him.

Thanks, Tina.

You're welcome.

A happening?

Jesus, Jay.

Peter. Peter.

Just tell... tell Eddy
it's never gonna happen.

You know what,
give Eddy a month,

he'll forget all about it.

Just, uh... uh, wait,
Peter, listen.

The... The Bloody Romeo thing...
I'm going ass backwards on it

'cause the deeper I dig, the dumber I get.
Yeah, you know what,

I needed that like 16 hours ago.
There's this copycat angle.

There's this copycat angle. You know what,
go for it, Jay, but I can't assign it.

What about the Hodel thing?
There's something there.

I can taste it.
The ex-wife... she's calling me.

I can feel it. She's gonna talk.
Damn it, Jay, no,

God damn it.
- I can feel it, Peter.

Don't talk to me
about this stuff.

God damn it, enough.

Hey.
- Huh?

You really think
she wants to talk?

Ohh, Peter.

She's calling me in the middle
of the night, she's crying.

Look.

That came across the Art Desk.

What's a "Happening"?

♪ Well, you've got
your diamonds ♪

♪ And you've got
your pretty clothes ♪

♪ And the chauffeur
drives your car ♪

♪ You let everybody know ♪

♪ But don't play with me ♪

♪ 'Cause you're playing
with fire ♪

♪ Your mother,
she's an heiress ♪

♪ Owns a block
in Saint John's Wood ♪

♪ And your father'd
be there with her ♪

♪ If he only could ♪

♪ But don't play with me ♪

♪ 'Cause you're playing with fire ♪

♪ Your old man took her diamonds ♪

♪ And tiaras by the score ♪

♪ Now she gets her kicks in Stepney ♪

School night, isn't it?

You lost, sweetheart?

I'm looking for my grandmother.
Corinna Huntington?

Grandmother?
What's your name, hon?

Fauna Hodel.

Oh, yeah?

Whaddaya know?

Hey, Jane!
How's kicks?

Screw off, Bob. Talk to me
when I've had six drinks.

I met your grandfather, too.

I think Corinna's gonna be
in Room Three.

I hate that
pretentious shit, myself.

Did you know Tamar?

I've heard of her.

Did you know Tamar?
What... What have you heard?

Six drinks? C'mon, I'm so bored. Blow, Bob.
I'm in the middle of something here.

My socks fell off. Six drinks... It's
gonna take 15 minutes for six drinks.

Bob, blow. Beat it.
- Come on. I'm bored!

How many times do I have to
say, "Beat it"?

Go find someone else
to drink with, Bob.

Hon, honey.
Wait one second.

Mrs. Huntington would like
to speak with you.

Oh. Fauna.

Come in.
Have a seat.

Ma'am, I-I wanted to apologize

for what I said in the car.

Yes, yes.

I can't remember.

I-It's all so...

Ma'am, I need more.

Can you please tell me
my father's name?

The ballet dancer?

Did you like the piece?

My "Happening"?

N-No, ma'am.

Avant-garde needs courage.

Do you know what
that word means...

Avant-garde?

No, ma'am.

Think of it as

a term for an advanced,
profound conscience,

based on a deeper
understanding of history.

It takes hard work and study.

We have another word for art
that is easy to enjoy...

Kitsch.

Like a television show.

So, was it just me

getting my clothes snipped off?

Yes, ma'am.

There is nothing worse
in this world

than a literalist thinker.

Willful stupidity.

I hate talking after
these things.

Do you even know
what that word means?

"Literalist".

Yes, ma'am.

It's like when the President said that,

"America has tossed its cap
over the wall into space."

He wasn't talking about
a real wall or a real cap.

And for your show,

I think you just wanted for us
to be responsible for you.

Joining in, or even just
watching, doing nothing.

Either way, you would have been
the one getting hurt.

Smarter than your mother
ever was.

Mrs. Hodel...
Um, Mrs. Huntington,

I need to talk to you
about Tamar.

I'm sorry.
I can't stay here, child.

Surely you understand that.

Not Tamar.
Not Hodel.

Apate.

But why?

Aah!

All right, now, quiet, quiet!

Hey, Quiet now. Quiet.

Oh, I'd like to slice off
your calf and fry it up

and eat it and puke it up
in front of you.

You think he has everything?

He knows everything?

I have something
he doesn't know.

I've been places he's afraid of.

I'll show him a curse.

I'm ready for the next step.

That's what this is...

My own little show,
the real happening.

Shit!

Start screaming.

You should.
I'll gut...

Gut you before
they get down the stairs.

Whoo! Whoo!

Ohh!

Ahhh!

Reporter.

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

Should we...?

Yeah.

What do we...

- Whoop! Sorry!
- Ohh!

Oh, didn't realize anybody
was down here.

Hi, Fauna.

Oh, what's... Is that guy okay?

What's wrong with that guy?
- Yeah, he's fine.

He just had a little bit
too much to drink is all.

- A lot of things to drink.
- Let's go find another room.

- He got tired.
- Come on, sweet pea.

- All right.
- Come on.

They... They saw me.

Come on. Let's go.

They saw me.

They saw me, too.

She said my name!

We got to...
We got to clean this place up.

Come on. Help me.

We'll roll him up in this.

Let's just go.
Please.

We can't!

They saw me
and she said my name,

and she saw you, too.

You... Can you help me?

All right, let me think.

Maybe we should drive.

Ahh.

I don't think that's how
you make a gin and tonic.

Do I look like a bartender?

I know where we can take him.

Great.

All right,
let's get this over with.

You...

Come on.
Let's go.

No, wait, wait, wait.

Huh?

We got to find out who he is.

He knows my grandfather.

Shit.

You left your fingerprints
all over the thing.

Oh, shit!

Yeah.

Find his wallet.

Got it.

Wake up, buttercup.

I'm gonna go take a piss.

My partner's gonna
ask you some questions.

We've got a lot to talk about.

Ohh!
Time to get up.

Where's the dog?

What dog?

The dog that shit in my mouth.

I'm gonna make you some coffee.

Yes.

Excuse me.

You saved my life.

Thank you.

Uh-huh.

There's an address.

Do you know who he is?

Who?

Ivanovich Victor Sepp.

I know him now.

Well, I-I don't know him,
but I've been seeing him.

He's been following me
around a long time... years.

Years?

Yeah.

You looking for Tamar, too?

Yeah.

You know where she is?

Maybe.

Maybe.

I'll make you a deal.

Find out why that guy was...

And then you and I will go
together and talk to Tamar.

Yeah. Okay, sure.
I can do that.

I can, uh, check his place out,
see what I can see.

I'll go today.

Why do you want to know?

Why are you looking
for Tamar so bad?

Tamar's not the, uh...
Not the story.

It's George Hodel.

She...

She knows something
or knew something.

What thing?

Uh, George Hodel was involved
in criminal activity,

and one of the thing...
One of the many things

he was doing
was running an abortion clinic

out of Hollywood,
which is illegal.

Abortion?
That's what this is about?

Well, it's about
other things, too,

but nothing I'm sure of.

Look, I'm not gonna
help you write a story

that hurts my mother
and my family.

So, leave her out.
And me.

No, don't write about me.
Don't ask about me, okay?

Yeah, I got it.

I just want the truth.
That's all.

I think maybe Tamar
is in Hawaii.

You get me a plane ticket
to Hawaii,

and we'll go
talk to her together.

I'll get you the complete
address when we get there.

Just promise me
you'll take me with you.

Hawaii, huh?

Shake my hand?

Yeah?

Mr. Sepp?
Message for you.

♪ Midnight ♪

♪ You've got to get there ♪

♪ At midnight ♪

♪ And you'll be met there by others ♪

♪ Like you ♪

♪ Brothers, eyes blue ♪

♪ Smiling on the street ♪

♪ I'll dream ♪

Yeah!

Let's hear it for the band!
Come on.

Give a hand for the band!

It feels good to be back in Los Angeles.

Be right back.

You sounded real good up there, Momma.

Like Lena Horne.

Well, you know,
singing's the one thing

that always came easy for me.

Don't matter
what the song's about,

I can sing it.

You know, Sammy Davis
heard me sing right there?

Right there.
Right here, back in the day.

He came up to me,
gave me his card.

He said he was gonna
take me to Capitol Records.

Sammy Davis.

So, where you been, huh?

Shacked up?

Momma, that man who used to
follow me around in Sparks...

Momma, I need to know
some things about that man

and about George Hodel.

He said your name, Momma.

I don't know nothing about it.

- I really need to know...
- You need to know some things?

Yes, I do. You need to
know how good you got it.

Shoot.

Compared to Mississippi?

That's not what
I'm talking about, Momma.

Did you know Dr. Hodel?

Did you?

He called you
Mrs. Greenwade.

Come on.

I see you dead
before I let them at you.

I can't protect nothing.
I can't control nothing.

But I can do that.

Violence...

It'll burn your heart,

mark you forever
if you don't let it go.

Now you know something.

You can't hide the truth
forever, Momma.

You need to come home
with me, baby,

'fore you break my heart.

I'm gonna find out everything,

and I don't care what it breaks.

- Hello, Mrs. Ellington.
- Good to see you.

Nice to see you.

- Hello.
- I'm so glad you could make it.

Oh, yes. Particularly.

Yeah. Thank you.

Ms. Huntington?

Hi.

You called me.
You remember?

I'm a... I'm a reporter.

Jay Singletary.

I'd like to talk about, uh...
About George Hodel.

I have no idea who you are.

If you could just take a moment
and take a look at this picture,

if that means anything to you.
Excuse me.

This man is bothering me.

Yes, ma'am.