Millennium (1996–1999): Season 1, Episode 11 - Weeds - full transcript

♪♪

♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ♪

♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR JOSH ♪

♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ♪♪

SIXTEEN. YOU'RE
PRACTICALLY A MAN NOW, JOSH.

WHERE'S MY SON? WHERE'S
MY... AH, THERE HE IS.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOSH. HI, DAD.

SORRY I'M LATE. HEY. HEY, JACK.

JOSH, WOULD YOU COME OUTSIDE
WITH ME? I WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK, FOLKS.

YOU LIKE IT? IT'S COOL.



I'M GONNA TAKE IT OUT.

UH, JUST BE HOME
BY CURFEW. YEAH.

HEY, IT'S OKAY. I'M... I'M
GOING HOME RIGHT NOW.

JOSH?

I DON'T KNOW HOW LATE YOU
WERE RUNNING AROUND LAST NIGHT.

JOSH?

IT'S NOT MY SON! OH, MY
GOD! THAT'S NOT MY SON!

MAY I HELP YOU? MY
NAME'S FRANK BLACK.

- SHERIFF GERLACH'S
EXPECTING ME.
- IT'S ALL RIGHT, MARTIN.

I GOT IT.

PARK RIGHT OVER HERE, MR. BLACK.

I TOOK THE CALL
FROM SEATTLE P.D.

I'M HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE
YOU, MR. BLACK, BUT, UH,

I CAN'T HONESTLY SAY I KNOW
EXACTLY HOW YOU CAN HELP US.



I WORK WITH A GROUP OF EX-LAW ENFORCEMENT
PEOPLE CALLED THE MILLENNIUM GROUP.

WE BRING OUR EXPERIENCE TO
DIFFICULT CASES LIKE THIS ONE.

AND, UH, YOU'VE SEEN
CASES LIKE THIS BEFORE?

WHEN I SAW IT ON THE NEWS, I RECOGNIZED
A CERTAIN TYPE OF CRIMINAL PATHOLOGY.

I THINK THE GROUP'S RESOURCES COULD PROVE
VALUABLE IN SOLVING THIS CASE QUICKLY.

BOY, I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU. THIS THING'S
GOT EVERYBODY HERE PRETTY RATTLED.

WE GOT WALLS AROUND
ALL THREE SQUARE MILES.

TWENTY-FOUR HOUR
PRIVATE SECURITY.

EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO TO KEEP YOUR
KIDS SAFE, THESE FOLKS HAVE DONE IT.

THE BOY THAT WENT MISSING LAST NIGHT...
YOU FOUND NO CONNECTION BETWEEN HIM...

AND THE DEAD BOY
RETURNED IN HIS PLACE?

WELL, NOTHIN' OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
THEY, UH... THEY LIVE THREE BLOCKS APART.

IT'S ALL IN THE
FILE RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S KIRK ORLANDO,
THE DECEASED.

HE DISAPPEARED THREE DAYS AGO
WALKING HOME FROM A BASKETBALL GAME.

WHAT'S THIS? EIGHT
DOLLARS WORTH OF CONFETTI.

KIRK'S FATHER FOUND IT IN THE MAILBOX
THE MORNING AFTER HIS SON DISAPPEARED.

DID YOU ALERT THE COMMUNITY
AFTER HE WAS TAKEN?

THE FAMILY ASKED
ME TO KEEP IT QUIET.

IT TURNS OUT I JUST MADE JOSH COMSTOCK
A SITTIN' DUCK FOR THAT SON OF A BITCH.

HEY, JOHN.

JOHN TASINI FROM THE
COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE.

THIS IS FRANK BLACK, JOHN, THE
MAN I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT.

DID YOU DETERMINE
THE CAUSE OF DEATH?

IT'S PRELIMINARY UNTIL I CAN RUN SOME
TESTS, BUT I'D SAY THE BOY BLED TO DEATH.

HIS HANDS WERE AMPUTATED CRUDELY,
PROBABLY BY SOME HOUSEHOLD TOOL...

GARDEN SHEARS OR
POSSIBLY A HEDGE TRIMMER.

I FOUND ANOTHER SUBCUTANEOUS
HEMATOMA LIKE THIS ON HIS ABDOMEN.

IT'S A CATTLE PROD.

THE KIDNAPPER USES IT
TO SUBDUE HIS VICTIMS.

- IT COULD BE.
- HE DIDN'T KILL THE BOY
IMMEDIATELY.

I'D PLACE THE TIME OF DEATH
WITHIN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

THAT MEANS HE
KEPT HIM ALIVE FOR 48.

THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE.

I FOUND BLOOD IN THE BOY'S MOUTH AND IN HIS
STOMACH. APPROXIMATELY FOUR OUNCES OF IT.

HUMAN BLOOD.

YOU THINK THIS KID WAS
FORCED TO DRINK HIS OWN BLOOD?

NOT HIS OWN. SOMEONE ELSE'S.

- I CAN'T CONFIRM THAT YET.
- CAN YOU SEND ME A COPY OF
THE RESULTS WHEN YOU GET 'EM?

I'D LIKE TO HAVE A COLLEAGUE
OF MINE TAKE A LOOK AT THEM.

SURE THING.

I ASSUME WE'RE LOOKIN' FOR
SOMEONE WITH A RAP SHEET.

I'M RUNNIN' A BACKGROUND
CHECK ON THE SUPPORT STAFF,

PRIVATE SECURITY, GARDENERS,
DELIVERY PEOPLE, ANYONE WHO HAD ACCESS.

PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA WANT TO HEAR THIS.
THEY THINK THEY'VE CREATED A SAFE HAVEN,

A COMMUNITY FREE OF ALL THE
DANGERS OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

NO ONE'S GONNA WANT TO BELIEVE
THAT A KILLER COMES FROM WITHIN.

UH, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE
MOSTLY ARE PROFESSIONALS, MR. BLACK.

THE VICTIMS WERE TAKEN
BRAZENLY, IN PUBLIC SPACES.

THE KILLER KNOWS THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS. HE FEELS SAFE HERE.

WHAT DOES THIS GUY WANT?

IF IT'S MONEY, WHY
DOESN'T HE ASK FOR IT?

HE SEES HIS VICTIM
AS UGLY, DECAYED.

THE MUTILATION SUGGESTS...

THAT HE WANTS US TO SEE
THE BOY IN THE SAME WAY.

HE'S TRYING TO
TELL US SOMETHING.

- WHAT?
- THAT HE WON'T STOP KILLING...

UNTIL HE MAKES US UNDERSTAND
WHATEVER IT IS HE'S TRYING TO COMMUNICATE.

PLEASE, DON'T HURT ME!

OH, GOD! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!

OH, NO! DON'T HURT ME, PLEASE!

DON'T! OH, GOD!

PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!

OH, GOD! PLEASE!

PLEASE!

WE ALL FEEL FOR WHAT TOM AND
LINDA COMSTOCK ARE GOING THROUGH,

AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THEM.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE CONCERNED
FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR OWN CHILDREN.

I WANT TO KNOW
WHAT'S BEING DONE.

AS SOME OF YOU ALREADY KNOW, THE BOARD
HAS VOTED TO MOVE CURFEW TO SUNDOWN...

AND TO INCREASE
SECURITY PATROLS.

THE SHERIFF HAS ASSURED ME THAT
EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE IS BEING DONE.

- BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!
- YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!

ONE CHILD IS DEAD.
ANOTHER ONE IS MISSING.

SOME OF US KNOW ALL
TOO WELL THE PAIN...

OF LOSING A CHILD.

I HOPE THIS TRAGEDY CAN
BRING US ALL TOGETHER,

THAT IT CAN STRENGTHEN THE TIES THAT
BIND US, RATHER THAN TEAR THEM APART.

- WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, ED, WE
DIDN'T COME TO LISTEN TO CRAP.
- WAIT YOUR TURN, BOB.

WE MOVED OUR FAMILIES
HERE TO BE SAFE FROM

THE KIND OF TRAGEDIES
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

- THAT'S RIGHT!

- NOW WE FIND OUT THE SHERIFF
WITHHELD THE TRUTH FROM US.

WHY? I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT
HE'S DOING TO FIND THIS MONSTER.

WHAT EXACTLY IS IT YOU WANT
TO KNOW, MR. BIRCKENBUEHL?

- DO YOU HAVE ANY SUSPECTS YET?
- NO. NOT YET.

THEN WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

THIS IS FRANK BLACK. MR. BLACK'S
A CRIMINAL CONSULTANT.

HE'S DRIVEN DOWN FROM SEATTLE
TO HELP US WORK ON THIS CASE.

THE KILLER IS BETWEEN
35 AND 45 YEARS OLD.

HE DRIVES A LATE MODEL
CAR, PROBABLY A MINIVAN...

OR A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE.

I BELIEVE HIS PARENTS WERE
DIVORCED WHEN HE WAS A CHILD.

IF HE'S MARRIED, HIS WIFE DOESN'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT THE CRIMES HE'S COMMITTING.

IN ALL LIKELIHOOD,

THE KILLER LIVES HERE
IN THE COMMUNITY.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT. YOUR DESCRIPTION
FITS HALF THE GUYS IN THIS ROOM.

WHAT DOES HE WANT? WHY IS THIS
MAN DOING THESE TERRIBLE THINGS?

HE DOESN'T WANT ANYTHING.

HE'S INSANE.

- DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT?
- NO.

I KNOW YOU DIDN'T WANT HIM
TO HAVE THAT MOTORCYCLE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MOTORCYCLE.

IT'S ABOUT YOU RUNNING
AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY.

LINDA.

JOSH?

JOSH? JOSH?

JOSH? JOSH? JOSH?

JOSH? JOSH?

- JOSH?
- JOSH?

JOSH?

JOSH? TOM.

YES? WHAT?

I JUST KEEP ASKING
MYSELF, WHY ME?

MY FAMILY?

WHY NOT THE VAN HORNS ACROSS
THE STREET? OR THE TRIMBELLS?

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS SELFISH OF ME, BUT
I... I JUST CAN'T MAKE ANY SENSE OUT OF IT.

THE KILLER KNOWS
YOU, MR. COMSTOCK.

HE TARGETED YOUR
SON FOR A REASON.

THE NUMBER, 331.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS?

I MET A WOMAN TWO MONTHS AGO.

SHE'S A CONSULTANT FOR A FIRM
THAT DOES DESIGN WORK FOR US.

YOU KNOW,

I STARTED SEEING HER
A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK,

AT THE HARTMAN HOTEL, ROOM 331.

HAVE YOU TOLD YOUR WIFE?

ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, JOSH
SAW ME LEAVING THE HOTEL WITH HER.

WE HAD A HUGE FIGHT.

IT WAS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR
ME. I REALIZED I'D BEEN A FOOL.

DOES ANYONE ELSE
KNOW ABOUT THIS?

NO, I... I SWORE I'D NEVER
TELL ANYONE, LET ALONE LINDA.

WHAT WOULD BE THE
POINT? YOU HAVE TO TELL HER.

I KNOW.

THE LAST THING SHE
NEEDS TO HEAR NOW.

AAH!

DO YOU HAVE A HEARING
DISORDER? EXCUSE ME?

I WAS JUST WONDERING.
DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME TELL

YOU TO TURN OFF THE
TV SET 20 MINUTES AGO?

- WHY? IT'S NOT THAT LATE.
- IT'S ALMOST MIDNIGHT.

DON'T MAKE ME
COME IN HERE AGAIN.

PUT THE EARTHLING
BACK IN THE CAGE.

MR. BLACK?

THERE'S SOMEONE OUTSIDE.
SAYS SHE'S HERE TO SEE YOU.

CHERYL ANDREWS. SHE'S A
PATHOLOGIST WITH THE GROUP.

I ASKED HER TO HELP US
WITH THE INVESTIGATION.

TELL HER TO COME IN, JERRY.

CHERYL, THANKS FOR COMIN' OUT. THE
SECURITY HERE IS EXCELLENT, FRANK.

I'VE BEEN STOPPED TWICE
SINCE I ENTERED THE GATES.

VICTIM NUMBER THREE?

CHARLES BIRCKENBUEHL, 17.

KIDNAPPER PULLED HIM
OUT OF HIS OWN BEDROOM

WINDOW. HAIR AND FIBER
HAS TURNED UP NOTHING YET.

YOU'LL WANT TO SEE THIS. THE BLOOD
IN THE STOMACH OF THE FIRST VICTIM...

IS THAT OF A WHITE
MALE, TYPE A-POSITIVE.

IT'S ALSO THE BLOOD USED TO
PAINT 331 ON THE BEDCLOTHES.

FRANK?

I SPOKE AT A COMMUNITY
MEETING LAST NIGHT

TRYING TO DRAW THE KILLER
OUT WITH HALF-TRUTHS,

SAYING HE WANTED NOTHING.

I WANTED TO PROVOKE
HIM INTO ACTING IN HASTE,

SENDING US ANOTHER MESSAGE
THAT MIGHT HELP LEAD US TO HIM.

INSTEAD, HE JUST
TOOK ANOTHER VICTIM.

THIS WAS PLANNED, FRANK.

YOU DIDN'T PROMPT HIM TO ACT.
YOU JUST DIDN'T DISRUPT HIS PATTERN.

WHY DIDN'T HE SEND
ANOTHER MESSAGE?

MAYBE HE DID.

HERE IT IS. CHERYL?

I'LL HAVE THE WATER ANALYZED.

I DON'T GET IT.

THE TWO BOYS... CHARLES BIRCKENBUEHL AND
JOSH COMSTOCK... DID THEY KNOW EACH OTHER?

THEY'RE BOTH JUNIORS
AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY'RE ENROLLED IN A
COUPLE OF THE SAME CLASSES.

NOTHING MORE SPECIFIC? CLUBS, UH,
SOCIAL GROUPS THAT THEY WERE IN TOGETHER?

WELL, THEY WERE
BOTH ON THE SWIM TEAM.

COME ON! LET'S GO!

COME ON, MIKE. YOU'VE GOT
TO KEEP YOUR CHIN TUCKED.

COACH BURKE.

THIS IS FRANK BLACK.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY LUCK
FINDING THIS GUY? NOT YET, SIR.

WE WERE HOPING YOU
MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP US.

ANYTHING I CAN DO. ANYTHING.

YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MUCH
THIS HAS UPSET ALL OF US.

CHARLIE AND JOSH
WERE OUTSTANDING KIDS.

FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO
TWO MEMBERS OF THE TEAM...

HAS THERE BEEN ANYONE THAT'S
TAKEN AN UNUSUAL INTEREST?

ANYONE WITHOUT A CHILD ON THE TEAM
THAT'S REGULARLY ATTENDED THE MEETS?

NO, NOT THAT I CAN THINK OF.

WHAT ABOUT THE TWO BOYS?
HAD THEY BEEN ACTING STRANGELY?

OH, NO. THEY WERE
BOTH GOOD BOYS.

JOSH HAD BEEN HAVING SOME DIFFICULTIES
AT HOME AND TROUBLE WITH HIS FATHER.

OTHER THAN THAT...
THANK YOU, MR. BURKE.

MR. BLACK. PLEASE,

CALL ME IF THERE'S
ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO.

I'M JUST... I'M JUST VERY ANXIOUS TO
FIND THESE TWO BOYS SAFE AND SOUND.

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW HIM?

WELL ENOUGH. HE'S LIVED HERE A
COUPLE OF YEARS. THE KIDS LIKE HIM.

HE'S LABILE. HE'S ON SOME KIND OF
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION. HE'S ANXIOLYTIC.

WELL, HE'S HAD A ROUGH GO OF
IT LATELY. WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

HE GOT DIVORCED LAST YEAR.
THEN HIS SON DIED SIX MONTHS AGO.

WHAT HAPPENED? HIT-AND-RUN
DRIVER JUST OUTSIDE THE GATE.

CARL WAS ONLY EIGHT. AND YOU
NEVER FOUND THE MAN RESPONSIBLE?

NO.

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR THE FIRST VICTIM ARE
BEING HELD THIS AFTERNOON. I'D LIKE TO GO.

WHAT FOR? THE
KIDNAPPER MIGHT BE THERE...

TO SEE THE EFFECT OF
HIS WORK FIRSTHAND.

HOW ARE YOU GONNA
KNOW THAT? I WON'T. I JUST

WANT TO LET HIM KNOW
I'M PAYING ATTENTION.

WHEN A CHILD DIES, WE
SEEK MEANING FROM GOD.

"WHY MUST THE INNOCENT
SUFFER?" WE ASK.

AND WHEN THAT DEATH
IS A VIOLENT DEATH,

THE PAIN IS COMPOUNDED
BY IMAGES OF HORROR.

IMAGES THAT THREATEN TO BLOT OUT THE
MEMORY OF THE INNOCENCE THAT ONCE WAS.

AND YET, GOD OFFERS US NO
MEANING, NOT IN THE PERSONAL SENSE.

SO WE ARE TEMPTED TO
STRUGGLE WITH DEATH,

ANGRILY BLAMING OURSELVES OR AN
UNJUST UNIVERSE FOR THE TAKING OF A LIFE...

FOR WHICH THERE SEEMS
NO POSSIBLE REASON.

WE CAN NEVER KNOW WHY
KIRK WAS TAKEN FROM US.

WE CAN ONLY CHERISH THE
INNOCENCE THAT ONCE WAS,

KEEPING IT ALIVE
BY REMEMBERING IT.

AND PRAY FOR THE

PRESERVATION OF
INNOCENCE IN THE FACE OF EVIL.

- FRANK?
- I JUST GOT
A STRANGE FEELING...

LIKE SOMEBODY HAD FOLLOWED
ME HOME. YOU THINK SOMEONE DID?

NO.

YOU WANT TO COME
TO BED? IN A MINUTE.

SOMETHING ELSE IS
BOTHERING YOU. WHAT IS IT?

I WAS THINKIN' ABOUT THIS
CASE, AN OLD ONE I HAD.

IT FELT A LOT LIKE THE
ONE I'M WORKIN' ON NOW.

WHAT HAPPENED?

THE KIDNAPPER PICKED
UP KIDS AT THE BUS STOPS,

TOOK 'EM TO HIS CABIN IN THE WOODS,
TORTURED THEM FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT DAYS.

THEN HE'D RETURN THEM TO THE BUS
STOPS AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.

HOW'D YOU CATCH HIM?

ONE DAY HE JUST
STOPPED. WE NEVER DID.

- OH, I HOPE I'M NOT DISTURBING. I...
- THAT'S ALL RIGHT, JACK.

I SAW YOU WERE UP, BUT I JUST
DIDN'T WANT TO RUN THE RISK...

OF WAKIN' THE LITTLE ONE
UP BY RINGIN' THE BELL, SO...

- DO YOU NEED SOMETHING?
- UH, OH, I JUST WANTED
TO DROP THIS OFF.

UH, SOMEBODY KNOCKED
ON MY DOOR A FEW MINUTES

AGO AND PROBABLY GOT THE
WRONG HOUSE BY MISTAKE.

- DID YOU SEE THE MAN
WHO LEFT IT?
- UH, NO. NO, HE JUST TOOK OFF.

BUT I FIGURED IT MUST
BE IMPORTANT THOUGH.

THANKS, JACK.

OH. GOOD... OH, GOOD NIGHT.

- GOOD NIGHT.
- GOOD NIGHT.

THE COACH'S LIGHT'S STILL ON.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE BOYS SAID
THEY SAW THE POLICE QUESTION HIM.

SO WHAT?

THE MAN LOST HIS OWN
SON, FOR GOD'S SAKES.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT
PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF, YOU

KNOW? EVEN THE ONES
YOU THINK YOU KNOW BEST.

- YOU GUYS ALL RIGHT?
- YEAH. YOU SEEN ANYTHING?

NO. NOTHIN' YET. I'M HEADIN'
ON OVER TO THE EAST WALL.

GOT MY CELL PHONE IF YOU
NEED ANYTHING. WE'RE FINE.

YOU KNOW, IF WE DO CATCH THIS
GUY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'LL HAPPEN.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I, UH, I BROUGHT
THIS. JUST IN CASE.

YOU GONNA SHOOT THIS GUY, TOM?

I DON'T KNOW.

I'VE HAD THAT THING IN MY
BEDSIDE DRAWER FOR SIX YEARS,

UNLOADED, JUST IN CASE.

TONIGHT IT'S LOADED.

TOM, TAKE A LOOK.

SON OF A BITCH!

MY GOD. IT'S... IT'S JUST A KID.

HIS NAME'S RICHARD DRAPER.

HAD A LITTLE RENDEZVOUS
PLANNED WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND.

APPARENTLY HE DIDN'T WANT TO
GET CAUGHT VIOLATING THE CURFEW.

WHAT'S HIS CONDITION? HE'S GOT A
CONCUSSION, A FEW CUTS AND BRUISES.

PARAMEDICS THINK
HE'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

WHAT ABOUT THE MEN?

THEY WERE ON
NEIGHBORHOOD PATROL.

BIRCKENBUEHL'S
GONE HOME ALREADY.

MR. COMSTOCK'S RIGHT OVER
THERE. HE'S PRETTY SHAKY.

I TOLD HIM I'D GIVE HIM A
RIDE HOME. I'LL TAKE HIM.

IT'S LIKE A NIGHTMARE
I CAN'T WAKE UP FROM.

I'M GOING HOME, BUT I DON'T
KNOW WHY. I CAN'T SLEEP.

THE HOUSE IS EMPTY.

YOU TOLD YOUR WIFE
ABOUT THE AFFAIR.

SHE LEFT ME THIS MORNING.

KIDNAPPER SENT ME SOMETHING
EARLIER THIS EVENING... A PAINT SWATCH.

DOES THAT MEAN ANYTHING
TO YOU? NO. SHOULD IT?

IN ALL LIKELIHOOD IT WAS A MESSAGE
HE INTENDED FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND.

BUT YOU DON'T.

NOT YET.

MR. COMSTOCK, DID YOU GIVE YOUR
KEYS TO ANYONE? A NEIGHBOR OR FRIEND?

- NO. WHY?
- I JUST SAW SOMEONE INSIDE.

JOSH!

OH, GOD, JOSH.

NO SIGNS OF FORCED ENTRY.

THE GUY PROBABLY USED
JOSH'S KEYS TO GET IN THE HOUSE.

HOW'S MR. COMSTOCK? HE'S IN THE
BEDROOM ON THE PHONE WITH HIS WIFE.

SHE'S GONNA MEET 'EM AT THE
HOSPITAL. I'D SAY HE'S GREATLY RELIEVED.

WHAT'S HIS CONDITION?
HE'S IN SHOCK.

LOWERED BODY
TEMPERATURE, DILATED PUPILS.

HE HAS BURN MARKS ON HIS CHEST SIMILAR
TO THE CATTLE PRODS ON THE FIRST VICTIM.

HE WAS MADE TO INGEST
BLOOD LIKE THE OTHER BOY.

THAT WOULD APPEAR TO
BE THE CASE. PARAMEDICS

ARE GOING TO TAKE HIM
TO THE HOSPITAL NOW.

- CAN WE TALK TO HIM FIRST?
- HE WON'T BE ABLE TO
GIVE US A DESCRIPTION.

WHY NOT? THE KIDNAPPER WOULDN'T
HAVE RETURNED HIM IF HE COULD.

LOOK, MAKIN' THESE KIDS DRINK BLOOD
DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE EITHER.

THE KIDNAPPER SEES HIMSELF
AS A HOLY FIGURE, A PURIFIER.

HE MAKES THE IMPURE INGEST HIS
BLOOD, SO THAT THEY CAN BE CLEANSED.

WHAT ABOUT CHARLIE BIRCKENBUEHL?

IS HE GONNA PURIFY HIM TOO?

THERE'S A REASON THE FIRST
BOY WAS KILLED AND JOSH WASN'T...

SOME CONNECTION
WE HAVEN'T SEEN YET.

YEAH.

OH, SOMEBODY HELP ME! SOMEBODY
GET ME OUT OF HERE, PLEASE!

OH, HELP. PLEASE.

GOD DID NOT MAKE DEATH.

HE DOESN'T REJOICE IN THE
DESTRUCTION OF THE LIVING.

OH, GOD!

BUT HIS JUSTICE IS UNDYING.

OH, GOD! OH, GOD, PLEASE!

- YEAH?
- FRANK. AM I INTERRUPTING DINNER?

- NO, I WAS JUST
LOOKIN' OVER YOUR E-MAIL.
- DOES IT MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU?

IT MIGHT. WE'VE
GOT ONE DEAD BOY,

ONE RETURNED ALIVE, AND ONE
CHARLIE BIRCKENBUEHL STILL MISSING.

I THINK THE UNSOLVED DEATH OF THE
SWIM COACH'S SON MAY BE RELATED.

I JUST GOT THE RESULTS
BACK FROM THE LAB. I

THOUGHT YOU'D WANT
TO HEAR THEM RIGHT AWAY.

- GO AHEAD.
- WE ISOLATED
THE FOREIGN SUBSTANCE...

THAT KILLED THE GOLDFISH IN
CHARLIE BIRCKENBUEHL'S BEDROOM.

IT WAS SCOTCH...
SINGLE MALT I'D SAY.

YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO PULL ANY
PRINTS OFF THE PAINT SWATCH?

NO. IT'S CALLED FOREST GREEN,

CODE NUMBER 528.

IT'S A THREE-STEP ENAMEL USED
IN LATE MODEL ML 750 MINIVANS.

THAT WAS THE CAR HE WAS DRIVING.

- WHO?
- THE DRUNK DRIVER
THAT KILLED COACH BURKE'S SON.

YOU THINK THE ACCIDENT SOMEHOW
TRIGGERED THE KIDNAPPER'S BREAK?

I THINK THE KIDNAPPER WAS
DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THIS.

IT CHANGED THE WAY HE
SAW PEOPLE AROUND HIM.

HE BECAME OUTRAGED,
DISILLUSIONED.

HE WANTS TO ROOT OUT
SIN, EXPOSE HYPOCRISY.

I'LL CALL SHERIFF GERLACH. WE
SHOULD MEET AT BIRCKENBUEHL'S HOUSE.

WHAT'S THERE?
SOMETHING WE OVERLOOKED.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

OF THE THREE FATHERS,
MR. BIRCKENBUEHL,

YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT HASN'T RECEIVED
A COMMUNICATION FROM THE KIDNAPPER.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE
DEAD FISH? I DON'T THINK

THAT WAS DIRECTED AT
YOU. IT WAS MEANT FOR ME.

I THINK WE'RE OVERLOOKING
SOMETHING HERE.

SOMETHING THAT MIGHT
SAVE YOUR SON'S LIFE.

THEN YOU KNOW WHAT
HE WANTS, THE KIDNAPPER?

HE WANTS YOU TO
CONFESS, MR. BIRCKENBUEHL.

CONFESS TO WHAT? I HAVEN'T
DONE ANYTHING WRONG.

HE BELIEVES YOU HAVE, THAT THE SINS
OF THE FATHER ARE VISITED ON THE SON.

AFTER MR. COMSTOCK
CONFESSED HIS SIN,

HIS SON WAS RELEASED ALIVE.

THE FIRST BOY WAS
KILLED BECAUSE HIS FATHER

DIDN'T CONFESS HIS SIN,
ONE INVOLVING MONEY.

HE'S WARNING YOU TO CONFESS WHAT
YOU'VE DONE IN ORDER TO SAVE YOUR SON.

FRANK.

THIS IS NOT YOUR SON'S
BALL, MR. BIRCKENBUEHL.

- BUT IT HAS HIS INITIALS ON IT.
- THIS BALL BELONGS
TO COACH BURKE'S SON,

CARL, THE BOY THAT WAS
KILLED BY A HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER.

YOU HAVE AN EVIDENCE BAG, CHERYL?
WILL YOU HOLD IT RIGHT UNDER HERE?

SHERIFF, MY CLIENT INSISTS
HE'S ABSOLUTELY INNOCENT...

OF ANY CHARGES RELATING
TO THE DEATH OF CARL BURKE.

I DON'T CARE IF YOUR CLIENT
INSISTS HE'S THE KING OF PRUSSIA.

I'M BRINGIN' HIM IN. UNDER THESE
RATHER UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES,

HE HAS AGREED TO BE TAKEN
IN PUBLICLY FOR QUESTIONING,

BUT HE EXPECTS THAT HIS COOPERATION
WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

IS THAT ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY? WE DON'T WANT TO

HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

YOU THINK THIS IS
GONNA WORK, FRANK?

IF IT DOESN'T, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT WILL.

WHAT'S GOING ON? IT'S BOB
BIRCKENBUEHL. HE'S BEING ARRESTED.

WATCH YOUR HEAD. FOR WHAT?

KILLING COACH BURKE'S SON. THEY'RE
TAKING HIM DOWN TO GIVE A STATEMENT.

BOB?

I KNOW. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

GO ON AHEAD THEN.

YOU HAVE A PLAN "B"?

YOU DON'T BELIEVE
HE'S TAKEN THE BAIT.

HE'S PUSHING IT. THE OTHER BOYS
WERE RETURNED IN UNDER 72 HOURS.

- IT'S ALMOST THAT NOW.
- SHERIFF,

WE GOT A MAN
APPROACHING THE HOUSE...

FROM THE FRONT WALK. A MAN'S JUST COME
UP THE WALK. HE'S APPROACHING THE HOUSE.

COACH. WHAT ARE YOU DOIN' HERE?

I FOUND THIS IN MY MAILBOX
WHEN I GOT BACK FROM WORK.

IT'S ADDRESSED TO HIM.

DAD? DAD, I'M SCARED.

I'M SICK, DAD.

I'M REALLY SICK.

I WANT YOU TO GET ME
OUT OF HERE, PLEASE.

HE WANTS ME TO TELL YOU.

HE SAYS WHAT YOU'VE
DONE ISN'T ENOUGH.

HE SAYS HE'S MERCIFUL,
BUT HE SAYS HE'S JUST.

HE SAYS FOR MY SAKE, YOU HAVE
TO PAY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE,

THAT IF YOU'VE TAKEN A LIFE...

THEN YOUR LIFE MUST
BE TAKEN IN RETURN.

PLAY IT AGAIN, PLEASE.

WAIT. I CAN'T LISTEN
TO THAT AGAIN.

- MR. BIRCKENBUEHL.
- YEAH?

WE'LL FIND YOUR SON.

THE ECHO SUGGESTS A LARGE,
LOW-CEILINGED ROOM. AN ABANDONED BUILDING?

POSSIBLY A BASEMENT?

DAD? DAD, I'M SCARED.

I'M SICK, DAD.

I'M REALLY SICK. STOP IT THERE.

- DID YOU HEAR THAT?
- YES.

THERE'S A SOUND, SOMETHING
IN THE DISTANT BACKGROUND.

REWIND IT A FEW SECONDS
UNTIL AFTER HE SAYS, "I'M SICK."

SICK, DAD. I'M REALLY SICK.

WHAT IS THAT?

I KNOW.

IS THERE A VIEWING AREA
UNDER THE POOL? I THINK SO.

THERE HAS TO BE AN ACCESS TO IT.

I'LL GET THE KEYS!

WE'RE WORKING IN THE
DARK HERE. CHARLIE!

HE MAY HAVE MOVED
TO ANOTHER LOCATION.

LET'S SPLIT UP. MOVE QUIETLY.

FRANK? OVER HERE!

I THINK I'VE FOUND
SOMETHING HERE.

FOLLOW THE SOUND OF MY VOICE.

- CHERYL?
- FRANK!

I'VE GOT HIM!

HE'S OKAY! IT'S ALL RIGHT,
CHARLIE. YOU'RE GONNA BE JUST FINE.

AAH!

CHERYL!

HEY. IT'S OVER.

I'M THEIR ONLY HOPE. THE FATHERS
OF THESE BOYS WERE ALL LIARS.

- THEY TRIED TO HIDE THEIR SINS.
- YOU'RE DONE HERE.

YOU'VE SEEN WHAT
THESE MEN LOOK LIKE.

YOU SEE WHAT THEY'LL DO TO THEIR CHILDREN.
THEY'LL MAKE THEM JUST THE WAY THEY ARE...

SICK AND CORRUPT.

DROP IT, ED!

I TRIED TO HELP THEM.

I CARED ABOUT THESE BOYS.

WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE?

DROP THE WEAPON.

WE NEED AN AMBULANCE HERE, PAUL.

I'M ALL RIGHT. I'M
ALL RIGHT, FRANK.

I SAVED HIM. I MADE HIS FATHER
PAY THE PRICE FOR WHAT HE DID.

WHERE'S BIRCKENBUEHL?

IN HIS BEDROOM.

HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN HERE?

I MADE THIS!