NOS4A2 (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - The Shorter Way - full transcript

Subtitles by explosiveskull

Mom? Ohh!

What is it, Danny?
Can I sleep with you?

I could go. No, no, no.
He's too old for this.

Let's not play this game
tonight, Daniel.

Please?

I feel lonesome.

Like I'm the only person
in the whole world.

Go back to bed, honey.

You're up past your bedtime,
Daniel Moore.

Daniel?



Hello.

My name
is Charlie Manx.

And I understand what it is
to feel lonesome.

To feel like
you're the only person...

in the whole world.

No, no.

Don't fret, my boy.

Those presents
will return to you

just as soon as we arrive
at Christmasland.

Oh, it's a very special place
where every day is Christmas Day

and unhappiness
is against the law.

Would you like
to go there?

I want my mom.

Daniel!



Mom! Mom!

Mom!

Your mother wasn't interested
in your games, Daniel Moore,

and she isn't interested
in you.

You just wait
till we get to Christmasland.

Everybody loves games
there.

No, baby! Run!

- Vic? Oh, my God!
- Hi!

- Hi.
- Hi.

I saw your mother,
but I didn't realize... Yeah, no, I know.

I'm just helping her out
for the summer.

Cool. I could never work
with my mother.

I think I'd kill her.
Yeah.

Oh, speaking
of my mother...

Where are you applying?

Oh, you know. All over.

You probably get early
admissions, you smart bitch.

How, um... How's Exeter?

Ah, a shitshow.

Oh. All AP classes,
plus sports and the internship.

My mother will kill herself
if I don't get into an Ivy.

Yeah, well, you're real smart,
so you will.

Man! Vic McQueen.

Last time I saw you,

your dad took me for a ride
on his Harley.

Eighth grade graduation.

You screamed
all the way down the block.

He drove like a psycho.
Probably, yeah.

Are you guys going to
Winnipesaukee for Labor Day?

Yeah. My parents are throwing
a party at the lake house.

Oh.

You should come!
It'll be like old times.

Come. I
don't hear vacuuming!

Oh! Willa!

Sorry, Mrs. McQueen.
Let me get out of your hair.

You should come.

- Okay.
- Bye.

- Bye.
- Bye.

You have been
such a big help this summer.

Maybe we could keep it up
after you graduate?

I know cleaning toilets isn't
glamorous, but it's steady work.

I make my own hours.

And the money's pretty good,
don'tcha think?

We could go into business
together. It'd be fun.

Vicki.

You got one year
of high school left.

You got to do something
when it's over.

Well,
Willa's going to college.

Yeah.

Willa's parents
have money.

Yeah, I know.

Those college kids
can't get work these days.

They got to move back in
with their parents.

Your father and I,
we can't support forever, Vicki.

We can't afford to.
Yes, I know, Ma.

Got it running? Yeah.

You know what they say about
Harleys, Brat.

Yeah.
They Harley ever run.

How's the cleaning biz?

Keep an eye on your mom?

I don't understand why people
can't clean their own houses.

I mean, Mrs. Brewster
doesn't have a job.

Her kids are in school.

Like, what does she even do
all day?

I don't know,
but it's good she does,

or we'd be
out on the street.

I paid the mortgage,
Linda.

Great!

What about the power, the car
insurance, the credit card?

Yeah,
where is the credit card?

My credit card?

Our credit card.

What time'd you get in?

Oh, come on.
You just got here. What?

You really want to start that?
What? It's a simple question.

I'm not a child, Linda.

Joe.

Let me talk to her.

What's going on? Maggie,
you can't be here right now, okay?

We're...
We've had a break-in.

- In Here, Iowa?
- Yeah, okay.

Is someone gunning
for Karen's Hummel collection?

Oh, my God.
I can't let you back there.

Joe, where's Danny?
He's missing.

He was supposed to come to
the library for literacy today.

I w-was gonna walk him.

Maggie,
let us handle it.

We don't know
what we're dealing with,

and I don't want you involved
in anything dangerous, okay?

Just go to work.
We'll find him.

Go.

I was grocery
shopping for this house.

For our house, Chris.

You lost the credit card.

You lost it, okay?
No, I gave it back to you

after we got back from
Market Basket last week.

No, you didn't. That's bullshit!
You lost it at the bar,

buying rounds
for God knows who.

I told you,
I was not at the bar!

Bullshit, Chris!
Why'd you marry me?

You clearly think
I'm a friggin' moron.

No, Chris, I think
you're a friggin' drunk.

You lost the credit
card, you lunatic.

Not me. You lost it, just
the way you lose everything.

You wonder why I
can't stand being in this house,

why I can't stand being under
this roof with you?

This is why, Linda...
all this.

God damn you, Chris!

No, you lost it
at the bar, just, like,

buying rounds for God knows who.
Oh, my God.

Why'd you even marry me if you
think I'm such a friggin' moron?

Ah, I don't think
you're a friggin' moron.

I think you're
a friggin' drunk.

You lost the credit card,
you lunatic. Not me.

You lost it, just the way
you lose everything!

Hello.

Who do we have here?

Hey, maggot.

Hey, weasel.

Take me for a ride?

Not without a helmet.

Let's see what you got.
Hey, Mittens.

Looking good.

He shit under the bed, so Mom
threw him out, and he took off.

Steve said
he's gonna die out here.

Well, you tell
Steve every cat dies.

Not every cat lives.

When's our next
movie night?

Next time
you need a babysitter.

You okay?
Hm?

You look... weird.

It's a headache.

It's for you.
Feel better.

Thanks, kiddo.

- Haley, come on in!
- Ma! I'm starved!

Hey, Brat. VIC: Hey.

You want a tonic? No thanks.

Mom!

Mom?

Hey, Dad,
is Mom lying down?

She's supposed to take me
to art class.

Yeah, I don't know
what she's doing.

Well...

Uh, you know what, Vic?

Um, your mom and I, um...

You know, your mom...

I don't want to clean houses
with her after I graduate.

I mean, there's nothing wrong
with cleaning houses.

I just...

She thinks
it's all I can do.

That's not true.

I want to go to college.

Good. You should.
You're smart.

For art.

You know that I, uh...

I wanted to be a composer
when I was your age?

I knew
you had that band.

Yeah. Those jerks drank
more than they played, but...

Yeah, but you guys got to go
different places, travel.

Yeah, a couple...
Boston, New York.

But I, um...

I thought that I was gonna
do to, like, a real music school

when I got
out of the service.

And it was
too expensive?

Your mom got pregnant,
and I had to get a job.

You know.
Couldn't do it.

Mm.

But you...

you're young,
and you're brilliant,

and you're unencumbered.

You know,
you'll make it work.

Mom says I'm not even...

Mom is just scared, Brat.
You know?

She's lived in Haverhill
since the day she was born.

There's a whole world
out there.

You let fear dictate your life,
you'll miss it.

I just got
one piece of advice.

Yeah?

Never get married.

And never, ever...

- Ever.
- ...have any kids.

- Hey, Dad.
- Yeah?

You should play more.

Hop on.

You good?

Matty,
how's your father doing?

- He'll be out in a few days.
- Good.

That's real good.
What's up, Molly May?

- Hi, Chris.
- Craigster!

- Yeah?
- See you on the job tomorrow.

- You got it.
- All right, good man.

Brat,
love you like a big dog.

Love you.

What are you, adopted? Think maybe
Linda got fresh with the mailman.

Nine months later,
straightedge here was born.

Ah, well, at least I wasn't scraped out of
a stale crack pipe like you two winners.

I hate this town.

Same.

- Ooh!
- What?

Bing Partridge, you're about
to lose your friggin' mind.

Oh, is it "Doctor Incubus"?
The very next installment.

Aw!

Geez, I haven't even returned
"Doctor Boomerang" yet.

Guess that makes it
"Doctor Stick."

That's a lot of doctors.

We got to get to class.
So, can't be late.

Let me know
what you think, huh?

I think you trading books
with this old fool

makes you the nicest girl
in school.

Oh!

Geez.

Well, it's a pretty low bar at
William White, Bing, but thanks.

All right, we can't be late,
so let's go.

All right.
Bye, Bing.

Bye.

Where is Daniel?

Mm-hmm.
That's a good start.

That's good progress.

The model
doesn't inspire you?

I'm sorry.

Beautiful line quality
and interesting composition,

as usual.

Mrs. Simonson,
do you think I could, um,

you know,
get into art school?

Work up a portfolio, and I think
you have a shot at RISD.

RISD's expensive.

Vic, apply
for financial aid.

Plenty of kids do it.

That reminds me of
the old Shorter Way Bridge

off of Pittman Street.

I had
my first kiss there.

I was devastated
when they tore it down.

The covered bridge
off Pittman?

They tore it down?

About 15 years ago.

Are you sure?
People thought it was a public hazard.

I guess it probably was.
Shame.

You left a
real mess back there, Mr. Ives.

A real mess.

Dead bodies.
One of your infernal syringes.

And worst of all, the boy heard
his mother scream.

Terrible trauma
for a boy of that age.

I didn't think that the mother
would have a man over

in the middle of the night. Oh, you know
exactly the sort of parents we're dealing with.

The sort of women.

You're right.
I should've anticipated.

Your lack of foresight will be
a boon for the local police.

I'm sorry, Mr. Manx.
It would be easier to accept your apology

if it were the first time.

But it's becoming
a pattern.

Now, Mr. Ives,

you will not be going with us
to Christmasland.

But this kid is the tenth... If I've told
you once, I've told you a thousand times.

There's a nice list
and a naughty list...

Please, Mr. Manx. It won't
happen again. I promise.

...and you've gotten yourself
on my naughty list.

Aah!

You killed him.

He was a very bad man.

Bad people
ought to be punished.

He hurt my mother,
didn't he?

Under no circumstances

could we take him with us
to Christmasland.

Not one in a million
is allowed in.

Only those
who truly deserve it.

Like me.

Like you.

Oh, my God.

Dad, eat some stuff.
It's freaky.

Oh, you just keep getting
better and better.

Oh, well, I practice a lot
because I have no friends.

Stop it.
No, it's true.

Since Willa left for Exeter

and Craig started
getting high all the time

and skipping school.

And nobody else likes me
at William White

because, you know,
I... I read.

- Well.
- Well.

So they think I'm weird, which
I probably am, to be frank.

Well, it beats the hell
out of being normal.

Drawing's just...

something
I can do by myself and...

You know,
when I'm really into it,

when I'm on, you know,
like a roll, I, um...

Well,
it's like being on a bike.

My teacher says that,
uh...

Here. Um... nope.

...that one reminds her
of the Shorter Way Bridge.

Oh, my God, yeah!
Wow.

We used to get into, uh,
a lot of trouble on that bridge.

Oh!

You know, I helped demo
that bridge when you were a kid.

Felt like
I was blowing up my youth.

Mm.

Are there any other ones like it
out in the woods?

No, not like that.
Mnh-mnh.

Mm. No, they don't make
'em like that anymore.

All right.
Burger, burger.

Frappe, frappe, frappe.

- Hi. There you are.
- Thank you.

Who's ready for fireworks,
huh? Vicki?

I'm ready.

Lin.
Mm?

Look at this.

Oh, a bridge!
Very nice, honey.

I'd hate to meet a bear
on that bridge.

You know, her teacher thinks
that she can get into art school.

Oh, I'm sure she could.
Is her teacher gonna pay for it?

Hm.

I could get financial aid.
Oh, that means loans.

A pile of debt before
you're 20 years old?

No. Vicki's too smart
for that.

Eat up!
Let's get to the lake.

Willa invited me
to her lake house.

Can you look after that?
You got it.

Vicki!
The fireworks!

I'll watch them
over there.

I thought we were gonna watch
them togeth... Linda. Linda.

She's 18. All right?
Let her be with her friend.

Vic. Vic!

What? You know how to
get back to the motel?

I could walk there blindfolded,
Dad.

I'll see you tonight.

Vic McQueen! VIC: Oh!

As I live and breathe! Ohh!
How are you, Mrs. Brewster?

Uh, Willa invited me.

And I was so glad she did.

Oh, you're a good egg,
Vic.

Well, thank you.
Welcome.

A lemonade.

Enjoy.

Thank you.

Oh, oh!

Before I forget...

Mm.

You lost the credit card,
you lunatic. Not me.

You lost it, just the way
you lose everything.

Uh, did Willa find this?

Your mother must have
dropped it this morning.

I meant to give it to her
when she was over,

but we were rushing around
trying to get up here.

You all right?

Yeah, sorry. Um, my parents
were looking for this.

Willa's over there
with the rest of her friends.

Thank you. Bye.
Have a good time.

Oh, my God! Vic! Hey!
Ah, you came!

- Hi.
- Hey!

Come here, come here,
come here.

You guys, this is Vic.
Everybody...

- Hi.
- ...this is Vic.

We grew up together.
She's my best friend.

- Maggie Leigh-Hi.
- Hi.

Vodka?

Oh, no, thank you.

Thought all Haverhill townies
were hopeless alcoholics.

Guess I was wrong.

Well, I thought all Exeter kids
were spoiled douche bags

with their heads up their ass.

Guess the jury's still out.

- Ooh.
- Your shirt...

is that an Andy Bryant?

Yeah.

It's awesome.

Thanks.

Good morning, Joe.

Hey.
Shouldn't you be at work?

The state of Iowa
observes Labor Day weekend.

Great country.
Hey, Frank.

Yes, thank you,
organized labor.

Do you know, um,

if anybody in town drives
an old R-Rolls-Royce Wraith?

Anybody?

Mm, Maggie,
we found a body last night.

Um, out in Plymouth...
Plymouth County.

Uh, Peter Ives, a nurse
practitioner down in Florida.

Wanted for disappearances
all over the country.

We think he killed Karen
and her boyfriend.

W-What about Danny?

I hate to say this, kid,
but in these kinds of cases,

it's probably not good.

Well, did Peter Ives
own a Rolls-Royce Wraith?

Okay,
what's with the Wraith?

I think you find a Wraith,
you'll find Danny.

Because my Scrabble tiles
told me about it.

Oh, your tiles.

And they have been right
before.

Mrs.
Richardson in the quarry...

Okay, y-you get a gold star
for Mrs. Richardson.

But we solved this case
the old-fashioned way.

Sorry about Danny.

Can I keep this?
Knock yourself out.

It'll be all over the news
tomorrow anyway.

Wait, wait. I heard a kid
got stabbed at William White...

- Oh.
- ...the last week of school.

- Yeah, Joey Ricci.
- What?

- Oh, my God.
- Oh, he was fine. He was fine.

I showed Joey Ricci my underwear
when I was four and he was five,

and his mom called me
a slut.

Oh, my God.

You are a slut.

You know what?

I am kind of a slut,
Vic.

Really?
Yeah.

All Exeter girls are.

It's on our college apps.

So, where are you
going to college?

RISD.

Ah, wish I could go
to art school.

So go. The doctors
Butler wouldn't like it.

His parents are doctors.

And they have
all the money, so...

- What do your parents do?
- Uh, my mother cleans houses,

and my father's
in demolition.

- Oh.
- Uh...

No, I'm... I'm sorry.

It's just, uh...

you're obviously smart.

Okay.

Well, we just figured
your parents were smart, too.

Her parents are smart.
I've known them for forever.

Her mom cleans my house.

I need a glass of water.

Such a boring question,
"what do your parents do?"

Yeah, like
you could do better.

Uh, I absolutely could.

What are you afraid of?

Well, okay.

I am afraid...

...that my father's
gonna leave

and I'll have to live alone
with my mother.

I'm afraid I'll get stuck
in Haverhill my whole life.

But most of all,
I'm afraid I'm going crazy,

because the other day
I saw a huge-ass bridge

in the middle of the woods

that was apparently
demolished years ago.

Sure it was
the same bridge?

There's a second
old-as-hell covered bridge

in the woods by my house?

Maybe it's a ghost.

Maybe you're crazy.

Maybe you're
a time traveler.

So, is this your idea
of fun?

Slumming with
the Haverhill townie?

What? No,
I... I need a glass of water.

Vic.
Hi. Sorry.

You enjoying the party?

Yes, thank you.

The fireworks
are gonna be beautiful.

Yeah.
Mm.

How's your mother?

'Cause, you know, I tried to
talk to her this morning

when she was at the house,
but she was all business.

That's Linda.

You know...

I donate
to a women's shelter in town.

It's an excellent
organization.

Very clean.

If your mother
ever feels like she's not safe,

if ever you're not safe...

My mother and I
are both safe.

Thank you.

See, I like this.
Yeah...

- Turn around...
- Brat! Come here!

Ah, there's my girl.

Come here, come here.
Mmm-mwah!

- Mom.
- What?

I have something for you. Ohh!

Um,
Mrs. Brewster had it.

You must've dropped it
while you were cleaning.

How 'bout that?

You see the fireworks?

Yeah. Yeah?
Weren't they something?

- Mm-hmm.
- Hey, Brat! You know this one.

- Move.
- Tiffany.

♪ Here comes the sun ♪
Whoo, whoo!

♪ Here comes
the sun, and I say ♪

♪ It's all right ♪

♪ Little darlin' ♪

♪ It's been a long,
cold, lonely winter ♪

♪ Little darlin' ♪

♪ It feels like years
since it's been here ♪

♪ Here comes the sun ♪

♪ Here comes the sun,
and I say ♪

♪ It's all right ♪

Mm.

♪ Here comes the sun ♪

♪ Here comes the sun,
and I say ♪

♪ It's all right ♪

The watch is old.

I said,
"Did you check the nightstand?"

You said we had everything. I wanted to
leave it here. You insisted that I take it.

I shouldn't have to insist. Now you're pulling
your usual shit and making it my fault.

If you cared about it, if you cared
about me, I wouldn't have to ask.

So what? It's a broken watch!
If they don't have it at check-in,

one of the maids took it. Okay, then so
it's the maid's fault, or it's my fault?

I just want to be clear here.
You saw those maids. You saw them.

Oh, you're a friggin' maid!
That is different, and you know it.

Oh, yeah? How? How is it different?
They're illegal, Chris!

They come in here,
work for peanuts,

and then they steal
to supplement their income.

It's what they do.
Do you hear yourself?

It's true!
They steal work from me!

What an
ugly friggin' person you are!

I can't believe
I married you!

Yeah, well, I can't believe
I had a kid with you,

you drunk,
selfish bastard!

Vicki, your father...

He lost his watch.

Vic.

You insisted
that I take it.

If you cared about me,
I wouldn't have to ask.

It's a broken watch!

What an ugly
friggin' person you are!

I cannot believe that I married you!
Well, I can't believe I had a kid with you,

you drunk,
selfish bastard!

There you are.

I was wondering
if you guys'd come back.

You know, for the watch.

Oh, thank you.
That's... my father's.

Cool.

Do you want something
to drink?

You don't look so good.

Just had a lot of sun.

Tonic? Frappe?

No. Thank you.

Do you see that?

Yeah.
It's real, right?

As a friggin' heart attack.

Vic?

Vic?

Need to lie down.

I don't feel good.

Your bedtime came long ago...

...and went away with a yawn.

Something's
happening to me.

Yes, something fun.

It's happening to me, too,

as we dream of Christmasland
together

in this...
very special car.

How old are you?

Well, I'll give you a hint.

I'm as old as my nose
and even older than my teeth.

You look younger
than before.

Don't trouble yourself with
thoughts of that, Daniel Moore.

Go back to sleep.

We'll continue our journey
in the morning.

Mm... mm.

Hey. Hey.

Relax. Relax.

Brat, it's Dad.

It's Dad.

Oh.
Okay?

Yeah.
I dreamt there was a man.

He was...

He was really scary.

You got a fever.

You fainted
out by the woods.

We're lucky Haley
was there.

You hit Mom.

Mm.

Too much to drink.

Vodka.

And I promise you
it'll never happen again.

You promised not to drink
any more vodka.

Yeah, I'm sorry.

Listen.

Oh, I found your watch.

Yeah?

Where was it?

At Aunt Carrie's.
The bridge took me there.

Oh, you're sick
as a bird here.

Come on.

Dad...

Listen, your father's
a knucklehead.

And your mom is a...

friggin' lunatic.

But you can be anything that
you want to be in this world.

Don't let anybody stop you

or try to tell you different,
all right?

Not Mom, not anybody.

Okay?
Okay.

All right.

Just don't get married.

Don't have any kids.

I love you, Brat.

I love you, too.

How can I find the Wraith?

Mom?

Your father left.

Where did he go?

I don't know where.

I don't know why.
He just left.

I've tried so hard
to keep him.

I did my best to
keep liquor out of the house.

I...

I can't compete
with the bar.

And I can't be 24
anymore.

That's how old the last one was.
Don't say that.

I don't know who this one is
or why she's so...

Stop. He'd never.
It's the truth, honey!

If Dad's leaving,
I'm going with him.

No, he doesn't
want you with him.

We discussed it, Vic.
He didn't leave me.

He left us both.

You're wrong.

It's snowing.

It's always snowing
on the St. Nick Parkway.

Are we almost
at Christmasland?

Our very next stop.

I'll drop you off there
with the other children

before I head out
on my errands.

I hate errands.

You'll have none whatsoever
in Christmasland.

Only rides and games and fun.

Have you ever played
Scissors for the Drifter?

- No.
- The children will teach you.

And I'll see you again when
I return from a faraway place

called Haverhill,
Massachusetts.

Subtitles by explosiveskull